I’ve been to Gloucester (not pronounced how someone from the Midwest would think) and taken in it’s salt sea air. If you didn’t know it was a fishing town one whiff of the processing factories and boats would sure clue you in. The is also made notable in the movie The Perfect Storm as the boat and crew were from that town.
This brew, a Fall seasonal release, incorporates some pretty cool features to create a fine sipping beer. Brewed with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and a load of pumpkin it offers a great aroma where all four ingredients add their distinct qualities. A deep brown Porter-like hue with a small head the focus was not on the appearance of the beer, but the aroma. The cinnamon and nutmeg notes played well with the roasty character of the malt and the pumpkin gave a gentle Thankgiving pie familiarity. I’d say the smell set me up for a minor disappointment.
The taste was similar, but the mouthfeel lacked the viscosity I was looking for. I wanted something a little chewy and creamy. Instead, it come across rather watered down. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about flavor here…just mouthfeel. I could see this potentially going well with pumpkin pie as it seems more a dessert beer. Slight coffee notes were present and the spices were at just the right amount. Overall, I did enjoy this beer! Great for those cooler Fall nights, fireside chats, and Thankgiving meals.