New Holland Ichabod Pumpkin Ale

This 5.2% ABV pumpkin ale is from the New Holland Brewing Company of Holland, Michigan.  It takes after Ichabod Crane, the headless horseman, who on the label has substituted a pumpkin for his head.  It is brewed with real pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg.

The beer pours a softly glowing deep amber and burnt orange.  There is nearly an inch of thick, off-white foam.  The aroma is spices, tangy, cinnamon stick, and nutmeg, but not overtly pumpkin.  The taste is very spice filled, lots of nutmeg, some cinnamon and cinnamon stick, with a tangy finish that turns bitter.  Again, little to no pumpkin in the flavor.  The finish is bitter and dry.  This is like a spiced amber ale, but for a pumpkin ale, it is lacking in pumpkin flavor.

2017: Coming in now at 4.5% ABV, the beer pours a dark amber and copper in color. There is a short head of very light tan foam. The aroma is full of fall, pumpkin pie spices, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread. The taste follows the aromas, very spiced pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie. The finish is dry with a light to moderate bitterness. The beer is medium bodied.