The Pumpkin Beers of 2011
There are five things I look forward to in October. Pumpkin coffee drinks, outdoor campfires with friends, brisk hikes through the autumn woods, mugging small children for their candy, and pumpkin beers. Each has its appeal, but since this year is the year I started homebrewing my own beer, it is only right that I take some time out to review the pumpkin beers I’ve had this year1. In order of worst to best:
Punkin Ale
- Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- ABV: 7%
I label this one the worst because my expectations were so very high. I usually like Dogfish Head beers: I love their experimental approach to brewing and the passion with which they further the craft. Not every experiment is a successful one, and this one did not resonate with me. I think it’s only fair to note that when I picture a pumpkin-flavored product, I’m not thinking of the flavor of the raw pumpkin; I’m tasting the nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves, the brown sugar and molasses as well. Punkin Ale has none of this; it’s a straight up ale with pumpkin, no embellishments. Some find this to be a strength, but for folks like me who are looking for the best possible mix of pumpkin pie and beer, this is one to avoid. This makes me sad.
America’s Original Pumpkin Ale
- Brewery: Buffalo Bill’s Brewery
- ABV: 5.5%
To Buffalo Bill: Your sauce, sir, is weak. Hints of flavor come through, but not nearly strong enough. This is like drinking weak beer with a pumpkin-flavored crayon dunked in it. The ale itself leave much to be desired, and there is a strange not-beer not-pumpkin aftertaste that made me shiver. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
Ichabod Ale
- Brewery: New Holland Brewing Company
- ABV: 5.5%
This is where things start getting good. The brew has an excellent body and smooth aftertaste. The pumpkin and spice flavor is hinted at in the bouquet on the pour and is especially strong on the finish, but there is a no-man’s land in-between that needs bolstering. If you are introducing a Bud drinker to pumpkin beers, this is a good one to start with, as it is not overpowering. For those of us who want stronger flavor, you’ll be happier with one of the next brews.
Post Road Pumpkin Ale
- Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery
- ABV: 5%
Excellent beer. This is the beer that started me down the road of trying as many pumpkin beers as I could find this year, and when you taste it, you’ll see why. Heavy nutmeg and allspice notes on the pour give way to a surprising light-bodied beer that is full of flavor. The pumpkin and malt flavors are clear and clean, and the finish is pure warmth and spice. Highly recommended.
Harvest Pumpkin Ale
- Brewery: Boston Beer Company
- ABV: 5.7%
I’d rate this in the class with the Post Road Ale: a solid beer with excellent spiciness to the flavor. The difference between this and the Post Road is that this beer is has a heavier body and a darker pour; there are elements of molasses in the flavor with the nutmeg and the clove. It is also best served chilled, and is amazing when used to chase a Buttery Nipple shot.
Pumpkin Beer
- Brewery: O’Fallon Brewery
- ABV: 5.5%
This was a surprise. I’ve never had anything else by O’Fallon, but if the rest of their catalog is as strong as this one, then I’ll be looking for more. Excellent color and pour, sweet and malty with the right balance of pumpkin and spices. There is also a slight citrus finish with was surprising but pleasing nonetheless.
And the clear winner was…
Spooky Tooth Imperial Pumpkin Ale
- Brewery: Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon
- ABV: 9%
Amazing. Just amazing. This is a Big Damn Beer with intense flavors: strong spices, sweet pumpkin maltitness throughout with a stunning hoppy finish. I was completely blown away. The perfect pumpkin beer, falvorful from the onset and you’re nice and toasty (both from the flavor and the ABV) by bottom of the pint glass. Highly recommended.
Have you had any good pumpkin beers this season? What did you think?
- You can follow my other beer adventures on Untappd: http://untappd.com/user/ctmiller [↩]
The only one I’ve tried this year is a new one from Rogue, called Pumpkin Patch. It did a good job embodying that liquid pumpkin pie flavor – plus it uses pacman yeast and free range water. Rogue, you so funny. You’ve gotta love a beer just on that alone.
I recommend. Also, we tried our hand at brewing our own this year. It’s currently halfway though secondary. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Its local to eastern Pennsylvania, but Weyerbacher’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale is excellent. Subdued spices, nice pumpkin aftertaste, good body. I strongly recommend it.
To me, the nirvana of pumpkin ales would be 1:1 matching the flavor of a pumpkin pie. That is to say, “this pumpkin pie is great and all, but it just isn’t getting me drunk.”
That said, here are the brews I’ve enjoyed the most this year (in no particular order:
1) Pumpkin Ale by Kennebunkport – http://untappd.com/beer/6659
Crisp, spicy. A solid, if not groundbreaking pumpkin.
2) Smashed Pumpkin by Shipyard Brewing Co. – http://untappd.com/beer/6299
Probably my favorite of the pumpkin ales, it sounds a lot like the Spooky Tooth. Intense, robust, full of flavor–it’s like the Arrogant Bastard of pumpkin ales.
3) Pumpkinhead Ale also by Shipyard Brewing Co. – http://untappd.com/beer/5117
If I had my druthers, this would be my everyday drinkin’ pumpkin ale. A great blend of ale flavors and pumpkin pie flavors.
I’ve had quite the few pumpkin brews, but somehow have missed most of the ones on this list. I have had the Dogfish Punkin, and agree that I was disappointed with it, but for perhaps different reasons – I noted some strong cinnamon and nutmeg notes, and when mixed with the hop presence, I thought it made for an interesting drink but not an ideal pumpkin beer.
My perfect pumpkin brew is one that has a strong pumpkin base with just enough of the spice notes to balance it, but not make me feel like I’m drinking a pumpkin pie. My all time favorite is the Wild Goose Pumpkin Patch – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/69/24447 – which is sadly no longer brewed since Wild Goose was bought out by Flying Dog. FD did sell the Wild Goose brand to another local brewery which hasn’t started production yet, so I’m hopeful it will rise from the grave at some point soon.
All that noted, I second Ken’s assessment and recommendation of the Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin – it’s excellent. I used it to make a beer bread last year, which was a success as well.
[...] that you have your pumpkins carved unlike any other on the block, and you have a selection of pumpkin ales close at hand, it’s time to have friends, minions, and overlords over for that supremely geeky pastime: [...]
[...] approaches. We denizens of The Lair enjoy this particular holiday for many reasons, be it tasty food and drink, spooky fun, or squash mutilation. I certainly partake in all of these, but my particular joy come [...]
It was nice to see a local St. Louis (O’Fallon) brewery hit your tasting, but I’m sorry you missed the best pumpkin beer St. Louis has to offer. The Pumpkin Ale from Schlafly, http://schlafly.com/beers/styles/pumpkin-ale/ is amazing. It’s got body from 5 different malts, plus pumpkin and squash, the incredible blend of pumpkin pie spices, and 8% abv to boot. This beer is always in our fridge as soon as we see it in stores, until we can’t find it anymore. I know their year-round styles make it pretty far from home, but I don’t think their seasonals do. Probably because we locals drink it all up before it can get anywhere