Katy and Sasha are the contributors for Ottawa Beer Events! They
have distinctly different palates and in this segment they go
head-to-head tasting Squashed Pumpkin Porter by Turtle Island Brewing Company.
Katy:
Pouring a dark brown with a light mocha head that quickly disappears (I had to do a lot of glass swirling to get this picture), Turtle Island's Squashed Pumpkin Porter uses both roast pumpkins and butternut squash to create a full bodied pumpkin brew.
There's a very interesting mix of aromas – cocoa, clove and pumpkin pie spice. This isn't your typical pumpkin ale! Instead of being overwhelmed by pumpkin pie spice from the start you're greeted with sweet dried fruit, roasted malt which then leads into some subtle pumpkin spice before finishing with a dry bitter chocolate.
The roasted pumpkin/squash flavour is very subtle, but using the squash in the beer has created a wonderful rich texture that makes it a delight to drink on those chilly fall evenings.
Turtle Island's Squashed Pumpkin Porter pours a deep dark brown with a reddish tint and barely there head. The aroma is faint, but I picked up a sweet smell right off the bat with just a hint of cinnamon.
At first you barely get any pumpkin flavor, but as it warms the pumpkin and squash become more apparent. It's definitely a lot sweeter than I expected with some nice caramel notes tied in with the smoothness of the beer.
Being a big fan of pumpkin beer, I would have preferred just a hint more of the pumpkin flavour but overall a very nice porter. This is a great choice for those who seek dark roasted flavours with just a hint of pumpkin spice.
Squashed Pumpkin Porter is available for a limited time at select pubs and restaurants.
