Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale

[darylM]

Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale

Who makes it: AB, a favorite around here :)

Preconcieved Notions: I had two 1> it was going to be a lager and 2> It would have a lot of bittering hops added. Thier flagship beer tastes like a wannabe IPA but not in a good way.

Color: yellow with red highlights. This gave the beer light orange color.

Head Retention: builds up a good amount of head and then goes away completly

Aroma: Grassy and floral. I know how this is sounding already.

mouthfeel: light. I was not surprised on this aspect.

Taste: Here was the surprise. This is truly an Ale. I could taste the low esters at the end. The hopping of the beer was more balenced and malt had more of a presence. No pumpkin or spice at all. I even went to my pantry to smell some spices to get sensitive to pumpkin spices and nothing.

Overall: To be fair, this is an awful Pumpkin beer. There are no spice presence or pumpkin presence. I would say that the hopping rates killed any flavor either one had.

On the other side, this was a very good pale ale and I could drink it again for that alone. I know this board has had discussions about macros making ales and this shows that the big boys can make a good ole ale. If they renamed it Jack's Pale Ale and sold it year round, it would find a place in my fridge.

[dennis3951]

Originally posted by darylM
Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale

On the other side, this was a very good pale ale and I could drink it again for that alone. I know this board has had discussions about macros making ales and this shows that the big boys can make a good ole ale. If they renamed it Jack's Pale Ale and sold it year round, it would find a place in my fridge. That's pretty funny. Do you think the brass a AB think the way sell a lot of Pumpkin Ale is to remove all the pumpkin flavor?. After all they "know" the best way to sell lager is to remove all the malt and hops flavor!

[iahebert]

Originally posted by darylM
Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale

Who makes it: AB, a favorite around here :)

Sorry to hear that :-)

Taste: Here was the surprise. This is truly an Ale. I could taste the low esters at the end. The hopping of the beer was more balenced and malt had more of a presence. No pumpkin or spice at all. I even went to my pantry to smell some spices to get sensitive to pumpkin spices and nothing.

I completely agree.

Overall: To be fair, this is an awful Pumpkin beer. There are no spice presence or pumpkin presence. I would say that the hopping rates killed any flavor either one had.

Again, completely agree, except not just an awful pumpkin beer, but an awful beer in general. Even when I was drunk I couldn't enjoy it.


We have a store called Malt & Vine (I affectionately call it the beer store) that has about 750 different kinds of beer you can buy. I went in looking for a pumpkin ale, and asked one of the owners to point some out. She pointed it out to me and after I asked her how it is, she told me "it's made by AB". I should have known. But no! Just had to give it a try.

Sorry tongue.

[fatboy570]

Arcadia's Jawjacker Ale is much better, and Schafly's No.15 is a good spiced ale too

[steveh]

Originally posted by dennis3951
...the way sell a lot of Pumpkin Ale is to remove all the pumpkin flavor?

You know, when I saw more posts added to this thread I double-checked the name of the beer -- it's called Pumpkin Spice Ale. It doesn't really claim to have "pumpkin," so much as pumpkin spice. Though I know Daryl said there seemed to be little of that too, many at BeerAdvocate say they pick up a lot of the character -- nonetheless, I wonder if there's any actual pumpkin in this stuff?

S.

[darylM]

Originally posted by steveh
Though I know Daryl said there seemed to be little of that too, many at BeerAdvocate say they pick up a lot of the character -- nonetheless, I wonder if there's any actual pumpkin in this stuff?

S.
To be clear, I could not taste any pumpkin or spices in the beer.
The label claims "highest quality malt, hops, pumpkin and pumpkin spices" so I figured pumpkin was fair game. I also don't claim that I have the most sensitive beer taster so if the folks over at BeerAdvocate can taste it, it maybe there. I have had a wit before so I know what a spiced beer tastes like.

[steveh]

Originally posted by darylM
I have had a wit before so I know what a spiced beer tastes like.

