Where I Found It. I had this beer at the Beach Chalet Brewery and Restaurant in San Francisco, CA.

Serving Type. When I sampled this brew, it it was served from the tap into a pint glass.

Appearance. The head is a light, off-white, tan color but does not last very long. The color of this Pumpkin Spice Ale is a nice bright orange color that is complementary to the fact that this is a pumpkin ale. This beer is crystal clear.

Smell. The aroma of this Pumpkin Spice Ale is slightly sweet, malty, and mild. The bouquet has a just a hint of pumpkin pie spices such as nutmeg, cloves, and a dash of cinnamon. There is another sweetness present like that of concord grapes but in a good way as if it will be refreshing. I also noticed the grape-juice-like scent in the Beach Chalet stout, which makes me wonder what is causing that scent.

Taste. The pumpkin pie flavor is very subtle and is by no means in your face. There are flavors of a dash of nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon alongside some cloves. I also experienced a vanilla flavor but not as strong as a cream soda. There is definitely malt sweetness present and the balance is in favor of the malt over the hops. After a while, the slight vanilla flavor takes on a light caramel flavor.

Mouthfeel. The mouthfeel is smooth with a slightly spicy aftertaste. This pumpkin ale is a light to medium bodied ale. It is not too watery and not too thick.

Drinkability. This is a wonderful beer to try especially if you like a pumpkin ale that is more subtle than in your face. Personally, I prefer to have the pumpkin spice flavors to be pronounced. It is quite possible, however, that this batch has mellowed over time.

Rating. My ratings below are on a five point scale with five being the best score. The overall rating is calculated exactly the same way as Beer Advocate.

• Appearance (20%): 4.0
• Smell (20%): 3.5
• Taste (40%): 3.5
• Mouthfeel (10%): 3.5
• Drinkability (10%): 3.0
• Overall: 3.55

Information

• Alcohol by volume: unknown, I’ll guess 5.6% like most of their other beers
• Style: Pumpkin Ale
• Brewery: Beach Chalet Brewery
• Beer Advocate rating: 3.55 (on January 26, 2009)

Other Reviews

• Beer Advocate – Beach Chalet Pumpkin Spice Ale
• Rate Beer – Pumpkin Spice from Beach Chalet Brewery
• If you review this beer on your blog, please leave a comment and I will post a link.