50 States/50 Beer Reviews-North Carolina ~ Charleston Craft Beer

Monday, October 10, 2011

50 States/50 Beer Reviews-North Carolina

6:06:00 PM Charleston Craft Beer No comments

Carolina Beer Company- Cottonwood Pumpkin Spiced Ale Review

Taken from their website:

"Carolina Beer & Beverage has announced the sale of their beer division to Foothills Brewing, based in Winston-Salem. This sale includes the company's equipment, trademarks and brands. Among the dozen beer brands being acquired by Foothills Brewing are those within the highly popular Carolina Blonde and Cottonwood Ales lines."

"With the acquisition of the Carolina Beer Company division and its production equipment, Foothills Brewing will quadruple its present brewing capacity."

The beer being reviewed is the Cottonwood Pumpkin Spiced Ale. "A hugely popular spiced ale that has built up a loyal following over the past seven years. The Pumpkin Ale is moderately bodied, crisp, and smooth to the mouth. The pumpkin flavor is faint, not overdone, which allows the spices to add to the complexity of the overall taste. A blend of special hops balances the sweetness to maintain real beer characteristics- not too sweet and very drinkable! Medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival, the 2000 World Beer Cup, and US Beer Tasting Championships prove our Pumpkin really is a special treat!"

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Brownish/orangey color. Perfect color for a pumpkin beer. Big and fluffy head at 1st pour. Nice head throughout.

Aroma: Smells like fresh pumpkin pie. Not too spicey, mainly a pumpkiny aroma.

Taste: Nice caramel malt flavor backed up with a pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. The flavors are not overpowering. In my opinion, just the right touch of pumpkin and spice.