When autumn rolls round, the beer aisle tends to imitate the foliage. All these summer time shandies and fruited sours give approach to new seasonal choices clad in orange and brown packaging, and each brewery brings again their Oktoberfest lagers and pumpkin brews in full drive. These seasonal choices are inclined to get a foul rap from die-hard beer purists who insist that every one pumpkin ales are sickeningly candy wastes of fridge real-estate. However what these curmudgeons fail to understand is that pumpkin beers have come a great distance over the previous few many years. Nowadays, there are many breweries on the market that use the autumnal ale idea to make one thing magnificent.
Sadly, this sentiment doesn’t apply to each fall-adjacent beer on the shelf. There are nonetheless a lot that match the stereotype of being overly candy, boozy messes clogged with allspice, cinnamon, and brown sugar. However by no means concern: VinePair has your again this spooky season, and we’re right here to guide you down the trail of pumpkiny righteousness. We tasted dozens of pumpkin beers from all around the nation to weed out the dangerous and provide the good.
From rum-barrel-aged choices to adjunct-laden black lagers and habanero-spiced ales, these are one of the best pumpkin beers of fall 2024.
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale pours a translucent darkish brown akin to a closely oaked bourbon. On the nostril, we get a bouquet of entire wheat bread, honey, brown sugar, and cinnamon with a lightweight kiss of roasted pumpkin. The palate mimics that of a darkish lager or doppelbock; it’s full-bodied and a bit boozy, however nonetheless serves up its promised autumnal flavors, together with roasted squash notes from delicata to butternut. The pumpkin spice character is sufficiently subtle that this beer goes down smoother than most on this listing. In the event you’re a fan of doppelbocks, Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale is a good decide to have in your rotation this fall.
Samuel Adams Jack-O
Upon cracking into Sam Adams Jack-O, we get two predominant aromas: snickerdoodle cookies and baking spice. The carbonation and mouthfeel are additionally each on-point, and a little bit little bit of maltiness comes via on the again finish to remind you that you simply’re nonetheless consuming a beer. Total, this one leans on the sweeter aspect, however doesn’t include any of the artificial-tasting flavors we received from another brews throughout this tasting. That stated, in order for you a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie and doesn’t drift into cloying territory, Sam Adams Jack-O is a stable choice.
Lone Pine Brewing Firm Pumpkin Celebration
On the much less pumpkin-forward finish of the spectrum, we discover this beer from Maine’s Lone Pine Brewing Firm. The nostril presents a mix of malted milk balls, graham cracker crust, and vanilla, but there’s little pumpkin pie spice to talk of. And truthfully, that’s OK. It’s scrumptious, and at simply 4.2 p.c ABV, it nonetheless manages to be full-bodied. The palate completes the autumnal image with graham cracker notes and nutmeg.
Downeast Pumpkin Mix Cider
It’s not technically a beer, however Downeast’s Pumpkin Mix Cider nonetheless felt worthy of inclusion as a unbelievable gluten-free various. Plus, apples are as autumnal because it will get. Upon pouring this cider right into a glass, we’re met with notes of freshly minimize Honeycrisp apples, brilliant Valencia orange, and a contact of pumpkin pie spice. On the palate, we get a mix of chai spices, however apple nonetheless steals the present and warming pumpkin spice flavors chime in on the end. The entire expertise appears like sipping on a mulled cider served chilly, and we’re all about it.
Barrier Brewing Co. The Carver Pumpkin Ale
In comparison with the opposite pumpkin ales that made the listing, The Carver kicks off with a reasonably brilliant and energetic nostril. Ginger takes heart stage, however some cinnamon and baking spices spherical out its considerably sharp edges. The palate lands far more mellow, intently resembling a simple amber ale with a little bit creaminess. In the event you’ve loved Shclafly’s Pumpkin Ale, you’ll in all probability dig this one, too.
