SHAWN’S REVIEW (1-5)
Taste: 5
After Taste: 3
Label: 5
Buzz Factor: 3
Let me first say that I haven’t had a pumpkin flavored beer in years because the last version I had left a horrible taste in my mouth and an irreplaceable hole in my wallet. Loathe to duplicate that experience I refused all manner of pumpkin brews. Then a good friend told me I should give this one a try. I did, and it was a worthy homecoming! There isn’t a head to speak of but it filled my glass with a beautiful dark orange color. The bouquet is strong in this one and the first sip is really potent! Just as you swallow is when the Great Pumpkin really kicks you in the back of the throat. The aftertaste lingers longer than I would like, but certainly won’t stop me from consuming this again before it goes out of season. If like me, you were disappointed with a previous foray into the pumpkin genre, I whole heartedly suggest you give this brand a try. It is packed with loads of flavor and really has a spicy kick! The label is also tastefully done, with a great choice of a matte paper label, distressed type and subtle use of color.
ROBERTA’S REVIEW (1-5)
Taste: 3
After Taste: 3
Label: 5
Buzz Factor: 4
Color: 5
This is one spicy beer, like water from a potpourri bong! Call me crazy a pot(pourri)head, but I kinda liked it. The aftertaste was little long-lasting and after about 1/4 the beer, it was a little much for me, but flavored beer is not really my thing which may make me a harsher critic than this beer deserves. I will say, Dogfish Head has some really terrific beers - all worth trying. Their website is cool; I’m a fan of the design work on it, their packaging and merchandise. Hope to make it to their Rehoboth Beach, DE brewery next summer. Like I said, I’m probably rating this lower purely based on personal preference in beer, but I will say for those of us who appreciate beer as a total experience - this is worth a try. Everything about this beer made me remember why I love fall so much; the smell, the taste and especially the color which was a nice warm orange that glowed like a candle in a jack-o-lantern!
JASON’S REVIEW (1-5)
Taste: 4
After Taste: 4
Label: 3
Buzz Factor: 3
I agree with my fellow Bottle Recappers - this is a great beer to have in the fall months. The warm, spicy flavor is the perfect drink to help you warm up on a cool autumn evening. The only problem is that in order to enjoy the Punkin Ale on those cool autumn evenings, you need to stock up on six packs during the sweltering days of August. We learned that lesson the hard way as most of our local establishments were out of this brew before autumn truly began! If you want to enjoy this seasonal brew next year, you should keep an eye out in the early part of the season or else you might miss out.
As Roberta pointed out, this beer has a wonderful color… although her beautiful and poetic description of the particular shade of orange may be lost on some. You know, those who choose to put strobe lights in their foil-lined jack-o-lanterns, clearly violating predetermined and agreed upon contest rules. Not that I’m bitter or anything…

Original Post: http://www.shawncope.com/beer/archives/58