First sip is stronger than I expected. You can definitely taste the pumpkin and the spices, and they overwhelm the beer. The issue, I think, is that it tastes like they included the husk of the pumpkin in with the rest of it. There is definitely something a little off with a sip. I uncharacteristically try a second sip, and the second one seems more balanced. The pumpkin pie taste is back to normal - with a little tweak from the outside of possible hops that aren't fitting in quite right. There is a tart side to the sweet that I wouldn't expect from an actual pie, but it's not that bad in this beer.
A swig shows me a very weak tip-in with slight pumpkin spices and the slightest of carbonation burns. The meat of the beer loses the pumpkin altogether in favor of peppery spices and nutmeg. It really amps up the spices to a level that is almost painful, but it evens out quickly enough. The finish hits a spice peak and then smoothly exits with a buttery, flaky pie crust very nicely.
Bottom Line: A very nice, drinkable, and even festive beer with something a little different than the others on the market.
4.25/5