Beer of the Weekend #386: Schlalfly Pumpkin Ale
Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. The LV is now switching to a bi-monthly publication schedule so I will now have two deadlines per month: one for a beer recommendation and another for a longer, preferably beer-related piece. Since turning in my longer piece for the mid-September issue, I have been coasting, enjoying the time off. However, last night I noticed that my October recommendation is due on Saturday. Grr.
The specter of yet another recommendation weighed on me last night when I crawled into bed. However, it came to me before I dozed off: Schlafly Pumpkin Ale, brewed by the Saint Louis Brewery of Saint Louis, Missouri.
Last week my beer group held what could be described as an impromptu pumpkin beer extravaganza. (It was planned by the host’s neighbor, who decided to do it on a whim without telling anyone else.) In total, we sampled 17 different pumpkin beers. Despite the fact we drank highly lauded, out-of-state beers, everyone agreed that Schalfly Pumpkin Ale was the best. So tonight I am sampling it officially for a possible LV recommendation.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “Bottled with love on” date is “08/14/12.”
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is nearing deep amber and has an orange, pumpkin-esque tint. Two fingers of fuzzy, very effervescent, eggshell-colored head dissipated quickly to leave a thin lacing and thin ring around the edge. It does look a little like pop, which is a little disturbing.
Smell: The pumpkin pie aroma is noticeable from an arm’s length away. Lots of nice spices: cinnamon and clove, mostly. The bottle mentions nutmeg, but I am not that well-acquainted with nutmeg to pick it out. It has a solid malt base of caramel but smells like a Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.
Taste: The spices get me psyched for some reason. (Fall is coming! Woo hoooo!) The cinnamon and cloves provide a nice, spicy kick. Once again, it is reminiscent of pumpkin pie. It has a nice, lightly toasted malt and caramel base with toffee and brown sugar, which makes me wonder if this is a Schlafly Oktoberfest with pumpkin and spice. There is also a little fruit, too, so it is like eating a piece of pumpkin pie with the same plate one just ate a piece of cherry pie. Despite looking like pop, the mouthfeel is better than average; it is pretty hearty.
Drinkability: Solid. Having never drank an entire bottle of pumpkin ale before, I was a little skeptical whether or not I could handle a whole sixer — or even another bottle. But I am easily tempted to open another one of these.
Fun facts about SPA:
-Style: Pumpkin Ale. Here is the BA description:
-Price: $9.99/sixer at the “Drug Town” on North First Avenue in Iowa City. (It was completely sold out at John’s today so I hope it will still be around by the time the issue hits the newsstands.)
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: You are on your own here.
-Nerdiness and interesting history from the SPA webpage:
-SPA is a special, seasonal release only available in September and October.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
The specter of yet another recommendation weighed on me last night when I crawled into bed. However, it came to me before I dozed off: Schlafly Pumpkin Ale, brewed by the Saint Louis Brewery of Saint Louis, Missouri.
Last week my beer group held what could be described as an impromptu pumpkin beer extravaganza. (It was planned by the host’s neighbor, who decided to do it on a whim without telling anyone else.) In total, we sampled 17 different pumpkin beers. Despite the fact we drank highly lauded, out-of-state beers, everyone agreed that Schalfly Pumpkin Ale was the best. So tonight I am sampling it officially for a possible LV recommendation.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “Bottled with love on” date is “08/14/12.”
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is nearing deep amber and has an orange, pumpkin-esque tint. Two fingers of fuzzy, very effervescent, eggshell-colored head dissipated quickly to leave a thin lacing and thin ring around the edge. It does look a little like pop, which is a little disturbing.
Smell: The pumpkin pie aroma is noticeable from an arm’s length away. Lots of nice spices: cinnamon and clove, mostly. The bottle mentions nutmeg, but I am not that well-acquainted with nutmeg to pick it out. It has a solid malt base of caramel but smells like a Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.
Taste: The spices get me psyched for some reason. (Fall is coming! Woo hoooo!) The cinnamon and cloves provide a nice, spicy kick. Once again, it is reminiscent of pumpkin pie. It has a nice, lightly toasted malt and caramel base with toffee and brown sugar, which makes me wonder if this is a Schlafly Oktoberfest with pumpkin and spice. There is also a little fruit, too, so it is like eating a piece of pumpkin pie with the same plate one just ate a piece of cherry pie. Despite looking like pop, the mouthfeel is better than average; it is pretty hearty.
Drinkability: Solid. Having never drank an entire bottle of pumpkin ale before, I was a little skeptical whether or not I could handle a whole sixer — or even another bottle. But I am easily tempted to open another one of these.
Fun facts about SPA:
-Style: Pumpkin Ale. Here is the BA description:
Often released as a fall seasonal, Pumpkin Ales are quite varied. Some brewers opt to add hand-cut pumpkins and drop them in the mash, while others use puree or pumpkin flavoring. These beers also tend to be spiced with pumpkin pie spices, like: ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. Pumpkin Ales are typically mild, with little to no bitterness, a malty backbone, with some spice often taking the lead. Many will contain a starchy, slightly thick-ish, mouthfeel too. In our opinion, best versions use real pumpkin, while roasting the pumpkin can also add tremendous depth of character for even better results, though both methods are time-consuming and tend to drive brewmasters insane.
-Price: $9.99/sixer at the “Drug Town” on North First Avenue in Iowa City. (It was completely sold out at John’s today so I hope it will still be around by the time the issue hits the newsstands.)
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: You are on your own here.
-Nerdiness and interesting history from the SPA webpage:
Our Pumpkin Ale blends the spices of the harvest with full-bodied sweetness for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. Pounds of pumpkin form a malty foundation that supports the fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
While pumpkin beers were produced in the early days of the American colonies, they were different from the pumpkin beers we know today. Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce. Once malt became more readily available, it replaced these alternatives to grain. In the 1990’s, American craft brewers reintroduced the style to the delight of pumpkin beer drinkers.
-SPA is a special, seasonal release only available in September and October.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
