pumpkin beer - 3 fun facts and 3 recommendations

It's officially fall time and there's no better season to bring out the craft brews. More specifically, pumpkin ales! If you have never tried one, well...you're missing out. If you and your friends frequently sip on such seasonal selections, let us help you become the go-to person for pumpkin beer knowledge.

Pumpkin beer isn't new. Nope, sure isn't! The use of pumpkin in beer dates back to colonial times when settlers couldn't get their hands on enough barley so instead used other raw materials such apples, corn, molasses, and of course, pumpkin.

That wholesome pumpkin flavor you taste isn't just from pumpkins alone. To accompany the blunt taste of pumpkin, many if not most breweries these days aim for a cozier pumpkin pie flavor by adding nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and other spices. You may even detect some caramel or hazelnut...mmm!

You can thank Buffalo Bill's Brewery for the pumpkin beer comeback. This Haywood, California brewery, owned by Bill Owen, was researching historical recipes when he stumbled on one apparently concocted by George Washington himself. Bill gave it a shot with his own homegrown pumpkins and ta-da--revived pumpkin beer!

Liquid Catering Pumpkin Beer Favorites:

Harpoon's UFO Pumpkin - This unfiltered ale is definitely one of the more flavorful ones we've tried. If you want a true in-your-face pumpkin beer, serve this one nice and cold.
Terrapin Pumpkin Fest - Think thick, authentic fall flavor but not too much hoppy bitterness. Those yummy spices we talked about are very detectable.
Thomas Creek Pumpkin Ale - "Reminiscent of brick oven-baked pumpkin pie."  We're on board with that! Bonus: this pumpkin brew is made right here in Greenville, South Carolina.