The Great Pumpkin Beer Tasting of 2018

I've ignored this space for too long and am back with important things...like Pumpkin Beer! I couldn't let Pumpkin season go by without sharing our faves from this year's tasting.  90 degree weather we had right around the time Fall rolled around on the calendar, Mark and I still spent the first weekend of Fall trying all of these pictured here. Halloween has come and gone but I'm still here for all things Pumpkin. I'm just not ready to race into Christmas yet and we still have a full three weeks before Thanksgiving.

I want to rank these, but the truth is that they are all so different in their own way and I just don't think it's fair to compare. 

Left to Right--------->

As always, Foothills Pumpkin Ale with Spices (formerly known as Cottonwood Pumpkin Ale) is our go to pumpkin beer each season. This has been my favorite for many years and I always go back to it. It's extra delicious if you can ever find it on draft! With just the right amount of spice to pumpkin ratio, it's the perfect pumpkin beer! 

Sycamore's Gourd Have Mercy is a local favorite for me. It's extra delicious from a keg or on draft! It's not as spicy as other pumpkin beers, is slightly sweet and very smooth. It's also not a very heavy pumpkin beer which I love!

Southern Tier's Pumpking is always a crowd pleaser. These are potent little pumpkin ales but a true treat! It's that graham cracker crust buttery finish. SO GOOD.

Pumpkin Pie Porter from Deep River Brewing is a perfect cozy cold weather Fall beer. Think after dinner, around a fire pit type of beer. If you like darker beers, this one's for you. 

Post Road Pumpkin Ale is another solid one. It's nothing too complex or fancy and is an easy one to sip on. I would say it's a good intro to pumpkin beer, for those that may be skeptical of what the rage is all about.

This Pumpkin Latte Blonde Ale was a special edition from Sycamore and as soon as I saw it in the store I grabbed it as fast as I could because I knew it would go fast. It's light, slightly sweet and not as heavy on the coffee as you would think. I tasted more latte than pumpkin, but I really enjoy these blonde ales with coffee notes.

Lastly, the store didn't have any of this when I went to get our beer haul early in the season, so we didn't drink it during our official tasting. NODA Brewing's Gordgeous is AMAZING. It's always delicious but whatever they did to it this year is beyond and I can't get enough. I've stockpiled it in our outdoor fridge. As of Monday, my Harris Teeter is completely out and won't be getting anymore so I high tailed it to Total Wine and grabbed some more. If you have some in your fridge, consider it that you are housing an endangered species in there. 

Don't rush into the holiday season just yet- the pumpkin still deserves a few more weeks to shine.