Imperial Pumpkin Porter is made by Epic Brewing in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s part of their Exponential Series which consists of 19 different beers that include both ales and lagers and is comprised of a plethora of different styles. The beers in this series release at different times throughout the year, and according to Epic, the availability of each release varies each batch that is produced.
This beer’s full name is Fermentation Without Representation Imperial Pumpkin Porter, however, this was not a collaboration with DC Brau Brewing. Imperial Pumpkin Porter is brewed with pumpkin puree, nutmeg, all-spice, cinnamon and Madagascar vanilla beans.
Imperial Pumpkin Porter pours dark brown with a red and orange hue in the light. The light brown head disappears rapidly, but there are thousands of tiny bubbles that go up and down the glass with each sip. After the beer settles completely, it doesn’t seem near as dark as when it was first poured. There isn’t really too much going on in the smell department, but I do get a brown sugar, malt, some pumpkin, grain alcohol and some earthiness in the nose.
The taste is a very pale pumpkin ale with a mild tart flavor rounding out the first sip. As I continue to drink the beer, I get harsh alcohol notes, some brown sugar sweetness and it leaves my mouth rather dry. The 8 percent ABV that Imperial Pumpkin Porter clocks in at is not hidden very well, you know for a fact there is alcohol in this beer.