Friday Find :: 3 Pumpkin Craft Beers to Try This Fall
There's no shortage of pumpkin flavored beer this time of year, which is great news for both craft beer enthusiasts and pumpkin lovers. Here are 3 great pumpkin beers to try this fall, from lightest to strongest in pumpkin flavor, as well as a few food pairing recommendations for each beer.
1. Smuttynose Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale (Portsmouth, NH) - If you are new to the pumpkin beer scene, or prefer a more subtle pumpkin flavor, this is the beer for you. It has a lightly spiced flavor and while the pumpkin flavor isn't obvious, it is obviously a fall beer. Food Pairing Recommendations: Thanksgiving dinner, braised root vegetables.
2. Dogfish Head Punkin Ale (Milton, DE) - With a subtle pumpkin flavor that still tastes distinctively like fall, this well-balanced pumpkin ale has been hailed as one of the best pumpkin beers of 2013. Punkin is full-bodied and smooth, with a hint of brown sugar. Food Pairing Recommendations: Turkey, roasted duck, lamb, stuffing, sharp cheddar.
3. Southern Tier Brewing Company Pumking (Lakewood, NY) - There are many die-hard fans of this stronger-flavored imperial pumpkin ale. It has definitive pumpkin flavor and is strong on the spices. Some find it to be a bit sweet, while fans love that the alcohol is well hidden in this dessert-like beer, making it extremely drinkable. Food Pairing Recommendations: Thanksgiving dinner, pumpkin pie, desserts.
Left with extra pumpkin beer after a fall gathering? Pour a bottle of pumpkin beer into the pot next time you're cooking up a batch of chili. It adds a deep, slightly spiced flavor that will have people wondering about your secret ingredient.
Food Pairing Recommendations via brewers.