No matter where I go this fall, I’m on the lookout for new-to-me pumpkin beers for Pumpkin Beer Palooza. After reviewing my notes prior to this project, I’ve enjoyed about 45 different ones, so it’s been a bit of a challenge to find new ones. As I combed through Craft Beer Cellar Grand Rapids for the final time in September, finding something new was on my mind.
While going through the shelves and discounted beer, I stumbled upon Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co‘s Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale. I’ve enjoyed the brewery’s Kentucky Vanilla Barrel Cream Ale before so I knew this one was going to be decent. The bottle read “pumpkin ale aged in oak bourbon barrels,” which made me want to open it right then and there in the store as I’m a fan of both pumpkin beers and barrel-aged ones.
After I cracked open the bottle and poured it into a glass, I took a big whiff and found a subtle barrel presence with a touch of spices. I couldn’t wait to drink this one. My hopes were very high. As I took my first few sips, I felt like the beer was a bit disjointed between its pumpkin beer elements and its barrel-aged status.
As a pumpkin beer, I thought it was a bit thin in the pumpkin department yet had a fair amount of spices. As a barrel-aged beer, the oak and bourbon notes were strong, especially on the backend. Together the spices and bourbon notes complemented each other to make this beer much more complex than a regular pumpkin beer.
With only one bottle, I was set as this beer was a whopping 10%. I savored every last drop for both the enjoyment of the pumpkin beer season and as a tribute to what was Craft Beer Cellar Grand Rapids.
Cheers!
Disclaimer: Ed purchased Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale for review.
Pumpkin Beer Palooza 2020
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