BrewSounds: Pumpkin Smashings

Welcome to the first installment of BeerSounds Autumn Ears & Beers. In this segment we will cover some great seasonal brews and some great seasonal sounds.

Here in the Tampa Bay area we have been enjoying a first hint of cooler weather to come while much else of the country is well in the swing of Autumn. While the days are getting shorter and shorter and the nights getting colder and longer many turn their thoughts towards Thanksgiving and Halloween. The latter ushering in ghouls and goblins seeking candy at the front door and toilet paper flying through the trees. The former brings me memories of holiday get togethers with friends and family. Tables full of food and plates overflowing with the gargantuan portions they strain to contain. All the good stuff we shouldn't eat is stacked high. Cranberry jams, turkey drenched in brown gravy, three kinds of stuffing, home-made mashed potatoes whipped with cream not milk, pumpkin pie and if you look in the right places before you head to the party, pumpkin ale.

Brewery:
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Brewery website: http://www.smuttynose.com/
Name/Stlye:
Pumkpin Ale/Pumpkin Ale
ABV(alcohol by volume):
6%

This is Smuttynose Brewing Company's seasonal Pumpkin Ale. Brewed in a style true to its colonial roots this pumpkin ale uses real pumpkin puree in the mash, instead of adding mystery "pumpkin flavor" that you will see on some other craft style ales, along with traditional spices. Those spices are what dominate the nose as the beer is poured into a my goblet. Nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger are right up front while the pumpkin, though it hides behind the spices, is present. A touch of malt is there, too. Very pleasant. Copper/Amber in the heart while turning to a more golden hue at the edge of the glass. Slight haze. All this capped by a creamy head made of tight white bubbles.

The flavor profile is very close to the nose. Nutmeg is front and center, backed cinnamon and ginger. The pumpkin is, happily, even more evident in the taste than the scent. It is mixed in with the rest of the flavor characteristics when first drawn onto the tongue,but it outlasts the rest and gives this beer a very fresh, clean finish. Sort of pumpkin rind tasting. The malt rounds everything out nicely to keep the balance between too spicy and too earthy. The nutmeg does seam to work it's way to the front again in the aftertaste. I think much of the mouth-feel is due to the nutmeg. There is almost a graininess the seams to stick to my tongue and the roof of my mouth. As a powdered nutmeg would. The lack of a strong brown sugar characteristic keeps this beer from finishing wet and sticky. In fact the lack of sweetness is one of the things that makes this ale so drinkable. Compared to some other pumpkin ales, some of which we will cover in upcoming segments of Autumn Ears and Beers, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale is quite easy to put down. One could find oneself powering through a sixer in no time if not careful.

Fall. Beautiful temperatures contrasted with grey days leading up to winter. Leaves changing colors and walks in the woods. Here are some recommended musical pairings.

Obvious-Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness-Come on, I mean look at the post title

Old Music-Neil Young, Harvest-Good ol' folk rock

My Highest Recommendation-Ancestors, Of Sound Mind-Great Doom Rock out of Los Angles