Pumpkin beer recommendations?

I'm a huge fan of Uinta's Oak Jacked, it's very underrated.

 

I'll cheerfully sample any new ones available hoping for an astounding, otherworldly pumpkin experience, and, usually, I make sure to enjoy a few bottles of ST Pumking. Sometimes, a couple Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkins work their way into the mix.

 

Pumking hit this week in Austin. Today is scheduled for 101. 108 with the heat index. Granted there is air conditioning, but pumpkin is the furthest thing on my mind in terms of drinking, lol. Then again, when it does get cooler here, they will all be out of distribution, hah.

 

That was what I was thinking. I didn't intentionally age it! LOL Just wasn't something I wanted to try and now as I have broadened by beer horizons figured I would give it a shot

 

Maple Mistress and Heavy Seas Greater Pumpkin were 2 stand outs for me last year.

 

I had one last weekend at my friend engagement party and I just couldn't enjoy it siting out in his backyard when it was 88 out. I'll wait until the start of October to start enjoying them. Stay cool out there.

 

This thread is right up my alley. Last year I tried at least 20 different pumpkin beers. I have the list on my phone. Unfortunately I'm at my office and my phone is on my nightstand. One of those days. Anyway here are the ones I remember liking off the top of my head last year. I'll get my phone at some point and update this list.

ST Pumking (2013 seemed like an off year for it compared to 2012 but still enjoyable)
ST Warlock
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin
Fegleys Devious Pumpkin
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin
Dogfishhead Punkin
Uinta Oak Jacked
Schlafly Pumpkin
Rogue Chateau Pumpkin Patch
Elysian Night Owl
Ithaca Country Pumpkin
Philadelphia Brewing Co Kenz-O-Lantern (very different but after a few sips I enjoyed - tasted like those Sweetzels Spiced Wafer cookies. This one is very spicy.)

There were others I enjoyed and some I did not. I will update accordingly later.

This year I plan to try more than last year and take notes on each. At the top of my list of must find is Alewerks.

 

Greater Pumpkin is outstanding. The rest of the Heavy Seas Unchartered Waters series to me is meh, but that one is so good.

 

Pumpkin beers aren't my thing at all. Think are all taste mediocre but if i had to pick one that i could actually drink it would be Schlafly.

 

#1 Shlafly
#2 Pumking blended with Dragons Milk (can't do straight Pumking anymore)

 

Of the ones I have regular access to:
ST Pumking
Wyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin
Schlafly Pumpkin

Favorite of all time:

CCB Good Gourd

 

Saint Arnold Pumpkinator - God mode

CCB Good Gourd



ST Pumking

in that order

 

Imperial Pumpkin Smash

 

Hard to limit this to only 3 - there are so many damn good pumpkin brews out now....here are a "few" I dig (have had over 60 pumpkin beers the past few years)

Elysian Night Owl / Great Pumpkin / Dark O the moon
Schlafly Pumpkin
Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin
SA Fat Jack Imp Pumpkin
Rogue Chatoe Rogue Pumpkin
Hoppin Frog Pumpkin and BA version
Fegley's Devious
Williamsburg Alewerks Pumpkin
Steven's Point Whole Hog Pumpkin
Lakefront Brandy BA Pumpkin Lager
DFH Punk'in
Fat Heads Spooky Tooth Imp Pumpkin
Flying Dog The Fear Imp Pumpkin
Uinta Oak Jacked Imp Pumpkin
ST Warlock
Cape Ann Imperial Pumpkin Stout

Looking forward to these new ones in 2014;

Terrapin Pumpkin Pie Porter
Elysian Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin
Brewery Vivant Pumpkin Tart
Coronado Punk' N Drublic Imp Pumpkin

 

Any answer other than CCB Good Gourd or Good Gourd Almighty is wrong

 

These should keep ok for a year or 2 - the Brooklyn Post Road - not as much as the stronger - higher ABV ones, but should be alright....I have pumpkin beers 2-3 years old and they are still drinking fine from my cellar

 

Do you know the release date of it this year?

 

On the subject of aging pumpkin beers - I replied in another thread how my GF bought me a case of 2012 Pumking and obviously it took me awhile to drink. I had a 4-5 bottles heading into the summer and following fall. The bottles I drank in the summer and the one or two I saved for the 2013 season didn't taste as good. They lost something and many of the flavors seemed muted. That was Pumking.

Now with some of the oak aged pumpkins I can certainly see those aging well.

 

CCB Good Gourd. Nothing else even comes close.

 

Usually comes out sometime in September.