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.

Dessert Beers 2023

I saw a bunch of dessert-themed beers at the store the other day, so I thought I would put together a custom six-pack. Usually, wines or aperitifs are the alcohols that fall into the "dessert" category. With the explosion of brewers across America (and indeed, across the world), plenty of experimental brews have been crafted. Sweet desserts may not be the first thing one thinks of when thinking of beer, or even pairing with beer. But heavier, darker beers make a nice contrast or can highlight complimentary flavors. One of my Wars of the Christmas Novelty Ales was a dessert edition, so here is a bit of a sequel. 

Here's my sampling:

Chocolate Volcano, a chocolate dessert stout by Heavy Seas Beer, Baltimore (9% alcohol by volume). The label says, "Chocolate Volcano blasts your tongue with a lava flow of velvety richness. Overflowing with decadent chocolate flavor, you better take cover. Chocolate Volcano erupts all year." They don't exaggerate about the velvety smoothness of this stout. The chocolate flavor competes with a smoky, ashy hint of bitterness (which must be the "volcano" part, right?). The flavor is strong enough to stand on its own--it certainly does not need to be paired with something else. I find it very tasty and satisfying on its own.

The PastryArchy: S'mores Dessert Stout, a chocolate dessert stout by DuClaw Brewing Company (7.5% alcohol by volume). The label states, "You don't have to go camping to enjoy this treat! Take in the notes of smooth chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and golden graham cracker as you sip and enjoy this tall glass of layered perfection." The velvety texture is even stronger in this stout, bordering on a syrupy consistency, with out the gross connotations that has. It's more like liquid chocolate than chocolate syrup. I can taste the smoke of the toasted marshmallow but not much (if any) graham cracker. But the chocolaty smoothness is so impressive that it might be overshadowing the rest of the intended flavors. This is one fabulous dessert beer.

Sticky Bun Stout by Harpoon Brewery (7.5% alcohol by volume). The label does not say very much: "brewed with natural flavors and real sticky buns from Flour Bakery Cafe, a collaboration to raise money for Camp Harbor View." Camp Harbor View is a Boston-area non-profit that provides a special summer camp for middle- and high-schoolers to develop leadership skills and have life-enriching experiences. This beer is a very mild stout with a sugary sweetness that takes the edge off almost completely. Only wisps of the smoky flavor are still there. It's a lighter, easier drink than the previous beer. I like the flavor a lot but not as much as the S'mores.

S'more Porter by Saranac Brewing Company (6.2% alcohol by volume). The label is all business: "It's like a liquid s'more with flavors of marshmallow and graham crackers aged on chocolate and vanilla." Apart from the weirdness of aging the crackers on the chocolate and the unconventional (but not unprecedented) use of the singular "s'more," the description is very accurate. I get the graham cracker flavor though someone burned that marshmallow (again, an unconventional but not unprecedented approach to making s'mores). The smokiness is a bit more bitter than in the stouts above. It does not have the velvety texture of the other ales. The potent flavor makes it a "stand alone" drink, not needing to be paired with anything in order to enjoy it or pull out the best flavors. I like this but don't love it.

The PastryArchy: Cookies and Cream White Stout by DuClaw Brewing Company (8.0% alcohol by volume). The label is supremely verbose: "Inspired by the iconic combination of chocolatey cookie crumbles dunked in delicious vanilla ice cream, we introduce you to 'The PastryArchy Cookies & Cream,' a roasty, full-bodied white stout infused with cookies and cream ice cream, lactose, & cacao for a beautiful golden beer. Made in collaboration with Maryland-based, family-owned creamery, Keyes Creamery in celebration of their tenth anniversary and three generations of a family dream." I've never seen a golden stout before. If I was blindfolded, I probably would not guess the color correctly. It does have that distinctive stout flavor. The chocolate flavor blends well with the stout. The cream flavor is a nice contrast, though the beer does not have the smoothness of other beers on this list. The delayed bitter aftertaste makes this taste less like a dessert beer, though it is tasty as a beer.

