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Description:
In 1995, we crafted our first autumn seasonal—Pumpkin Ale. At the time, Oktoberfest beers were in high demand. For our version, we wanted to create a beer that was a little different than what was already out there and complemented the season by highlighting the flavors we’ve all grown to love during this time. It was so popular that it became the first nationally available pumpkin ale. Harvest Pumpkin Ale, as it’s called now, is crafted with pumpkin and spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice for a taste you’ll want to fall right into. (Description provided by company)
Brewer:
Beer Style:
ABV:
5.70% ABV
Availability Frequency:
fall
Containers Available:
bottle
draft
Locations Where Available:
nationwide
Store/Serve Temperature:
40-44 degrees F
Comments
Pumpkin and Spice and everything nice
If you're anything like me, you love the fall for many reasons. Pumpkin beer is certainly high up on that list. And while every brewery known to man seems to be entering into the pumpkin race (a trend I fully support), few are as widely available as Blue Moon's Harvest Pumpkin Ale. This is a good thing.
I tend to drink Blue Moon beers out of the bottle, so I can't comment much on the look of the beer. Except that there's a reason I tend to drink Blue Moon beers in the bottle. You're not missing much.
The nose is just what you would expect from a beer with a big fat pumpkin on the label: pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove. All the spices you'd want in your Thanksgiving pie are here, and none of them are shy about making its presence known. This beer is not subtle.
A taste confirms this lack of subtlety. You really have to like all of the aforementioned ingredients to like this beer. Hop and malt flavoring take a backseat to the spices. And if you like the spices, that's not a bad thing. If I wanted a subtle spice to my fall beer I would not have reached for a Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin ale.
Mouthfeel: Blue Moon really have a way of making every one of their beers feel exactly the same. It won't overstay its welcome, that's for sure.
If you go to a friend's house to watch some football this season, chances are good that you're going to have an opportunity to try this beer. It's not the most sophisticated the style has to offer. But maybe pumpkin ales have something in common with cameras. As the old adage goes: the best is the one you have with you.
Ever think "I want all the pumpkin in my beer"?
Pours a transparent amber, with about a finger of head. The head dissipates very quickly and leaves little lacing.
A lot of pumpkin pie spices in the nose, along with some pale malt aromas.
Taste is similar to the nose, with lots of pumpkin pie spices. The taste is almost all pumpkin and almost no beer or beer-like flavors. The first few sips are okay (if you really like pumpkin) but it gets a little overly sweet quite quickly.
Moderate body and fairly high, fizzy, carbonation. Leaves a light coating on the tongue.
There's been a fairly strong trend of making everything pumpkin this time of year, and Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale follows that path almost to the letter. If you can't get enough pumpkin this time of year, this beer might help you scratch that itch.