It's #FloridaBeerFriday. Every Friday, we take a look at a beer brewed in the Sunshine State, giving analysis to the burgeoning craft-beer movement of Florida.
This week we're looking at the Isle of MaGourdo, the annual pumpkin beer offering from Due South Brewing Company. Since it is getting to be that time of year, it seemed only prudent to begin the laborious process of making it through some fall seasonals.
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The origins of this beer go back to the beginnings of the brewery. Way back in 2012 (which is quite a bit in South Florida brewery years), Due South released this beer to the public as their first ever bottle release. "First today we will release our pumpkin ale, Isle of MaGourdo. We have approximately 276 bottles of this treat and they go on sale at 6:30 pm for $10 (tax included) each. Just come on into the taproom and you can buy up to 2 bottles," stated the blog post in October of that year.
This 5.5% abv amber colored beer became available at the end of August this year, and has made its way through tap rotations and into distribution via cans.
The aroma brings to mind gingerbread cookies, or a pumpkin bread of sorts, with nutmeg dominating the scent-o-meter (totally made up term). There is even a little bit of brown sugar sweetness that pokes through. That nutmeg flavoring carries on through to the taste of the beer, which is slightly nutty with more of that pumpkin cake idea coming through.
What I enjoy most about this (coming from someone who is not very big on the pumpkin beer genre as a whole) is the mouthfeel. There is some weight to it, unlike very many commercial pumpkin beers that end up lacking in body with a very thin heft to them.
The end is crisp with no real lasting bitterness or sweetness, it just sort of fades off and spurs you to continue to consume.
As far as pumpkin beers go, this one makes its way up there, and definitely beats out many of the usually available beers of this style. So put down that pumpkin spice latte and grab a cold one instead: A cold pumpkin beer. Or not, I'm not your mother.
Follow #FloridaBeerFriday for more reviews of Sunshine State brews.
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Doug Fairall is a craft beer blogger who focuses on Florida beers and has been a homebrewer since 2010. For beer things in your Twitter feed, follow him @DougFairall and find the latest beer pics on Instagram.
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