Southern Tier Pumking
Pumking is an ode to Púca, a creature of Celtic folklore, who is both feared and respected by those who believe in it. Púca is said to waylay travelers throughout the night, tossing them on its back, and providing them the ride of their lives, from which they return forever changed. Brewed in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, a time of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow it’s alluring spirit to overflow. As spicy aromas present themselves, let it’s deep copper color entrance you as your journey into this mystical brew has just begun. As the first drops touch your tongue a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds making it difficult to escape the Pumking.
2007 - Brown Label 7.9% ABV w/text & logo on bottlecap
2008 - Brown Label 9.0% ABV w/text & logo on bottlecap
2009 - Orange Label 9.0% ABV w/text & logo on bottlecap
2010 - Orange Label 9.0% ABV w/logo only on bottlecap
2011 - Orange wood grain background label 8.6% ABV and Southern Tier logotype in two lines.
2012 - Same as 2011 label 8.6% ABV, silver/black/white bottlecap.
2013 - Same as 2012 label and bottle cap 8.6% ABV, date stamp in green text.
2014 - New label design w/orange/white/green, 8.6% ABV
2007 - Brown Label 7.9% ABV w/text & logo on bottlecap
2008 - Brown Label 9.0% ABV w/text & logo on bottlecap
2009 - Orange Label 9.0% ABV w/text & logo on bottlecap
2010 - Orange Label 9.0% ABV w/logo only on bottlecap
2011 - Orange wood grain background label 8.6% ABV and Southern Tier logotype in two lines.
2012 - Same as 2011 label 8.6% ABV, silver/black/white bottlecap.
2013 - Same as 2012 label and bottle cap 8.6% ABV, date stamp in green text.
2014 - New label design w/orange/white/green, 8.6% ABV
3.7
1863 reviews
Lakewood, United States
Community reviews
13.6 ounce can thanks to hershiser2, 9.15.20. Clear vibrant copper large frothy tan head good retention. Aroma of pumpkin, sickly sweet, sugar, molasses, vanilla. Taste is pumpkin, carrot, cola, candy corn, buttered popcorn. Medium bodied boozy, mouth coating. Nitro doesn't fix this abomination.
Earlier Rating: 8/21/2008 Total Score: 2
Back on 8/21/2008 I gave this an even 3.0 (broken down as 7/4/5/2/12) finding it very corny and both astringent and cloyingly sweet. I promised a rerate and nearly 3 years later here it is. Bomber from a couple of friends for my birthday. Thanks! A couple of the finest people I know, and I’m not saying that because they gave me beer. Pours a clear amber color with a medium sized creamy offwhite head. Below average head retention. Aroma of huge pumpkin, spice and gingerbread notes, some corn and buttery notes as well as very faint hops. The taste is huge spice notes, pumpkin, buttered popcorn. Bitter hop finish. Some toastiness. Medium-full bodied. OK, looks like I wasn’t too far off the mark last time. UPDATE: I’ve tried this several times since the rerate, and I freaking hate this beer every time.
Pours an attractive shade of copper with a compact white head; pumpkin pie and allspice on the nose; crisp, rich palate with a nice, lingering finish.
Excellent fall seasonal with the right amount of spice and pumpkin.
From a 16 oz. can dated 08/20/2020. Copper pour with nitro-infused soft, off-white head. Nice clarity. The aroma is lead by cinnamon with all the other malt, nutmeg, and allspice sensations falling into the background. Smooth, creamy light-medium mouthfeel. The taste is sweet and overrun with cinnamon more than other pumpkin spices. That. to me is the big takeaway.
Earlier Rating: 9/29/2009 Total Score: 3.9
2009 batch. From the 650 ml. bottle. The pour is a rich orange-amber with nice clarity but almost no head retention. Practically no carbonation activity. It is almost stagnant. The aroma is of pumpkin spice but there is also a weird sweetness of brown sugar to it or maybe a bit of butternut squash. The taste tends to be both sweet and sour with a strong dose of pumpkin spice and hops along with something smooth and sweet. And there’s also something tart. This is truly a complex seasonal and is one of the more unique pumpkin spice brews I have ever had.
