New Belgium Pumpkick (7/10)

Pumpkick is New Belgium Brewing’s fall seasonal, an ale brewed with pumpkin, cranberry juice, and spices.   Pumpkick is brewed with Pale, Munich, and Caramel malts, Target hops, pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cranberries, and lemongrass.  It was introduced by New Belgium in July 2013.

The aroma gives off a strong pumpkin funk element, followed by cranberry, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

The color is something of an orangey amber.

The head is about two fingers thick, and somewhat coarse off-white color.  It lasts quite a while and leaves behind sheet-like lacing which eventually dissipates into a permanent lace-like arrangement

The flavor matches up somewhat with the aroma.  It starts very tart, with the cranberries, nutmeg, and lemongrass up front, then gives way to a burst of pumpkin funkiness.  It’s then fairly mild and malty, finishing mildly bitter and sour with a pumpkin flesh note.  While not an unpleasant beer, it’s not what I look for in a pumpkin beer.  The tart, sour nature of it is OK, but only that.  The result is a beer I wouldn’t mind drinking occasionally but wouldn’t put in my regular rotation even if it were available year-round.

Beer Advocate gives it a 77-79 out of 100 or “okay” rating.  Rate Beer gives it only a 61 overall.  My rating of 7 out of 10 is right about in the middle of that.  I like Pumpkick a little, but there are many other beers (including many pumpkin beers) I’d much rather drink.

Pumpkin Beer Flavor Profile:
Dominant Flavor Element (Beer, Spices, Pumpkin):  Tartness from cranberry juice and lemongrass
Pumpkin intensity:  Moderate
Spice intensity:  Low
Malty or hoppy:  Malty
Sweet, balanced, or dry:  Sour
Major flavors:  Cranberry/lemon sourness, pumpkin funk, malt
ABV: 6.0%
IBU:  Unknown, but I’d estimate in the 10-20 range
My Rating: 7/10