Pumpkin Beers 2024

See last year's samplings here!

The stores are full of seasonal flavors including the ubiquitous pumpkin spice. The liquor store is no exception to this flavor contagion. Here are some pumpkin-based beers that I tried this year...

Caramel Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale (8.6 percent alcohol by volume) by Southern Tier Brewing Company, Lakewood, New York--The label had no write up but the web site says, "The King’s magical court flourished with the alluring addition of Caramel Pumking. Savor the magical aroma of spiced pumpkin pie as it unites with the sweet enchantment of caramel in each sip. No matter how you celebrate the season, this brew is sure to leave you spellbound." The beer has a light copper color and a hint of fine aroma. There's a bit of the bitterness hinted at by the "IPA" initials (regular reader may remember my distaste for the typical IPA--India Pale Ale). This beer is not so harsh. The pumpkin notes are delicate and the caramel is not noticeable enough to register. The brewer has some other Pumpkin ales with different emphases, maybe the caramel would come out by contrast to the others. Alas, I did not get the others and I am not impressed enough with this brew to give them a try. Caramel Pumking is not bad but it is not outstanding.

Jacques Au Lantern Belgian Style Pumpkin Ale (6.3 percent alcohol by volume) by Evolution Craft Brewing Company, Salisbury, Maryland--A repeat from last year, this pumpkin-colored ale has a bit of the sourness of a sour ale with a light pumpkin flavor. I associate pumpkins with sweetness, so it does a good job making the sour ale something different. This beer isn't terrible but it is not satisfying to me. The fun name suggests some Frenchness that isn't there either. I guess I am a sucker for a cute or fun name, as the next beer clearly demonstrates...

Roadsmary's Baby Pumpkin Ale (6.8 percent alcohol by volume) by Two Roads Brewing Company, Stratford, Connecticut--The very entertaining label (which suits the very entertaining name) calls this a "Pumpkin Ale brewed with spices and aged in rum barrels with vanilla beans." It has a dark copper color that goes with the dark title. The pumpkin flavor is subtle; the spices are subtle; the vanilla is almost undetectable; the rum-barrel flavor just isn't there. I found this very surprising. It tastes a lot like a standard pumpkin ale with just a few subtle notes. This beer doesn't taste bad but it doesn't live up to its name or its label description. I hope I remember well enough not to buy this for next year's pumpkin beer tasting.

The Great'er Pumpkin Pumpkin Ale (10 percent alcohol by volume) by Heavy Seas Beer, Baltimore, Maryland--A repeat from last year, the label says, "As fall approaches and thoughts turn to Halloween, we roll out The Great'er Pumpkin. A copper ale with notes of vanilla, oak, pumpkin and flavors of autumnal spice." That description leaves out a key fact elsewhere on the label: "Aged in Bourbon Barrels"! I am a sucker for barrel-aging and this brew does not disappoint (unlike the previous beer). Like other beers on this list, the pumpkin flavor is not very strong. But it is there along with the hint of spiceness. Those flavors blend well with the bourbon notes added from the cask aging. I like this a lot, just like I did last year. 

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale (8 per cent alcohol by volume) by Weyerbacher Brewing Company, Easton, Pennsylvania--The label modestly announces, "Ale brewed with pumpkin and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon, cloves." Weyerbacher is a favorite brewer for their Merry Monks Tripel, a delightful Belgium-style beer. This slightly sour ale has a nice pumpkin flavor that is very welcome and inviting. There's no razzle-dazzle, just a straight-forward coppery ale with a flavor of the season. I wouldn't drink this all the time but it's a nice taste of the season, like egg nog will be in a few months (even if it is already in the stores). 

Lancaster Baked Pumpkin Ale (7.5 per cent alcohol by volume) by Lancaster Brewing Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania--Another humble label that says it's an "Ale brewed with pumpkin, spices and natural flavor." This ale has a lot of the pumpkin color, like a copper that is almost orange. Like others, the pumpkin flavor is very light. The spices are also light at the start though they kick in with the aftertaste more. This is another nice, seasonal brew that is satisfying in September and October. Maybe it will make it to Thanksgiving in late November. It definitely has that "comfort food" feel like pumpkin pie.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Oatmeal Stout (6 per cent alcohol by volume) by Fat Orange Cat Brew Company (no functioning web site!), North Haven, Connecticut--The only description on the label is "Oatmeal Stout with Pumpkin Spice & Coffee." On the other hand, the label does a good job looking like a coffee shop to-go cup. The stout definitely looks like a stout--no copper coloring here! It's as black as a Halloween cat (or straight coffee). The flavor is dominated by the coffee (at least, that is all I can taste). I can almost taste some pumpkin but not really. I guess if you love the flavor of coffee this is a treat, but when I want a beer, I want a beer flavor somewhere in the mix.

I guess it's another year for Great'er Pumpkin--that's the six-pack I would buy from this group.

