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[Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Bryan on his debut post! Please enjoy!]

It’s Fall! And you know what that means? Pumpkin Season! That means Pumpkin Pies, Pumpkin Soup, Funny-faced Pumpkins sitting in front of people’s doors, and most importantly – Pumpkin Beer!

Anyone wandering through the craft beer section at a local liquor store has probably noticed the influx of orange-labelled pumpkin beers that come to dominate the shelves every October/early November. So I decided, in service to you dear readers (and maybe a bit to me), that I would dive into the plethora of options and start taste-testing!

Central City Brewing Company – Red Racer Spiced Pumpkin Ale – 5% ABV

Clear copper colour with a nice beige head and a pumpkin aroma. This one hits with a lot of nutmeg and pumpkin in the flavour profile, making it taste like a liquid pumpkin pie. And do I detect a hint of ginger? There’s a bit of carbonation, and the finish is spice and bitterness.  A nice, clean start. The pumpkin pie taste is what really got me on this one.

Score: 3.5 out of 5 Pumpkins

Parallel 49 – Lost Souls Chocolate Pumpkin Porter – 6.5% ABV

Black pour with minimal head. Roasty smell with chocolate notes. Taste is roasted malts with bitter dark chocolate along with a very small dose of pumpkin spice. To be absolutely honest, if I wasn’t looking for it, I wouldn’t have picked up the pumpkin spice at all. It’s that minimal. Does very well just as a chocolate porter, though. I think the pumpkin needs to be kicked up in this one for next year.

Score: 3.5 out of 5 Pumpkins

Tree Brewing Co – Jumpin Jack Pumpkin Ale – 7% ABV

Amber pour with foamy head. Smells weak at first but really comes alive when it warms up. Has a thicker body with a lot of malt character. Taste of pumpkin, spices, cinnamon, and a hint of creaminess. The higher alcohol level is hidden well, meaning it could sneak up on you if you drink a lot.

Score: 3 out of 5 Pumpkins

Parallel 49 – Shadenfreude – 5% ABV

Had it on tap in the tasting room. Clear copper with tan head, light pumpkin smell. To me, this one was really crisp tasting with sweet pumpkin taste. But it was also fairly cold so it’s possible that some of the deeper flavours didn’t come out in my sample.

Score: 3 out of 5 Pumpkins

Moon Under Water – Pumpkin Pearzen Harvest Weizen – 7% ABV

Pours a hazy yellow with a banana and pepper nose. I taste banana and a pile of spices — cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper — but where’s the pumpkin?  If it’s here it’s pretty hard to find.  Tastes a lot like I’m just drinking a Hefeweizen.

Score: 2.5 out of 5 Pumpkins

Final Words

Overall, I would say that I was very pleased with the harvest of pumpkin beers this year. I only had a couple last year and each one was a disappointment. Brewers are definitely getting better at this, and that means it’s a win-win for everyone!