Pumpkin beers jumped the shark?

I forgot that I had tried the collaboration between Epic Brewing and DC Brau, Fermentation Without Representation, a pumpkin porter. This was outstanding! I went back and bought another bomber the next day.

 

Had the Chatoe Rogue Pumpkin Patch ale that I thought was pretty awesome. As a beer it was good, as a pumpkin ale, it's the best I've had of the style.

 

Problems with pumpkin beer? Nope, Personally I have no problems with fruit/veg/spiced style beers when done right. I had the Elysian Night owl this year, and it was absolutely incredible. One of the most balanced spiced beers I have ever had. I am looking forward to getting my hands on some more Elysian pumpkin ales next year when I can.

I really havent had too many Pumpkin beers this year though; I was more focused on O-fests this season. Looking forward to the couple I have left like the Rogue first growth Pumpkin.

 

Never been a fan of pumpkin beers or Christmas beers, mainly because of the spices. I may try them but I prefer the styles that the fall & winter seasons bring. With all the hype they bring it keeps the other seasonal offerings flying just under the radar. Make it hearty, lose the spices or at least those spices.

 

These are the exact two that I purchase every year. In fact, Pumking is my beer for Patriots games. Bought a case at the beginning of the season... I don't think Pumpkin beers have "jumped the shark" in any fashion. I comsume what I believe are the best representations for about three months, and then they are gone until next year.

The great news is that we each get to choose what we drink.

 

I got an AleWerks Pumpkin as an extra and it turned out to be my favorite of the season. Better than Schlafly. I agree that as a whole there are more duds than standouts.

 

There are some really good Pumpkin beers, there are some really bad pumpkin beers.
There are some really good IPAs, there are some really bad IPAs.
There are some really good beers, there are some really bad beers.

Fuck, I think beer has jumped the shark.

 

I'd agree that there are far too many middle of the road (or shittier) pumpkin ales out there.
I'm a big fan of pumpkin in general so beer with pumpkin is always appealing. Pumking is my favorite in the style and I don't see myself wasting any money on others next fall.

 

I'll second theSixthRing. Rogue Chatoe Pumpkin Patch was #1 this year. Turns out using fresh ingredients actually does make a difference.

 

I had my first pumpkin ale about 15 years ago and hated it. So a few years later, when I started getting into crafts I steered clear of the pumpkin ales every fall. In fact, I hated going to the distributor every autumn to see the "march of the pumpkins," which only got bigger year after year. Eventually (last year) my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to revisit the style and was pleasantly surprised. ST, Weyerbacher, DFH, Smutty - all were quite enjoyable. Of course, with any style you have your standout suckass brews. This year I found that to be Long Trail Imperial Pumpkin. Just awful. I can't believe they let it leave the brewery with the expectation that people would turn over their hard earned dollars in exchange for it.

 

I only had 3 pumpkin ales this year, Saranac, DFH and Southern Tier. Saranac was awfully bland and I did not like DFH at all. I'm not sure what was going on with that one.

Southern Tier was really good, third year in a row I've had it.

 

I think I agree with you. I loved pumpkin beers, but for some reason this year I just couldn't stomach them, they tasted fine, it was my stomach, I always felt like puking after one. This could be the end, it was great while it lasted.

 

I think the obvious term would be " Chunked the Pumpkin".

Have not had one I cared for yet, DFH sold out here as soon as it was on the shelves, probably should have purchased Southern Tier based on what I read above.

 

I love me some Rumpkin.

 

I am not too big on pumpkin beers and rarely buy them in bottles. However, I'm a huge fan of the pumpkin festival idea. Elysian has a really neat thing going serving beer out of giant gourds and they even brought a sort of mini-festival to my town last year.

Even if it is a gimmick, I think it's a really fun gimmick and hope the tradition grows and spreads.

 

My question is, did pumpkin beers jump the gun this year?

Seems like they were released earlier this year than ever before. For some reason, I think of pumpkin anything between Halloween and Thanksgiving, but when I inquired (around the first week in November) about good pumpkin ales at my local (very good) beer shop, I as told they had come and gone many weeks earlier.

Can anyone explain this to me? Does it have to do with harvest schedule and freshness?

 

Beers don't jump anything. It's the Breweries and brewers who do the jumping.

 

I do think the Pumpkin beers came out a little early this year, but that's what happens with seasonal beers. I really liked the Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale, and Buffalo Bills Pumpkin Ale.

 

Uinta Oak Jacked Pumpkin made me a believer again. And I'm still dying to try Rumpkin

 

Not all pumpkin beers are created equal. Some of the best - Pumpking, Cottonwood, Weyerbacher and Heavy Seas Greater Pumpkin. Not that impressed with others....