The Amazing Kosmicki's KBS Chocolate Cherry by Founders Brewing (11.6% alcohol by volume). This label has even more verbiage: "Our flagship bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout shows off its more romantic side with KBS Chocolate Cherry! The rich sweetness of chocolate and slight coffee bitterness blend perfectly with the brightness of cherry juice to bring you an alluring sensory experience perfect for cozying up with your sweetie." This beer seems like it should be a disaster on many fronts. I don't like coffee-flavored beers. I really don't like cherry flavor in beers, having experienced Kreik lambic in Belgium (fruit in general is not a good ingredient for beer). It pours thick like it's cough syrup. The brewers managed to make several negatives into a positive. The cherry, coffee, and chocolate flavors are excellently balanced. No one is overpowering and the combo actually tastes good. The bourbon-barrel flavor kicks in at the right time to make this a multifaceted beverage that is satisfying on its own. It's very dark and very flavorful. I like it a lot. The high alcohol content is a bit much, so only one a night for me.

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.

Heavy Seas Brewery Tour

Heavy Seas Brewery is just outside of Baltimore. They offer free, child-friendly tours on the weekend, so we took advantage in the middle of a cold January. The brewery has a nice tap room that serves their ales. Tour participants can pay five dollars to get a souvenir pint glass and five samplings. We arrived just before the tour started so I did get a glass but not a sample before we headed onto the floor of the brewery.

First stop on the tour

The tour guide explained the bottling process in some detail. The equipment they use is fairly new, having replaced the old bottling equipment from the previous soda-producing plant. The brewery spent years finding replacement parts for the fifty year old equipment and finally upgraded in the past few years. The machinery is now much quicker and easier to maintain.

Modern technology!

Beer bottles on the line

The guide asked us to guess the two most common enemies of beer. They are light and oxygen. To prevent as much UV light from hitting the beer as possible, they use brown bottles. To prevent as much oxygen as possible, they use a special filling and capping machine that uses carbon dioxide to force out any air in the top of the bottle. That's why a bottle has that sound when opened.

Next, he showed us one of the key ingredients in beer--hops. Hops are flowers that are dried. They give bitter flavoring to beer. He handed some out to us to feel and crush in our hands. Then we smelled our hands and they smelled delicious.

Hops

Nearby I saw an interesting barrel but didn't get to ask about it. I assumed it was some sort of cleaning solution.

Suspicious barrel

Label that causes suspicion

We walked among the large vats and the guide told us about another key ingredient--malt. Malt comes from the barley plant and it gives beer a sweet flavor. The brewer's art is in balancing out the hops and malt to provide a pleasing taste for customers.

Malt

The vats were impressively huge and had their own fun warning signs.

Barrels and vats

Where do I get a permit?

Near the end of the tour, we saw the old equipment that was no longer used by the brewery.

Old equipment

More of the old equipment

We walked back through the storage area to the tap room where I had the chance to try some of the ales:

• Gold--"This easy-drinking session beer pours a deep golden color. It smells slightly floral and herbal, thanks to a hopback full of Cascade and Centennial hops. Gold is tasty and refreshing, with a round mouthfeel. In 2010, it took awards at both the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup." I enjoyed this beer though it wasn't my favorite.
• Powder Monkey--"At Heavy Seas, we brew a traditional English-style pale ale with our own East Coast twist: UK Fuggles and Goldings dominate the flavor of Powder Monkey, but has subtle notes of citrus and flower from Cascade hops added in the boil and hopback. Brass in color, Powder Monkey, like all of our beers, is well balanced: distinct bitterness and a slight malt sweetness characterize the taste. In 2010, it won a bronze medal at the World Beer Cup; in 2008, it won a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival." I liked this a lot, it reminded me of European beers.
• Siren Noire--"Our Siren Noire isn’t your father’s chocolate stout. We’ve used almost 3 pounds of Belgian coco nibs per barrel. We’ve aged it for five weeks in bourbon barrels with vanilla beans added. A mix of dark malts gives Siren Noire a well-rounded body that is decidedly chocolatey—but without being extraordinarily sweet. Brewers Gold hops contribute an earthy spiciness, with notes of black current." This was very chocolaty and amazingly delicious. If we hadn't had to run out because J was bored, I probably would have bought some.

We definitely recommend visiting the Heavy Seas Brewery for their tour!

N in awe