My husband and I took on the challenge of finding the best pumpkin beer! I picked up 6 varieties at my local liquor store and he was the rests:
*I marked my husbands notes with (S)
Elysian: Night Owl
Bottle Description: Brewed with pumpkin, roasted and raw pumpkin seeds, and spiced in conditioning nutmeg, clove cinnamon, ginger, and allspice.
Our Tasting Notes:
Smell: light pumpkin, cinnamon (S: pumpkin pie)
Taste: cinnamon forward, malty finish (S: not hoppy, malty, spices aren’t too strong)
Dogfish Head: Punkin Ale
Bottle Description: Brown Ale brewed with pumpkin and spices
Our Tasting Notes:
Smell: No real pumpkin aroma, pear/apricot, similar to an Oktoberfest (S: a little spice, but not distinct)
Taste: Malty, coriander, nutmeg (S: brighter in profile to the Night Owl, vague pumpkin spice)
Lakefront Brewery: Pumpkin Lager
Bottle Description: Lager brewed with real pumpkin and spices
Our Tasting Notes:
Smell: Brown sugar, pumpkin (S: some pumpkin, some nutmeg)
Taste: Dark malt, brown sugar, molasses (S: a little sweet, no bitterness, some nutmeg)
Blue Moon: Harvest Pumpkin Wheat
Bottle Description: Brewed with real pumpkin and spices
Our Tasting Notes:
Smell: Brown malt (S: no pumpkin or spice)
Taste: Malty, slight pumpkin, cinnamon after taste (S: no real pumpkin spice)
Shipyard Brewery: Pumpkinhead
Bottle Description: Ale with natural flavors added
Our Tasting Notes:
Smell: strong coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, pumpkin spice, vanilla (S: coriander)
Taste: cinnamon, not brown ale, lighter in character, slight hop finish (S: very light, not bitter, some spice, mild overall, a little brown sugar)
New Belgium: Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin
Bottle Description: Pumpkin Ale featuring cinnamon and habanero chili peppers for just the right amount of heat.
Our Tasting Notes:
Smell: Honey (S: not much spice, honey)
Taste: Honey, slight pumpkin front, spice chili pepper finish (S: spicy…literally. Heat is not unbearable. slightly sweet at first, not hoppy, finishes with heat)
Mikaila’s ranking order:
- Elysian, Night Owl
- Lakefront, Pumpkin Lager
- Shipyard, Pumpkin Head
- Blue Moon, Harvest Pumpkin Wheat
- Dogfish Head, Punkin Ale
- New Belgium, Atomic Pumpkin
Scott’s Ranking Order:
- Elysian, Night Owl
- Dogfish Head, Punkin Ale
- Lakefront, Pumpkin Lager
- Blue Moon, Harvest Pumpkin Wheat
- Shipyard, Pumpkin Head
- New Belgium, Atomic Pumpkin
I hope this helps pick your perfect pumpkin beer this season! Enjoy responsibly!
xoxo, Mikaila
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