Rumpkin

Specialty beers often have a high-wire to walk. This one has three (wood aging, high alcohol, and spicing) and does a good job in two areas and a downright outstanding job on the third!  

To begin with, the beer pours orange and a bit hazy: not pretty, but forgivable in a fall beer, and creative types will note that it's almost the color of a pumpkin rind through the glass. The aroma is neither subtle nor abrasive -- just a clear, medium-high cinnamon and nutmeg nose, with pleasant apple-like ethanols in support. There is no hop aroma, but as it warms a pleasant graham-cracker note comes through.

The flavor matches the aroma, but adds a vanilla and buttery toffee component. The spices play their part here as well, which helps to balance the neither sweet nor dry finish. It is a beer that would be perfectly at home in front of a roaring fire in a ski lodge... just what the brewery had in mind, I'm sure! Surprisingly, the beer is not excessively warm on the palate; you can feel the alcohol, but not more so than in any number of 8-9% ABV double IPAs.

This might be one of the most dangerous beers ever made, because despite its very high ABV, it drinks smoothly and without any of the burn associated with some other high-octane beers. I'm not sure if it's a truly great beer, but you certainly can't fault the execution, except in one area: Where's the wood? There's no clear contribution from the barrel, except for a bit of tannic structure. A missed opportunity, perhaps, but despite that one minor glitch, I thoroughly enjoyed this beer and recommend it as a great seasonal choice with no reservations.