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Dogfish Head Punkin Ale
Milton, Delaware
BJCP Category: 21A Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery <visit site>
38
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[expand]Total Score: 39/50
A nicely balanced spiced ale that packs a subtle punch, reminiscent of Belgian ales. Only the brown ale character seems to be missing. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Harmonious blend of spices where none stand out alone but all come together for a very inviting aroma. Light caramel maltiness. No hop aroma. No diacetyl or DMS. Light alcohol notes. Fruity fermentation esters hint of peaches or apricots. (10/12)
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Appearance: Light amber to dark gold in color; light for a brown ale base beer. Quite clear even though chilled. Dense head dissipated rather rapidly. (2/3)
Flavor: Light toasty maltiness with moderate hop bitterness to balance. No hop flavor. Alcohol is noticeable, almost IPA-like. Spices have blended nicely yielding a very pleasant and balanced spiced beer. While claiming to be a brown ale, that character of dark roasted malt escapes me. A spiced Imperial Pale Ale would be a more accurate description since the level of roasted and caramel malts is very low. The brown sugar has fully fermented out to increase the alcohol, leaving a nice caramel or light molasses presence. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium to medium-full body with slightly dry mouthfeel. Alcohol warming is quite noticeable. (4/5)
Overall Impression: A nicely balanced spiced ale that packs a subtle punch, reminiscent of Belgian ales. Only the brown ale character seems to be missing. Chocolate malt would add another layer to the beer’s complexity, but this is still very drinkable. Well-executed dry, spice subtlety. Great drink to take the chill off a cool fall night or to accompany a pumpkin soup first course. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 38/50
This is definitely an after-dinner drink, one to sip by the fireside with dear friends or a good ghost story—or both! more >
[close]Total Score: 38/50
Aroma: Light caramel maltiness with low background citrus and spicy hop; allspice becomes more evident with a brown sugar, rum- like quality. Nutmeg emerges as the beer warms. A little fruity estery quality, with lots of higher alcohols. (8/12)
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Appearance: Beautiful copper color with brilliant clarity. Firm, persistent head stand of tight off-white creamy foam, sprinkled with a few larger bubbles. (3/3)
Flavor: Light nutmeg, some peachy fruitiness, maybe accentuated by the spices. Some toasty malt in the background. Sugary rum-like high alcohol is evident, but overall flavor is balanced. Allspice comes forward mid-palate. Hop bitterness lingers in the finish along with some rum flavors. Long after everything else fades, cinnamon sneaks in for a peek. No pumpkin fruit character, which is OK. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Surprisingly full bodied with prickly carbonation. Not cloyingly sweet, but not quite dry, either. High alcoholic warmth lingers long into the finish, as much in the throat as in the mouth. (4/5)
Overall Impression: This drinks really big, even bigger than the 7-percent abv listed on the bottle. I was expecting more spice character, but I think the firm spicy hop character and bitterness would interfere with additional spice. Malt is dominated by the dark rum brown sugar fermentation characteristics. This is definitely an after-dinner drink, one to sip by the fireside with dear friends or a good ghost story—or both! Would work with rum balls, gingerbread or fruitcake. Interesting in a very good way. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
Very nice, well-balanced beer. A little more crystal malt or less attenuation would alleviate the slight astringency in the finish, but this is a well-crafted, pleasant beer. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Spices percolate through the head after the initial pour—nutmeg first followed by cinnamon. Caramel and toasted malts provide a balanced background. It has an interesting earthy character that may be from the pumpkin. A little alcohol is apparent as it warms, but the fermentation character takes a back seat to the malt and spice bouquet. (10/12)
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Appearance: The head retention is superb, probably assisted by proteins from the pumpkin. Brilliant clarity with a light copper color. Not as dark as most brown ales. (3/3)
Flavor: Malt character is fairly light for the brown ale style—some toasted malt is evident, but could be a little higher to provide more of a backbone. Spice flavor is pleasant, with nutmeg and cinnamon interplaying nicely. There is some bitterness in the finish from both spices and hops. Light esters in the background, but focus is on spices and malt. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Body is fuller than malt would suggest, which I have found is often the case in beers made from pumpkins or squash. There is some alcoholic warmth and a touch of soapiness. Some astringency is apparent, but this is difficult to avoid in spiced beers. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Very nice, well-balanced beer. A little more crystal malt or less attenuation would alleviate the slight astringency in the finish, but this is a well-crafted beer that is pleasant to drink. The spice additions were well done, adding complexity without dominating the overall profile. The beer had many layers, and I would probably uncover more if I had a second sample. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
Nice balance of flavors — spice and sugar balances with beer. Alcohol is somewhat out of balance, so this might drink better when the beer is at least three months old. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Big spice aroma—allspice is most dominant but has a great “pumpkin pie” aroma. Rich, malty, molasses note. Moderate sweetness with a warm alcohol nose (like a hot toddy). Brown sugar aromatics linger and mix with toasty malt. Perfumy and enticing. (10/12)
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Appearance: Deep amber-orange color, almost copper. Crystal clear. Moderate cream-colored head; frothy bubbles settled quickly. (3/3)
Flavor: Brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice flavors are moderately high and dominate palate. Moderate malt richness initially but finishes quite dry, accentuated by spices and alcohol dryness. Bubbles wipe malt off tongue quickly—malt qualities thus appear lower (alcohol lowers the malt balance too). Medium-low bitterness appears as moderate due to alcohol- and spice-derived bitterness. Mild rose-like alcohol flavor. Base beer is very clean; sugar and spice enhances, not overpowers. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium-high to high carbonation. Bubbles jump out (less would be better). Fairly hot—would benefit from additional cellaring (this sample is only three weeks old). Medium-full body. Fairly creamy rich palate. Slight spice astringency. (3/5)
Overall Impression: Nice balance of flavors—spice and sugar balances with beer. Alcohol is somewhat out of balance, so this might drink better at Thanksgiving or when the beer is at least three months old. Not a warm weather beer. Rich, alcoholic and spicy, this cries out for cool weather. Try it as a beer float with premium vanilla ice cream. It’s like pumpkin pie a la mode. (8/10)
