12 oz. bottles- ~$10 per 6-pack
Background
Getting into October I figured it was time to try out a pumpkin beer, even though they typically haven’t been my thing. Ballast Point provides a unique entry in this category with Pumpkin Down, a seasonal brew that adds pumpkin and spices to their year-round Piper Down Scottish Ale.
Piper Down is a “low hopped, malty ale” that has a nice sweetness and low bitterness. To this they add “a boatload of roasted pumpkin” and just before bottling “a subtle amount of spice to complement, but not overwhelm, the earthy flavor.”
I picked this up at the local grocery store…and since I live in a small town, I’m thinking you should be able to find this just about anywhere.
Notes
Pouring into the glass, this seasonal Scotch Ale is a deep amber that’s almost red. The head was thin and dissipated in short order. The first sip was medium-bodied, but rich in flavor. There was definitely an oakiness about it, a little malty and a balancing of hops, while the pumpkin and spices were very subtle.
I opted to pair this with El Gueguense, a medium-bodied cigar from Foundation Cigar Company, in the Corona Gorda vitola. The cigar started off with a blast of cedar, along with a mellow natural tobacco sweetness.
On subsequent sips of the Pumpkin Down, I did pick up more flavor from the gourd, while the spices did indeed remain subtle. The cigar, being nuanced as well, went quite well with this beer, with the beer building up the sweetness on the palate and making the smoke even more enjoyable.
This was a good, mellow pumpkin beer. I like the fact that it the Scotch Ale part was on the maltier side. I like the fact that the pumpkin was subtle. Basically, Pumpkin Down is a good, well-balanced beer that should pair well with many medium-bodied cigars.
