The Ultimate Guide To Fall Pumpkin Beers

Who doesn't love fall's seasonal food items? Anything with the scent of pumpkin or cinnamon just makes us want to grab one of our comfy sweaters and just give the season a giant bear hug. We recommend washing down fall's bounty (maple, cloves, allspice, oh my!) with a tasty and refreshing pumpkin beer.

It seems like each autumn, more and more pumpkin beers appear on liquor store shelves and on tap at bars. Although pumpkin beer was made during the colonial era, it had a long quiet period, up until the mid-1980s. Buffalo Bill's Brewery claims responsibility for reviving the style, and now it has many worthy competitors. Below is a round up of some of this year's offerings.

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Apologies to the many local breweries that create great seasonal beers, but we tried to keep our list to somewhat widely-distributed brewskies.

Comments

[IowaGirl]

09:25 PM on 09/19/2011

I had a great pumpkin pale ale over the weekend that came fresh from the Great River brewery in Iowa's Quad Cities. (Great River refers to the Mighty Miss.)

Not for session drinking because it's got a pronounced spicy taste but nice all around. You know you're drinking a good ale, it's not overtaken by pumpkin pie-ness. Yum!

[livingdangerously]

06:26 PM on 09/19/2011

O'Fallon Pumpkin Beer (St. Louis). The spices used make it like a liquid pumpkin pie.

[the A Cappellan]

10:03 AM on 09/17/2011

I like this and have had several. But, one or two is enough for the season. This is why PA needs six packs in stores. A case would last the rest of my life. And that is so untrue for most beers in this household.

[crizo22]

11:24 AM on 09/16/2011

This article/site is such a cluster F fail. Will people stop using slides already?

[Jennbrooklyn]

03:24 PM on 09/14/2011

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale is a fall staple in our home. We trek up to Easton PA to get it fresh :D

[Kevin Lewis]

03:05 AM on 09/14/2011

I guess I need to make a trip to the beer store, and try a few of these beers out!

[frank day]

10:18 PM on 09/13/2011

Could be nice for a Halloween get together.

[JediChef13]

09:03 PM on 09/13/2011

Southern Tier Pumpking! I live in Oregon and could only get a few 22's of this last year (they're from N.Y.), but it was so good. Best pumpkin beer I've tasted.

[cfurnari]

04:58 PM on 09/13/2011

google image search + commercial descriptions. I'm sorry but is there anything original about this post? Not to mention you left a ton of options out...so its hardly the "ultimate guide."

[DownHomeFoodie]

02:50 PM on 09/14/2011

I agree. This list doesn't seem to be very discerning. What was the criteria? I would have much preferred a post that choose five and said why instead of just a slide show.

[mynameisjen]

04:49 PM on 09/13/2011

Rock Art, here in Vermont, made a great Pumpkin Spruce Imperial Stout that was yummy. As for a plain pumpkin ale, blah. Pumpkin doesn't have much flavor on its own.

[plazmaorb]

03:38 PM on 09/13/2011

I have yet to find one that I think is good.. they just seem gimicky to me... just to sell more beer in the fall... give me a good amber Oktoberfest over this stuff... way better taste and I can drink more than one before I feel sick to my stomach.

[Moosington]

06:32 PM on 09/13/2011

Agreed. I mean, there are well constructed pumpkin beers, but I don't really get excited when they are released. Would MUCH rather have a nice fresh Marzen for sure.

[Mary Karius]

02:39 PM on 09/13/2011

ooohhh! I'm SO excited!!! love girly beer!!!

[blenderbabe]

01:06 PM on 09/13/2011

I need to find a Pub with some of these brews. Fall is one of my favorite times for beer. Just add a good craft beer to a BlendAbout event and your dinner experience will be taken to another level! http://www.blendabout.com/

[Moosington]

01:03 PM on 09/13/2011

Pumking. That is all.

[JediChef13]

08:59 PM on 09/13/2011

I know! It's sooo good.

[petben]

12:07 PM on 09/13/2011

My guide: Don't drink flavored beers.

[plazmaorb]

03:39 PM on 09/13/2011

Lambics are good

[Moosington]

06:30 PM on 09/13/2011

Lambics from good brewers/blenders (Armand, Van Roy) are better than good. I'm guessing they aren't in petben's repertoire, though.