CITROUILLE ~ ST. AMBROISE

Citrouille or the Great Pumpkin Ale (in English) is a fall offering made by one of Quebec’s earliest microbreweries. The beer pours deep coppery amber with moderate carbonation and a finger of off white head. Many spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, ginger) dance around my nose complimented with caramel toasted malts (blonde and caramel malts) and pumpkin. The beer taste much like it smells, it has a sweet malty backbone, with notes of pumpkin and spice. The beer is not overly spiced or overly sweet, and has a nice crisp finish. Hop (Cascade and Wilmette) finish is subtle. Over all a very enjoyable pumpkin beer.

5% Montreal, Quebec IBU 18

HIGHBALLER PUMPKIN ALE 2015 ~ GRAND RIVER BREWING

Sampled from a bottle.  The beer poured a slightly opaque light coppery colour, with a lasting off white head.  The nose has fresh pumpkin, spice (all-spice, clove, ginger cinnamon, vanilla), malt and some caramel.  The taste had little pumpkin and quite a bit of spice.  I find pumpkin spices to be a little metallic or minerally at times - this came thorough with this beer.  The finish has a nice hop bitterness (Amerillo and liberty hops) and finished dry with a spicy aftertaste.   Pumpkins for the Highballer Pumpkin Ale are all grown by the owner of the brewery in his garden…must be quite a pumpkin patch!

5.2% from Cambridge, Ontario

SAISON DU PUMP ~ GREAT LAKES BREWERY

Saison Du Pump is a pumpkin ale brewed with spice and Belgian Saison yeast.

Sampled on draught, it pours a hazy golden colour, with a tinge of orange.  It had a decent head, but the foam dissipated quickly.  Nose has lots of yeast, spice, a little malt and pumpkin.  The taste is very similar: lots of bready and yeast flavour with pumpkin, pumpkin spice (nutmeg and cloves) and a fall earthiness. A little sweetness mid drink and then finishes with a mild bitterness and a subtle spiciness.  An interesting marriage of two different styles and seasons - definitely worth a try.  A good unique beer.

5.2 %  from Etobicoke, Ontario