The Imperial Pumpkin Ale pours out a nice shade of burnt orange, or maybe persimmon. The head is present, but relatively mild, only about one-finger's worth. Foam is a very tan color, almost toffee colored in the kitchen light. The foam does persist for several minutes, and as it fades, it leaves behind a little bit of lacing.
The aromas are already getting me excited, with hints of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and what seems like all kinds of spices I can't put my finger on. That being said, the aromas are not nearly as intense as I remembered from last year. There's definitely some more complexity than the beer I had last night, but I think I've put the Pumpkin on a Pedestal over the course of the past year.
Once I take a sip, I'm again surprised. There is still that distinct hint of pumpkin and spices, but it's much sweeter than I remember. The pumpkin and spices are balanced very nicely, and complement each other well. But, as well-balanced as they are, the flavors are a little more mild than what I remember from last year. The higher-than-normal 8% abv is virtually unnoticed, the alcohol is completely hidden by the pumpkin and spice notes.
Overall, I'm still happy with this beer. It's a well-crafted pumpkin ale, and given the opportunity, I'd recommend everyone give the Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale a chance. However, I'm still looking forward to a few of the other pumpkin beers coming soon. This may be the Queen of Pumpkin beers, but I'm looking for the king!
Weyerbacher Brewing Company
Imperial Pumpkin Ale
TCSH Rating: 7.5/10
Aka - Very good, but I'm still looking for more
Eli
Bibo Ergo Sum
I agree. I tried it for the first time today, and expected something completely different, given that it's the "king" of pumpkin ales, but overall, it's pretty good. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat, and found a couple of awesome recipes I'm willing to throw it into this fall.
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