Image: Darby’s
The #PSL (pumpkin spice latte) hashtags started appearing in August. The drink debuted in September. But those of us who know better have been holding out for pumpkin beer, and it’s back at Kits liquor stores and bars including Darby’s.
This year we’re excited to sip on Moon Under Water’s Pumpkin Pearzen Harvest Weizen. This Victoria-based brewer has added pear, pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg to a traditional hefeweizen base. It’s a fusion of pumpkin beer, fruit beer and hefeweizen, and possibly the finest B.C.-brewed weizenbock of all times. Let’s just say the first swallow surpassed the sum of its parts.
The nose is aromatic, bursting with clove, nutmeg, malt and banana. It finishes with a touch of fresh-baked apple pie.
In the mouth there are full, rich flavours of fruit and spice with enough depth and bitterness at the finish to make this a great pumpkin beer for those who don’t like pumpkin. This is not your typical pumpkin beer. Go forth and sample. If you’re hungry, we recommend ordering Chinese.
Last modified: September 26, 2015
