After going to the Great American Beer Festival, I looked to see the medal winners from the festival. I saw that Hoppin’ Frog Brewery had won a GABF Gold medal for the “field beer” category for their Frog’s Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale. So, when I saw this one on my recent trip to the liquor store, there was no doubt I should get it.
The bottle says, “There’s a place just South they call Frog’s Hollow, with cauldron’s afire in Fall, and they only speak in whispers of the name. There’s a Brewery they say who has the secret, of spices take just right. With a crying shout, they’ll knock it out, and hand you this Frog’s delight.” It says that it’s 8.4% ABV and 7.3 IBU and is brewed with pumpkin and spices including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and clove.
When I poured it, it was clear and orange-amber in color. There was no head at all, but there seemed to be plenty of carbonation coming from within the beer. The aroma was very heavy cinnamon and nutmeg.
The body was light-medium, and it seemed smooth drinking at first. There was a sweet cinnamon flavor up front, and the cinnamon and ginger grew so much in the finish and aftertaste that it almost tastes like drinking a red hot. Then as I drank it and the alcohol heat started coming through, it really did remind me of a drinking red hot. After about 18 oz into drinking it, I couldn’t finish the remaining 4 oz… it was just too unbearable. Not because it was too “hot” but because the cloying flavor was just too much to handle.
While the Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale was too watery, this was waaaay to spicy, and much like the Buffalo Bill’s, I can’t recommend drinking this beer, let alone pairing it with a food. This beer was like drinking a liquid red hot candy – way too much cinnamon and ginger. I have no idea how this beer ever won an award at GABF. I guess, much like the Schlafly Pumpkin Ale, they super spice it in anticipation that it’ll lose flavor on the shelf. Unfortunately, based on this bottle, I’ll never buy this beer again… and wish I could find a way to get my money back on this one. When I said that Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale was the worst beer I’ve ever had, I was wrong… this one takes the title.
My Rating: 
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