The two prominent trends for fall seasonals are rich, spicy pumpkin ales and fresh, hoppy wet hopped ales. It seems that the mad scientists at Sixpoint couldn't be bothered to choose between the two. Autumnation is brewed with pumpkin, ginger, and has been wet hopped with fresh Citra. Now I love pumpkin ales and I love fresh hop flavors so this could be something special. To the beer!
Autumnation pours a rather lovely looking crystal clear burnished copper color. It's full of all of those fall colors, fiery red and bright gold highlights all mingled into a beautiful bright orange body. It's capped off by a layer of sturdy, rocky off white head that leaves beautiful rings of lacing.
The fresh hop aromas come out swinging right off the bat. Resinous, oily, sticky, fruity hop notes. A bready malt character forms the backbone. The pumpkin and spices are subtle. They impart a rich, nutty spiciness but never really become too prominent.
Autumnation is medium bodied with a great smooth creaminess. Once again, like with the aromas, the wet hops are the prominent characteristic. Tropical fruit resinous hop flavors are right up at the forefront for a dry bitter flavor. Toasty bready malt add balance but it definitely skews hoppy. The pumpkin and ginger are again rather subtle. The pumpkin adds a rich earthy fullness and the ginger seems evident on the lingering bitter finish.
If you're expecting Pumking levels of pumpkin flavors here I think you'll be a bit disappointed, like I said the pumpkin and spice are very subtle. However, as a hoppy, flavorful, IPA-ish brew with some light seasonal spiciness, it's very tasty. Once again, Sixpoint has bucked traditional style guidelines and come up with a very enjoyable beer.
HD
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