12 oz. bottle
8.6% ABV
Best By date: 07/09/2022
AROMA: Strong scents of fresh pumpkin, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. The warmer the beer gets, the more aromatic it becomes.
APPEARANCE: Pours a clear, orange amber, with an off-white head that dissipates slowly.
TASTE: Fairly sweet with flavors of pumpkin, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon.
MOUTHFEEL; Medium-bodied with a slightly creamy texture and average carbonation. The finish is medium with mostly pumpkin flavor, but there are also undertones of white chocolate and vanilla.
OVERALL: I like most pumpkin beers, but I'm on the fence about this one. Mostly due to it being borderline too sweet for my pumpkin beer tastes. I think I would like it better if the sweetness was toned down a little and there was just a bit more clove flavor. Otherwise, it seems to be a fine beer. I especially enjoy the strong aromas I get with every sip of the beer. Some beers have strong aromas when they are poured into a glass, but then dissipate as you consume the beer. Not this one! You get the same level of olfactory stimulation from the first pour to the last sip!
Excellent pumpkin beer
13.6 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 9/18/2019. Pours lightly hazy/cloudy deep golden/orange/amber/light copper color with a 2 finger dense/creamy/rocky cream colored head with amazing retention, that lasts the whole glass. Thick soapy lacing clings on the glass, Amazing appearance. Aromas of big pumpkin, fruit skin/seeds, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, allspice, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, gingerbread, toasted biscuit, and pie crust; with lighter notes of fruit, herbal, grass, peppercorn, wood, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of pumpkin, spices, sugar, bready malts, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of huge pumpkin, fruit skin/seeds, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, allspice, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, gingerbread, toasted biscuit, and pie crust; with lighter notes of fruit, herbal, grass, peppercorn, wood, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate herbal, grassy, woody, cinnamon, clove, peppery bitter/spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of pumpkin, fruit skin/seeds, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, allspice, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, gingerbread, toasted biscuit, pie crust fruit, herbal, grass, peppercorn, wood, and yeast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of pumpkin, spices, sugars, bready malts, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with an amazing malt/bitter/spiciness balance; and no cloying/acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitter/spiciness. Light carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/velvety/bready, and fairly sticky mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alchohol for 8.6%. Overall this is an amazing imperial pumpkin ale. All around amazing complexity, robustness, and balance of pumpkin, spices, sugars, bready malts, and light fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the big ABV, with the mellowly bitter/spicy/drying finish. Perfectly balanced rich malts, sugars, pumpkin, and spice flavors. Light residual sweetness with lingering bitter/spicy dryness. Not overwhelming on any aspect. Pretty much just as impressive as the base beer, but smoother from nitro. Love it!
Earlier Rating: 2/15/2013 Total Score: 4.5
22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 9/26/2012. Pours fairly crystal clear golden amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of huge pumpkin pie, gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, clove, caramel, pie crust, and light herbal. Insanely amazing aromas with outstanding balance, complexity, and strength of malt and spice notes. Taste of pumpkin pie, gingerbread, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, brown sugar, pie crust, caramel, and light herbal. No bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of pumpkin pie, gingerbread, nutmeg,cinnamon, light clove, brown sugar, pie crust, and light herbal on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic flavor balance and complexity; with an outstanding balance of malt and spices; and zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium full bodied; with a slick and lightly syrupy mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a world class pumpkin ale. Incredible balance and complexity of malt, pumpkin, and spice flavors; and insanely easy to sip on. A very incredible pumpkin ale offering, and one of the best ever made without a doubt.
Nitro can. Poured a nitro golden color and nitro head. At least I found the nitro killed some of the spices ... not crazy about pumpkin spice - but still there ...
Earlier Rating: 9/14/2007 Total Score: 3.7
22oz bottle shared courtesy of TomDecapolis. Poured a medium and cloudy orange color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of pumkin pie, fresh pumpkins with a nice fresh crust, a pinch of spices, and light caramel. I was getting a trace of perfume. Tastes of pumpkins, vanilla, light crust, and caramel. Light alcohol in the finish but overall well hidden. I was really into the fresh pumpkin pie aroma. I also liked the fact that the spices took a back seat.
