Glassware: Pumpkin beers are driven primarily by the pumpkin spice aromas, which makes the aroma of any pumpkin beer key. Jack Be Nimble offers a very quaffable pumpkin ale and glassware that helps trap that aroma is a must. Try enjoying in a snifter, nonic pint, or Willi becher glass to get the most out of this fall seasonal beer.

Description: Jack Be Nimble pours a clear deep amber hue with a wispy off white head that leaves little to no lacing on the glass. The aroma is everything you would want from a pumpkin beer. Strong notes of cinnamon, clove, allspice and nutmeg are front and center with backing notes of sweet caramel and vanilla providing balance with hints of spicy noble hops providing depth. The taste follows the nose with the spices hitting the palate first and opening the beer up to allow for the sweet caramel malts and vanilla to rush over providing a break from the spices. The balance of the spices is what makes this beer so enjoyable. Cinnamon and clove are the dominant spice flavors but the addition of vanilla adds to the unique character of Jack Be Nimble. The medium body and moderate carbonation are perfect for the style and help in the beers drinkability. While pumpkin beers are not something for everyone, those who enjoy them will want to try some Jack Be Nimble to get their pumpkin beer fix.

Food pairing: Many pumpkin beers are unfortunately overpowered by the spices within and can takeover many food pairings. Jack Be Nimble has great balance and an easy-drinking factor that many lack which makes it great to pair with hearty fall dishes. Try with a bowl of chili to warm yourself on a chilly fall evening. The spices in the chili are the perfect match against the sweetness of the malt with the pumpkin spices melting into the dish making for a perfect fall pairing. Pork chops also make for a wonderful pairing with the natural caramelization from the meat settling perfectly into the malts, the beer also has enough heft to scrub the palate clean between bites. While this beer has a sweetness to it, it is not overwhelming. It goes well with desserts especially those of the pumpkin persuasion. Try pairing with pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin ice cream or a decadent pumpkin cake with buttercream icing and caramel drizzle.

The Final Word: The pumpkin beer style is quite divisive. Some callously write it off as a beer that pumpkin spice latte lovers clamber while others just call it a gimmick. An even larger amount of the population love the style and see it as the perfect accompaniment to fall. There is no shortage of pumpkin beers stocking the shelves this year and every year there seems to be more available. Tunkhannock based brewery Nimble Hill has made the search for a good pumpkin beer much easier with its delicious Jack Be Nimble. The subtle sweetness with well balanced pumpkin spice flavors makes for a surprisingly easy drinking beer.

Nimble Hill’s Jack Be Nimble is a good pumpkin flavor beer to drink to ease into the fall season.
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_JackBeNimble.jpgNimble Hill’s Jack Be Nimble is a good pumpkin flavor beer to drink to ease into the fall season.

By Derek Warren

For Weekender

Brewer- Nimble Hill Brewing Company

Beer- Jack Be Nimble

Style- Pumpkin Ale

ABV- 6.50%

Rating: WWWV

Derek Warren is a beer fanatic, avid homebrewer and beer historian. Derek can be heard weekly on the Beer Geeks Radio Hour at noon on Sundays on WILK 103.1 FM with past episodes available on iTunes.