The reviews from the Friday evening pumkin ale fest are in. Overall, a good showing by all, including the beer and the guests. I encourage the riders to post their own thoughts as they see fit. I will list the brews in order of preference from worst to last. Here we go:

Blue Moon Pumpkin:
Easily the macro of the bunch. I actually like the wheat variety the sell and will, at times, stuff an orange in the glass. The pumpkin offering is half-assed, and lack direction. Overall, it's just a full bodied ale with a very round taste that goes nowhere. Don't get me wrong. It's not a spit-back reaction. The beer is drinkable, for sure. It just doesn't seem to do a whole lot to separate it from the pack. Let's move on.

Arcadia Jaw Jacker:
A solid brew with the most hops of the four tasted, which surprisingly did complement the gourd flavoring. There were slight nutmeg and spice hints. Lighter and more refreshing than your typical spiced ale.

O'Fallon's Pumpkin Ale:
This one got better as I put it next to the others. O'fallon has got real nice spice combination that comes on shortly after the swallow. The gourd is there, but the nutmeg and spice is balanced perfectly. This beer is light enough to have several and complicated enough to carry the conversation while you do.

Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale:
Awesome! Heavy, dense, sophisticated. Not a volume drinker by any means. But if you want something to get head-to-head with some brisket, this is it. This beer is not the most flavored, which if that is your thing you'll enjoy it. The gourd is there, it's a just a little further back in the patch. What flavor is there is balanced with the heavy ale taste. Drink up.

Southern Tier's Pumking:
I was formally warned by the liquor store attendant regarding this beer. Actually, he saw that I had a theme going on at the register and made a quick recommendation. By far, this is the most flavored of the bunch. The bouquet is a buttery, fresh baked pie that is flaky and warm. No shit, the aroma is fantastic. In fact, I want my wife to wear it as perfume. In addition to being brewed with pagan spirit, as the label suggests, this beer is high-alcohol content brew (9%), so you are not going to do to many of these. If you can find it, pick this one up. It's a roller-coaster of a brew that will bring glee with every sip.