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Friday, March 29, 2024

Pumpkin ales tend to be a polarizing style for many beer drinkers — you either love ‘em or you hate ‘em.

Pumpkin was originally adopted as a beer ingredient during the early colonial period thanks to its widespread availability and high starch content that made it an easy substitute for high-priced malts. Native to North America, the fruit was used in recipes for centuries until it eventually fell out of favor due to its rural background. The honor of reviving the flavor goes to Buffalo Bill's Brewery, which has been brewing its version of the ale since the late 1980s. While brewer Bill Owens was researching old-fashioned beer recipes, he came across notes penned by George Washington praising the use of pumpkin for brewing, and the rest is history.

There are now more than 300 pumpkin ales existing in the craft beer market, with more than 60 brews available nationally. While the brews often deliver a wallop of strong spice flavors, pumpkin beer drinkers say the fall-inspired taste is sure to grow on you.

Modern pumpkin beers tend to be more about the pie than the fruit, with many breweries choosing to forgo using actual pumpkin in their recipes in favor of seasonal spices. What we often think of as "pumpkin flavors" are often the spices found in the pies gracing our table on Thanksgiving — cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice.

Unfortunately, this is where most pumpkin ales fail the taste test. The overwhelming spices up front completely eclipse the pumpkin flavor many people are looking for. For a true taste of this seasonal favorite, look for a brew that balances the earthy flavor of pumpkin with subtle spices that enhance rather than overpower.

Look below for my take on seven different ales that are helping to spur the pumpkin movement to even greater success.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewing Punkin' Ale, 7 percent ABV

Brewed with real pumpkin flesh, brown sugar and spices, Dogfish's version has been winning over beer geeks since 1994. It's definitely reminiscent of a good slice of pie but avoids being too over-the-top sweet. If you see some on the shelf, snatch it up — this brew is usually sold out before Thanksgiving.

Cape Ann Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout, 7 percent ABV

Breaking out of the ale stereotype, Cape Ann brings us a pumpkin stout. The higher ABV is hidden behind a tangle of chocolate, coffee and nutmeg, with a subdued hint of earthy pumpkin in the background. This is a great pick for someone who isn't too big on pumpkin but still wants to see what all the fuss is about.

Flying Dog Brewery's The Fear, 9 percent ABV

This mahogany-colored brew is just as nice to look at as it is to taste. Big and bold in flavor, the beer allows you to taste pumpkin as it weaves around notes of toasty graham crackers and chocolate. The 9 percent ABV means business, but even with the high alcohol content it doesn't taste overly boozy. Released as part of the brewery's Wild Dog series, the label alone will make you want to pick up a bottle.

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Elysian's The Great Pumpkin Ale, 8 percent ABV

This Imperial style ale pours a deep-coppery color, with an intense pumpkin and spice flavor up front and a malty backdrop to round everything out. Roasted pumpkin seeds and extra mashed pumpkin added during the brewing process help to bring out a well-developed and slightly nutty flavor.

Sixpoint Craft Ale's Autumnation, 6.7 percent ABV

This pumpkin ale in a can is shaking things up with its addition of ginger, white pepper and fresh Citra hops from California. While I haven't had the chance to try it yet, beer geeks around the country are sounding off about Sixpoint's attempt to separate from the pack. Like it or not, this release is definitely raising the creativity bar for pumpkin brews.

Shipyard Brewing Company's Pumpkinhead Ale, 5 percent ABV

A light-bodied ale, Shipyard's version has a nice, pumpkin pie aroma and a taste more suggestive of soda than heavy beer. The flavor is sweet, but crisp and refreshing enough to still retain a level of easy drinkability. Overall, it's a nice introduction into the style for someone who hasn't tried it before.

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Is there a great pumpkin beer you've tried that wasn't mentioned? Let me know about it in the comments section.

Posts in Beer for Breakfast appear on Wednesdays.

 

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