Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Beer Review: Wasatch Brewpub Pumpkin Ale


I heart pumpkin beers. You already know this if you are a regular reader of this blog. I've had a lot of pumpkin beers over the years and there are some fantastic pumpkin beers out there: Southern Tier Pumking, Dogfish Head Punkin and Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin just to name a few. And there are MANY more I want to try so if you're a reader outside Louisiana send me some of your pumpkin beers!!! I want them!

When I'm drinking a pumpkin beer I expect it to taste exactly like pumpkin pie. Not sure what you would expect from a pumpkin beer but that's what I expect. I want it to remind me of Thanksgiving with my family. I want to remember the smell of my moms pumpkin pie wafting through the house while we watched football waiting impatiently with our pants undone to make room for pie while the dead turkey fights one last fight with sleep inducing chemical weapons.

We recently had a new brewery enter into Louisiana called Wasatch Brewpub who are part of the Utah Brewers Cooperative. Their beers are fantastic and I saw that Cork & Bottle brought in some of their pumpkin beer this year. While at the store I sampled a bottle and DAMN if it didn't taste like the Wasatch brewmaster baked a bunch of pumpkin pies and threw them right into the mash!! I don't usually do it but I picked up a 6 pack. I'll probably go back for more to last me through Thanksgiving.

I can honestly say that I have yet to have a pumpkin beer taste so much like a pumpkin pie. I'm sure some people may be turned off by it because it really is full of pumpkin pie flavor but I loved it!! Let me quit gabbing about it and get to the review!

Brewery: Wasatch Brewpub

Beer: Pumpkin Ale

Style: Pumpkin Ale

ABV: 4%

Louisiana Availability: Yes

Price Range: $2.00/bottle

Appearance: The beer pours a cloudy pumpkin colored orange with a nice off white head which quickly disappears. Just a little lacing present and doesn't cling to the glass well.

Smell: a nice beginning to a pumpkin beer. Smells like a freshly baked pumpkin pie.

Taste: WOW! Tastes exactly like a pumpkin pie! All the pumpkin pie spices showed up to the party! Pumpkin, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and even nutmeg. Tastes like fall in my mouth!

Mouthfeel: Thin body with medium carbonation.

Overall: Dare I say one of the best pumpkin beers I have ever had? I want my pumpkin beers to taste like pumpkin pie and this beer totally does.

Score: 4 out of 5 Buddhas Photobucket

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm a big fan of this one as well, glad it's in our markets! Easily one of the better pumpkin beers I've tried.

Smurfe said...

Very good review! I bought a 6 pack of this as well from a suggestion from a couple cruising the beer section at Colandro's in Baton Rouge. I had picked up another Pumpkin Ale which I can't remember the name and they suggested I put it down as it was nasty and try the Wasatch. I quizzed them a bit on their beer knowledge and they passed with flying colors. It appeared they were true beer geeks as well. I looked over their bottle selection in their cart, gave them a nod of approval and followed their advice.

I have to agree, this is a pretty tasty beer. One of the best Pumpkin Ale's I have tried. My only knock I would give it is I find the body just a tad on the light/watery side. If they could build the body of this beer a bit, I think it could be one of the best out there. The pumpkin pie flavor is very spot on and pleasant. As the beer warms just a bit the malt presence elevates to give a nice balanced flavor. I think if they would mash this just a bit higher, it would give that little boost the body needs.

I hope we can get some more brands here. Pumpkin beers are pretty hard to find in the BR market area. Hopefully someday Schlafly will enter our market. I love their Pumpkin Ale, as well as most all of their beers. What I miss most about St. Louis.

strtr said...

I work at the Utah Brewers Co-Op. I stumbled across this blog, Im excited our beers that our brewers pour the hearts into are being enjoyed in your neck of the woods!

Anonymous said...

Oh I really want to try this one! I've only seen a couple of Wasatch 6-packs at WF Metairie, but not this one. I'm new to the Utah beer scene, having just tasted some Squatters which was awesome!

Anonymous said...

Oh I really want to try this one! I've only seen a couple of Wasatch 6-packs at WF Metairie, but not this one. I'm new to the Utah beer scene, having just tasted some Squatters which was awesome!