Fisherman’s Imperial Pumpkin Stout

Style: Stout

Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7%

Calories:210

Price: $1.79/bottle

Awards: 2007 New England Microbrew Champ and Silver Medal winner at the 2007 Great International Beer Festival

This week’s Malt Monday review is the first of my seasonal beer selections for Pumpkin Ales.  I love Pumpkin beer so I was stoked to review Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout.  Brewed and bottled by Cape Ann Brewing Company in Massachusetts under contract with Olde Saratoga Brew this beer is a nice twist on the pumpkin pie beers; it’s an actual stout with hints of pumpkin and spices.

I was drawn to this beer because I had yet to experience a pumpkin stout.  I also thought the label was kind of creepy which totally put me in Fall/Halloween mood.  I drank this brew very cold and I poured it into a tall, pilsner glass.  There was very little head at the top.  The small amount of foam that did appear was off-white and left very little lacing on the glass.  The beer poured a rich dark, almost black color.  The aromas were malt, chocolate and a slight nutmeg scent.

This is a very good stout although I didn’t necessarily taste the pumpkin.  The stout was earthy and had flavorings of black coffee and cinnamon with very little aftertaste or bite.  My husband took a few sips of the beer and thought it was very heavy and rich.  He wasn’t a fan, but then again, he’s not a fan of stouts, in general.  (It did take him three sips to come the conclusion that he didn’t like it.  Maybe he is slowly starting to appreciate the world of stouts … one can only hope).

The 7% ABV was definitely there – I could feel the alcohol effects about 3/4 of the way into the bottle and I’m definitely not a light-weight.  It has kick.   I drank only one Fisherman’s Imperial Pumpkin Stout and woke up with next morning with an unshakable headache.   Coincidence?  Maybe, but definitely worth mentioning.

I really didn’t know what to expect with this beer and in the end, I was really pleased.  It’s the perfect beer for the cold, Fall-like days we are having here on the East Coast.

As a pumpkin beer AND a stout, it has great appeal with a ton of uniqueness.  Fisherman’s Imperial Pumpkin Stout is GGG approved!