Buffalo Bill’s Brewery Pumpkin Ale
November 2, 2009
Sometimes I wonder what I’m doing trying all these pumpkin ales for The Brew Club. As I’ve mentioned before, I reeeely like the concept of pumpkin ales, but very few of the pumpkin ales I’ve tried would I try again. Most are kinda weird.
Take the ‘America’s Original’ Pumpkin Ale from Buffalo Bill’s Brewery in Hayward, California. I would love to indulge your curiosity (and mine) as to the claim ‘America’s Original’, but their website is heavily Flash-based and it would be entirely too much work at the moment to get the latest Flash player. Maybe you’ll have better luck! Right now I can’t be bothered. (That’s a tip for their web usability people.)
Assuming it is America’s Original Pumpkin Ale, what does that mean for you, the pumpkin ale freak? I’m afraid it means you’ll keep looking!
The ale itself doesn’t look bad. It pours a slightly hazy orangy amber color. It created but the slightest head and there is no lacing whatsoever.
Getting on to the aroma, this particular 5.2% ABV Pumpkin Ale stands out from the other pumpkin ales we’ve tried because it really puts off the least amount of spices in the smell. You really get a sense of pure pumpkin, not enhanced or masked with clove, nutmeg, allspice and that kind of stuff. Granted, it says it is ‘brewed with real pumpkin and natural spice flavor’ on the label, but I’d say the natural spices are minimal.
Getting on to the taste, I’d say that the same is true. Of all the pumpkin beers I’ve had so far, this is the least spicy and most ‘pumpkiny’ I think. Now, you might think this is a good thing, but the taste of this beer at first got a little ‘wow’ out of me, but then it was more of a blah, and then just weird. You know what a carved pumpkin smells like after a couple days? Well, the taste reminded me a little of that smell. The pumpkin is there, but its just a little too weird or ‘vegetabaly’ (I love these adjectives) because of that for me.
I had mentioned in a previous post of Brooklyn’s Post Road Pumpkin Ale, that pumpkin, in and of itself, is kind of a lame flavor. If you’ve ever just gone into a pumpkin patch and eaten a pumpkin right off the vine, you’ll know what I’m talking about. You need spices and things to ‘enhance’ the flavor. Its like eating a plain venison burger, nobody does it because its awful. Sure, add some onion, spices and other crap and its palatable, but otherwise no thank you!
Same with this beer. Whereas some Pumpkin Ales go overboard on the spices, this Pumpkin Ale from Buffalo Brewing is too much on the Pumpkin side.
So, wrapping it up, the beer smells interesting at first, but the first sip pretty much makes this beer a no-deal situation for me and makes me wonder what it is I’m hoping to find in a pumpkin ale. So far, the Dogfish Head Punkin’ is the only one I would really desire to have again or would recommend without reservation to a friend.
Rating: 
Ever have this Pumpkin Ale from Buffalo Bills Brewery? What did you think?
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Posted in 1 Star Reviews, Ales, American Beers, Seasonal Beers
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November 2nd, 2009 at 11:57 am
I’d MUCH rather have a plain Venison burger than pumpkin anyday. The idea of pumpkin beer is one halloween tradition that thus far hasn’t made it to the UK, and for that I’m grateful, they don’t sound that appealing to me.
.-= Bob the Brit´s last blog ..Bridges of London – 1 =-.
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I didn’t enjoy it too much either. One of my friends likes it much more than DFH Pumpkin Ale. I don’t get it.
November 2nd, 2009 at 5:19 pm
OK…I’ve already gone on record in my blog that I like this beer! Scott, I think it is safe to say you are much more infatuated with the concept of Pumpkin brew, than with the actual brew itself! If I were you I’d have a piece of pie and a nice marzen ad call it good! Stop trying to find what doesn’t exist, or try to brew one yourself.
I’ve actually enjoyed your machinations in trying to find and like a pumpkin beer. Lets face it, you don’t like pumpkin beer, or if you do, it is something far from a love affair, it is more like its ok, but I think it should be better! You are like some of my clients, I call it the “bring me a rock” management style. You bring them a rock, they look at it, and then they say “mmmm…no this isn’t the right rock, bring me another.” You can do that forever. I think the only way you can get off this carousel is to either make your own brew the way you want it, or stop trying pumpkin beers!
Even if you keep looking, at least I will enjoy your posts of indecision and ambivalence toward a type of brew you just really don’t like.
Stay cool Scott.
-Don
.-= Don´s last blog ..Its Madness I Say, Madness! =-.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Thanks Don! Ya know, its taken me two seasons, but I think I’ve come to that very conclusion! Its just a style that should work, but doesn’t. I don’t have the mad skillz yet to brew my own, but perhaps someday I’ll give it a try. (BTW, I DID like the DFH Punkin’ very much!) You’ll be happy to know I have 3 more rocks for you to read that I’ll scatter through November!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Shmaltz Brewing Company – Freaktoberfest =-.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:45 am
I’m with ya, Scott. Big time.