Fats Orange Cat Brew Co. Cautionary Tail Pumpkin Ale
Cautionary Tail opens up with a comparatively quiet nostril with faint notes of vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and roasted malts. These aromas then give approach to quintessential schwarzbier traits like chocolate and roasted espresso. On the palate, there’s a little bit of copper, cinnamon, and nutmeg with only a little bit of malty sweetness showing on the end. And after diving in for a couple of sips, we have been impressed by how easy-drinking this beer is regardless of clocking in at 8 p.c ABV. All in all, we discovered Cautionary Tail to be a contented medium between the closely pie-flavored beers we tasted and those that simply tasted like commonplace darkish lagers.
Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin
On condition that the Voodoo Ranger household of IPAs is nearly totally made up of absolute sugar bombs, we have been anticipating extra of the identical with Atomic Pumpkin. Properly, the ranger proved us fallacious: In accordance with the can, this beer accommodates cinnamon and habanero chili peppers, and each adjuncts are distinguished proper from the get-go. The nostril additionally offers off vanilla, clove, and vegetal agave. All these notes are mirrored on the palate, with the habanero spice lingering on the tongue lengthy after every sip. Regardless that it’s a light-bodied beer, the spice stage is simply excessive sufficient to forestall this brew from being actually sessionable. We wouldn’t advocate committing to an entire case of Atomic Pumpkin, however it’s undoubtedly a enjoyable brew to do this season.
Finback Brewery Crispy Pumpkin
This black lager stays true to fashion with a heavy dose of roasted malts, however nonetheless will get acquainted with the autumn spirit. The nostril opens up with aromas of chocolate, baking spice, raisins, and ash intertwined with wisps of pumpkin pie and sweet corn. Just about all of those notes take a backseat on the palate as nutmeg emerges from the brew’s pitch-black depths because the standout taste. This beer walks the road between bitter and candy, and makes for an effective way to take pleasure in pumpkin beer via the lager lens.
Two Roads Brewing Firm Roadsmary’s Child
It’s not each autumn you encounter a rum-barrel-aged pumpkin ale, so we have been fairly excited to offer this one a go. Its barrel affect is robust on the nostril, which dishes up notes of black licorice, dates, vanilla, and baking spices with out ever getting overwhelming. Upon first sip, we’re greeted with extra vanilla and a few textbook pumpkin spice delivered with a thick, chewy mouthfeel. All of the whereas, the rum barrel character nonetheless shines via, offering a nice kick of boozy warmth. Roadsmary’s Child is something however conventional, however it’s a scrumptious tackle the fashion.
Southern Tier Brewing Co. Pumking
Pulling off large, sticky-sweet, pastry-inspired beers is one thing Southern Tier has gotten fairly rattling good at through the years. And Pumking, which is described by the brewery as “pumpkin pie in a glass,” is not any exception. On the nostril, we get a wealthy wallop of nutmeg, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spices whereas a punch of vanilla comes via on the palate. The mouthfeel is full-bodied and molasses-thick, which is to be anticipated with the beer’s assertive ABV of 8.6 p.c. It’s actually a sluggish sipper and could also be a little bit too candy for some tastes, however in the event you’re the kind to place two sugar packets in your espresso, this pumpkin ale will hit the spot.
Elysian Brewing Night time Owl
Seattle’s Elysian places out 4 pumpkin beers each fall, together with a coffee-infused pumpkin ale, an imperial pumpkin ale, a pumpkin stout, and a traditional pumpkin ale. Whereas all of them are stable, we really feel that Night time Owl — the brewery’s authentic pumpkin ale — is the cream of the crop. The second the liquid hits the glass, pumpkin pie aromas fill the nostril earlier than giving approach to notes of roasted malt and strawberry Twizzlers. The palate is wealthy and full-bodied, and tastes identical to pumpkin pie with out being overly candy. Because the beer warms, notes of cinnamon, roasted butternut squash, and ginger emerge whereas a contact of hoppy bitterness makes its presence identified on the again palate. That is hands-down one of the crucial balanced pumpkin beers we’ve had.
