Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale (by Michelob)
Surprise: Who knew they made pumpkin-flavored booze?!
Reality: Actually, accordingly to these guys there are a whole bunch!
Disappointment: Too bad I couldn’t find one of those other ones on their list to sample instead because in my eyes, this one barely even earned the C+ that the fine folks of BeerAdvocate.com awarded it.
The Skinny: I’ve never really been much of a beer drinker – these days when you do happen to find a drink in my hand, it’ll most likely be one of those fruity drinks that this area and further south are famous for – but when I did drink beer, I was a Corona guy through and through. And mind you I’m obviously not much of a beer connoisseur so I haven’t really sampled a lot of beers, but needless to say compared to Corona pretty much everything else tasted like nasty to me.
So fast forward to November 2nd, 2008 and two bottles into Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale, it saddens me to admit that this stuff tastes like nothing more than maybe slightly spiced Corona to me. As far as pumpkin resemblance is concerned, in my book the pumpkin-headed scarecrow on the outside of the bottle is about as close as this beer (or ale, or whatever…) gets to being pumpkin-flavored. And although I’m no beer snob, I even did a little experimentation and poured my second bottle into a glass to see if any magical sensations might somehow be released in such a manner … but nothing.
Final Verdict: It’s kind of orange-ish colored, and it’s got a pumpkin on the label, but that doesn’t make it pumpkin-flavored ale…
I think the fact that you don’t drink beer very much eliminates your opinion on this beverage. While I will admit the pumpkin is not bold and in your face in this particular offering, I think your final verdict dismissal “It’s kind of orange-ish colored, and it’s got a pumpkin on the label, but that doesn’t make it pumpkin-flavored ale…” is completely off-kilter. Its initial crispness and slightly bittersweet flavor followed by the subtle spiced taste of pumpkin that sort of lingers on your tongue makes this one of the better ales available on the general market for those that don’t have access to a more diverse selection. Again, I think if you drank more beer than fruity drinks it might open your mind a bit more.
[Reply]
Scott Reply:
November 21st, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I don’t know if it’s fair to say that my lack of beer prowess dismisses my opinion altogether, as the pumpkin tie-in is the primary focus here, however I will give you that I might very well had a better appreciation for this one if I was a beer drinker myself. It sounds like you, on the other hand, did happen to enjoy this one for its more subtle pumpkin offering, so other readers who also happen to be beer aficionados may want to give Jack’s a try nonetheless!
Does anyone else have any other pumpkin-based alcoholic beverages that should also be considered???
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