I enjoy lots of different types of beer, but whenever anyone asks me what my favorite pumpkin beers are, I invariably (and honestly) answer “…the ones with no pumpkin and no spices…”
Maybe my palate has become jaded, but pumpkin, spiced, fruit, and similar beers just don’t ‘do it’ for me. Even Anchor’s famous ‘Special Ale’ brewed for the holidays was (to me) a better beer before they latched on to the spice idea (back in the 80′s).
There are so many great flavor possibilities using classic beer ingredients that it seems a shame to hide them behind what amounts to a bagful of gimmicks. Even ‘traditional’ gimmicks.
But hey…one should always enjoy whatever one likes, and ignore the rest (after a fair trial).
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:53 am
I always found Anchor beers to be overly dry-hopped. Somewhere on my rack I have some ancient (and probably collectible) Anchor Christmas beers from the eighties that, having tried one bottle I just couldn’t bring myself to try the other.
(I always try and buy two of everything, firstly to ensure a considered review and secondly, if I enjoy the first, then I have another waiting!)
.-= Bob the Brit´s last blog ..Bridges of London – 1 =-.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
I’m sorry Scott a 3.75 doesn’t sound like an overwhelming endorsement. It sounds like Jims latest post about his go to (or more likely–settle for) brew Sam Adams. Again I’m sure you will drink this on Thanksgiving, and maybe Christmas, but even in your post on the DFH Punkin Ale, it sounded like you were trying to convince yourself that you liked it. Its OK man, you are among friends. We will see you through these dark days…
-Don
.-= Don´s last blog ..How Low Will You Go? =-.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:27 am
@Don, you’re too funny! A 3.75 is actually a pretty good rating from me. 4 stars are rare here, and 5 stars even less so. I may generally have low standards, but I’m pretty stingy with the stars. Still, its good to know I have friends even if they love weird pumpkin ales.
I promise not to go all out next fall!
@Bob the Brit – I agree. I had their holiday beer last Christmas and it was too much for me. (Don probably liked it though)
@The Professor – Thanks. Don’s right though, for some reason I keep trying these beers thinking one will click. But they don’t!
.-= Scott-TBC´s last blog ..Harpoon Brewery – Oktoberfest Beer Review =-.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
The best “pumpkin” beer I’ve had this year wasn’t made with pumpkins at all, but yams – the Bruery’s Autumn Maple. It’s terrifically balanced and has no veggie taste that you get with pumpkin beers (even DFH’s, which I sampled back-to-back). I’m not sure if you’ve tried it yet, but IMO it’s head and shoulders the best autmnally seasoned ale.
I can’t find another bottle now anywhere, which is too bad because I wanted to serve it (really drink it myself) along with the thanksgiving spread this year.
Next year I’m going to stock up early!
.-= Jim´s last blog ..How Low Will You Go? =-.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I agree with Jim. Autumn Maple is one of the stars for fall seasonal beers. DFH still remains a good Pumpkin beer. I have similar sentiments for this particular beer, although I’d go a little higher on the rating. I think, for the most part, if people would stop making Pumpkin Pie beers and start making actual Pumpkin beers, we might get a decent one now and again.
.-= Andrea Reinhardt´s last blog ..Sip with us Saturday: Review of Stone’s Pale Ale =-.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:36 am
I wish I was able to find some of that Autumn Maple that Jim and Andrea had from The Bruery. I tried, but no luck! I think that next year, I’m going to lay off the Pumpkin Ales and focus on getting some Autumn Maple and stick to good Oktoberfests!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Beer of the Month Club =-.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Yeah, that was actually Mike logged in as me, but I do enjoy that Autumn Maple (and I’m not the biggest fan of the Bruery’s selections, not because they aren’t great quality, just because I’m not very keen on spices in beer). Maybe it will be more accessible soon since the Bruery is so rapidly growing…
November 4th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
That’s funny, Andrea. Apparently Mike has a problem logging in as himself – he frequently posts as Nate over by us. He’s gotten better about it lately and he typically makes good points, so no harm, no foul, but it’s funny to see him doing the same thing here. Busted!
November 4th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I’ve heard of people dressing up in their Wife’s clothes, but this cross-posting is just a whole ‘nother level of weird!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Jersey Beer Blogs – Ferment Nation =-.
October 28th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Was not a fan of the Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale I had the other night. Really was not much flavor other than the sourness.
I highly recommend the Wasatch Pumpkin Ale. That one soared past my all time favorite Pumking! Also have Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin high on my list!
October 28th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@Jason – thanks for the recommendation! I’ve never tried the Wasatch – (or heard of it!) where’s it from???