Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale by Hoppin' Frog

I despise sharing pumpkin beers.

Hoppin' Frog won a Gold Medal at the 2010 GABF in the Field Category with Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale.  This is the second Great American Beer Festival Gold medal winner in three years for this young brewery.  Pumpkin is a fast growing segment of the beer industry, and Hoppin' Frog's ability to land a gold shows that the brewer is no slouch.

Tasting Notes:
When poured from the bottle it produces a nice white head and a dark amber color with a nice amount of bubbles. The head produced a spicy aroma with nutmeg and clove standing out above the pumpkin.  A very light pumpkin flavor was dominated by pumpkin pie spices.  The beer lacks the bread flavors found in most pumpkin beer, but this is not a bad thing.  Overall the beer reminds me more of pumpkin pie filling than the whole pie.  A fizzy mouthfeel that creates a bit of a bite.  As the GABF medal attests this is a beer worth having.

Post Road Pumpkin Ale by Brooklyn Brewery

Although not prevalent from the marketing, Post Road Pumpkin Ale is a product of Brooklyn Brewery.  I have often wondered why such a fine beer does not proudly proclaim the Brooklyn name.  The rumor is that Post Road was the name of the brewery bought by Brooklyn that owned this recipe.  However, I still do not understand the lack of updated packaging.

Post Road is a beer I must buy each fall.  I only have a couple beers each season that I insist on having and this one makes the cut.  When poured from a bottle into a pint glass you should see a medium white head that will dissipate.  The beer has an orange tinge to the normal amber color and has solid pumpkin pie aroma. When drinking Post Road, you taste a distinct maltiness coupled with bitterness and a light body.  The beer finishes crisp and dry.

With a 5% ABV this is a beer you can sit around and drink all night.  I recommend serving Post Road between dinner and dessert if your the host separates the two.  Either way, Post Road Pumpkin Ale is a must have for the fall season.