I don’t know why some people have an aversion to all things pumpkin that appear around September in the form of everything from coffee creamer to beer. Pumpkin beer seems to strike a nerve with a lot of beer aficionados who go on rants about it. Myself I love pumpkin beer as long as its done right. I’ve had overly syrupy pumpkin beers and other that don’t taste like pumpkin at all. Last year, there was a complete void of pumpkin beer and I was concerned that it had been abandoned altogether. But to my delight, a whole crop of pumpkin beer appeared a couple of weeks ago so I’m very relieved now.
Back in the day, there was only one pumpkin beer and it was called Pumpkin Ale from Buffalo Bill’s Brewery from god knows where. To this day, I can’t find it anywhere but it was the best pumpkin beer there ever was. I used to buy it every year and have fond memories of enjoying that fall brew. But others are available now, some hits, and some misses.
Elysian
Elysian out of LA stepped up with it’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale. It’s a little rich and the pumpkin hits you in the face, but all in all, it’s a good beer. Now, it comes as part of a variety 12-pack so you only get 3 per purchase. I’d rather have a six-pack but that is nowhere to be found. Honestly, it’s more of a pumpkin spice beer, which means it has a bunch of nutmeg and cinnamon and tastes more like pumpkin pie. OK, but I like plain pumpkin. The 12-pack also features a Pumpkin Stout, which is richer, and tastes more like pumpkin piecrust. The Imperial Pumpkin Ale has the same flavor profile but it tastes like the crust is burnt. Last up is the Coffee Pumpkin Ale, which tastes like cold pumpkin coffee and is roasted beyond belief! But if you like coffee, you will love this.
Shipyard
Shipyard Pumpkinhead has Halloween art, but really doesn’t taste like pumpkin at all. But it’s a delicious beer, it’s dry, not sweet, and tastes like a really good Oktoberfest beer. Very caramel and has hazelnut notes with a bitter finish. Good, but not pumpkin. But, it is light and very effervescing so it does not bog you down.
Rogue
Rogue produces its Pumpkin Patch Ale in tallboy orange cans, but like the Elysian, is more pumpkin spice than pumpkin.The pumpkin is barely noticeable and it really tastes like pumpkin piecrust. But it’s smooth and very well balanced with no bitterness at all.
Abita
Abita has no pumpkin ale, but it has a Pecan Ale that is sold in the same display as the other Halloween beers. I had to try it because Shiner Bock has a holiday beer that I absolutely love and buy religiously. It’s made with peach stone fruit and is unbelievable delicious. I love Abita so I had to try this pecan ale. It’s very good and I really couldn’t pick up any pecan at all. But it did taste like a superb Oktoberfest beer, and maybe even like a London Brown Ale. I highly recommend this beer, Abita never disappoints!
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