This Pumpkin...It's Smashing

Granville Island Brewing, oh you problem child you.  On one hand, you have a brewery that produces several very standout seasonal beers, some of which are available in 6 packs of 355 ml bottles.  On the other hand, you have a truly disingenuous 'microbrewery' that is in fact no microbrewery at all, but rather under the ownership of Molson Coors, and is bent on conquering the market of newcomer beer drinkers.  That is to say those who stray away from the mainstream but haven't broken into the realm of the small, extremely high quality microbrews, to which GIB offers a selection of mostly average and underwhelming beer posing as the genuine article.

Oh, hello.  I didn't see you there.  Welcome to this edition of Beer Cruise.  Tonight, we are taking a look at an interesting little specimen.  A beer I didn't entirely want to like, because of the label, but ended up enjoying all the same.  That's right, it's Granville Island's pumpkin ale, and I must concede...it's pretty good.









Now, a lot (small handful) of people accuse me of being a...well...I'll just come out and say it: a beer hipster.  And truth be told, if I could pin that accusation to my lapel, I damn well would.  There.  Yeah, I said it.  Deal with it...dot jpg.

Yes, I do so enjoy being on the cutting edge of beer elitism, so what.  But why all this hatred for GIB?  Sure, sure, much of it is overblown, and as much is undeserved, but the real problem I have with them is how they masquerade as a small, independent microbrewery, when in fact they are owned by the mainest of the mainstream (and among the worst of the worst).  Still...for the purposes of fairness, I'll put aside my personal views about the brewery, and focus on the beer in question.  As for the rest, well, I rather hate Granville Island, and some will hate me for that opinion...to which I can only say...

But...in the interest of science, drunkenness, and above all, cruising, I am willing to cast aside my beer-winged political beliefs to determine the greatest beer to accompany oneself on a relaxing cruise after a rough day.  And let me tell you folks, GIB's pumpkin ale pushes all the right buttons.  While not nearly as intense as the pumpkin ale from Steamworks Brewery that I had the pleasure of tasting at the Victoria Beer Festival,  it's a worthy returning cast member to the increasing line of pumpkin ales available today. The flavour is more restrained, more subtle, though it is still distinctly like a liquefied, fermented pumpkin pie squeezed into a 650 ml bottle.  Shame it doesn't come with a scoop of ice cream.

It's fitting then that this beer was sampled on the first day of autumn, perhaps the most underrated of all seasons.  With the coming of fall, we begin to put aside lighter, more refreshing beer in exchange for brutal bitters, savage stouts and, of course, delicious and unique seasonals.  GIB's pumpkin ale is no exception; it fits the bill, and it makes you glad for all of autumn's leaf-changing, temperature-cooling, squash-and-spice-smothered charms, rather than resentful at the passing of summer.  And that's a good thing.

Random filler.  But it's pretty nice filler, isn't it?

Taste:  Lacks the intensity of some flavoured beers, including another pumpkin ale by Steamworks.  However, this is not a bad thing, as too much flavouring can ruin the beer.  Now, as a personal opinion, I tend to prefer when flavoured beer really cuts loose and goes all out, because I figure since they're messing with the formula, they might as well be as ridiculous as possible.  But I'm certainly not going to deny the quality of a proper, subtle and refined pumpkin ale such as this.  

Aroma:  The next time you have pumpkin pie, snort it like a cocaine fiend, rather than eating it.  Then you'll have some idea what I'm on about.

Aftertaste:  Unfortunately with a more subtle flavouring comes a meeker finish which tapers off into a more generic ale taste.  And I've never been huge on most ales.  I've always considered them the Spain of beers; not trying too hard, not falling behind, and not taking sides.  Content with being enjoyable without being anyone's favourite.

Recommended?:  Yes, certainly.  If a Granville Island basher like me can enjoy their pumpkin ale, chances are you can too.  

Verdict:  It may be early in the season, but infusing pumpkin into everything from dessert to coffee to beer is what autumn is all about.  Enjoy it.  Revel in it.  Drink it.

Score:  7.5 mugs out of 10.  (Look; it's not an 8 or 8.5.  This one's for you Jesse!)