Smuttynose Pumpkin and Bear World

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale - beautiful colour in the (not so) fall light.

About a month ago I got it in my mind that I needed to start hoarding collecting pumpkin beer.  It wasn't officially fall but breweries were busy releasing the coveted seasonal and craft beer drinkers were busy buying (and drinking) all of the bottles they could get.  Here in Ottawa, the LCBO announced their fall releases with a small list of pumpkin beers from Ontario and the United States but the list only scratched the surface of what's available.  To get the variety I wanted I would need to travel.  Good thing I don't have a problem with that.

Two hours away from Ottawa, heading south, is Bear World located off a highway in the older part of Watertown, NY.  The convenience store has a small section for food necessities but mostly specializes in beer, cigars and lottery tickets (what more do you need?).  There I was able to find about 10 different bottles of pumpkin ale, a pumpkin cider and splurged on a hefty growler of Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale from the growler bar.

I finished the growler of Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale that weekend while I stashed the rest of the haul till the weather became a bit cooler.

The  beer bear promises that they will only have the best beer on tap at the Growler Bar.

It pours a beautiful pumpkin orange and has a spicy aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice with a hint of sweet pumpkin puree.  The taste doesn't match the scent but the spice and sweet malts are prominent flavours with hints of pumpkin and it finishes with a strong bitterness.  It isn't my favourite pumpkin ale but it was a good start to the 'season' and a nice introduction to the countless pumpkin pints I'd be drinking in the next few months.

If anyone wants to go on a short road trip to Bear World, let me know.  I carry my Growler Club card on me at all times.

Bear World
22093 US Route 11
Watertown, NY 13601
(315)782-0691