Elysian Great Pumpkin Beer Fest

Brewers that use actual pumpkin are either missing the boat on flavor (meaning they think the pumpkin is doing something it's not) or use pumpkin specifically because it won't bring flavor, so they can do whatever else they want to the beer and still call it a pumpkin-something. If they want to actually get flavor from the fruit (wait, vegetable? I can't remember) they should use butternut or kabocha - both of those have great depth and rich flavors they can bring to a dish without needing much else. We made "pumpkin" pie last year with a kabocha squash and I will never go back. I'd love to try a "pumpkin" beer (or cider) made with those.

 

Baird in Japan does a Country Girl Kabocha beer. I had it a few years ago in Tokyo and thought it had a great flavor.

 

Sounds tasty! Do you happen to know if Baird makes it stateside?

 

They are. Shelton distributes them in the US but we pretty much only get their pale, brown, baltic porter, IPA, DIPA and Imperial Stout. I had the Country Girl on tap in Harajuku, not sure if it's even bottled over there.

 

Hair of the Dog makes a squash beer without hops, called Greg. I think it tastes more like a cider.