The Ultimate Guide to Pumpkin Beer: 12 Brews, Ranked From Worst to Best

We consider Kennebunkport Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale ($1) a bridge between beer and cider, as it's somewhat sweet and has a tame finish. The beer noticeably blasts you with pumpkin spice scent and flavor due to natural flavor added into the finished ale. Yep, that's what gives it the seasonal touch. We'd expect that in snacks, but added to beer, it just seems sacrilegious.

★★☆☆

There's no doubt Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat Ale ($8 for four) contains pumpkin, from its funky gourd scent to the starchy-sweet flavor. However, the lack of spices and the sharp finish knock it back a few stars. We'd sip this at a party, but it's not our go-to autumnal beer.

★★☆☆

Chances are Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin ($8) is not what you expect; while it brings a high alcohol content to the table (at nine percent alcohol by volume), it tastes undeniably girlie with a sweet pumpkin finish.

★★★☆☆

Malty and dark with savory notes that remind us of soy sauce, Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Beer ($8 for six) is mild on the spice (it's most apparent on the nose) yet still screams Fall.

★★★☆

Most people think sweet and malty when it comes to pumpkin ale, but not Uinta Brewing Company’s Punk'n ($10). Hoppy, bitter, earthy, and dare we say savory, this take on pumpkin ale is worth exploring with your taste buds.

★★★☆

Despite being a strong beer (it clocks in at eight-and-a-half percent alcohol), Samuel Adams Fat Jack ($6) is surprisingly easy drinking. Rather than delivering a knock-you-out boozy kick, it warms you gently while bringing a concentrated, slightly syrupy pumpkin flavor to each sip.

★★★★☆

Buffalo Bill's America's Original Pumpkin Ale ($8 for a six-pack) is an amber-style ale brewed with fresh roasted pumpkins, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Though the pumpkin and spices are subtle on the nose and palate, many tasters consider this a coveted thing. With a full body and slightly bitter finish, it's a beer we'd like to drink throughout the Fall.

★★★★☆

Malty with a pumpkin pie spice finish, Uinta Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin ($14) is for those who enjoy a heavier beer with a slightly bitter ending. The oak and pumpkin flavors are mild, but the vanilla, caramel, and spice are really amped up.

★★★★

Shipyard Pumpkinhead ($10) smells like apple picking in Fall and has a distinct pumpkin flavor, frothy head, light(er) body, and slight bitterness. However, the most interesting feature is the petrol finish. Gassy may be a weird way to describe fermented beer, but think of it this way: it's a sought-after scent in Riesling wine. The brewing company recommends rimming a pint glass with cinnamon sugar, and we can't wait to try that. This beer doesn't taste serious. It's good but not fussy, and we like that.

★★★★

If you love kombucha's tanginess, Timmermans Pumpkin Lambicus ($12) is likely the pumpkin brew for you. Light in alcohol (like all lambics), sweet, sour, and well spiced, it's an easy beer to love.

★★★★

We'll attempt to contain our excitement over Dogfish Head Punkin Ale ($11 for four). The brown ale brew has a cult following among hip beer drinkers, and for good reason. It's a very unique rendition of pumpkin spice. The caramel scent, sweet malty flavor, delicate trace of pumpkin, and nutmeg-brown sugar finish make this almost better than pumpkin pie. Almost.

★★★★

For truly exceptional pumpkin beer, turn to Howe Sound Pumpkineater Imperial Pumpkin Ale ($14), a malty, chocolate-rich, strong beer with pronounced notes of barley, freshly roasted pumpkin, hops, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise.

★★★★