After a break from pumpkin beers for the last couple of days, I thought I’d get back to it with an original. Even six or 7 years ago when I started brewing pumpkin beers at home, Buffalo Bill’s was available. I’m not quite sure how long it’s been around, but it’s pretty much considered the original pumpkin beer – as you can see that it calls itself, “American’s Original” Pumpkin Ale. The label says, “Ale brewed with real pumpkins and natural spice flavor. 5.2% ABV.”
When I poured it in the glass, the head looked like, and dissipated like, soda water – leaving absolutely no head after about 10 seconds after pouring it. The color was copper/orange and the aroma was almost sour beer like.
When I took a drink, the body was extremely thin, and the mouthfeel even reminded me of soda water – watery with a lot of carbonation tingle. The carbonation didn’t allow me to taste anything about the beer except for the aftertaste. The aftertaste was a sweet pumpkin flavor, almost like an artificially flavored pumpkin sucker.
I can’t recommend pairing this with a food at all… in fact I wouldn’t recommend drinking it at all. I know I’ve had this beer before, but I can’t remember it ever having the carbonation issues this had – or the terrible flavor. I’m not sure what happened to this beer… perhaps demand is up and whomever contract brewed it for them did terribly. If you’re considering a pumpkin beer this fall, I highly recommend you avoid this one.
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