Ballast Point Pumpkin Down
Ballast Point Pumpkin Down is a Pumpkin Ale. Ballast Point takes their Piper Down Scottish Ale and adds “…a boatload of roasted pumpkin…” and then “Just before bottling… a subtle amount of spice…”
This pours with a very dark ruby red color and a nice off white head that fades just about completely away. A solid amount of sweet pumpkin on the nose, not over done for the style, nice rich toffee and pumpkin sweetness without a ton of spice. As far as the taste goes, this isn’t all that different from Piper Down at all. I’m tasting all of the toasted bread, caramel/toffee and dark cherries I get in the base beer. The pumpkin is rather mild, but does increase as the beer warms. Probably the most subtle spiced Pumpkin Ale I’ve had in quite a while, and it is done to great affect. The pumpkin/spice flavor of this beer is understated, yet seems to be in perfect harmony with the base beer.
If you “kind of” like Pumpkin Ales you might seek this one out. It is mild in the “pumpkin” without being bland.
