11 Pumpkin Beers For Thanksgiving Dinner Slideshow
Avery Rumpkin
Aged in dark rum barrels for six months, this pumpkin brew is big, bold, and not for the faint of heart. Avery uses roasted pumpkins from a local Boulder County farm, and infuses spice with nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. The beer is phenomenal on its own or paired with a hearty turkey and stuffing.
Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale
In 1995 Blue Moon crafted their first autumn seasonal: Pumpkin Ale. It was so popular that it became the first nationally available pumpkin ale. This Blue Moon favorite is crafted with pumpkin and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. Easily paired with most Thanksgiving menu items, the beer is light and earthy, which allows for plenty of versatility.
Brooklyn Brewery Post Road Pumpkin Ale
Blended with barley malt, Post Road Pumpkin Ale uses hundreds of pounds of pumpkins in each batch of mash. Brooklyn Brewery has created a phenomenal pumpkin beer with an orange amber color, warm pumpkin aroma, biscuit-y malt center, and crisp finish.
Dogfish Head Punkin
This full-bodied brown ale has hints of both pumpkin and brown sugar. Brewed with pumpkin meat, brown sugar, and spices, the Punkin Ale has a story behind its name as well. Dog Fish's website tells us the brew is named after the seriously off-centered southern Delaware extravaganza Punkin Chunkin — in fact, Punkin Ale made its debut as it claimed first prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Contest.
Great Lakes Brewing Pumpkin Ale
Great Lakes brewing as created their Pumpkin Ale with an assortment of specialty malts and hops. The brew has big pumpkin flavor and we're not complaining. Hints of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and allspice offer a rich spicy blend that is perfect for pairing with any of your Thanksgiving meal desserts.
New Belgium Pumpkick
A pale caramel-colored beer, the New Belgium Pumpkick has the unexpected ingredient of cranberry juice. The ale is considerably brighter than most others on this list, and it's brewed with a ton of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The cranberry juice and a hint of lemon are what get your mouth watering for this brew from the guys that brought you Fat Tire.
Shipyard Pumpkinhead
Shipyard has a crisp and refreshing pumpkin beer that is wheat-based and is exceptional for beer lovers and newbies alike. Subtle spice imparts flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. This beer is served exceptionally well with a cinnamon sugar rim and just a half-ounce of spiced rum.
Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat
Another great beer to drink at the table is Shock Top's Pumpkin Wheat. This beer is a traditional Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with ripe pumpkins, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. The beer is smooth and flavorful and encapsulates all that fall has to offer.
Wolaver's Pumpkin Ale
This beer is only lightly spiced, and the pumpkins that are used are grown in Middlebury, Vt., only 15 miles away from the brewery. Only slightly hoppy undertones means this beer is easily drinkable and won't fill you up before a big Thanksgiving meal. This is a pumpkin brew with which you cannot go wrong.
Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale
Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale is said to be an homage to the craft and heritage of America's brewers. The brewery adds fresh pumpkin to their mash and what develops is a beer that isn't too hoppy and is easily drinkable at the Thanksgiving table. The pumpkin isn't overpowering and you still maintain the delicious taste of the beer.
Ithaca Beer Company Country Pumpkin
The Country Pumpkin is a medium-bodied harvest ale brewed with a medley of flavorful malt, pumpkin purée, Magnum hops, and a touch of seasonal spices. The blending of 2-Row, Vienna, Munich, Caramunich, and Honey malt with Magnum hops balances the sweet pumpkin with flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice. This is a rich ale that is sure to warm you up before your Thanksgiving meal begins.