Bottle (bottled 8/26/11). First pumpkin beer of the season. Pours with a murky, deep bronze hued body and a pretty large, off-white, tan head. Close knit bubbles, creamy. Decent lace. Aromas of spice, a little bit of soggy grain/pumpkin vegital qualities, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, biscuity, corn bread, very mild oak notes, light esters. Really minimal, if any bourbon or alcohol (well hidden if there is some). Flavors of spice, lightly starchy vegital notes that finish sweet and a bit metallic. Molasses, oak, alcohol, tannic, short duration. Some cinnamon and light bready notes, a hint of coffee. Bitter, grassy, vegital in the finish. Lots of a soggy malt character. Its not quite DMS (although it is often coupled with it), and I sometimes refer to it as wet dog, but I sadly don’t have a better descriptor. Shockingly lively carbonation, lasting bitter, somewhat dry. Lots of lingering graham cracker. Had to look up to see: yup, I have had Four+ Punkn...Imperial and a touch more characterful, but not much better. Could be cleaner.

750ml bottle picked up at the brewery
Appearance: Clear dark ruby with a medium sized off-white head that dissipates quickly leaving a small ring and light some lacing
Appearance: Pumpkin, spices, vanilla and oak
Aroma: Pumpkin, caramel, oak, nutmeg and hot alcohols
Nice, a good sipper on a cold night. I admit I was worried that this was going to be over the top with pumpkin, but it wasn’t. Well balanced all the way through.

Pours clear, deep amber into a Sam glass. Off-white micro head with medium retention recedes to skim surface leaving spider lacing. Oak, bourbon, and vanilla aromas. Sweet oak and vanilla upfront turning to nutmeg and allspice before the lasting hot bourbon finish.