Jackie O’s Barking Pumpkin Ale (7/10)

Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery is located in Athens, Ohio, and is the home of Barking Pumpkin Ale.

The beer pours a cloudy medium brown with some red to it, more a mahogany color.  The head leaves behind thin white rings of lacing.

The aroma is on the spicy side.  This may be from the ginger, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and brown sugar added to the wort during brewing.

The beer is brewed with a lot of malt, so it leans toward the sweeter side, but is reasonably balanced overall.  The finish is slightly bitter.  The spices that are dominant in the aroma are very subtle in the flavor.

RateBeer gives this one an 89/100 overall with 20+ ratings.  Beer Advocate gives it an 84/100 with 40+ ratings.  I’m giving it a 7/10.  I’d like to see more spice and less bitterness.

I sampled this at The Daily Growler in October 2013.  I’ve not seen it available in stores.  To find it, you’ll need to check beer menus at restaurants and growler shops, or make a trip to Athens.


Pumpkin Beer Flavor Profile:
Dominant Flavor (Beer, Spices, Pumpkin):  Malt
Pumpkin intensity:  Low
Spice intensity:  Low
Malty or hoppy:  Hoppy
Sweet, balanced, or dry:  Balanced
Dominant flavor:  Malt
ABV:  7.5%
IBU:  Unknown
My Rating: 7/10