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Cheers To Fall With Pumpkin Beer

pumpkin beer in a jack-o-lantern glass

Fall is in the air again, which means that pumpkins are back on the table. A hearty meal of pumpkin pancakes or chicken baked in a pumpkin pot isn't complete without a cool, frothy glass of pumpkin beer.

Brew It Yourself



Pumpkin beers are a perennial favorite, made by adding that well-known orange gourd to the mash of grains and sugars that gets fermented in water to produce beer. The brew is often also accompanied by familiar pumpkin pie spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves.

Want to give it a shot? Follow this recipe for Pumpkin Ale. As always, we recommend using fresh pumpkins from an area farmer to add some local flavor to the dish.

Brewers who want to go above and beyond the call of duty can brew their pumpkin beer inside the pumpkin itself -- how about that!

Leave It To The Professionals



If you don't feel like brewing your own, there are plenty of breweries around the country that are happy to oblige by providing you with their own special pumpkin brews.

Here are some options for Midwestern beer lovers:

  • In Indianapolis, Flat 12 Bierwerks offers the Flat Jack Pumpkin Ale, a pale ale base with pumpkin and seasonal spices.
  • Schlafly Brewery at the St. Louis Brewery offers Pumpkin Ale based on an American Pale.
  • In Ohio, the Great Lakes Brewing Company has a light pumpkin ale among their offerings, but you'll have to head up to Cleveland to try it, because it's only available on-tap at the brew pub.
  • The Jolly Pumpkin Brewery in Dexter, Michigan offers their La Parcela pumpkin ale, flavored with just a touch of cacao for added richness. This is a limited release brew, so you may want to hurry!
  • If ales aren't your thing, the Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee offers a Pumpkin Lager, brewed with all your favorite pumpkin spices with the crispness of a cold fermented brew.


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