Friday, August 16, 2013

Tis The Season

To hunt for a Pumpkin Ale that I love.
Seasonal ale is a strange beast.  So many misses and so few hits.  Looking forward to finding something that captures the season.

Recommendations welcome...

Image by luvehorror.

27 comments:

Eddie said...

I'd go with Pumking by Southern Tier as far as bottles go. The Headless Horseman Pumpkin Ale by Defiant Brewing is really good on tap.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/14359/72833

Sara said...

Well the packaging alone has me sold...

Willow Cove said...

IDK, but i like the box art. I'd frame it...

girl6 said...

OOhhhhh man...that pumpkin graphic is so Sweeeeet!!!.
i Like the look of the brown boxes better tho.

hmmmmmm...i'm really pining over the boxes..hahahahha.
& there is a whole Foods right up the street from me.. : D

does Anchor Steam do a pumpkin?

Anonymous said...

Never tried a Pumpkin Ale before. Was always too nervous to try ANY flavored beer.

AJ LoCascio said...

I can't wait for this!

IBC -(often found at trader Joes) is fantastic!

Pumpkin Head or Apple Head by Shipyard are also fantastic.

Both have a crisp satisfying cinnamon taste in a lighter Ale!

AJ LoCascio said...

Just look at how pretty it is:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqk3jiStXV1qashfso1_400.jpg

Jon Glassett said...

This one is really good:

http://brooklynbrewery.com/brooklyn-beers/seasonal-brews/brooklyn-post-road-pumpkin-ale

Also, check out Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale.

Woodchuck Hard Cider's Fall flavor should be along any time now, too.

Sara said...

Whuuuuut Jay??? You are missing out!!! :)

Maegan said...

Pumking is great but it isn't cheap and it can be hard to find.

Willow Cove said...

Dont worry JayS., I ve never tried a flavored beer before too. But I willing to try a pumpkin ale this season. Baby steps.....

Autumnleaf said...

Pumpkin Head just came out last week(this from my friend in Maine) The first one I ever had was Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale. I look for it every year being as how it is one of very few that are readily available on the left coast. Not very strong and you can really taste the pumpkin pie spices. There is nothing yet in the supermarkets which is typical of the sluggish if not dismal representation of the season here, further exemplified by my visit to the local HomeGoods today.

Frankenrock said...

From the Beer Store in Southampton's Facebook..

What's new this week?

Avery The Beast 18% Grand Cru 12 oz
Avery Uncle Jacobs 16.5 % ABV Bourbon Barrel Stout 12oz Bot
Avery Samaels Oak Aged Ale 17% ABV
Horney Goat Octoberfest 6pks
Wild Onion Pumpkin cans
Lavery Dulachan IPA cans
Colorado Brazilian IPA 16oz bot
Leinenkugel Octoberfest 6pks
Flying Dog Fear imp Pumpkin 9% Abv
Left Hand Octoberfest 6pks
Rogue Voodoo Doughnut BACON maple porter
Long Trail Imp Pumpkin 6pks
Ommegang Scythe & Sickle Autumn 4pks
Shipyard Pumpkin 6 pks
Victory Hop Wallop ( last chance to get)
Hofbrau Octoberfest
Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin
Neshaminy Creek Dark Weiss 22oz bot
Evil Twin Nomad Wit 16oz
Mikkeller It's Alive 25oz bot
Hopping Frog Dbl Pumpkin
Southampton Pumpkin 6pks
Terrapin Pumpkinfest
Cisco Pumple Drumkin Cans
Cisco Pumple Drumkin Bot
Erie Johnny Rails Pumpkin
Starr Hill Boxcar Pumpkin
Goose Octoberfest 6pks
Terrapin Recreation Ale can

Get on it man! You'll be in pumpkin ale heaven. I was just there tonight and had a Southern Tier Pumpking on tap.

Goneferalinidaho said...

I'm not a fan of New Belgium, too sweet, too much aftertaste. I haven't found a pumpkin beer I really like.

SleepyBair said...

Southern Tier's Pumking is great, especially if you like ginger. Hoppin Frog Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin ale is the best though. The taste is amazing - perfect spices, and very strong pumpkin flavor.

Wheaterz said...

SHIPYARD! It's like kind of drinking pumpkin puree. Awesome!
Gets you ready for the season ahead.
It's pumpkin goodness but not overbearing!

Yellow Phantom said...

How crazy, I just came home with a 6 pack of New Belgium Pumpkick tonight. I haven't popped one open yet, but I plan to have a few this weekend.

I have to agree with Eddie. Southern Tier Pumpking is my fav. I'm waiting patiently for the 22oz. bombers to arrive. Last year I finally wised up and bought a case of 12 bottles. They always sell out super fast.

highbury said...

Hoppin Frog is literally down the road from me, so their Double Pumpkin goes to the top of my list of pumpkin beers to get.

Also love the Southern Tier Imperial Pumpking and the Dogfish Head Punkin Ale.

Shani said...

My Hubby brewed a pumpkin ale this year. I have to be totally honest...I like his better then what we've tried so far from other companies. He brewed it last year as well...but really hit the nail on the head with the spices this time.

girl6 said...

GOOD Grief!!!..
i am sooo Outta the Loop..drats

maybe, a slice of pumpkin pie & a Spiked coffee will do it.

Ragged Grin said...

I'm actually pretty cool with Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin. Enough taste to satisfy, not too gimmicky like some of their stuff.

Frankenrock said...

This is a nice one too..

http://www.jollypumpkin.com/artisanales/fuegodelotono.htm

Not a pumpkin ale, but definitely has a perfect autumn flavor to it. I think the Whole Foods in Plymouth Meeting was where I found it last year.

Chris Evangelista said...

Shipyard Pumpkinhead is probably my favorite Pumpkin Beer. ESPECIALLY if it's on draft. Although I've never been able to find it on draft in my area (southern NJ). However, on my honeymoon, which started on Halloween Day, the wife and I went to New Hampshire, and there was a place that did indeed have it on draft. They rimmed the glass with cinnamon, and good lord, it was heavenly.

Eddie said...

girl6: No, Anchor doesn't make a pumpkin ale (not yet anyway).

Amy said...

We had a tasting a few years ago, so I tried a lot!

In my opinion, but check on beer advocate..the ratings don't lie.

Best

Weyerbacher Imp Pumpkin - had a keg, goes great w ginger snaps.
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale - Most drinkable that isn't over 7%, Had a keg on tap the entire month of October last year.
Southern Tier Pumking - good, but more of a dessert beer.

Worst

Shipyard Pumpkin Ale - cinnamon water
South Hampton Pumpkin - had a keg of it 2 years ago..it was like seltzer.
Post Road Pumpkin - bleh

Worth trying

Harpoon Pumpkin - you can drink a bunch low above
Wild Onion Pumpkin - cool cans


girl6 said...

Thank You Eddie
for hearing me, over ALL the noise & Excitement!.. :)

yeah, i kinda figured.
guess, Anchor prefers Xmas.

Mr Black said...

I don't drink, but I love to look at the great graphic designs. Beer has some of the best designs in advertising.