I’ll admit I’m not the biggest fan of pumpkin pie, or pumpkins for that matter. But there’s something about this time of year that compels me to drink pumpkin beers. My favorites are those that have a hint of pumpkin taste, without overwhelming me. So it’s somewhat surprising to me how much I love the Southern Tier Pumpking. This beer doesn’t at all hide what it’s about. As a matter of fact, I always describe it as being a piece of pumpkin pie in a glass.

The pour is a nice, clear amber-orange. Where this beer really stands out (apart from the taste) is the smell. Not only do you get the pumpkin pie itself – along with spices like nutmeg and cinnamon – but you can actually smell graham cracker crust! The taste follows the smell exactly. It’s as though they took a piece of pie and somehow turned it in to a beer. I swear that I can almost taste whipped cream, too, but that’s probably just wishful drinking.

ABV on this is about 9%, making it (for me, anyway) a one-and-done type beer. Also, as much as I enjoy the flavor it becomes a bit too much by the end of the glass (remember, I don’t love pumpkins). I’ve introduced this beer to everyone from hopheads to malt maniacs and they all love it. Obviously this is a seasonal beer, so I recommend doing some research and finding out where you can try one as soon as possible!

10.18.10

Helene is a craft beer enthusiast who aims to educate women (and men) about the wonderful world of craft beer. In addition to reviewing beers and bars on Drink Philly, she writes beer-related musings on her blog, Philly Beer Girl. You can also follow Helene on Twitter, where she tweets way too often - and at odd times - about what she's drinking.