Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale
What the brewers say
“Brewed with pureed pumpkins added to the mash and pumpkin-pie spices added to the end of the boil. Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice dominate the flavor profile, with the hops playing in the background.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Pumpkin-pie spices up front, with notes of cinnamon and ginger and a hint of clove supported by very subtle caramel malt sweetness. Somewhat bready malt character with mild spicy phenol, but a weaker nose overall. More zucchini bread than pumpkin pie.”
Flavor: “Spices (mostly clove and possibly cinnamon) and malt sweetness work in tandem at the front. Malt sweetness comes through as caramel and a touch of toffee, but the pumpkin flavor is hard to pick up. Finish is just a touch on the dry side.”
Overall: “A decent example of a pumpkin beer but spices here don’t express the same depth as other examples, and finishing malt character could be more forward to support those flavors. A bit overly simplistic in body, mouthfeel, and finish.”
