Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale

Greetings! With the mounting variety of pumpkin beers at the market, the noble PumDuke and PumKing have requested the assistance of I, the PumDuchess, to write reviews.  Though my years with the fine ales made from this mercurial gourd are not as great in number, one cannot live in the ducal household without gaining knowledge of these tasty brews. They have bestowed the honor and responsibility of writing on Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale. What follows is the humble opinion of this Duchess.

Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin can be purchased at the local purveyor for $7.95 (plus taxes and deposits). At 5.7% ABV, the beer label describes itself as “a pumpkin Ale crafted with autumn’s bounty of vine-ripened pumpkin and flavors of cloves, all spice, and nutmeg, then brewed with a touch of wheat for a smooth lightly spiced finish.” As I poured the beer into the splendid pumpkin tasting chalice, I noted its good rusty orange color, but that was where my good impression ended. Upon first sip, there was not a strong pumpkin flavor (which is favored by the PumCourt in their pumpkin brews). The Harvest Pumpkin Ale had a malty but bitter spice to it rather than the zip expected from the autumn zest portrayed on the label. The sweetness seemed to come from a syrupy caramel tone rather than pumpkin essence. I also disagree with the label that the wheat used in the brewing process makes for a smooth finish. The beer finished bitter, and this did not wane throughout drinking the entire bottle. The beer left my desire for Pumpkin unsatisfied. 

Overall, I would give Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale a C-. It is a disappointing a pumpkin beer that has been on the market since 1995 (according to the Blue Moon website)—though under several names—has not been able to contend with the craftsmanship of Saranac , potential rookie of the year Long Trail Pumpkin Ale, or some of the other favorite pumpkin beers out there. If you would like, as Blue Moon Pumpkin Harvest Ale claims on the bottle, “the perfect complement to fall’s crisp, clear days,” I would recommend you spend your $8 on a different pumpkin brew or good harvest ale rather than this weak response to a promise of vine-ripened pumpkin.