Pumpkin beer recommendations?

You're starting with my favorite and most drinkable IMO. DFH Punkin is awesome.

Southern Tier Pumpking is a must, along with Elysian The Great Pumpkin Imperial. Elysian makes another one called Night Owl, but that's a step down from The Great Pumpkin.

Also, give Uinta Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin Ale too... high abv, but good if you can tolerate it.

 

Since you are in Washington, I'd absolutely try all the Elysian versions. I was in Portland for the first time a few weeks ago and had one and it was really one of the best I have ever had. I really think Timmerlans Pumpkin Lambic is amazing, Oaked Jacked is also pretty dang solid.

 

1. Brooklyn Post Road
2. Dogfish Head Punk'n
3. Heavy Seas Greater Pumpkin (#1 for me but with bourbon barrel aging, not a traditional pumpkin)
4. Terrapin Pumpkinfest ( I think it's under rated but, I'm a local)
5. New Belgium Pumpkick
plus ST Pumking if you like pumpkin pie, this is great.

 

I love Dogfish Head Punkin Ale it is what got me to come around to the idea of anything other than hops, barley, yeast, and water being used to make beer. As far as top five: (no particular order)

Elysian Dark O' the Moon
DFH Punkin
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin
Fegley Brew Works Devious Imperial Pumpkin

 

What about non-imperials?

 

Just had Almanac Heirloom Pumpkin Barley Wine tonight and I couldn't believe the flavors in that! May not be a starting point but it's sure as shit a finishing point.

 

DFH Punkin! Everyones gonna say it, you should listen
Elysian Night Owl

 

The only one ive ever really enjoyed was smuttynose which answers Nurb's question....all the others are too spice-heavy in my opinion

 

I'm not sure I have 5 favorites, but I do prefer the pumpkin porters and stouts over the amber style. Something about that pumpkin flavor over a dark roasted malt flavor.

 

YES. This was very good.

 

Pumpkinator
good gourd
schlafly pumpkin
dfh Punkin
pumking

 

No love for ST's Warlock? It's the first pumpkin flavored beer I've truly enjoyed.

 

Agreed. Pumkin and Schlafly are outstanding pumpkin beers!

 

Alamanac's Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine in all likelinhood has ruined all other pumpkin beers for me, so I'll just put that down five times.

1. Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine
2. Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine
3. Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine
4. Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine
5. Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine

or maybe just avoid it altogether and enjoy the other pumpkin beers out there.

 

If you are interested in trying some pumpkin beers, you should read this recent article from Boston Globe and Beer Advocate contributing writer Gary Dzen. He suffered greatly trying to figure out this exact question. The BA community owes him. Thanks Gary!!
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/blogs/99bottles/2013/09/the_best_pumpkin_beers_of_2013.html

 

If you're looking for one that tastes just like pumpkin pie, Weyerbacher makes the best. Everyone pushes ST's Pumpking, but the ginger seems to overpower almost every other flavor. Ichabod is a pretty tasty option also.

 

AVERY RUMPKIN

 

Rogue Farms Pumpkin Ale
Anderson Valley Fall Hornin'

 

I'm looking forward to trying the new Warlock and Almanac Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine.

 

In no particular order;

Southern Tier Pumking
Schlafly Pumpkin
Elysian The Great Pumpkin + Night Owl
Heavy Seas The Greater Pumpkin
Weyerbacher Pumpkin