Wasn't a question of you, so much as a question of "Jack" actually using pumpkin. But I guess if it's on the label...

BTW -- a Wit is "spiced" much differently than a pumpkin-style beer might be -- Corriander is often used, but isn't supposed to be overpowering, and much of the spice character comes from yeast and fermentation -- not actual addition to the brew.

Other spices (e.g., chamomile, cumin, cinnamon, Grains of Paradise) may be used for complexity but are much less prominent.

On the other hand, Pumpkin Beers are usually spiced with just what you'd use in a pumpkin pie: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger. The real key is to find balance in the flavors of the beer and the added ingredients, but most pumpkin beers are over the top, for the sake of being so.

Most spiced beers started as a usual style with added spices for more character, so the idea was to compliment the original style. Today, and especially with these new Pumpkins, that's out the window -- it's no holds barred.

Jack's Pumpking Spice ale or Allagash Wit? Give me the Allagash any day of the week -- even the fourth Thursday in November!

S.

[dennis3951]

Originally posted by steveh
I wonder if there's any actual pumpkin in this stuff?

S.
There may not have to be . E&J Gallo still sells Boones Farm Apple wine, made 100% from grapes!

[newportstorm]

Press release from A-B claims Oregon-grown Golden Delicious pumpkins are used.

http://www.anheuser-busch.com/press_room/jackspice_081507.html

Two pumpkin beers caught my tastebuds by surprise this year - Stone Cat Pumpkin Porter and Cape Ann Brewing Pumpkin Stout. The roasted malt flavor melds beautifully with the pie spices in both beers.

Might even make a pumpkin beer hater reconsider.

[dennis3951]

Originally posted by newportstorm
Press release from A-B claims Oregon-grown Golden Delicious pumpkins are used.

http://www.anheuser-busch.com/press_room/jackspice_081507.html

Two pumpkin beers caught my tastebuds by surprise this year - Stone Cat Pumpkin Porter and Cape Ann Brewing Pumpkin Stout. The roasted malt flavor melds beautifully with the pie spices in both beers.

Might even make a pumpkin beer hater reconsider.
Interesting link, A-B in going to make a Winter Burbon Cask Ale. I might have to try that.

[steveh]

Originally posted by dennis3951
A-B is going to make a Winter Burbon Cask Ale.

This may be the third year for that one.

S.

[darylM]

Originally posted by darylM
Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale

Who makes it: AB, a favorite around here :)

Preconcieved Notions: I had two 1> it was going to be a lager and 2> It would have a lot of bittering hops added. Thier flagship beer tastes like a wannabe IPA but not in a good way.

Color: yellow with red highlights. This gave the beer light orange color.

Head Retention: builds up a good amount of head and then goes away completly

Aroma: Grassy and floral. I know how this is sounding already.

mouthfeel: light. I was not surprised on this aspect.

Taste: Here was the surprise. This is truly an Ale. I could taste the low esters at the end. The hopping of the beer was more balenced and malt had more of a presence. No pumpkin or spice at all. I even went to my pantry to smell some spices to get sensitive to pumpkin spices and nothing.

Overall: To be fair, this is an awful Pumpkin beer. There are no spice presence or pumpkin presence. I would say that the hopping rates killed any flavor either one had.

On the other side, this was a very good pale ale and I could drink it again for that alone. I know this board has had discussions about macros making ales and this shows that the big boys can make a good ole ale. If they renamed it Jack's Pale Ale and sold it year round, it would find a place in my fridge.


I have to change my judgement about this beer. I have been drinking an over-the-top Pumpkin Ale and going back to this one I can really taste the beer, pumpkin and spices. and they all play well together. I guess I needed to do more beer training.

[funmusicgirl]

I enjoyed the flavor of this beer

[dennis3951]

Originally posted by funmusicgirl
I enjoyed the flavor of this beer
That is the only thing that counts!!