It’s time for the spiced, sweet, and toasted beers to come out once the temperatures drop and the leaves turn. Enjoy the best pumpkin beers and a few of the finest hard ciders as you welcome sweater weather.
It’s hard to tell the difference between a trick and treat when there are so many pumpkin beers available. To ensure that your next six-pack contains only the finest pumpkin beers, we’ve done the hard work of finding the best. Instead of pumpkin spice lattes or slices of pumpkin pie, try these ales and stouts.
Pumpkin beer is a fall cult favorite, with beer enthusiasts flocking to the nearest taps to satisfy their pumpkin beer cravings. There are many fresh pumpkin beers available, from light sweet wheat ales that taste just like pumpkin pie to dark brews with more subtle roasted pumpkin, maple, or spicy cayenne flavors.
Pumpkin Beers You Should Try This Season
The pumpkin beers have been announced and you MUST try at least one of them. Some of the beers are widely available, while some others you might have to travel a bit to get your hands on. Here is a list of recommended pumpkin beers that I recommend giving a try this season:
1. Samuel Adams Boston Lager
It’s an Oktoberfest staple… but it does make for a great autumnal beer! The malty flavors balance out with malt sweetness and spice from the cinnamon and nutmeg. The pumpkin purée adds a light body, a touch of acidity, creaminess, and additional richness. You can find it in most places where bottles & cans sell beer.
2. Oskar Blues Pinner Throwback IPA
A citrusy, crisp, and slightly piney ale, with great drinkability. Named after the small town the brewery is in, Pinner Throwback IPA also brings all the big hop aroma you expect from Oskar Blues. The addition of fruit purées enhances the hop flavors and aromas. Pumpkin purée was added to give this beer a fresh, autumnal twist. Find it everywhere Oskar Blues beers are sold!
3. Hoppin’ Frog Turbo Shandy
This one comes in 6 packs! It’s their newest shandy that is brewed with natural lemonade flavor (no concentrate here!) which really makes this beer stand out among most other shandys. While it might not be labeled as a pumpkin beer, it’s got fall written all over it! Find it in 6 packs or on draft around the Akron / Cleveland area.
4. Cigar City Good Gourd
This Imperial Pumpkin Ale is their autumn offering that will pair great with food (and your Thanksgiving dinner). It has notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger which can best be described as an ideal blend for a decadent dessert. In addition to the spices, you’ll find some hints of chocolate and caramel malts making this a very rich and flavorful brew! Look for it at Cigar City Brewing Company locations.
5. Samuel Adams Fat Jack Double Pumpkin
This seasonal craft beer tastes like pumpkin pie straight from the oven! With a deep amber color, there are sweet aromas of nutmeg, molasses, and dark brown sugar. The deep russet color is a result of the addition of caramel malts which support a full body & sweetness while enhancing the depth of flavor. This beer pairs well with autumnal favorites such as roasted meats and squash! Look for it at retail locations where Samuel Adams beers can be found.
6. Heavy Seas Greater Pumpkin
This beer has been an instant classic from day one! It’s heavily hopped to provide a good balance between maltiness and spiciness that pumpkin beers tend to have. The use of 100% pumpkin puree gives it its subtle orange hue and smoothness on the palate. In addition, you’ll find molasses, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The Greater Pumpkin will be available in a four-pack of bottles and on the draft until the end of the season! It’s best enjoyed with some friends during a football game or while you’re sipping away on the porch. Look for it almost anywhere that beers are sold!
7. Southern Tier Pumking
A classic from Southern Tier this Imperial Ale is brewed to enchant your palate on its own & also to counterpoint other flavors. This spiced ale has been crafted to pair perfectly with desserts such as pumpkin pie, cheesecake, or sweet apple tart. You won’t want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind brew! Some liquor stores may even have it packed in mini-kegs!
8. Samuel Adams Fat Jack
It’s true, this is not a pumpkin beer. However, you can still find it in abundance this time of year which means it will be easy to make the switch from your summer beers to fall brews. This seasonal favorite is incredibly drinkable with caramel & nutty malt flavors that are enhanced by just enough hops for balance. It’s certainly one that I would try this season if you’re looking for something different or have yet to try Sam Adams beers. You can find bottles near where Samuel Adams beers are sold, but there are also cases available at some stores if you ask!
9. Sixpoint Autumnation
If you’re looking for a brew to help transition your palate from summer to fall, this is the beer you’ve been waiting for! Sixpoint takes what they know best in their “Ales of Antiquity” series- ancient recipes & techniques. For Autumnation they have brought together two distinct traditions in brewing by creating an ale that employs German malts combined with an American twist on hops. This one has aromas of caramel & grapefruit plus flavors of red apple & sweet malt. It’s crisp, refreshing, and perfect for autumn! You can find it at better liquor stores near where Sixpoint beers are sold or even on draft around NYC.
