Elysian Brewing Company Great Pumpkin Ale

**Aroma:** “Evokes notes of cherry and fruitcake, with plenty of cinnamon, ginger, and pecans plus a touch of caramel malt sweetness. Cinnamon cookies with sweet frosting and a moderate lemongrass chaser. There’s enough caramel and brown sugar to still seem like a pie, but the citrus is a little funky.” **Flavor:** “Way more Christmasy than pumpkin, but well done. Maraschino, banana-nut, cinnamon, pecan, and graham-cracker notes. Cinnamon dominates with some caramel and a touch of biscuit malt sweetness to support. A bit of lemon notes from the hops and a finish that’s a bit dry and a bit short of the expected sweetness.” **Overall:** “Just a bit over the top. Could use more sweetness and body to finish slightly sweeter and more balanced for the style. Cinnamon spice tends to drown out other spice flavors. Hops lend a lemon flavor that is a bit off-putting compared to others.”

**Aroma:** “Espresso coffee aroma with some cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg notes. As it warms, ginger and some subtle caramel malt sweetness comes through.” **Flavor:** “Very nice espresso coffee up front blended with brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg supported by nice toffee and caramel malt sweetness and some baked pumpkin notes. Reminds me of Lebkuchen (German ginger cookies) and molasses. Good balance of pie spice—finish is a bit sweet but coffee serves to balance, with both coffee and sweetness lingering.” **Overall:** “One of the most unique and complex pumpkin beers I’ve had, without being cloying. Coffee adds a sharp note and serves to balance sweetness of the pumpkin, and caramel malt and cinnamon tie it all together. If you like Starbucks pumpkin-spice latte, seek out this beer. They take a big chance with the style and succeed.”

**Aroma:** “Nice pumpkin-pie spice character (cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger) with hints of caramel malt sweetness and brown sugar, followed by a roasted-malt character, mostly coming through as dark chocolate and coffee notes.” **Flavor:** “Some caramel notes up front with a lot of cinnamon. Sweetness from malt and pumpkin, maybe brown sugar, with a lot of cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg. Dark malts are surprisingly subtle, with notes of dark chocolate and espresso. The spices of nutmeg, allspice, and lots of cinnamon come through very strong in the beginning, carry into the roasty-malt sweetness of the stout, and fade into some bitterness on the back.” **Overall:** “A welcome, original take on pumpkin beer. Roasted-malt character works well with caramel malt and pumpkin sweetness, with a heavy dose of cinnamon—it’s a chocolate pumpkin pie with extra cinnamon in the glass.”