Pumpkin beer recommendations?

DFH Punk'n is really good and is my go to Pumpkin beer. I have yet to have a PumKing but I think this is the year.

 

Not a huge fan of pumpkin brews, but reading thru the threads and seeing that pumpkin beers are already on shelf raises a question in my mind. What are they using for pumpkin? Canned puree? Haven't seen a ripe pumpkin anywhere yet around my area.

For the record, DFH Punkin is tolerable. I do like Jack's Abby Pumpkin Crop - real pumpkins actually are harmed when making that beer and it shows up fresh.

 

I was at Weyerbacher last week and sampled this. I thought it tasted like I was drinking perfume or out of a bottle of cologne. Then again, I am not a fan of Pumpkin Ales in general. I don't like spicy beer. For me, spice is for food, not my beer. I've really tried to like Pumpkin Ales and always think it would be another yearly/seasonal thing to look forward to but it just doesn't seem to happen for me.

 

Love Point Whole Hog. #1 for sure.

Hoping to try DFH this year since they are in WI again. Would love to try Schafly and Good Gourd too.

 

Every few years I like to do a tasting for the unintiated with the Elysian pumpkin beers. I always start with Night Owl, which is very good and for anyone who likes pumpkin beers (not everyone likes the style), it gets very positive feedback. Then I open a Great Pumpkin and it blows people away. Those who liked the Night Owl have found a new love. Finish with Dark O' the Moon for a dessert stout. Although I really like Pumking and Warlock, I think Elysian is the master of the big gourd.

 

Most of the larger brewers (Southern Tier, Weyerbacher, etc...) who have very popular pumpkin beers, HAVE to use canned pumpkin puree.....there is no way they could use FRESH pumpkin for the volume of beers they produce, and most have no way of processing live pumpkins anyway.....lot of hand work and roasting etc....plus, if they waited to brew pumpkin beers until after the pumpkins were ripe in the fields, you would not see them in the beer market until very late in the season.....this gets discussed ad nauseum every year and thought was pretty common knowledge by now.

 

Saint Arnold Pumkinator. Sooo good. It even ages well. I stock up on it and then enjoy a bottle every so often throughout the year.

 

As a fan of pumpkin pie I really liked the Schlafly Pumpkin Ale I had last night. I believe I scored it a 4.5. The only "complaint" I had was the cinnamon was a bit strong so there was a bit of a lingering bite at times.

 

UFO pumpkin

 

Potosi Stingier Jack - aged in Templeton Rye barrels

Lakefront 25th Anniversary Pumpkin Lager aged in brandy barrels with vanilla beans.

New Glarus' new pumpkin beer out in October. Yeah, I know it's not out yet. But I'm willing to bet that's it's gonna be fantastic.

 

Good Gourd. Still have a few bottles from last year.

Have a bottle of Good Gourd Almighty, but I preferred the regular Good Gourd over it.

also Warlock and Hoppin Frog Barrel Aged Frog’s Hollow Double Pumpkin

 

Top 3 in order:

1. Selin's Groove Pumpkin Ale (By far)
2. Warlock
3. Good Gourd

 

Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin
Elysian Night Owl
Saucony Creek Maple Mistress

 

Top 5 Goto Pumpkin Brews for me...

-Elysian Night Owl
-Williamsburg Alewerks Pumpkin Ale
-Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
-Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin
-Dogfish Punkn

I actually really enjoyed Old Forge's last year and Uinta's Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin those were my top 2.

 

I plan on drinking 1 unique pumpkin beer each day of October (could bleed into November if I amass enough options)

I will be starting a thread once this endevour is undertaken and I urge all fellow pumpkin beer lovers to join in.

For the record:
Weyerbacher
Schalfly
Stevens Point

Cheers!

 

THIS!

...and the combo with Thanksgiving Dinner.

 

Buffalo Bill's! ...noone? really?

 

None

Enjoy

 

Smuttynose. Love the spice character of it. It's the taste of autumn. Haven't had another pumpkin beer I like.