I picked up a bomber of Elysian's The Great Pumpkin imperial Pumpkin Ale for $9.95 at a liquor store here in Denber, and as soon as I opened it, wondered how it compared to my own Lady Rumpkin version that I had bottled just two short weeks ago. A completely biased side by side taste test was in order!
Aroma:
Rumpkin: alspice, cloves, peach, raisin, slight rum note
Great Pumpkin: light spice, earthy, hot alcohol
Appearance:
Rumpkin: Creamy head, dark red, translucent but not transparent, thick, nice lace
Great Pumpkin: Cloudy orange, creamy head, nice lacing
Flavor:
Rumpkin: Allspice, clove, sweet malk, pumpkin with a slight vegetable note, finish is slightly tart
Great Pumpkin: Sweet, nutty, roasted pumpkin seeds which I really liked, minimal spice, hot alcohol finish
Mouthfeel:
Rumpkin: champagne-like carbonation plays on the tongue, creamy, full, no rum burn which was expected
Great Pumpkin: A bit thick, syrupy, carbonation more like an English session beer, but hot
I cannot tell you which one overall I like better.... okay, I liked mine, but I am biased. It was made with love, less expensively, and I have it here to enjoy. The recipe is here:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f76/lady-rumpkin-pumpkin-rum-ale-214177/
That said, if you can get ahold of the Great Pumpkin, it is really enjoyable!
Aroma:
Rumpkin: alspice, cloves, peach, raisin, slight rum note
Great Pumpkin: light spice, earthy, hot alcohol
Appearance:
Rumpkin: Creamy head, dark red, translucent but not transparent, thick, nice lace
Great Pumpkin: Cloudy orange, creamy head, nice lacing
Flavor:
Rumpkin: Allspice, clove, sweet malk, pumpkin with a slight vegetable note, finish is slightly tart
Great Pumpkin: Sweet, nutty, roasted pumpkin seeds which I really liked, minimal spice, hot alcohol finish
Mouthfeel:
Rumpkin: champagne-like carbonation plays on the tongue, creamy, full, no rum burn which was expected
Great Pumpkin: A bit thick, syrupy, carbonation more like an English session beer, but hot
I cannot tell you which one overall I like better.... okay, I liked mine, but I am biased. It was made with love, less expensively, and I have it here to enjoy. The recipe is here:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f76/lady-rumpkin-pumpkin-rum-ale-214177/
That said, if you can get ahold of the Great Pumpkin, it is really enjoyable!
