What's the Best Pumpkin Beer You've Had.

[Christina Perozzi, Beer Chick]

I'm remiss to say that I usually hate pumpkin beer. It usually tastes all extracty to me and weird and also bad. I don't want to lower the boom on a whole style of beer, so change my mind beer chicks. Give me some good pumpkin ales and I'll write a round up on the blog. GOOD ones...not the one that you can buy en masse at Whole Foods that shall remain nameless - or the one made by a huge conglomerate - which shall also remain nameless!

[Christina Perozzi, Beer Chick]

Help me out people!

[Meg]

Not sure if Dogfish Head falls into the en masse huge conglomerate category hehe, but I recently had their Punkin and found it quite tasty. A good dose of hops to balance the pumpkin. I love pumpkin beer, but love Oktoberfest styles even more. :)

[The Beer Babe]

Try Southern Tier's Pumpking. Its interesting.

[Jen]

The first and only punpkin ale I've ever had was the Dogfish Head Punkin Ale last Saturday night. I enjoyed it, but one for the evening was enough for me. I was up in New York City last week and was looking for the Southern Tier, but alas, could not find any, but understand it is really good. I was excited to try this style as I love pumpkin pie and pumkin coffees, so pumpkin beer seemed a natural for me. As I get a chance to try some more this fall I'll report back!

[tbaytara]

There is a small brewery, only about a year old, in Cambridge, Ontario that makes a great pumpkin ale called the Highballer. Definitely worth the drive!

[Gret]

Egads, just said this in the favorite beer section, but again, it has to be Weyerbacher's Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Fantastic pumpkin flavor. Dogfish Head's Punkin' Ale is pretty tasty, too. My homebrewing husband will be putting a spiced pumpkin doppelbock on tap very soon - I can't wait!

[Len short for Helen]

From the Beer Lass is Philadelphia: http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/17846/food--beer-lass

Dogfish Head Punkin’ 7 percent abv
The No. 1 selling pumpkin ale at the Foodery right now, this spiced beer is well-balanced with hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. $2.65

Elysian Night Owl 6.1 percent abv
Welcome back to Philly, Elysian. We’re glad to drink you. Based out of Seattle, this brew reentered the market in September and pours a true pumpkin color with all the usually suspected spices: nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, ginger and allspice. Each batch is brewed with 150 pounds of pumpkin. $8.95 (for 22 ounces)

South Hampton Pumpkin Ale 6 percent abv
“For maximum enjoyment drink under a Harvest Moon.” In addition to being just as tasty as everything else South Hampton makes, the label also references a Neil Young song. This brew comes in a 22-ounce bottle making it the best value of the bunch. Brewer Spencer Niebhur says their take is supposed be “the ice cream on top of the pumpkin pie.” $6.25
ADVERTISEMENT

Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout 6.75 percent abv
From Cape Ann Brewing Company in Massachusetts, this stout is a bit thin on the body, but has a nice roasty character. There’s no masquerading here. It’s definitely a stout, so go find a bonfire to match the smoke in the bottle. $3.15

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin 8 percent abv
This is Dan Weirbach’s bestselling seasonal. It’s practically unheard of for the Easton brewer’s religion to make a beer that isn’t imperial. Their website states, “If you don’t agree this is the mother of all pumpkin ales, then you just don’t like mothers!” $3.15

Southern Tier Pumking 8 percent abv
This beer is second in sales behind Dogfish Head’s Punkin’ and as close as you get to pumpkin pie by the pint. $9.95 (for 22 ounces)

Prices based on Foodery’s mix-a-six discount

[Jessica Masek]

I am really looking forward to reading replies to this post. Because I have to say, I have never met a flavored beer I enjoyed tremendously, and none were more vile than pumpkin beer. I even had the misfortune of grabbing a six pack or two for my pumpkin carving party, only to find that they were in fact....malt liquor. Now don't judge to harshly, I'm telling you they were masquerading as real beer! I swear on a bouquet of hops! Halloween is my favorite holiday besides Yuletide, so there must be something. I have faith. Ah yes, my one exception to flavored beer rule would have to be Pete's Wicked Winter Brew, circa 1996. They changed it.

[alissa]

I just had the "Gourd of the Rings" brew at Cambridge Brewing Company in Cambridge mass. It was amazing. I could have had two or three of them, but i was on a mission to try all of the seasonals i could in three hours.

[MADDOG]

That one is easy, Christina. I may be a bit of a "homer" but the brewery up here in Portland, Maine, Shipyard, makes the best pumpkin beer ever! Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale!

[Scott Martin]

The only two that can hold my interest for an entire pint are DFH Punkin and ST Pumking. I think they are great. Now, if we were listing average to crappy pumpkin beers, that would take awhile.