It’s Friday. Finally. TGI-fuckin’-F or whatever. If only it were 1989 again and I could rock the TGIF lineup, I may not have need to write this. But alas, times have changed and I can no longer rely on ABC’s transdimensional-series cameos to help kill the memories of the week.
Instead, I need a cold brew. And since I’m drinking anyways, I figure that I might as well take the opportunity to review the beverage for the six diehard, dedicated readers of OL.
So today I entered my local package store in the hopes of snagging something crafty, seasonal, and heavy. My eye was caught by the packaging of Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale. “Perfect,” I thought. “Ale is heavy, pumpkins are seasonal, and it looks like a homemade/craft/microbrew. Autumn RUleZ!!!”
Once home, I took a minute to actually look at the beer. “Wait a second…Michelob Brewing Company? Well, they’re not a craft distrib- fuck.” Okay, so I was scammed by the clever marketing of a beer juggernaut. Whatever – this doesn’t necessarily mean that the product is of a lesser quality.
After popping off the bottle cap, I poured the liquid into a glass and examined. Uh-oh. I could see right through, as though I had just poured a Bud Light. This kind of killed my hopes of drinking something heavier, but I wasn’t going to waste a perfectly good beer (or its five brothers).
The beer went down smooth…perhaps too smooth. Maybe I had too many preconceived notions going into this tasting, but it seems to me that something labeled Pumpkin Spice Ale shouldn’t go down faster than a bottle of G2 in the hands of a woman named Serena.
The verdict: I really like the cartoon Jack O’Lantern man on the label. Also, the ale smells really nice, like one of those Yankee Candles my mom is all about. And I suppose the fact that it is so fucking light will help put more in my gut. However, by taste it’s barely distinguishable from any normal light beer and it hasn’t inspired me to start putting up the Halloween decorations.
While not what I was originally looking for, I’ll award Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale: B -
Tags: Beer, Full House, G2, Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale, Party Time, TGIF
Wegman’s (my grocery store) has a beers of the world section. I occasionally buy pint sized bottles to sample different beers. I’ve had some from Germany, Britain, and a few smaller American brewers. For drink ability, I tend to go back to Sam Adams Cherry Wheat http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1035/558636597_34c7774be6.jpg
The cherry hits you just at the end of the drink.
Overall, I’ve had a mixed experience with beers that taste like stuff. The Cherry Wheat delivers, but the Double Chocolate Stout, I had no chocolate flavor at all (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/664/73), though I must say it was a pretty good beer nonetheless.
What those lack however, was the Hobo Pumpkin Man coming to get your drunk and steal your wallet.
Yeah, I can’t say I have ever been steered wrong by Sam Adams. Although part of this experiment was to prove to myself I can drink other beers, a Sam Adams Octoberfest seems pretty good right now.
And yeah, the Hobo Pumpkin Man is still fucking awesome. I really hope we wises up and chooses to endorse a better beverage.
Yeah man I noticed Micheloeb is doing that left and right, I was at the store the other night for just a six pack and they have a row of those like “scam-design” beers so you arent alone, they have gotten me.
Well, I’m glad I’m not the only asshole falling for the clever packaging.
I usually only buy local brews. I live in Colorado and there are plenty of delicious microbreweries around my location. I love the fall and fall beers. I saw the awesome design of this brew and grabbed it. On my walk home, I walk to my local liquor store because it is a block from my house, I realized this is Michelob! EWWW, give me a break. Thanks America for tricking me as a child that if the cover looks good then buy it! I should have actually read the cover! I don’t like to buy this brand or other mass produced beers that taste just like it. I will never buy the beer again, but I would say the rating of a B- fits this beer well.
Yeah dudeness…It’s not a *bad* beer, but I’m a fan of *good* beer. This really was just a run-of-the-mill, mass-marketed bullshit light beer with a hint of pumpkin.
But yeah, we both got fooled.