The Fat Jack Double Pumpkin Ale is one of two pumpkin ales produced by Samuel Adams.  Along with the Harvest Pumpkin Ale (told you that name was popular), the Fat Jack is released every year for the fall season.  Since debuting in 2012, Fat Jack has been met with rave reviews and I’m basically going to continue that trend.

Fat Jack is a limited seasonal release and is only available in 22 ounce bombers.  The selling point on this one is that the Sam Adams folk use 28 pounds of pumpkins for each barrel of Fat Jack.  Based on what I have read about other pumpkin ales, that seems like a pretty standard number.

Samuel-Adams-Fat-Jack-Double-Pumpkin
So, does the pumpkin have arms and legs or did it squash some poor guy?

Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin Ale

Style: Pumpkin Ale

ABV: 8.5%

IBU: 25

Hops: East Kent Goldings, Fuggle

Malts: Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, rye Special B, smoked malt

Additional ingredients: Real pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice

Availability: Seasonal (August – November)

MSRP: $6.99 – 22oz bottle

Brewer: Samuel Adams Brewing – Boston, MA

Beers consumed for review: 1 – 22oz bottle

Sam-Adams-Fat-Jack
You can see the foamy head here… it disappeared rather quickly

Nose: Malty notes along with some cinnamon and bready yeast.  There wasn’t much pumpkin on the nose at all.

Appearance:  The Fat Jack poured a clear, dark amber with a thin, bubbly head.

Flavor:  This is a full bodied beer that attacks the palate with robust flavor.  Notes of sweet brown sugar and pumpkin hit the tongue first.  There is a jammy, stone fruit note in there that set the flavor of the Fat Jack apart.  There was a barrel aged quality to the flavor as well.  (I’m talking about that boozey note you get from a barrel aged beer.)  The mouthfeel is creamy and the sweetness on the finish lingers for a bit.

Overall Thoughts:  I freakin’ loved it.  It was similar to the Punk’In Drublic from Coronado Brewing with that boozey flavor, but there was something in the Fat Jack that set it apart.  That deep, jammy, stone fruit note (prune? stewed cherries?) set this one apart for me.  I also love the fact that I can get a bomber for less than $10 (MSRP $6.99).  A high price doesn’t really bother me, but when I get something I dig at what I deem a bargain price, then it becomes a big deal.

There is a note on the label that says, “Enjoy now or age it to further develop rich and unique flavors.”  So I’m actually going to age a few and see how they are next year.

Mixed and Mashed Rating: 

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