Shipyard Pumpkinhead

[I-dont]

I'm currently trying to track down someplace local to Boston where I can get a keg of Shipyard's seasonal Pumpkin ale. I had it at a bar, and want more (a lot more). If anyone knows of somewhere local, let me know. I'll update this when I get a chance too.

[newportstorm]

Bauer W&S:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/8631

Call and ask for Nick. Good guy. If he can't help ya, he may know another retailer in the area who could.

Otherwise, contact Shipyard directly.

Cheers!

[I-dont]

Thanks for the reply, its good to know where all the good beer stores are, even if they don't have exactly what you're looking for.

[chazwicke]

That is a lot of pumpkin ale. Do you like it that much? I once bought a sixtel of Raison de Etra and ended up only drinking about half before replacing it on the kegerator.

[I-dont]

It's seasonal! I don't want to run out. And I'm on the clock now with my 1/2 barrel (to get my full deposit back), something smaller will be quicker, especially since I expect the girl will help me with something that tastes like pie.

[Tom C]

Originally posted by I-dont
It's seasonal! I don't want to run out. And I'm on the clock now with my 1/2 barrel (to get my full deposit back), something smaller will be quicker, especially since I expect the girl will help me with something that tastes like pie.

ARe you saying your girl likes pie???? On a more serious note kegs of pumkin may be more difficult to find as this is a seasonal that is reaching its end. Easy to brew this one though as they just use spices and do not brew with real pumkin from what I understand....I perosnally like Smuttynoses Pumkin or Dogfish as well

Tom C

[ratman03]

I wouldn't recommend Shipyard Pumpkin. I like Shipyard ales, but I'm not a fan of this one. Too much something in it -- nutmeg, perhaps?

And, while I'm at it: One thing that bothers me is when the name has pumpkin in it but there is no pumpkin in it. The bottle has a pumpkin on it for chrissakes! I like pumpkin ale to taste like liquid pumpkin pie, but unfortunately most don't use real pumpkin. At this point, the term pumpkin ale most often means only that there are spices added that are present in pumpkin pie.

Anyone know of a true bottled pumpkin ale that uses real pumpkin? I haven't been able to find one.

[Thirsty in NY]

Smuttynose says they use pumpkin in the mash. I didn't think it had an extreme pumpkin flavor, but still damn good.

[ratman03]

Originally posted by Thirsty in NY
Smuttynose says they use pumpkin in the mash. I didn't think it had an extreme pumpkin flavor, but still damn good.

Hmm... It doesn't say that on the bottle. :confused:

For the record, I can't taste any pumpkin in it.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by ratman03
Hmm... It doesn't say that on the bottle. :confused:

For the record, I can't taste any pumpkin in it.

Smuytynose, and many others, use pumpkin puree in the mash. Most of these ales are brewed in the late summer, when local pumpkin crops aren't ready, which forces these breweries to either use puree or adjust their brewing schedule. Seeing as how most seasonal beers now appear a month or two before the season hits, that isn't really possible for most production breweries.

Some brewpubs in the Boston area (Watch City, The Tap, possibly Cambridge Brewing Co.) brew later in early fall and do use fresh, cubed pumpkin meat.

As for pumpkin flavor....I don't detect much flavor in fresh pumpkin. To me, it adds a starchy quality, gives the beer body but adds little detectable flavor. The malt base & spices account for that.

Cheers!

[I-dont]

I agree, pumpkin doesn't taste like much. I guess I prefer pumpkin pie with a bunch of nutmeg in it. I did contact the brewery, and they have like 3 kegs left, but I don't think I'll have time to drive to maine before he gets rid of them. I have contacted a local distributer as well (as per reccomendation of Shipyard) and am waiting to hear back. I don't want to miss the season.

[I-dont]

No such luck. I'm not going to get to Maine before they sell out at the brewery, and I called all the local places listed by the distributor. I did locate a keg of Post Road Pumpkin Ale, anyone know if its any good? I plan on at least getting a 6-pack and trying that one, no reason not to try a new beer (besides the fact that I'm on the clock to finish the keg in my fridge ;oP ) Let me know if you know of this post road pumpkin, and if I'll want 50 glasses of it.

Thanks.

-EDIT-
After driving around, I found a 6-pack of the post road pumpkin at the 4th liquor store I visited. If its no good, I'll just buy a case of the shipyard at the third place I was (they had 2).

[Beer Monkey]

I grabbed a keg of punkin from dogfish, then canceled the party that it was for. grabbed another sixtel and gonna try and keep the punkin as long as I can (read January) gotta say I love having 2 kegs at home. everyone else thinks I may have an issue but they gotta convince me first

[ClockworkOrange]

Smuttynose pumpkin is my fave, followed by DFH then Post Road (made by Brooklyn Brewing).

