Summit Unchained Batch 5: Imperial Pumpkin Porter

The announcement of the Unchained Series last year was met in the local beer community with equal cries of hoorays, hossanahs, and "it's about time"s. Time for our nearly 25-year old steadfast soldier to show it can do something different, and give the ravenous beer geeks something to chew on. I recall an event a few years ago when Summit founder and owner Mark Stutrud was inundated with questions about when Summit would brew, of all things, a Flemish Sour Red Ale. He seems perplexed, because, he explained, he was just trying to get Miller Lite drinkers to drop that swill and switch to Summit EPA. A Flanders Red? Why not shoot for the moon, while we're at it.

So the Unchained Series, where each brewer gets his chance to create his heart's desire has brought a kolsch, a scottish ale, a india rye, a Belgian-style Golden ale (and where I did like this one, it may indicate that the notion of tackling a Belgian red ought to remain a pipe dream, at least for now), and perhaps the most successful and popular in the series, the imperial pumpkin porter.
This one came out the last week in October, just in time to be included in our StoutFest 2010. I was amused by some comments by folks that they couldn't taste the "imperial" or the pumpkin. It may not be 10% or so, but 7.5% is stronger than the average porter, and I think the submerged pumpkin taste actually makes this one work.

I gave it a 3.9/5, but it probably deserves better.

Anyhow, we've been pouring it non-stop since, and I've lost count of how many kegs we've switched out. The photo is a pint from the penultimate sixtel, and the notes are from early November. In my opinion, it's actually getting better these days.

"Full-on ebony appearance, roasted brown head, slim and soon gone.

Aroma brims with spice. They put a ton in here, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, allspice, maybe more, I forget. It rides over anything else. A little coffee and caramel, maybe, with the black & chocolate malt.

tAste: All dark malts, and plenty of spice. Can't taste the pumpkin, doesn't reveal itself at all. Well, it's in there somewhere, but the porter elements are going strong, bittersweet, smooth, rich, and tasty. Cocoa flavor is major. Spice is coming on strong, and taking control, becoming bright and dominant.

I keep looking for the pumpkin, and have to realize it was meant to be drowned out by the malt and the spice. It's there, but undetectable and utterly submerged. But the beer becomes more than the sum of it's parts, and something very satisfying.

wait, halfway through the pint, now I'm getting the pumpkin, there it is. Neat little cameo, it pops up for a peep.

Yum, yum, yum. Warm, malt, chocolate, pumpkin, and then all that spice. It's there for flavor, but doesn't become hot or take over in any way. A well done brew all the way. Pumpkin haters needn't worry, as that flavor is subdued, and stout and porter lovers have much to enjoy."