AHA Wrote Me a Letter - Maybe it wasn't just meant for me...

[daryl]

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/ ... &_zl=qwUL3

I have tried, and have continued to try, pumpkin beers.

To date, the only one that I thought was decent, was a pumpkin beer that had no pumpkin flavor (go figure).

I'll keep trying, but I do not think it is a style for me.

[andrewmaixner]

Yup. "pumpkin spice" aka "well balanced spices which you might use with pumpkin, or apple, or whatever" beers can be good. Haven't ever really had pumpkin itself impress me.
I made a good scottish 60 style ale with a dash of spice at flameout last year, which was great. Planning to make it again this year.

[Matt F]

There are two pumpkin beers I like. You should try them both. I think you will be surprised.

One is Avery Rumpkin. Great beer. https://www.averybrewing.com/beers/rumpkin

The other is Southern Tier Pumking. http://www.stbcbeer.com/seasonals/seaso ... beer-page/

[Matt F]

PS, I think most all pumkin beers are undrinkable with the exception of a few.

[daryl]

Thanks for the suggestion. If I can find them locally, I will give them a try.

Right now I am in the hunt for some Baltic Porters...for calibration beers....any suggestions on a local source besides Benz?

There are two pumpkin beers I like. You should try them both. I think you will be surprised.

One is Avery Rumpkin. Great beer. https://www.averybrewing.com/beers/rumpkin

The other is Southern Tier Pumking. http://www.stbcbeer.com/seasonals/seaso ... beer-page/

[Matt F]

See if Eric can find any on his upcoming road trip. Not many available. Couple that come to mind that are not available here are Jack's Abby Framinghammer and Smuttynose Baltic Porter. The Smuttynose may be in Carolina though. Foothills Baltic Porter is another. Devils Backbone Danzig Baltic Porter also out east.

Closer to home or possibly available. Three Floyds makes Topless Wytch. Uinta makes Sea Legs Baltic Porter in their Crooked Line series. Not sure if we have any of that around here now that we get Uinta. Green Flash Cosmic Ristretto Black Lager is a baltic porter. I will look at Hy-Vee next time I am in there too.

[tony b]

I'll be headed up to the Chicago-land area next week, so I can do a Binny's run. If you have some specifics that you want for the Baltic Porters, I can look for them there.

Second Matt on the Southern Tier Pumking - only pumpkin beer that I've been able to tolerate to date.

[TappedOut]

I've got a soft spot for Lakefront's pumpkin lager. But yeah, most pumpkin beers I've had are wretched.

[UndeadFred]

Hmm.. the problem is usually the spice and not the pumpkin itself.

About 15 months ago I took a vacation in the Tampa area, and there was a relatively new (and good, honestly) microbrewery/brew pub and meadery at Madeira Beach, FL .. and I got a flight (and in trouble from my wife when I did it, of course) from them and they insisted.. i.e. gave me an extra.. I try their sweet potato ale.

It was by far the best thing they brewed and if I could figure it out I would clone it in a heart beat.

I did not taste like candied yams nor sweet potato fries nor pumpkin pie...

And that is probably also the key to a good pumpkin beer. If it weren't labelled as such you wouldn't know.

(Kind of like using cereal in a beer, eh? )

Fred

[UndeadFred]

But.. oddly. I do like a mulled spice Christmas Ale, and usually make one batch every year at about Thanksgiving.. so.. I guess I understand why others might like a pumpkin beer. I like pumpkin pie, too.. so.. hmm..