Night Owl Pumpkin Ale is brewed by Elysian Brewing Company, and for the purposes of this craft beer review, was served in a tulip pint glass from a bottle.
Appearance
Pours a somewhat cloudy burnt orange with ample sediment afloat in the glass. The beer is topped by a thick cap of dense white foam that shows fine retention. It takes an aggressive pour to yield the best head. A soapy residue gathers at the collar during reduction.
Aroma
A pleasant aroma offers a scent of toasty pumpkin with spices of cinnamon and clove.
Flavor
Palate starts with pumpkin meat that’s spiced with cinnamon and allspice. The taste transitions to a flavor of toasted bread that’s balanced mildly with floral hops, ginger and clove. From there the taste finishes with a lingering sweetness of brown sugar and caramel.
Mouthfeel
The Night Owl has a smooth and creamy feel with a medium-light body and just a little less than moderate carbonation.
Overall
Pumpkin lovers ought to be satisfied with the Night Owl Pumpkin Ale as it treats the taste buds with the right amount of pumpkin flavor without being overpowering. The use of spices is superb but just a little more hops would round out the flavor nicely. The feel is slightly underwhelming and could use just a bit more heft. This is all nitpicking, as this is otherwise, a delightful representation of the style.