It’s hard to believe that we are already in August but as fall approaches the growing selection of Pumpkin Beers will start appearing at your local breweries and on retail shelves. Every year more and more breweries are producing some type of pumpkin beer and the range of styles that pumpkin is added to is also increasing.
Pumpkin Craft Beers fall into a couple different categories- one has actual pumpkin along with spices and the other has pumpkin or squash added but without any spices at all. These two variations can be brewed with any different “base” style of beer. Pumpkin can be added in many different ways and also different varieties of pumpkin, squash, or sweet potatoes can be used to create the fall flavor profile. Most Craft Breweries use real pumpkin and will roast it to give a sweeter, richer pumpkin flavor. There are many different stages in which the pumpkin can be added during the brewing process and each brewer will use their creativity to get that authentic pumpkin pie flavor.
Brewers will also add their own secret spice blend to their brews to get that flavor profile. Some of the more popular spices used by brewers are Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Allspice and Cloves and any combination of these. The fun part is that brewers use their creativity to blend these fall flavors with the different flavor profiles of the style of beer they have chosen. They can range from lighter in color to very dark beer styles and even sour beers.
Give some of these many Craft – brewed pumpkin beers a try and experience a range of fall flavors! Cheers!
Rob McFerren is the owner of Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co.
