Pumpkin Ales

I've never met a person who doesn't enjoy pumpkin pie. The luscious, melt-in-your-mouth-caramelized-crusted-whipped-cream-topped-wonder enters stage right this time of year and I don't mind at all. I hang on every line. My predilection for the rich dessert has engendered a new love: Pumpkin Beers. I have met some who don't enjoy these seasonal ales. 99% are released, you guessed it, around October each year and many are brewed with spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. For my reviewing purposes I'm not looking for a beer that tastes like pumpkin, but a beer that tastes like pumpkin pie--go figure. 

Our beloved friends at beer advocate lay out a succinct definition of what a pumpkin beer actually is..."Often released as a fall seasonal, Pumpkin Ales are quite varied. Some brewers opt to add hand-cut pumpkins and drop them in the mash, while others use puree or pumpkin flavoring. These beers also tend to be spiced with pumpkin pie spices, like: ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and allspice. Pumpkin Ales are typically mild, with little to no bitterness, a malty backbone, with some spice often taking the lead. Many will contain a starchy, slightly thick-ish, mouthfeel too. In our opinion, best versions use real pumpkin, while roasting the pumpkin can also add tremendous depth of character for even better results, though both methods are time-consuming and tend to drive brewmasters insane."

Now, there are standard pumpkin ales, and imperial Pumpkin ales--meaning above 8% in alcohol by volume. The former are more complex and flavorful, with huge sweet notes and often intriguing qualities. Enter stage left, Hoppin' Frog's Double Pumpkin.