If you thought you were going to open this link and see a photo of pumpkin spice lattes from every coffee shop in America, you’d better think again. The truth is, pumpkin spice actually has little to no real pumpkin flavor to it. The fall gourd-infused flavoring has a bad rap for its overly sweet and cutely spiked baking spices, when in reality, pumpkin alone tastes nothing like what most “PSL” drink descriptions entail.
Now that we have officially entered the football-tossing, sweater-wearing, pumpkin-drinking, Friendsgiving-obsessed time of year, pumpkin is an autumn staple and it can be found everywhere, including beautifully complemented craft cider and beer. Lucky for us, the Pacific Northwest provides a wide range of seasonal pumpkin ales and ciders that will keep your autumn evenings flavorful. Leave the double pump of pumpkin spice at the door — drink pumpkin beers and ciders this autumn that are all about the real flavor of the squash.
2 Towns Ciderhouse Hollow Jack | Corvallis, OR
Pumpkin, with all of its fermentable sugars, makes a perfect partner for cider. In this limited release from the booming cidery, fresh apples are fermented with caramelized heirloom pumpkins and sweet potatoes for a deeply flavorsome cider. The apples and pumpkins create a harmonious taste, with true squash and transparent apple flavors allowing each note to shine through the dense flavor, accented with honey and spices in the fermented and finish.
Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale | Newport, OR
This invigorating beer, which was released yesterday, is brewed with ripe Dream pumpkins from Rogue’s namesake farm in Independence, Oregon. The aroma to this anticipated ale release has subtle smoky pumpkin notes (the hand-chopped pumpkins were roasted in pizza ovens) with all the classic spices (like vanilla bean, ginger, cardmom, orange peel and more) and a kick of estate-grown hops. The warm orange color makes you feel like you’re drinking straight from a pumpkin source.
Tieton Cider Works Smoked Pumpkin | Yakima, WA
A Tieton classic, this cider is released in late July and continues through the fall season. Smoked apples lend a light sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm the earthy, smoky pumpkin notes. Once the pumpkins take a step back, an acidic finish is smooth on the palate leaving you wanting to come back for more. Fascinating and intriguing, try this at the Thanksgiving dinner table as apples and pumpkin match flawless with turkey and bready stuffing.
Elysian Brewing Dark O’ The Moon | Seattle
A pour as dark as night, this pumpkin stout from the godfather of pumpkin ale really puts its name to the test. Malty bittersweet chocolate awakens the palate as subtle coffee and pumpkin notes create a creamy finish. The spice notes to Dark O’ The Moon are inherently strong, but not overwhelming and with a milder pumpkin flavor approach, this stout pleases a broader audience due to its mouthwatering aroma.
Fort George Brewery Squash Buckler | Astoria, OR
Featuring roasted sugar pumpkins, the Squash Buckler provides the trending profile without overbearing the palate. The malted caramel sweetness balances with toffee notes to end with a roasted, dry finish. The featured ingredient is the only ingredient added here: pumpkins are roasted over wood and added to the brew without any spice, making it the perfect autumn ale for a pumpkin purist. Try pairing with a fatty, gooey triple crème cheese or go lighter with a cranberry, walnut and chicken salad.
