Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA
Pours a lovely caramel brown with a glowing orange blush to it. Slight haze, faint head of tan foam that would have been bigger had I poured more vigorously. It lasted and left a film on top and made a little lace. presents elegantly int he glass and twinkles like a xmas tree light.
Nose is like a piece of spiced cake has been set down in front of me. Bright orange peel, sensual figs, allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Clove and some soft notes of ginger. The ginger really peeks out brightly and lightens up the nose with a bit of gaiety. The malt is a light sugar cookie type scent with hints of brown sugar. There’s some malty depth to it but not too much. This smells a lot like pumking only without the pumpkin.
Taste is lovely. The orange peel is the bright stage on which all these jolly spices play. They are well blended and none stands out more prominently than the others. The fig is a bit of voluptuous dark fruit to go with that dark malt. The malt plays a bit deeper on the palate and shows it’s resilience but it has a melt in your mouth quality that is delightful. There is no alcohol on the nose or on the palate save for the very last moment when it tings with a faint medicinal. I feel this adds a bit of gaiety to the beer. There is even a touch of hops bitter to finish this one . Just as these spices are merrily dancing on your palate a small but noticeable hop bitter comes through and ends the beer with a discreet finish and leaves the malt to linger in the aftertaste.
I thought this tasted a lot like pumking without the pumpkin.
4.
4.5
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.