Anheuser Busch in another marketing coup lol

You've got to wonder if the marketing types even think about the ad copy they pump out. Do you think that maybe NONE of them has ever tasted a beer before? Tilt as in Falling Over beer??? C'mon guys....that's perfect material for Tonight Show and SNL. Not to mention it is another one of those noxious brews infused with raspberry flavor, caffeine, guarana and ginseng. Bleeech!!!

I understand Anheuser Busch may be releasing a new brew called Belch made with two-row malt, natural grains, hops, yeast and water and infused with honey, lapsang soochong tea, jackfruit and ginseng.

Trying to market to the "pinball wizard" segment of the market...

What? ...no wheatgrass?

nb

Speaking of AB....I just tried their Jack's Pumpkin Spiced Ale on draft yesterday. Hardly much of a pumpkin flavour to it but it does have some bitter tones in the aftertaste. All in all, I've drunk much worse. ;^)

Ooohhhh! Where did you find it Bill? How was the malt flavor? Did it strike you as being an all-grain product or just Amber Bock with some pumpkin spice thrown in?

_Randal

I'm not a fan of the flavored ales, but pumpkin doesn't have much flavor to begin with. It's bland like most squashes. Are you talking about flavors like the cinammon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and ginger that ends up in pumpkin pie, gingerbread and all the other holiday deserts?

*** HOMEBREWER DEAD HORSE ALERT!!! ***

Ah, but you CAN get quite a bit of pumpkin flavor in a pumpkin ale by actually mashing the pumpkin in a derivative of the classic american cereal mash (which AB must be intimately familiar) and converting all that starch to sugar. The pumpkin flavor can be sublime and calls for a not too assertive base beer, but then it can also be completely covered up if not careful with pumpkin pie spices.

I read that AB actually used real pumpkins for this - doesn't mean it will be good, or pumpkin-tasting though.

_Randal

At one of the eating/drinking establishments here in Casper

How was the malt flavor? Did it

There was a pumpkin flavour to it but not much. As far as spices go, I didn't detect any nutmeg, cinnamon, etc. but like I said, it had a kind of bitter aftertatse reminiscent of a pale ale. I'll say this much..I've had the Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale and I did *not* care for that one at all. ;^)

*That would be a bit over the top for AB at the present time methinks but dang, that sounds like something I'd like. Btw, years ago, Pete's Wicked made a winter brew with all those "fixings" and I really liked it.

I'm a sucker for "odd" beers, so I've tried every pumpkin beer I could find over the years. The only one I've truly LIKED was the Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. I didn't mind the Buffalo Bill's, but felt that I wouldn't have to try it again probably. So, your mileage may vary, but seriously, try the Dogfish Head!

I just happened to be at a bar that got a promotional (read: free) keg of it on Saturday, and they were bringing samples around. It was sweetish and overly spiced, with a smooth amber-type beer underneath. I only took a single taste due to the spices, plus the fact that I had a Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale sitting in front of me that warranted more attention.

I'm no brewer, but I would have to think that by the time the pumpkin was converted to sugar that the subtle squash-like taste of a pumpkin would be at least covered up. Especially so if there were any hopping.

The pumpkin ales I've tasted have been like brewed pumpkin pie - lots of the traditional spice flavors coming though and a hint of sweetness.

Nah. You have to cook the starches and they convert pretty quickly. I don't think you will find any commercial examples of pumpkin ales without spices, but I've made some at home and it's quite surprising really. Tastes nothing like pumpkin pie, but does have a faint vegetal pumpkiny undertone.

All the commercial examples I've had I couldn't tell you if they had any pumpkin either because of the pie spices. They should be called pumpkin pie ales. This doesn't mean I haven't had some pretty good ones

- O'Fallon and Lakefront both come to mind.

_Randal

I guess I'd have to try a pure pumpkin or squash flavored brew before passing final judgement on how it tastes. Actual tasting is ALWAYS a good idea!

Since squashes can be slightly sweet but usually bland they make great bases for one or more flavors. Whether a pumpkin pie with all the usual spices, an acorn squash with butter and topped with romano cheese or summer squash with oregano they all carry stronger flavors very well.

Yes, Pumpkin Pie Ale is a very descriptive term, but I don't think it will sell too much beer!! My brother, a long time home brewer puts up a holiday porter that includes a bit of ginger. That single spicy flavor mixes very well the somewhat heavy porter and holds the winter chill off.