We wanted to compare pumpkin ales, but my friend also brought over a sexy little bottle of Backlash's new release - Conquest. They're doing a beer each month from September through December that will reflect the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Conquest, Famine, War & Death.
There will be a review to follow... Maybe all 4 in one sitting! Now that'd be an Apocalypse!
He brought me this lovely little number as well..
Avery - Rumpkin 18.1% ABV (past years rate at 15 IBUs) - an Imperial Pumpkin ale aged in rum barrels. GODDAMN! Quickly fading head..deep amber/burnt orange pour. Much lighter in body than the similarly boozy DFH 120 Minute. The nose is immediate, huge and amazing. Rich pumpkin and spicy/sweet rum - so a heavy booze note is not unexpected. Touches of vanilla, clove, oak and molasses. Just wow! For such a huge beer, the booze heat is rather minimal and it's not malty thick like others above 12% More of the same in the taste.. wonderful fresh pumpkin notes (freshly picked in 2011..this has been aging for months) caramel and toffee sweetness with some vanilla and spice rum notes. Nutmeg, clove and cinnamon spices...Belgian candi sugar and caramelized orange peel.. oaky/charred wood.. there is everything in this beer and it simply gets better as it warms. For a big, boozy, malty, flavorful, spicy, full-on in-your-face pumpkin.. don't pass this up! Well worth the $10+ price tag.. and damned glad I found a bottle for myself!
For my part, I provided a Weyebacher - Imperial Pumpkin 8.0% ABV 21 IBU Imperial Pumpkin ale. Fairly certain I reviewed this in 2010's Great Pumpkin Face-Off.. but why not again? Being seasonal, batches can change year to year... Similar brown/orange pour.. nonexistent head.. nice graham cracker malty nose, hints of orange, pumpkin and spice. Thick and malty..half the booze and twice as thick as the Rumpkin.. rich caramel malts with underlying, sweeter graham cracker and nutty notes. Decent pumpkin flavors are present with the standard spice/vanilla profile.. a solid offering that could be a bit lighter in body with more dominant, fresher pumpkin notes.
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