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Great Pumpkin

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Baking spice leads the way over a bready malt backdrop, on a medium to full body. Elysian presents it as the world's first imperial pumpkin ale: roasted pumpkin seeds and extra pumpkin in the mash, kettle and fermenter, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice over pale, Munich and several caramel malts. At 8.4 % ABV it won World Beer Cup bronze in 2012 and shares its name with the brewery's Great Pumpkin Beer Festival.

ABV
8.4%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Bronze · 2012
World Beer Cup
Field Beer or Pumpkin Beer
★Bronze — World Beer Cup (Field Beer or Pumpkin Beer)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicyclovebready
spicy
clove
bready
roasted
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced baking spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice—layered over roasted pumpkin seed notes that ground the profile in savory depth.
also:nutty,clean
not found:hoppy,chocolate,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Great Pumpkin

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper hue with a SRM of 20, presenting excellent clarity. A rich, tan head forms readily and maintains good retention, with visible lacing left behind on the glass as you drink. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a smooth, inviting visual presence.

deep ambertan headgood lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced baking spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice—layered over roasted pumpkin seed notes that ground the profile in savory depth. Behind these lies a clean, malty backbone of pale and Munich malts with subtle caramel undertones. The spice-forward character is well-balanced, never sharp, and invites multiple inhalations.

baking spicesroasted pumpkinspiced, warmingclean malt backbone

◐ Taste

The palate opens with full, bready maltiness accented by clove and allspice that carry through the mid-palate with refined presence. Caramel sweetness and nutty grain flavors build depth, supported by the roasted pumpkin character woven throughout. The 24 IBUs provide gentle, measured bitterness that frames rather than dominates, allowing the spice and malt to remain the focal points.

full-bodied maltclove-forward spicecaramel sweetnessrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is smooth and lingering, with the spice notes gradually receding while a pleasant roasted, slightly nutty warmth persists. At 8.4% ABV, the alcohol integrates cleanly without heat, leaving a dry, satisfying conclusion.

warming finishroasted aftertastesmooth
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°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 Great Pumpkin

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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 Great Pumpkin will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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