Southern Tier 'Pumking' Imperial Pumpkin Ale

[DavidSteel]

Pumpking is the best beer I've ever had.

 

[dap325]

Hi. I live in Syracuse, NY, and was wondering if anyone knew of a place that had Southern Tier Pumking pumpkin ale on tap? Thanks!

If you feel like taking a trip to Albany, Westmere Beverage on Western Ave just tapped a keg of Pumking for their growler taps. Also, I was there tonight and they said that a few Southern Tier guys will be there from 3-? tomorrow (10/30) sampling beers and whatnot.

 

[shek]

Hi. I live in Syracuse, NY, and was wondering if anyone knew of a place that had Southern Tier Pumking pumpkin ale on tap? Thanks!

If you're ever in Rochester, McGregor's Tap Room on 252 near RIT has Pumking (or at least they did in late August/early September) on tap. I think they fill growlers too, but I'm not positive.

 

[BeerAtlas]

First post, but I brew a pumpkin beer yearly, and it is very good.

Mash at 154
10 # 6 row
2 # Crystal 20
1 # Dark Brown Sugar
0.25 # lactose
1.50 oz Cascade (60)
freshly ground cloves, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon (about 1 tsp each...sometimes more)
1 package US-05

Took 4 big cans of pure pumpkin from Walmart and cooked in the oven at 350 for an hour, spread out on a foil lined cookie sheet. Added this to the primary with a little pectic enzyme. Absolutely perfect pumpkin beer.

 

[DavidSteel]

First post, but I brew a pumpkin beer yearly, and it is very good.

Mash at 154
10 # 6 row
2 # Crystal 20
1 # Dark Brown Sugar
0.25 # lactose
1.50 oz Cascade (60)
freshly ground cloves, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon (about 1 tsp each...sometimes more)
1 package US-05

Took 4 big cans of pure pumpkin from Walmart and cooked in the oven at 350 for an hour, spread out on a foil lined cookie sheet. Added this to the primary with a little pectic enzyme. Absolutely perfect pumpkin beer.

When and where do you add the spices?

 

[DavidSteel]

Also, just checked their website, which says it's 9% ABV and 5.8 plato.

Which converts to:

1.090 OG, 1.023 FG.

Probably going to have to mash kinda high I'm guessing. Maybe around 155-156 (it is definitely a sweeter beer), especially if you are adding extra highly fermentable sugars. Am I right? Such a mystery.

 

[BeerAtlas]

When and where do you add the spices?

I added them with 5 minutes left to go in the boil.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I tried this last night on tap at a UCF sportsbar called The MOAT. Now I'm on a mission to brew it. Dayum that stuff was good.

 

[dantheman13]

I resurrect thy thread! Any successful clone recipes for this beer?

 

[aknox]

bump! Looking for a clone of this!

 

[kvnklingler]

A couple weeks ago a bar in Columbus, OH (where I live) had one keg of pumking that was aged for four months by Southern Tier in a white oak barrel. It was gone in a handful of hours but I was blessed with about 48oz of it. Damn it was delicious. Southern Tier is hard to walk past

I share the desire for a good clone. There is a lot to consider as it is very sweet, has the aroma of a slice of pie (with whipped cream), is 9% and I think it even has hints of the crust. Amazing beer. I know one thing, If I could brew this beer I would have a lot more money in the fall, it is not cheap.

- supposed clone on hopville....
http://hopville.com/recipe/346975/spice-herb-or-vegetable-beer-recipes/southern-tier-pumking-clone

 

[nymtber]

I had a 22oz of this stuff this fall...

It took all I had to choke it down. Absolutely gross. but to each their own...

Shoulda just bought Arrogant Bastard, I could drink that by the pitcher!

 

[jabergess]

The "clone" doesn't really measure up in ABV so makes me wonder how close it really is. I too am on a mission to recreate the Pumking. Definitely a unique beer. I'll keep looking, doesn't look like anyone has figured it out on this thread yet.

 

[rcp197]

Drinking some right now with a thin layer of brown sugar on the rim. It's fantastic! Easily the best pumpkin beer I've ever had. Wish I had a clone!

 

[sweetcell]

i got a bottle that was blatantly skunked with DMS (corn-like flavors). yuck.

 

[jabergess]

I went to Hop City in Atlanta and bought pretty much every style of imperial pumpkin beer they had to offer, including 3 Pumkings . I'm drinking one now and it is wonderful - no corn like flavors to be found. My first thought is nutmeg and ginger followed by pumpkin. It has a sweet but dry finish, which I know is contradictory, but that's what I taste. It is a pretty light colored beer and comes out at almost 9%. I remember I liked Schlafly's pumpkin more, but the beer place didn't have any of those to compare with. Really a great beer overall though. If my imperial pumpkin beer turns out half as well, I'll be pretty pleased.

 

[m_stodd]

I bought a couple bottles of this yesterday and drank one of them. I was underwhelmed. It was a good beer, but from the descriptions I thought it would taste much different. Mine had little spice, and basically tasted nutty.

I'm going to try the other one tonight along with some others (hopefully)

 

[McKBrew]

I have heard about this beer for years and finally had to opportunity to buy a bottle. Was really disappointed.

No head to speak of, somewhat watery, and it had a weird almost rank/bitter vegetable taste. Maybe I just had one of those off bottles but I won't be rushing out to buy this one again.

 

[jabergess]

Well, that's crappy! You definitely got a bad bottle. If you ever see it on draft give it a try. I've had the beer quite a few times and never tasted anything like what you described.
In keeping with the pumpkin theme...but not of the Southern Tier variety, I just had a Heavy Seas The Greater Pumpkin over the weekend. WOW!

 

[sweetcell]

No head to speak of, somewhat watery, and it had a weird almost rank/bitter vegetable taste.

yup, i got one too. definitely a disappointment after having heard so much about this beer. oh well... maybe next year.

 

[McKBrew]

yup, i got one too. definitely a disappointment after having heard so much about this beer. oh well... maybe next year.

Yep. It's pretty sad that the Sam Adams Pumpkin beer is better than this and a 6 pack costs less than a 22oz bottle.

 

[BargainMugs]

Can you name a beer that people either love or hate more than Pumking? Reviews are usually so polar opposite on this particular beer.

I love it. I got a couple bad bottles last year, but this year has been fantastic.