I was underwhelmed by the previous Elysian pumpkin brew, but I should have tempered my expectations based on the use of pumpkin in the first place. The fact is, these kinds of beers seem like they are the beer equivalent of pumpkin spice at Starbucks - it's kind of required and some people go nuts for it, but ultimately, it seems like kind of a dumb tradition. But, I have several more pumpkin beers to go through, and I hope they change my mind.
First sip is a wild ride. At first, I thought I had hit the motherload with chocolate mixed in with the pumpkin and light spices that seems to get stronger and the whole thing was just going great. Then, the end came with bitterness and coffee that really doesn't seem like it knows where it is and what it should be doing. So, it just takes over the whole mouth, and my mouth just isn't on board with this shift. I'm a gonna gulp.
Tip-in is almost creamy, sweet chocolate with light spices and a rising pumpkin. The middle is where I expect pure joy, and this one brings a dryness and bitterness across the tongue, and I don't know where the carbonation is at this point; but, the pumpkin rises and meets the spices as coffee starts its vile brawl to dominance. The finish is coffee, bitter, pumpkin, and the air of spices.
Bottom Line: Better. Not quite there yet for pumpkin beers.
2.75/5
