Shipyard Pumpkinhead
This is the one and only true “pumpkin ale” of the group and my initial impression is the rest of the brews have been stacked up against heavy competition. It pours a golden whiskey color with little head. It smells of cinnamon and tastes uncannily like a piece of pumpkin pie. Although this seems to be a simple review I can offer no other description because it really does taste like the traditional Thanksgiving desert. Very delicious and easy to drink. This is a difficult beer to share so rest assured you aren’t being rude if you tell your drinking buddies to buy their own. I give this brew my highest recommendation. -Matt
I’m with Matty on this one. I’ve had a few pumpkin ales in my day, but I think this may be number 1. The aroma and flavor are so sweet and spicy and delicate. There is a very noticeable flavor of pumpkin laced with cinnamon and nutmeg and a touch of brown sugar. All this combines with the subtle beer backbone – just a hint of malt and minor hops. Usually with a beer of this robust flavor, I would expect a syrupy or overwhelming aftertaste. However, this beer manages to finish quite crisp, and leaves just a lingering cinnamon sweetness on the tongue. A great beer to be sure. -Ben
Categories: Beer Reviews, Octoberfest Showdown, Pumpkin, Shipyard, Specialty
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4 Responses to “Shipyard Pumpkinhead”
Hey Donna,
To be honest, I’m not sure what your nearest location would be. The furthest place North that I’ve seen the beer is in Virginia. However, I know that the brewery is in Maine and, frankly, I feel like it must be distributed somewhere in New York if it travelled this far South. Try calling their customer service line – I’m sure they could let you know where they distribute – according to their website, the number is 1-800-BREW-ALE.
Good luck! -Ben
[...] The ubiquitous pumpkin beer is the pumpkin ale, and we have reviewed quite a few of those here on sevenpack. I enjoy a good pumpkin ale like any other American beer drinker, but I also crave [...]
[...] Ben and Matt have found Shipyard’s Pumpkinhead Ale favorable (at least when compared with a bunch of non-pumpkin beers), I have not. Of the few times I have had [...]
Care to comment?
I’m from upstate new york i just need to know where i can purchase this beer because this is something i need my friends back here to try.