After a quick vibration on the ring pull it pours with an enormous dense foamy head which just fits in the full pint glass on a single pour........aroma is heavy on the nutmeg, with a touch of vanilla.....taste is very smooth with an enhancement of the aroma and a heavy dose of nutmeg, vanilla, pumpkin pie, touch of allspice or cinnamon, booze shows up near the end.
Earlier Rating: 10/4/2012 Total Score: 4
In one word....stunning. Tried it on tap during a pumpkin beer nite at an Uno’s national chain. The first taste was an amazing hit of vanilla, pumpkin and minor taste of nutmeg......the vanilla just set this one off. Very solid mouthfeel and inmistakeable pumpkin taste and not just spices. I believe this is the best rendition of a pumpkin I’ve ever had. Period.
I'll put a rating in, even though this variant might get deleted. It was standard pumking, but with the nitro adding a beautiful thick white head. It did not tone down the nose of it very much. I enjoyed it.
Earlier Rating: 9/23/2007 Total Score: 3.9
Have never been able to find this in NY, managed to pick it up in Columbus, Ohio last week. Great looking autumn orange-brown. Nutmeg, corn, cinnamon and squash aroma. Much pumpkin in the palate along with a bit of brown sugar. Great one in this style.
Have tried it a few more times over the years, including a couple tonight. The rating is right on. Nice body, perfect balance, not too sweet, not too spicy, not too boozy. Just right.
(Thanks, Jeremy! "JStax")
Bottle.
A- Pie spice, nutmeg, pumpkin, candles, mild pie crust.
A- Orange color, hazy liquid, off white head.
T- Pie spice, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg.
P- Medium body, average texture, average carbonation, balanced finish.
O- I imagine this is a lot better fresh but I had it a year past release. Lots of pie spice and it does not overpower the pumpkin flavor. Wouldn't mind a touch of vanilla or something but drinks nicely on a crisp fall day. Would like to try the coffee or rum variant. I still think Schlafly has a better pumpkin beer by a touch.
Pours deep gold into an english pint. Creamy white micro head with excellent retention recedes leaving trailing sheets. Pumpkin, whipped cream and nutmeg aromas. Creamy with vanilla, nutmeg and pumpkin front to back. Lasting warm pumpkin and earthy hot caramel finish.
Earlier Rating: 9/30/2007 Total Score: 4
Pours bright, clear amber into a Tulip. White head quickly subsides to hug rim. Pumpkin, butterscotch and candy corn aromas. Crisp with upfront pumpkin that then wigs out on butterscotch, caramel, ginger and marshmallow.
Served in a glass from a can. Very much like ST’s Pumking imperial, but with a creamy mouthfeel and a heavier consistency. Pumking Nitro manages to taste more like pumpkin pie in a can than its predecessor.
Earlier Rating: 10/21/2016 Total Score: 5
Quiet possibly my favorite pumpkin beer of all time
On tap at Dive 106. Pours orange. Strong cinnamon, white chocolate, clove, lingering cinnamon roll flavour, vanilla, little touch of earthy caramel stuff but mostly cinnamon. Medium body. Not for me.
Medium dark amber pour. Pumpkin pie spice nose. Smells like pumpkin pie baking in the oven. Pumpkin, oak, with canned pumpkin palate. Delish!
Smells great, and tastes just like it smells. Surprisingly high abav, hidden well.
Had it on draft at MATTER in South Brooklyn.
www.matterbar.com
Pours clear orange amber with a three finger, barely tan head. Aroma is pumpkin, spice and light caramel. Taste is light caramel and pumpkin, moving to light cinnamon and nutmeg. Finish is pumpkin spice. A good pumpkin spice ale.
12 ounce bottle pour, gift from neighbor.
Appearance: Pours a honey color, fully translucent with a pure white head. Head is creamy, a bit lager like and doesn't have much retention. There is some lacing but nothing to write home about.
