Pumpkin Beer Round Up

I made it a goal this year to try every pumpkin beer I could find. November is about to start and I don't think I've even made it halfway through. However, I've got big enough pile of bottles to recycle that I might start forgetting what they taste like if I continue. Here's a picture of almost all of them together:

Impressive, no? Rest assured, I did not drink these all in one night. They were all tried on separate occasions, both alone and with food. The food was usually pizza and/or candy. I was going for a "what would you eat at a halloween party"vibe to the tasting. While I didn't have enough foresight to take detailed notes on the food pairings, below is a rough guide to what you an expect from each of these beers. If the food pairing stood out, i mention it, but in most cases, it didn't make a difference:



Buffalo Bill: In Silence of the Lambs, Buffalo Bill is a pretty heinous dude who likes to abduct women and parade around in their skin, literally. He's one of the many fictionalized versions of Ed Gein. The original pumpkin beer, however, is much friendlier. Once upon a time this was the only pumpkin beer available and it is still available year round. For nostalgia's sake it has a special place in my heart as the first pumpkin I ever tried. Its a drinkable beer with a hint of pumpkin pie spice. It can get overpowering once you have more than one.

Blue Moon: This is not a favorite. Its a lot like Buffalo Bill's without the nostalgia. There is a somewhat citrusy edge to it. The pumpkin overpowers the beer. For those that aren't big beer drinkers, but want pumpkin in their alcohol, this is probably the safest bet.







Dogfish Head Punkin Ale: The label art is really cool on this one. The beer is on the darker side and definitely geared toward the craft beer drinker. Dark and spicy and somehow both bitter and sweet. The pumpkin is nicely balanced. This is just a really nice beer, its great alone or with anything you're eating. Not recommended for those who don't like dark beers. The only downside is that you only get 4 in a pack, but you probably won't want to share anyway.




Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin "Pugsley's Signature Series"- I did not bother to try shipyard's regular pumpkin beer. I've had it in the past and I am not a fan. It has this strange aftertaste, like too much clove. However, I was told by a friend that this version is delicious, like "pumpkin pie in a bottle". While this is better than the regular Shipyard offering, that stange taste is still present. This is one of the beers on the sweeter side, heavily spiced, with a higher alcohol content at 9%. I was disappointed to find out that they were not referencing Pugsley Addams, but rather the name of the brewmaster, although, I think Pugsley Addams would like this beer.





Midnight Sun Brewing Company: Treat, Imperial Pumpkin Porter: Pumpkin and Cocoa- you can't get much more Halloween themed than that. This is a heavy beer. Drink this beer on its own. It was too dark for me, too intense, however, if you're into that it will totally pull you in. Layers of pumpkin, cocoa nibs, and spices create a depth of flavor that can't be found in any of the other pumpkin brews i've tried. This beer is so intense its distracting. Its worth a try for the serious beer drinker; definitely not light drinking.








Anderson Valley: Pinchy Cheek Barl: I loved this one. Its on the sweet side and has this funky whiskeyness to it. It is aged in bourbon barrels, and the bourbon comes on strong. Carbonation is light and makes for a smooth drinking experience. Bourbon Pumpkin Pie in a bottle.









Timmermans Pumpkin Lambicus: I am new to sour beers, but I'm really digging this one. Its tart and spicy. I ate caramels with it, they were such a good pair i was layering a bite of caramel with a drink of beer. This is what you should reach for when you raid the candy bowl.




Tieton Cider Works: Smoked Pumpkin Cider: Not bad, a tart cider, strong pumpkin flavor. It smells smoky but doesn't taste smoky. I love smoke, so found it disappointing on that front.




Ace: Hard Pumpkin Cider: This cider taught me that there is indeed a difference between pumpkin pie spice and apple pie spice. I had the sensation of drinking "pumpkin spiced apple". Very little to no pumpkin flavor here, but lots of spice. Its sweet enough to be mistaken for non alcoholic cider. If you like your drinks on the sweet side, this is the one for you.



Any of these would make a great companion for watching Pumpkinhead or Sleepy Hollow.  Happy Halloween!