Arcadia seems to follow the British Isles session beer model. They do not fear flavor, but they do keep it to a dull roar. Jaw-Jacker has tons of flavor. It is an "Ale with spices added (Cinnamon, Allspice, and Nutmeg)" as described by the label itself. And it is a pretty accurate description, I might add. Yes, these spices invoke the spirit of Fall, hinting at Pumpkin Pie -- but there are no pumpkins brewed into this beer. It's a hit and a miss at the same time.
Originality is a tough thing to judge here, which affects the Style score in my method. Yes, it is original in that it's a pumpkin ale without the pumpkins. But really... where does that leave you? It has a very similar spice profile to maybe -- Southampton Pumpkin Ale? But without the actual pumpkin, Jaw-Jacker may come up just a little short.
I think that Style points could have been really pumped up here if the brew had come out either crisper (like a ginger ale, almost) or way bigger in body (picture something from Dogfish Head or Southern Tier), or perhaps entirely different (cider, perhaps?). Anyway, Arcadia Jaw-Jacker is not bad at all as a fall beer or even as a Halloween beer. Thanksgiving? Maybe. But compared to the million other seasonals I've had over the past three autumns, Jaw-Jacker is pretty good but not great. It's fairly drinkable (in the Arcadia tradition) at 6.0% abv, but I think one is good enough for me.
Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker Ale:
Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker Ale:
Representation: .85
Accessibility: .875
Style: .85
Personal Preference: .80
Total Score: 3.375 Flags
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