Pumpkin Crop

Currently, the champion of the seasonal beers and lagers (spanning the last few years actually) - Jack's Abby Craft Lagers' Pumpkin Crop.  Finally one that isn't too sweet where you have to commit to drinking it alone or after a meal like a dessert.  Pumpkin Crop might just be the pumpkin beverage you've been waiting for... and the name is stellar.

We shared one last night and plan to pick up some more very soon.  It was a VERY nice start to the Pumpkin Ale season.

The simple description from their site doesn't do it justice:

Harvest time calls for this seasonal beer featuring pumpkins grown by local Volante Farms in Needham, MA. Perfect for the fall season, a blend of autumnal spices complements a sweet pumpkin flavor. Pumpkin Crop Lager uses 100% locally sourced ingredients.

Annual Pumpkin Ale Reviews

Annual pumpkin ale reviews from Sam Heimer and Fatherkrespi. Two Halloween enthusiasts trying everything so you don’t have to.

I recently mentioned this IG account and they have just started posting this season's ale reviews.

Click below...

Currently Chilling In The Fridge

It's gonna be a glorious pumpkin season (assumption).

Wegmans supermarket started putting out some Pumpkin Ale.  If you don't have Wegmans in your home town, it's like the deck of the Titanic in there.  The Disney World of supermarkets.  You enter a diseased man/woman, and leave a Weggies (as an old coworker used to call himself).  It's a cult thing.  

Annual Pumpkin Ale Reviews

Sure, there's no disputing tastes, but this IG account will come in handy when the pumpkin ales start hitting the stores.  Co-run by a favorite Halloween artist too.

Click below...

Thanks, Wren!  

Jack-O Traveler

After years of searching for a pumpkin ale/beer that appeals to me, I think I just found it, in the form of a shandy.  The Jack-O Traveler from the Traveler Beer Company.  It's light and spicy, and not too sweet, with a lot of lemony zest going on.  Has a really nice and nutty finish.

I highly recommend it for those who might always have high hopes for the seasonal pumpkin beers, but who are always a little disappointed with the offerings.

Jack-O Traveler is an alluring wheat beer illuminated by the tastes of fall. He strikes a perfect balance between bright refreshment and seasonal spice. Jack is brewed with fresh pumpkin, for a delicious dark-hued, Shandy-inspired beer.

The Root Of All Evil

Two great Halloween drink recipes from the cool folks who make Root and Snap.

Click below:

 

Booze Update

We bought a bunch of seasonal beers/ciders, as well as the Samuel Adams Harvest Collection.
Loved the Sam Harvest Pumpkin.  Wasn't over-the-top with the sweet, and I'm not sure I would have guessed it was "Pumpkin" at all.  But it was really nice, and it would have gone well with food.

Tried Ichabod Pumpkin Ale (purchased due to the name and label).  It was ok.  Was light on flavor though.

Had a Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale.  Definitely the sweetest so far.  I recall seeing a video from the Shipyard company where a clump of vanilla ice cream was dropped into a glass of this ale...and the glass was coated with caramel.  And I totally get it now.  Definitely more of a stand-alone drink.  A dessert ale, if there is such a thing.

Also tried the pumpkin cider below...

How could I not?  Look at that Jacko Apple.   I hate being negative since beer tastes are so subjective, but I had a hard time with this one.  The flavor was strange and I couldn't place it at all - didn't taste like pumpkin or apple.

Looking forward to trying the other Sam Adams, and the few strange pumpkin brews we picked up at Wegmans.  I'll be sure to post my faves.

Sam Adams Harvest Collection

Thanks, Autumnleaf.  I wasn't aware that they put a sampler like this out each year.  I'm a big fan of Samuel Adams.

Seasonal Beer

The first bottles of the Autumn beers I'll be tasting this season.  Pleased with both of them, though I can't say either one is loaded with any flavors that scream "IT'S AUTUMN!"

The quest continues.

Leinenkugel makes a great summer shandy.

Starr Hill Boxcar Pumpkin Porter

I think I found my personal favorite alcoholic pumpkin beverage.  Nothing overbearing or sickly sweet or forced.  A rich dark porter with hints of spice.  We had this with a giant meatball ricotta pizza last weekend and it was pure bliss.  I do believe I was buzzed by this guy when we wandered out of the restaurant and over to The Fresh Market and discovered the Pumpkin Cider...which made that discovery even better.  And louder.

Click below for information and locations:

Finally Friday

Malt beverage brewed with pumpkin and cocoa.
I'm going to wait to try this one...I don't want to ruin what I'm picturing in my brain.



Currently chilling in the fridge.

Shipyard Pumpkinhead

Click below for a video from Shipyard Brewery discussing the many ways Pumpkinhead can be served. You'll be drooling for some by the end of it.



Thanks again, Rene!

BEER!

I'm forever wanting to find a Pumpkin Ale/Beer during the Fall season that meets my expectations of what a Pumpkin Ale/Beer should taste like. I like my beers thick like a milkshake, so I usually go for something like Guinness or Boddingtons, so in my mind the perfect Pumpkin Beer is a thick orangy sweet drink with hints of clove and other dark spices. I've never found it. Mostly because it's almost Christmas when I get on my Pumpkin beer kick.

Here's a neat article on a few beers on the market that boast the word PUMPKIN. I'm going to make an effort to try as many Pumpkin Beer varieties as possible this season and post them on this blog. Cheers.

The Best and Worst of Pumpkin Beers