Southern Tier Imperial Pumking

Most of the beer styles you come across today are descendants that were originally brewed in a another country. But sometimes I find myself asking what style is TRULY American? Well I have done some research and found that this country’s founding fathers used what was growing naturally in this country. One of those things was pumpkin. So they tried that and they seem to like it. George Washington had is own brewery at Mt. Vernon and they used pumpkin there. So today we have pumpkin ales around September through November. This here is Southern Tier’s Imperial Pumking, 8.6% ABV brewed with 2-row pale malt, caramel malt, puréed pumpkin, magnum hops (kettle hops), and sterling hops (aroma hops). Pumking pours a deep copper/orange color with a two and a half white head that leaves great but thin lacings. There is tons of light streaming though the glass with nice amounts of carbonation bubbles. The aroma on Pumking is strong; I could smell in as soon as the cap was pried off. There is a nice caramel with a touch of cinnamon. I also found a little pumpkin seed scent there. The taste on Pumking is big and slightly bold with a nice pumpkin flavor. I also got a little caramel sweetness with cinnamon and a slight graham cracker flavor. But towards the back I get a slight candy corn taste. The mouth feel is medium; this beer really coats your tongue and mouth. Pumking finishes nice with a little alcohol sweetness that leads into a big after taste of sweet pumpkin, little caramel cinnamon. The after taste really sticks around for a while. Pumking is like Halloween in a bottle, really a good quality beer and well crafted. I will say this is getting an A here. I haven’t really had a beer that tasted quite like this; it is a very good and yet interesting beer. I recommend you try Southern Tier Imperial Pumking. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!