Aroma: Strong smells of pumpkin, caramel, vanilla and that's pretty much it. Very sweet presentation.
Taste: It tastes of pumpkin, caramel and vanilla. To the point and definitely not as sweet as I expected.
Palate: Heavy-ish medium body with a carbonation that is a bit too lively for the beer in my opinion. Still decent.
Overall. I usually don't like pumpkin beers, but this one is by far the best I've ever had. Still nothing spectacular, but it really delivers a nice dessert like (but not cloying in any way) pumpkin flavored beer.
Mixed review taster pour on draft at The Grill Next Door and later bottle pour. Appearance is clear, golden yellow with light sparkle, ring of off-white head and no lacing. Aroma is cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, pumpkin. Taste is cinnamon, rum, nutmeg, caramel, pumpkin and raisin. Palate is light-to-medium bodied, average-to-lively carbonation with pleasant alcohol warmth and dry, lightly sweet finish. Overall, the pumpkin is a little down in the mix for a pumpkin-y beer but delicious regardless.
Dose bei Whole Foods gekauft.
Klares Gold gelb, wenig Kohlensäure, kein Schaum.
Aroma: Kürbis, Granola, Vollkornbrot, Honig.
Geschmack: Geschmack ähnlich. Der Granola/Honig Geschmack nur etwas intensiver. Bitter.
16 oz bottle from a friend in Florida The ale poured a clear gold color with no head or lacing.
Pumpkin sweetness greets you. You also detect hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Some malt sweetness was experienced. The ale has a light body with soft carbonation. This is just not my preferred style. The brewer managed the higher ABV very well.
Herbal and starchy aromas. Orange amber color with clinging head. Complex flavor of bitter cloves and hops that fades to a sweet pumpkin pie flavor. Vegetable and earthy aftertaste.
Bottle says: Vintage 2018. Smells of pumpkin pie, candy corn, sweet cream. Golden orange in color. Clear but just a hint of haze. Taste is pumpkin, biscuit, pie crust, butterscotch, caramel, and little hop bitterness at the finish. Had this on draft before also and getting a fresh pour of this is a flavor bomb! Fresh pour gets 4.6 score for stronger flavor profile
Aroma: Bomber- initially cinnamon lightly nutmeg and pumpkin. Very much a light pumpkin pie. As it settles malts start showing through, lightly toasted, with a light brown sugar towards the end of the aroma. No hops detected.
Appearance: crystal clear and auburn in color with orange highlights. The head is off white with a slight hint of orange. It is thick with medium bubbles and it remains thick.
Flavor: good flavor, initial sweet then quickly spiced then finishes bitter. The spices are cinnamon, and nutmeg with the sweetness tasting like a little bit of brown sugar and pumpkin. The malts are toasted, low hop flavor, but slightly strong bittering. Balance is malty.
Mouthfeel: Body is medium with low carbonation. Low warmth, really leaves an impression of alcohol more than a heat. Not creamy and hot dryness contributing to q slight astringent flavor.
Overall: A good pumpkin beer, good level of spice and nice balance of sweetness. Only mark against is the lingering bitterness, but that encourages another sip. Like this one would but another.
12oz bottle. 2018. Pours orange-copper with a small off-white head. Aroma is well-spiced pumpkin pie. Taste is follows with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Not-too-sweet pumpkin. Bitter - a little too much so. Medium body. Moderate carbonation. Slick mouthfeel.
Totally missed out on this fantastic beer last fall. Just got a 4 pack yesterday. It truly is liquid pumpking pie. Thank you Southern Tier. Love your beers.
A delicious aroma of squash and hazelnuts. A golden orange in color. The initial taste is like a fall harvest yankee candle in liquid form. There are vanilla and brown sugar notes. Spices like nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon. The body on this is medium and there a multiple flavor layers that unfold. A touch of bitterness balanced this out. The pumpkin flavor comes out more as pumpkin pie than pumpkin itself.
bottled - cloudy orange color. Great pumpkin aroma. Sweet pumpkin flavor. Good stuff.