Pumpkin beer recommendations?

Pumking is an astringent alcohol and spice tasting mess of a beer. Almanac Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine is by far the best pumpkin beer ever made. Followed by Schlafly.

 

Good gourd takes the cake for me this year

 

I love Warlock but think Pumking is nasty. Love pumpkin beers...Schlafly, Dogfish and many others but Pumking has something in it that doesn't work for me...something that is off. I've tried it several different times but can't get past that "off" note? Warlock is the bomb and consider it top notch.

Try Pumpkin Smasher...brewed in Illinois, it is another of my favorites... Cheers!

 

I've had many on this post but one I really enjoyed but did not see much talk of is Rogue Pumpkin Patch. It's Halloween in a bottle!

 

It was decent. I was happy to see that the pumpkin didn't overpower the porter base. Having said that, I wouldn't buy it again.

 

You will love it, easily my favorite!

 

^^^^^^^^ turned out to be just another spiced beer, heavy on the spices, lost any barrel influence. I'm convinced once you add cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg whatever it cancels out the base beer, and any other subtleties. I couldn't even begin to tell you what the base beer was, could be a stout could be a porter could be whatever. I'll just settle that pumpkin beers isn't my thing.

 

What part of Illinois are you in? One of my best trading partners is what I'd call the pumpkin beer king. He's had over 100 easily and was trying to add 75ish this year alone to his list.

So far from MI I've sent him:
North Peak Hooligan
Saugatuck Brewing Pumpkin Chai
Griffin Claw Screamin Pumpkin
Brewery Vivant Pumpkin Tart
Greenbush Unicorn Killer

Personally if you can get your hands on the Tart from Vivant or Screamin from GC do it. I'd say you can't go wrong with either of those.

 

If you're in the PA area, got to get your hands on some Spring House Braaiinns. That beer is awesome! I have to agree that Warlock, Pumking and Greater Pumpkin are amazing as well...and of course I'm in search of Good Gourd.

 

I have to agree with this. Usually Punkin is one that I'm really excited for..but this years just did not do it for me at all.

 

Pumpking this year I drain poured it. It was seriously nasty

 

Had a new one to me recently, Wasatch Black O'Lantern. Pumpkin porter, quite good. Favorite is Hangar 24 Gourdgeous. Love the pumpkin and porter combo. Epic Fermentation w/o Representation is also excellent.

Also happy to see Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin in 12 oz. 4-packs this year.

 

Of the ones I've had so far, Wolaver's and Warlock are definitely my favorite. Pumpking was good, but didn't blow me away. Dogfish head was also good, but I would like a little more pumpkin flavor than it offers.

 

Lakefront Imperial Pumpkin

 

Pumpkin overload here at a beer bar called one eyed betty's in ferndale mi. Had the pumpkin tart by vivant. Pretty good.

 

Like lot of them....enjoying the Fat Head's Spooky Tooth right now

 

Horseheads is a fantastic pumpkin beer. Can't rep that enough. Ithaca Brew co (went to school in Ithaca) and the Finger Lakes Region in general is also majestic in the fall.

 

I haven't had the 2014 Alewerks or Good Gourd. I had Schlafly and ST this year and thought they were both good (however, not as good as the previous two).

My two favorite pumpkin ales are Alewerks and Good Gourd, but I think Alewerks is much better.

 

The only pumpkin beer I have been able to drink so far was New Glarus Pumpkin Pie Lust.

 

Almanac Heirloom Pumpkin Barleywine. If you want tons of fake allspice flavors: go elsewhere. If you like the earthy real aroma of roasted squash, pie pumpkins try this. Other artificial tasting sugary concoctions are designed to appeal to our blunted American palates.

Bruery Autumn Maple is great: uses sweet potatoes in the mash, maple syrup, grain and Belgian style yeast. Complex, nuanced and packing a smooth 10% abv.