Elysian Brewing Company Night Owl Pumpkin Ale
What the brewers say
“Both roasted and raw pumpkin seeds are in the mash, with pumpkin added to the mash, kettle, and fermentor. Spiced in conditioning with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice.”
What our panel thought
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.”
