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The King of Pumpkin Beers

I love pumpkins and I also love beer. This post is dedicated to the genius pioneer who decided, whoever you are and wherever you are out there, to combine the two for the perfect fall adult beverage: pumpkin beer. But the reality is that not all pumpkin beers are created equal.

Some are too bitter (for my liking) like Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale. Some just don’t have the right blend of spices, leaving an odd flavor profile like BlueMoon Harvest Pumpkin Ale. And some others don’t even taste like real pumpkins Saranac Pumpkin Ale. But one brewery, one pumpkin beer prevails against all others …

Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale.

This elusive and magical beer, first brewed in August 2002, is something I look forward to year round. Some might say I’m obsessed, that I go too far in my quest to find the difficult-to-locate beer here in the New York City region (I won’t go into too many details, but last fall when I moved back here from Boston where Pumpkinhead flows on tap and is available in most liquor stores, I called at least a dozen bars and beer shops to try and find the beer I covet. A friend had to drive to Purchase, New York in Westchester County to pick up the four cases and two six-packs I finally tracked down). I think I go just far enough.

Shipyard Brewery based in Portland, Maine has a huge following and fans love all of their seasonal beers. But the first time I tasted their Pumpkinhead Ale in the fall of 2006, I knew I’d found the holy grail of fall flavor that’d been missing on my taste buds.

A seriously delicious combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and what I have to believe is the freshest and most genuine pumpkin flavoring blends for a crisp taste that is not too sweet, not too bitter and ultimately refreshing. What’s more, thanks to the delicate flavor balance, this isn’t the type of fruit beer where you drink one and think “I’ve had enough, it’s just too sweet, ” like Samuel Adams Cherry Wheat (which is a beer I enjoy from time to time). You can drink several (the whole 6-pack if you’re feeling frisky) and just never get sick of the taste.

According to Shipyard’s Pumpkinhead description, the seasonal wheat ale pairs well with lamb, turkey, BLTs and pumpkin pie. I myself think it pairs well with just about anything, especially fall favorites like Thanksgiving sides like stuffing, squash, mashed potatoes, corn bread and sautéed string beans.

I’ve heard amazing things about the Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin (currently chilling in my fridge for near-future consumption) so I’ll be sure to report back on that.

Here in NYC, you can find Shipyard Pumpkinhead on tap at The Pony Bar (45^th St. and 10^th Ave.) and can purchase it at the Columbus Circle Whole Foods and Good Beer NYC (9^th St. and Avenue A). Leave comments to this post if you know anywhere else it’s on tap!

For a fun twist, rim a pint glass with cinnamon sugar and pour Shipyard Pumpkinhead for a golden beverage with very little head. And of course, enjoy!

-Dinah