Samuel Adams Pumpkin Batch

Belgian yeast character with white pepper phenolics are quickly usurped by an assertive blend of mace, nutmeg and cinnamon spices. After you work your way through the spice, some herbal and woody hop aromas emerge, though no esters or malt are present. This beer pours a brilliantly clear copper-orange color with a generous, creamy white head that becomes a tightly woven, thin foam cap as you head towards the finish. The flavor is loaded with pumpkin pie spices with some woody, earthy hops and a slight malt character helping to keep the beer from being one-dimensional. Fortunately, with all this spice and effervescence, the hop bitterness is low. The pumpkin squash finally reveals itself in the aftertaste as the aggressive spicing and high carbonation aide in drying out the finish. This Saison was enjoyable but a little heavy-handed with the spice. Increased Belgian yeast character, some esters, and a bit more pumpkin squash would provide this beer with more balance and complexity.