September is here, bringing with it the weather of fall. The wind and rain has emerged with full force, letting everyone know that the seasons are changing. During times like these, when we dust off our sweaters and begin wearing socks with our sandals, our drink choices tend to also change. Instead of looking for something to cool down with, we turn to drinks that will warm us up.
Do not fear, the dreaded (or beloved?) pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks will not be on this list, however its key ingredient will take center stage. The pumpkin is a surprisingly versatile ingredient to use in both beer and cider. It not only reminds us all of the fall season, but also carries with it a complex taste and texture that can breathe new life into a beverage. Breweries and cideries around the Northwest have been experimenting with the strange squash for a number of years now, and we have gathered together a few of our favorites for you to try.
Night Owl Pumpkin Ale || Elysian Brewing
We start off with the Granddaddy of pumpkin ales in the area—allegedly the creator of the genre nationwide. The Night Owl Pumpkin Ale is brewed with seven and a half pounds of pumpkin per barrel, with additional raw and roasted pumpkin seeds, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice thrown in. The final product is a medium ale that has a pleasant pumpkin taste and a warming finish thanks to the assortment of autumn spices. If you have never had a pumpkin flavored drink, start here.
Smoked Pumpkin Cider || Tieton Cider Works
This Tieton, Washington cidery’s Smoked Pumpkin cider combines the flavors of apples and pumpkins together in a way not many could imagine. Before the pumpkin is even added, the cider is first smoked over applewood. Then the pumpkin is introduced to level out the cider a bit, with the result being a cider that showcases both the smoking and the pumpkins, while still giving you that small apple taste that you so badly desire.
The Dapper Skeleton || Burnside Brewing
While most other breweries will add in a few spices to their pumpkin ales to provide some warmth on the way down, Portland’s Burnside Brewing decided to turn up the heat a little bit. Cocoa nibs and a trio of chilies accompany their secret blend of spices that is added to the pumpkin blend. That’s right, you will taste the heat of those chilies after the initial pumpkin taste settles in your mouth. This beer will not only warm you up when you get chilly, it may make you shed a few layers to cool off.
Imperial Pumpkin Sleigh’r || Ninkasi Brewing
Ninkasi is always doing exciting things with beer in Eugene, Oregon and their Rare and Delicious Series is a testament to that. Included in this series is the Imperial Pumpkin Sleigh’r, a dark double alt ale with pumpkin and brown sugar. The high alcohol percentage of this beer (9 percent AV) combines with the sweetness of the brown sugar and the smoothness of the pumpkin to produce a noticeably warm finish.
Pumpkin Spice Cider || Seattle Cider Co.
A variety of grocery store favorite apples (Granny Smith, Fuij, Red and Golden Delicious to name a few) comprise this blend of semi-sweet seasonal cider just released. Fermented with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and a touch of pumpkin, this cider gives the impression of liquid pie more so than liquid squash, but with a fraction of the sweetness and all of the spice. And everything nice—like a 6.9 percent ABV and an immediate craving for carrot cake.
Big Black Jack || Oakshire Brewing
What goes well together with pumpkin besides beer? Chocolate. Combine that chocolate with the already existing combination of pumpkin and beer, and you get yourself the Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter that is Big Black Jack from this Eugene, Oregon brewery. This rich, dark and heavy beer gives off both pumpkin pie and hot chocolate aromas at the same time, and will be sure to keep you warm when paired with your favorite fall feast.
The Sage Pumpkin || Deschutes Brewery
While spices and pumpkins go together like peas in a pod, few breweries attempt what Bend, Oregon’s Deschutes has with their Sage Pumpkin ale. They chose to add sage at the end of fermentation to give off an additional earthiness to the already-earthy pumpkin. This combination results in a relatively light beer with strong aromas of pumpkin, and a warming, natural taste to battle the nasty weather outside.
Pumpkin Patch Ale || Rogue
The Pumpkin Patch ale by Rogue Brewing is made with pumpkins that are grown on the same farm where all of Rogue’s hops are grown. While Rogue is known for pushing the boundaries on what a beer can be—and what it can be made from—this Ppumpkin ale is less of an experimental epiphany, and more of a perfected product. It won a silver medal at 2015’s Best of Craft Beer Awards, as well as winning awards in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
