United Nations of Beer

Highballer Pumpkin ale

by Andrew Harris
(Beer Delegate, ON, Canada)

Highballer Pumpkin ale
Grand River Brewing, Cambridge, ON, Canada

I drove down to Cambridge to check out the Grand River brewery and see what they had brewing. I found they were selling a brand new seasonal brew called Highballer Pumpkin ale, 5.2% abv.

I've tried their other brews and have been quite impressed with them, I thought this one should turn out fantastic, and I do enjoy a good pumpkin ale.

When I poured this one out it showed itself to be a dark orange colour, with a nice head forming on top. It had a great aroma of spices and malt.

When I tasted it I was able to pick up on cinnamon and nutmeg spices, and a nice fruity malt favour, with a noticeably dry/bitter finish. The pumpkin flavour is not very prominent, but the spice and fruity malt give the beer a very nice body.

A very nice beer that I enjoy drinking, and it doesn’t hurt that it is only sold in 1.9 litre growler bottles: a good 4-5 pint bottle to share with friends over the cold October nights.

This Pumpkin ale is also available on tap at your finer Ale houses. I've had the pleasure of having a pint or two poured for me and the flavour seems to stay the same, with perhaps a bit less bitterness.

Either way you have it, this is a great pumpkin beer. However, in my opinion the pumpkin flavour could have been a bit more prominent to help keep with the style.