Poll: Pumpkin Pie vs. Pumpkin Squash Flavor

I love Maple Mistress. A friend of mine does draws up their labels

 

I loved Williamsburg AleWerks Pumpkin Ale, but we don't get that anymore, I still love Pumking, I can almost taste a buttery crust while I'm drinking it

 

As much as I respect the Smuttynose take, and it's one of a few that I can see drinking multiple glasses in a row without becoming overbearing, that's just not where my head is at with pumpkin beers lately. I want them to be a dessert that I will very occasionally partake in, and to be turned up to 11. Something that goes well with vanilla ice cream in it is a big plus .

 

My very uneducated thought is that the pumpkin beers I've had and liked that use real pumpkin have a slight tart bitterness to them that I've perhaps erroneously associated with the squash itself, on top of being properly spiced. The good ones also seem to have something else than just spice, a little bit of body in a sense, but that could just be because they are better made beers.

 

I've never had a brew with a solid pumpkin flavour that wasn't full of spices but then again, my neck of the woods is pretty neglected distribution-wise. Are there any widely available examples that you can think of with the "real, well done, pumpkin mash beer" ?

 

Pumpkin pie for sure. Actual pumpkin is a bit gross by itself.

 

I prefer pumpkin pie, though pumpkin squash can be done well. My favorites for each thusfar:

Pumpkin Pie: Pumking
Pumpkin Squash: Night Owl

 

Pumpkin pie for me, as long as they don't over do it with the spices.

 

I voted no pumpkin. My wife tries them - whatever she can find - and the tolerable one for me was Jack's Abby Pumpkin Crop Lager. Neither the squash version nor the pie versions make me happy.

 

Pumpkin Pie: Crown Valley Imperial Pumpkin Smash
Pumpkin Squash: CCB Good Gourd

 

As a huge fan of different squash varieties, I still have to go with pie on this one.

 

I prefer pumpkin flavor not pie. Because i think cinnamon is absolutely gross. i cant even smell it. Lol.

 

The best I've had was from McAuslan in Montreal. Compared to many other pumpkin beers, the spices are restrained. Certainly noticible, but not over the top. That allows more of the earthy pumpkin taste to come through. Haven't had it in awhile though.

 

Pumpkin Squash as in the Yam flavor>?

 

Really enjoy the pumpkin pie flavor in my pumpkin beer. Like someone mentioned earlier pumpkin by itself doesn't add a whole lot of flavor (more mouthful I believe). But nothing beats watching the leaves fall from the trees sitting on the back porch with a big glass of Nightmare on First Street from No Label Brewing in Houston. Tastes exactly like a pumpkin pie right down to the crust. A close second would be Pumpkinator from St. Arnold.

 

Awesome. I'll have to try and get my hands on some of it if I can. Thanks for your direction!

 

New Holland Ichabod is the best pumpkin beer I've had, and I think it falls more on the squash side but is actually a mashup. You get a light balanced spice mix on the front, then the pumpkin squash flavor on the back end of every swig. Tastes like beer, but more like a balanced pumpkin pie flavor.