The Elusive Drinkable Pumpkin Ales

Before I get started on beer, I just want to say that I love pumpkin pie.  Really.  It’s one of my favorite things about fall.  It might be that I connect pumpkin pie with the holidays and with some joyful memories of my childhood or something.  Or it might just be that I like pumpkin pie.  The mixture of the pumpkin, all the right spices, and a really good, flaky, homemade crust really just makes me feel happy for a while.

Having said that, I must now say this:

I usually don’t like pumpkin ales.  Most of them are too sweet or taste like someone put pumpkin pie and beer in a blender.

Now, understand that being mixed with pumpkin pie is not a bad thing for all things.  The pumpkin pie concrete from Andy’s Frozen Custard tastes for instance – I friggin’ love that thing.  Beer, however, is not frozen custard.

Although I don’t usually like pumpkin ales, I always try them when I see them.  For a long time, I wasn’t too sure why, but if I saw a pumpkin ale on tap at a bar, or if a friend brought a sixer of one to a party, I inevitably want to taste it.  I think I’ve always been waiting for one that I would really like.  Over time, I’ve found a few that were remarkable, and many more which were not. So, I can’t say I don’t like pumpkin ales.  I think I really do like them.  Or, I like the idea of them, anyway. 

Photo from stlhops.com

Pumpkin beers are not solely a product of modern American beer ingenuity.  They’ve been around for a very long time.  Early American settlers used pumpkin as a base for their beer when more traditional ingredients were not readily found.  All of the pumpkin ales you find now are throwbacks to Colonial America. 

Unfortunately, some brewers today make sweet amber ale, throw in some allspice, cloves, and cinnamon, and call it a “Pumpkin Ale.” 

So, in order to avoid the sweetened pumpkin pie in a bottle or the overly spiced amber ale, stick to these pumpkin ales, which are pretty tasty.  Keep in mind these ales are rated only against other pumpkin ales, not all other beers.

Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale – Boston Beer Company – 5.7% ABV – Yes, they use real pumpkin, it’s got a patriotic name, and it’s pretty good.  It pours a nice clear amber color and it’s not overdone.  The spices are subdued and the caramel flavor of the malt is present without being overwhelming.  The pumpkin is definitely in the aroma and the flavor, but it’s well balanced by the other flavors.  4 out of 5 pumpkins.

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale – St. Louis Brewery – 8% ABV – A heavy hitter, this beer weighs in at 8% ABV, so be careful, because it’s really easy to drink.  This one’s a bit heavier on the spices, particularly the cinnamon, but it’s balanced by a heavier malt backbone and a bit more pumpkin flavor.  4.5 out of 5 pumpkins.