10. Heavy Seas The Greater Pumpkin
Need another reason to try this seasonal favorite? Well, Sam from BeerAdvocate.com says it’s one of his top three picks for Pumpkin Beers! With a 10 outta 10 rating on the website- I think that speaks for itself! It also won a gold medal at this year’s Great American Beer Festival so you know it’s great. This Imperial Ale has aromas of nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice with flavors of pumpkin pie & toffee. You can find it almost anywhere that beers are sold so go ahead and grab a four-pack for yourself.
List Of 4 Best Pumpkin Beer Reviews
1. Brewers Best Pumpkin Spice Porter Beer
- Pumpkin Spice Porter this seasonal release autumn ale is the perfect companion for the changing seasons, from harvest to holidays! Briess CBW Porter base extraction is used in this recipe, along with Caramel 90L and Carabrown, as well as dark chocolate steeping grains.
- We added cinnamon, allspice, and a touch of ginger to spice it up. This ale contains Willamette and Fuggle hops, which provide a slight balance in bitterness. It is fermented using Safale S-04 premium yeast.
- Difficulty level: All easy all you need to make the best brews are here. To preserve flavor, we use fresh ingredients and follow easy-to-follow instructions.
2. Watermelon Tap Kit Beverage Dispenser
- Transforms any melon, pumpkin, or pineapple into a magical drink-dispensing container, a vessel for power and health! Ideal for parties, and all events indoors and out!
- Fill watermelon with your favorite beverages such as juices, sangrias, margaritas, sangrias, sangrias, cider, wine or pineapple juice, beer, and lemonade. Enjoy fresh, 100% original cocktails by mixing them inside the fruit!
- This kit is great for theme parties, baby showers, and bridal showers.
- Easy Installation – Coring Tool Bonus – An additional tool that creates a hole in your tap for you to insert. It is easy to clean and wash. Fill the melon and enjoy your favorite beverage!
3. Party On Tap Pumpkin Tapping Kit
- Throw out the plastic drink dispenser that looks cheap for pumpkin beer and other juice drinks at your Halloween Party. Serve your drinks with a real pumpkin!
- This should not be used as a Halloween drink dispenser. This keg tapping kit can be used for camping, thanksgiving parties, picnics, or even to tap watermelon.
- A variety of pumpkin-themed straws are included to complete your theme party.
- Pour any type of alcohol directly into the pumpkin, in a bag, or in a container such as a vodka, wine, sangria or vodka, or non-alcoholic beverages like cider, punch, and more.
4. Northern Brewer – Smashing Pumpkin Amber
- Homebrewers turn their attention to autumn and capture the seasonal sensory experience – crisp nights, vibrant leaves, and ripe pumpkins being made into pie. This time of year we are often asked for pumpkin beer recipe ideas. It’s simple to see why.
- Sipping this spiced amber ale tastes like eating a piece of the pie. The Smashing Pumpkin Ale is sweet and clean with just enough hop bitterness for balance. There’s no hop aroma to mask any of the spices.
- The beer is infused with complex spices at the end of the boil. This spice profile of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg last from the first pour to the last sip. You will need to buy an additional 2 to 3 pounds of Rahr 6-row (#G002), and your own 8-10 pound pumpkin. If pumpkin is not in season, you can use butternut or acorn winter squash.
- Then, cut the gourd into pieces, and discard the innards. Once the pieces are softened, bake or microwave them until tender. Finally, peel the pumpkin. Mix the cooked, peeled pumpkin flesh with the 6-row of grains at 152°F for one hour. Then proceed with the boil.
Conclusion
Fall is a season of changing leaves and cozy sweaters. Some even love pumpkin beer. Although this beer flavor might seem outdated, it has roots in American history. Settlers used fall gourds to make beer. You’ll find craft beer on shelves in stores as early as the summer because it is so popular. There are many varieties, including lighter and darker beers, sweet pumpkin flavors, and those earthy or malt flavors.
There are many pumpkin beers available today. Some pumpkin beers are made with real pumpkins while others are made with pumpkin pie spice.
These pumpkin beers are among the best to enjoy this autumn. Each product is limited-time and will be gone by the end of the year. You can pick up six-packs of pumpkin beer next time you shop for fall (Halloween candy and Thanksgiving groceries, assorted cakes …). This is the most festive and fun way to celebrate fall.