[I-dont]

This Post Road Pumpkin Ale is pretty tasty, but not quite what I was hoping. The Shipyard was so pumpkin-y and this has good body, but doesn't make me as happy that it's autumn. I doubt I'll buy the keg, I think I'll go with a case (or two) of the shipyard I know I like. Thanks for everything everyone, good discussion. Feel free to tip me off to new and exciting stuff before it's over next time! ;p

[Beer Monkey]

did anyone try the weybacher pumpkin imperial ale? while the ABV was low(ish) 8ish, I heard/read good things about it

[ratman03]

Originally posted by ratman03
Hmm... It doesn't say that on the bottle. :confused:

For the record, I can't taste any pumpkin in it.

My bad on this. I meant to say that I can't taste any pumpkin in the Shipyard. I have not tasted the Smuttynose.

[ratman03]

Originally posted by I-dont
This Post Road Pumpkin Ale is pretty tasty, but not quite what I was hoping. The Shipyard was so pumpkin-y and this has good body, but doesn't make me as happy that it's autumn. I doubt I'll buy the keg,

See, I wasn't tasting ANY pumpkin in this. I was tasting a lot of nutmeg. Pumpkin tastes like pumpkin, and I wasn't tasting it! :(

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by ratman03
See, I wasn't tasting ANY pumpkin in this. I was tasting a lot of nutmeg. Pumpkin tastes like pumpkin, and I wasn't tasting it! :(

I don't believe Shipyard brews their Pumpkin Ale with any actual pumpkin - fresh, canned puree or otherwise. Nor does the Sea Dog Pumpkin Ale, which they contract brew, use any pumpkin. They are light bodied wheat beers with fall/pumpkin pie spices added. Although, Sea Dog has this caveat on their label: "Ale with pumpkin flavor added". Not exactly sure where that flavor comes from, or how it's added but it's one of the most god awful beers I've ever tasted.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Beer Monkey
did anyone try the weybacher pumpkin imperial ale? while the ABV was low(ish) 8ish, I heard/read good things about it

Interesting. I did not know Weyerbacher made one. I passed through Easton a few weekends ago and skipped the brewery because I had been there before. I'd have probably bought a few bombers of this had I known.

[ClockworkOrange]

Here's the link to it: http://www.weyerbacher.com/cwo/Beers/index.php?id=7&page_id=16

It's a good thing you didn't stop though because they have been out of stock at the brewery since the beginning of Oct. They were selling cases of bombers of the pumpkin at the open house this past April for around $30. I'm assuming it was sent/bought back from a dist. They do not sell their bombers to PA distributors. Everything for PA comes in 12oz.

[lordkenpo]

Weyer's Imperial Pumpkin is (was?!) delicious, 2nd in my mind only to my all time favorite - Wild Goose's Pumpkin Patch. Absolutely love the stuff, even though I know more than a few folks who disagree with me. I'm not big on Dogfish's or Smuttynose's offerings, and the Post Road (if I remember correctly) wasn't too bad.

That said, I love pumpkin beers in general, much more so than octoberfests/marzens. Every Fall, so many people are dying to get their hands on some Spaten, and all I can think about is Wild Goose.

[barleyburps]

just tried shipyards pumpkinhead. . .. way too spicy for my taste. . . the post road pumpkin ale that I had last year was in my opinion better.. . . . .

[I-dont]

I just had a 6 pack of the Post Road last week, it's a good beer, but I sort of like the strength of the Shipyard. It's what I might call a "powerful" seasonal. It seems too hot to enjoy it here though, we're supposed to get more 90+ weather in the Boston area. Not exactly Autumnal temperatures. I'm sure I'll enjoy a many glasses though when the temps get more reasonable. (Or I can just turn the AC up)

[n0rmann]

The Weyerbacher Pumpkin is very good. Best label for a pumpkin ale, which doesn't matter, but I still liked it. THey use "Tons" of real pumpkin, according to the brewery's owner.

[n0rmann]

I' don't. the pumpkinhead actually has less alcohol than the other pumpkins.

[I-dont]

Yeah, I'm going to look out for the Weyerbacher this season.

[DubbelDach]

Dogfish Head's used to be my goto Pumpkin, but this year's Weyerbacker has trumped it.

I am going to taste my pumpkin ale tonight. It's only been in the bottle for 10 days, so I hope it's carbonated enough to drink with Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I used cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice berries to spice it. I did a mini-mash with the specialty grains and 3 lbs of roasted fresh pumpkin. Also added some brown sugar and molasses to up the alcohol. I'm freakin' excited!

[n0rmann]

The best pumpkin this year, by far, has been Pumking from Southern Tier.