Saranac Pumpkin Ale---Solid Introduction to the Flavor of FallSep 20 '05 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Saranac Pumpkin Ale is a solid offering, not overpowering, with some real pumpkin pie flavor to it, as opposed to others that only mimic the spiciness of the experience.
With fall’s arrival, my beer tastes shift into a different sphere. I start looking for the kind of beer that goes well with the changes in the air -- the fall colors, the last barbecues over a firepit, tailgating, leaf raking, etc. -- one with full bodied flavor that soothes my raw nerves during the baseball playoffs. I will drink my fill of Oktoberfest beers, but also seek out new Harvest ales and, of course, Pumpkin Ale. Of all the fall brews to choose from, I will invariably find myself drinking a whole bunch of Pumpkin Ale, either old favorites, a growler from the Heartland Brewery in NYC, and whatever shows up in my beer cooler of choice. This year, I stumbled upon a new entry from an old reliable: Saranac Brewing Company’s Pumpkin Ale. I’ve been drinking Saranac’s products for years now and though they are considered an entry level microbrewer for beer novices, they offer tasteful brews at an unbeatable price from their larger, perhaps better known micro competitors. Saranac products are usually priced around $5.99 a six-pack in my area and that’s hard to pass up. This summer, I enjoyed their Kolsch and Belgian White beers. Fall has introduced their Octoberfest lager and now, a Pumpkin Ale. If you don’t like pumpkin, I don’t understand you either. Saranac describes their brew as a “celebration of fall harvest...brewed with pumpkin, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and vanilla.” There is no information about its alcohol by volume (ABV) rating but I would estimate it in the 5-6% range on their other products. Saranac’s Pumpkin Ale pours to a deep mahogany amber red color with a frothy head. There’s a subtle aroma, perhaps a tinge of the vanilla coming through. The immediate taste or mouthfeel is sweet, with the spices slowly revealing themselves at the back of the throat. The ale is medium bodied, though a tad thinner than it should be, and tasteful. The cinnamon, allspice, and clove combination comes through with some sweetness at the finish. The pumpkin lies in the middle somewhere with the spices at the higher end of the taste scale. There is a distinct kick at the finish, a spiciness that stays with the tongue and lips. Overall, Saranac Pumpkin Ale is a solid offering (three stars), not overpowering, with some real pumpkin pie flavor to it, as opposed to others that only mimic the spiciness of the experience. What I did like about is that it doesn’t overpower your tastebuds, and, unlike some other offerings in this category, you can drink it as a session beer. Mind you, it doesn’t rise to the full flavor profile of some others as the taste thins out a bit over time, but this is a nicely done introduction the genre and it’s certainly the leader at its price point. I will certainly keep some available in my beer fridge for guests and such and recommend it for Pumpkin ale fans or those looking to try one without fear of the “Great Pumpkin” himself. Note: This is a limited release and was reportedly produced as a one shot, small batch project. Once it’s gone, it’s gone; until next year. Sources www.saranac.com, www.ratebeer.com, www.beeradvocate.com  |
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