Episode Details

Pumpkin beer can be cozy, or it can be chaos when the ABV climbs into double digits. We grab six high-ABV pumpkin beers and put them through real tasting notes and real scores, from a 6.1% pumpkin lager all the way to barrel-aged heavy hitters that drink way too easy.

Along the way we get into what “pumpkin flavor” actually means in craft beer. We talk IBUs and why a number like 38 does not automatically mean bitter when spice, malt, and sweetness are doing the balancing. We also chase the age-old fall question: are you tasting pumpkin pie, or are you tasting cinnamon and nutmeg trying to fake it? The nitro pumpkin spice latte throws another twist into the lineup, so we break down how nitrogen, the widget in the can, and that silky mouthfeel can smooth things out while also muting flavors you expected to pop.

The barrel-aged segment is where things get serious. We compare caramel-forward imperial pumpkin ale, bourbon barrel-aged pumpkin beer built with pumpkin butter, and a brandy barrel-aged imperial that brings a surprising fruitiness and layered finish. Then we rank our top three and talk honestly about who these big pumpkin beers are for, especially if you’re newer to craft beer or usually stick to lighter lagers.

Hit play, try a few of these as singles if you can, and tell us where you land on pumpkin beers. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a beer buddy, and leave a quick review so more people can find us.

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