How do you feel about Pumpkin Beer?

I've literally never seen a pumpkin beer for sale. How do they taste like? Is the pumpkin rather subdued or dominating the (other) flavor(s)?

 

It varies.

For many (most?) of the beers labeled as Pumpkin Ales the dominant flavors tend to be from the use of Pumpkin Pie spices (e.g., a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, etc.). Some of the beers labeled as Pumpkin Ales do not even include actual pumpkin as an ingredient and just use the spicing.

Pumpkin in general does not provide a lot of flavor to beer. The history of using pumpkin in beers was in Colonial America, barley malt was often expensive and the Colonial American brewers (mostly homebrewing back then) would augment the source of fermentables (starch in the case of pumpkins) of their beers with cheaper, local ingredient sources.

For the modern era Pumpkin beers were 'started' by Buffalo Bill's Brewery with their first Pumpkin Ale in 1986:

https://www.buffalobillsbrewery.com/americas-original-pumpkin-ale/

Cheers!

 

I’m not sure where a pumpkin’s ass is. Does it taste like cinnamon?

 

Isn’t on the bottom – opposite side from the stem?

 

I agree with this

 

Pumpkin ales are training for winter warmers/spicy Xmas beers!

 

I'm pretty picky about the pastry sours I encounter, but Butchertown Brewing's Pumpkin Pie Sour is really good if this style interests you.

This is the first pumpkin beer I've bought in a few years at least.

 

Thank you very much for the explanation!
Cheers!

 

I'm a big fan of most seasonal beers and they help me get into the season and really enjoy it. I'll usually pick up some Pumking and Smuttynost Pumpkin ale. I'll have those polished off by Halloween and then from there it's all Holiday beers. I wouldn't reach for a pumpkin ale after Halloween however since I have Celebration on tap.

 

I stayed away as long as I could.

Pumpkin beer is nasty. It is fit for nothing but pouring down the sink. All right-thinking people know that this is true.

FIFY.

 

I always used to buy a case of Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin. Dan was well ahead of the curve and made a more potent beer than most pumpkin ales. They would last me well past Xmas and one now and the was very pleasant.

 

A pumpkin ice cream hot fudge sundae is da bomb!

I'm an indulger myself . The funny thing is, with beers I'm normally a fan of grace and finesse, but the opposite with pumpkin brews- the bigger and stupider the better (within reason, I suppose ).

 

Yes! This is why I always double (or triple) up on the spices whenever I make pumpkin pie or pumpkin-spice latte. Or pumpkin mousse. Go big or go home!

Edit: And fresh-grated nutmeg. Always.

 

I have had at least fifty different pumpkin beers, per the BA reviews I have written. I regret only that I haven't had the opportunity to try more of them.

 

Generally speaking:
- love the way the look and smell
- meh on taste and feel
- really enjoy the novelty and controversy

The seasonality of them is a big draw, even if I only have a few each year. IMO the season lasts mid Oct. to early Dec.

@BigIronH started an appreciation thread. https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/pumpkin-beer-appreciation-thread-2022.668836/

 

I brew my own, and this year's turned out real nice. By doing this, I can avoid a 'pumpkin pie bomb' -this one is more like a half-amber-ale, half-pumpkin-beer, with subtle spices, rum, and, yes, real pumpkin.

Some Spanish breweries now do one, and they are OK. I would love to get my hands on that Elysian 12 pack.

I can understand some of the hate, as one of the worst beers I've ever had was Flying Monkeys Paranormal imperial pumpkin beer.

 

Other: I only like pumpkin porters and pumpkin stouts, generally the higher the ABV the better. Add coffee and I'm even more on board. For example, Crown Valley Imperial Pumpkin Smash is my favorite pumpkin beer and is an Imp Stout at 10.6%. Had a Casa Cerveseria coffee pumpkin Porter recently that was great too

 

Well, then the beer blend referred to as a Chocolate Pumpkin should be your jam. Select a spicy Pumpkin Ale and mix it with a very chocolatey beer (my first choice would be Young's Double Chocolate Stout but Yuengling Hershey's Chocolate Porter is a good choice as well).

Perfect for Halloween drinking!

Cheers!

 

And you can make your own as well, see above post.

Cheers!