Pumpkin Beers 2023

While I usually eschew fruit-flavored beers and make fun of the pumpkin spice craze every late summer and fall, I decided to give some pumpkin-flavored (or maybe just themed?) beers a try since there was a huge selection at my local big box liquor store. 

The Great'er Pumpkin from Heavy Seas Beer, Baltimore (10 per cent alcohol by volume)--The label describes it thusly: "As fall approaches and thoughts turn to Halloween, we roll out The Great'er Pumpkin. A copper ale with notes of vanilla, oak, pumpkin and flavors of autumnal spice." The featured description, under the name on the large label, says it is "brewed with pumpkin and spices aged in bourbon barrels." So the longer description leaves out a significant detail. I am a sucker for beers aged in bourbon barrels since I discovered them in England ten years ago (around 2013, not sure exactly when). The ale does have a delightfully coppery color that matches the hint of bourbon. The pumpkin is stronger than the bourbon but does not overwhelm it. So too with the spices, they are well-blended to enhance the flavor without taking it over. The rich flavor is warming and delightful, like being on the upwind side of a campfire. I found it quite delightful, though the hefty ten per cent alcohol makes it a one-bottle-a-night drink for me.

Jacques Au Lantern from Evolution Craft Brewing Company, Salisbury, Maryland (6.3 per cent alcohol by volume)--The label just says, "Belgian Style Pumpkin Ale." On the company's web site, they tell a bit more about the brew: "Our fall seasonal is an unfiltered amber ale brewed with pumpkin and spices, and fermented with a Belgian yeast strain. Roasted pumpkin is added to the mash along with traditional pumpkin pie spices creating a classic fall beer. Pairs well with turkey, roasted root vegetables, sharp cheeses, apple crisp, pumpkin and pecan pie." The body of the beer is light and smooth, with balanced flavorings of pumpkin and spices. It's easy to drink and doesn't overwhelm the palate or the appetite. It also does not stand out. It's a fine brew and would go well with an autumn festivity like a Halloween party or Thanksgiving dinner. I am not sure it stands on its own, it needs at least some salty snack to provide a contrast or a sweet dessert to pair up with.

Baked Pumpkin Ale by Lancaster Brewing Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania (7.5 per cent alcohol by volume)--The label describes this as, "Have your pie and drink it too! The bold flavors and deep amber color of our Baked Pumpkin Ale bring to mind freshly baked pumpkin pie." The flavor is not very sweet with more spice than pumpkin in the flavor. Maybe the baking takes some of the sweetness and intensity off the fruit? This tastes to me more like a winter spice ale than a fall pumpkin ale. They did not quite get the pie flavor (though a beer with some aftertaste of crust would be interesting). Not a favorite.

Stingy Jack by Lone Oak Farm Brewing Company, Olney, Maryland (6.5 per cent alcohol by volume)--The label only says, "Belgian Style Pumpkin Ale" with no more description. The company's web site does not provide any more detail. The brew has a creamy feel and a sour aftertaste that is different from the others above. The pumpkin flavor is there but it is not dominant. The spices are good but that weird aftertaste is so strange. I find it a bit off-putting, like a pumpkin pie crust that got a bit burned. Maybe you don't want crust-flavor in your beer. This also is not a favorite. 

Country Pumpkin by Ithaca Beer Company, Ithaca, New York (5.9 per cent alcohol by volume)--The label only has the name and the brewery...not even the ABV! I had to look it up on their web site. The online description says, "Country Pumpkin offers the comforting warmth of Fall. A delightful deep golden-orange glow highlights the subtle sweetness of pumpkin spice and complex, malt-forward flavor with a surprisingly dry finish. A wonderful seasonal ale to curl up with on a cool, crisp Autumn evening." It's light on the spice and on the pumpkin but still has the nice flavor of an amber ale. The spice is enough to give it the autumnal outdoorsy feel, like it would be good at a campfire. But the whole lack of pumpkin flavor is a deal breaker for sure. Slap a new label on it and I'd be happy.

Pumpkinhead by Shipyard Brewing Company, Portland, Maine (4.5 per cent alcohol by volume)--Another label with no description! The web site is much less modest, claiming "The Greatest Pumpkin Beer of All Time. Pumpkinhead is a crisp, refreshing wheat ale with delightful aromatics and subtle spice flavor. To celebrate the fall season, we enhance the pumpkin flavor with a proprietary blend of spices including cinnamon and nutmeg. A proper pint of Pumpkinhead is served in a pint glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon and often accompanied by a shot of spiced rum or vanilla vodka." Well, I didn't rim my pint glass with sugar and cinnamon and I don't have any spiced rum of vanilla vodka at home, so perhaps I am not getting the optimal experience. I thought it was just okay. The pumpkin and the spices are indeed subtle, giving a little sharpness to the wheat beer base. It drinks smoothly and is quite enjoyable on its own. It might need the extras to make it the "Greatest of All Time," which means it is not the greatest on its own.