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Pilgrim

Abbeydale Brewery
United Kingdom·Pumpkin Ale
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Fragrant and full bodied, a spiced golden ale built on pumpkin pie: allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and pumpkin, with a lightly bitter finish and Mount Hood hops. At 5.0 % ABV it is cosy yet refreshing. The idea came from American brewing friends and their autumn brews; Pilgrim has returned every autumn since, and 2026 is its ninth year.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter20 IBU
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicycloveherbal
spicy
clove
herbal
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with prominent spice notes—allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves layer seamlessly over a subtle pumpkin sweetness.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Pilgrim

◎ Appearance

Pilgrim presents a bright golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that clings to the glass. The carbonation is lively yet refined, creating delicate Schaumhaftung that frames each sip. At 12 SRM, the color sits in the classic golden ale range, inviting and approachable.

bright goldenclearpersistent headlively carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with prominent spice notes—allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves layer seamlessly over a subtle pumpkin sweetness. Ginger adds a gentle warmth and complexity, while Mount Hood hops contribute a restrained herbal and citrus backdrop. The overall character is fragrant and inviting without overwhelming spice intensity.

allspice, cinnamon, nutmegpumpkin, gingerherbal hop notes

◐ Taste

On the palate, Pilgrim delivers a full-bodied mouthfeel that belies its modest ABV. The spice profile—particularly cinnamon and nutmeg—carries through cleanly from nose to mid-palate, meeting a subtle pumpkin sweetness that provides body without cloying. A lightly bitter finish from Mount Hood hops emerges gracefully, balancing the warmth of the spice blend.

full-bodiedspiced warmthpumpkin sweetnessbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering spice notes that fade into a gentle herbal bitterness. The aftertaste remains refreshing rather than heavy, making each return to the glass feel natural and inviting.

clean, drylingering spicerefreshing finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
78
Finish
75
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Pilgrim

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About Pumpkin Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pumpkin Ale?

Pumpkin Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Pumpkin Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy, clove, full-bodied character as Pilgrim will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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