Pumpkin Shortage Could Be A Problem For Pumpkin Beer This Year

For some, the arrival of fall means back to school or crispy leaves; for others, it's the return of pumpkin-flavored everything. Pumpkin beer is one of the perennial favorites, but for fans of fall-themed brews, things could get a little difficult this year. Following the "Great Pumpkin Shortage of 2015," autumnal beers and Thanksgiving pumpkin pies may be in short supply.

"We did end up finding a supplier, but not until after a few years were dropped from my lifespan trying to figure things out," said Paul Kavulak, Nebraska Brewing Co. president and co-founder, to Draft Magazine. The company releases a popular pumpkin beer every year called Wick for Brains.

"We bought enough for maybe the first two batches and then went back to buy more — being good disciples of Just in Time Inventory — and were told they were out," Kavulak said. "We had to brew [Wick For Brains] five times this year, so you can see the panic that set in. My guess is that this is going to be an issue across the board."

Fortunately, most brewers have prepared far enough ahead of time that their brews may not actually be affected, but some pumpkin beers or pumpkin-flavored treats may come out later than usual this year. We're crossing our fingers that Starbucks' pumpkin spice latte will be poured right on schedule.