Howe DO They Do It?

I'm not generally the type to retread common ground, but when circumstances arise that make it viable, I won't shy away from it.  Such is the case with a great brewery like Howe Sound.  I've already shown you what these people are capable of.  King Heffy received the highest of praise some weeks or months ago from me, and rightly so.  Naturally, as this brewery took an already great beer variety and made it superior by adding the prefix 'Imperial' to it, it would be a safe assumption that they could do this again, would it not?  Why yes, yes they can.






Thus brings me to our subject for this evening's debate.  And that is, of course, Howe Sound's Pumpkineater Imperial Pumpkin Ale.  No, it's not new, and no, it's not *quite* the most intense pumpkin ale I've tried.  However, where I can answer 'yes' is to the question of whether or not this is better than Granville Island Brewing's offering, and in fact the majority of pumpkin ales available.  Indeed it is, which means one very important thing:  I can go back to hating GIB!

Well, at least until their Winter Ale becomes available.

Back to the Pumpkineater.  It's great.  It's everything you want in a seasonal, flavoured beer, and there's few beers that accommodate their appropriate season as well as a good pumpkin ale.  Much like their take on a hefeweizen, Howe Sound took the idea of a pumpkin ale, turbocharged it in every respect (including alcoholic content, coming in at a hefty 8%), slapped an 'Imperial' onto the name, packaged it in one of their iconic 1.1 liter bottles, and sat back to await the impending praise and groveling.  And by golly, they've done it again.

Even just looking at this beer, you know it's going to be a real kick-to-the-teeth, taste-bud-mutilating, sinus-exploding joyride.  It's heavy and cloudy, like any good heff, but darker and richer in appearance.  Catch but the slightest whiff of it, and you're going to be 1.1 liters of ale the poorer, and likely quite drunk.  Resist this temptation, and you have my respect.  Or my contempt.  It's one of those two; I often get them confused.

What time is it?  It's time to break it down!

Taste:  Potent.  Practically alive with flavour.  You may feel the compulsion to chase this with a dollop of whipped cream.  Without a doubt, one of the very best 'dessert' beers you can have this season.

Aroma:  Every bit as flamboyant as the taste.  If it had arms, it would be flailing them about; if it had a mouth, it would be yelling "Look at me!".  

Aftertaste:  Not nearly as complex as a stout or porter, but there's plenty of tasty spices and notes to discover.

Recommended?:  Not if you have a moral objection to the mass slaughter of pumpkins in autumn.  Otherwise yes.

Verdict:  Another home run by Howe Sound, but to be fair, were you expecting anything else?  Definitely one of my favourite pumpkin ales available, and well ahead of the offering from GIB.  

Score:  9.5 mugs out of 10.