The fall weather is starting to get into full swing this October, so we decided to gather what we consider the Top 4 Pumpkin Beers and rate them against each other. Last year, we did a Fall Beer Competition, but this year we wanted to try something a little different. Admittedly, pumpkin beers can be pretty awful, and they are hard to brew right. But we found 4 that are worthy of a spot in your fridge this fall season.

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Pumking by Southern Tier Brewing:
Pick it up HERE
All Hallow’s Eve is a time of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world, and when magic is most potent. It is thought that we harness this magic to brew our powerful pumpkin ale. Not so, but it is with great respect to the magic of their trade that our brewers produce this fine beer. Take a whiff of this complex ale and your journey has just begun. At first sip, a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds, yet another victim enraptured by the Pumking.

Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale:
A barrel-aged ale brewed with Kentucky-sourced pumpkin, richly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. As the ale is aged in fresh bourbon barrels, the sweetness of caramel and vanilla are imparted upon the brew and complement its spicier base. At 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), this robust, limited-release seasonal makes for a flavorful sipping beer to slowly warm up with as the weather cools.

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale:
Pumpkin Ale blends the spices of the harvest with full-bodied sweetness for a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. Pounds of pumpkin form a malty foundation that supports the fall flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

While pumpkin beers were produced in the early days of the American colonies, they were different from the pumpkin beers we know today. Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce. Once malt became more readily available, it replaced these alternatives to grain. In the 1990’s, American craft brewers reintroduced the style to the delight of pumpkin beer drinkers.

Williamsburg Alewerks Pumpkin:
Pumpkin is made solely with fresh ingredients, spiced and baked in the oven before added to the brew. Enjoy powerful notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and more from the beer commonly described as “Pumpkin Pie in a glass.”