Hoppin’ Frog Brewery- Frog’s Hallow Double Pumpkin Ale: Don’t Fear The Flavor

Well, I’ve been M.I.A. for a few days due the events surrounding the marriage of my best friend Ron and his new bride, Alma.  I had a little more than your typical involvement as I was asked to become ordained and perform the ceremony as well as perform a few other duties.  His lovely bride, Alma, is from Scotland and as part of the ceremony I donned a full dress Highland Kilt.  I can honestly say that I have never felt more comfortable in my entire life, yes you read that right.  It must be something about the Scottish & Irish heritage in my own family that created the perfect fit.  It was a perfect Fall day that proved to be nothing less than perfect.  Now that I’ve had a few days to recover, it’s time to get back to the task at hand.  This Fall has been absolutely perfect and the weather, spectacular.  So I’m going to review a brew that I was specifically requested to review by my friend Pam Lewis as I am on her imposed “NO IPA” review streak.  Today’s seasonal spectacular is Hoppin’ Frog Brewery’s Frog’s Hallow Double Pumpkin Ale; will this prove to provide the pumpkin punch I’m looking for?  Let’s see.

Hoppin’ Frog Brewery classifies this brew as a Double Pumpkin Ale and their website describes Frog’s Hallow Double Pumpkin Ale as, “There’s a place just south they call Frog’s Hollow, with cauldrons afire in Fall, and they only speak in whispers of the name. There’s a brewery they say who has the secret, of spices picked just right. With a crying shout, they’ll knock it out, and hand you this Frog’s delight.”

Frog’s Hallow Double Pumpkin Ale pours a beautiful sunset golden color with a 1” tiny bubbled beige head.  The aroma is a very festive combination of Cinnamon 1st followed in order of strength, pumpkin, vanilla, clove and allspice.

I have to be honest and say that I was a bit scared of this brew, like a 6 year old in a really good haunted house.  My fear arises from the beer being over-done, too much spices and pumpkin which you sometimes find in seasonal brews.  Frog’s Hallow Double Pumpkin Ale, does not follow this trend, as a matter of fact, it sets the bar for what a pumpkin beer should be.  You get a really nice pumpkin flavor that is complimented with a variety of spices that truly create a very deep and complex beer.  The flavor starts with a brief pumpkin splash followed by a cornucopia of spices and finishes with a 1-2 punch of cinnamon and nutmeg that gives you a slight warming as it goes down which could also be helped by this brew being 8.4% ABV.  I have to give Pam a big shout-out and thanks for recommending this brew.  If you thoroughly enjoy pumpkin brews then Frog’s Hallow is exactly what you’re looking for in a Fall seasonal.

ABV: 8.4%

Consumed: Nonic Pint Glass

Verdict: Buy A Twelve Pack