Alaskan Brewing Co. Pumpkin Porter
What the brewers say
“More than eleven pounds per barrel of pumpkin give this imperial porter a smooth, velvety texture. Brown sugar, holiday spices, and Alaskan’s alder-smoked malt create an aroma and flavor reminiscent of Grandma’s Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Sweet Belgian fruity esters, banana and clove, with a hint of cinnamon. Some brown sugar, caramel, and toffee notes with very subtle roast character.”
Flavor: “Interesting choice of yeasts—lots of Belgian character. Caramel malt and brown sugar sweetness lead the charge, with earthy spices following behind and spices coming in as the anchor. Roasted-malt character is subtle, with a bit of chocolate and coffee that work to balance the sweet pumpkin and malt character. Finish is mostly sweet, but balanced by spices and roasted malt.”
Overall: “The unique use of spices works well with the subtle roasted-malt character and dominant malt sweetness to create a unique pumpkin porter that would be an excellent dessert beer. Rich, creamy, and spicy with a bit of pumpkin to keep it grounded.”
