Pumpkin beer is a beloved seasonal craft brew that captures the essence of fall with its warm, spiced flavors. Typically brewed with real pumpkin or pumpkin puree, these beers are infused with classic autumn spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice, creating a cozy, pie-like taste. Ranging from light and crisp ales to rich, high-ABV imperial stouts, top pumpkin beers like Elysian’s Great Pumpkin and Cigar City’s Good Gourd offer something for every palate. Perfect for sipping on crisp evenings or pairing with hearty fall dishes, pumpkin beers are a must-try for craft beer enthusiasts looking to embrace the season.
Top 10 Pumpkin Beers
1) Gourd Darn It! – Third Eye Brewing Co. – Ohio
A bold pumpkin ale with a rich malt backbone, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove for a warm, autumnal embrace. Expect a smooth finish with hints of caramel and roasted pumpkin.
2) Pumpkinator – Saint Arnold Brewing Company – Texas
An imperial pumpkin stout packing intense flavors of dark chocolate, roasted pumpkin, and spicy cloves. Its high ABV and velvety texture make it a decadent seasonal treat.
3) Pumpkin Ale – 2 Silos Brewing – Virginia
A classic Virginia-style pumpkin ale with a crisp, medium body. Notes of pumpkin pie, allspice, and brown sugar create a balanced, refreshing sip perfect for fall.
4) Pumpkin Spice J. Marie – River North Brewery – Colorado
This barrel-aged imperial farmhouse ale blends pumpkin spice with funky, oaky notes. Cinnamon and vanilla shine through, offering a sophisticated twist on the traditional pumpkin beer.
5) Jack Of The Lantern – Nine State Brewery – Florida
A robust pumpkin ale with a focus on real pumpkin flavor, complemented by nutmeg and ginger. Its creamy mouthfeel and subtle sweetness evoke a freshly carved jack-o’-lantern.
6) Great Pumpkin – Elysian Brewing – Washington
A legendary pumpkin ale with a deep amber hue, bursting with roasted pumpkin, allspice, and cinnamon. Its balanced sweetness and crisp finish make it a fall favorite.
7) Great Gourds of Fire – Hopworks Urban Brewery – Oregon
A smoky, spicy pumpkin ale with a fiery kick. Smoked malts mingle with pumpkin and chili-like spice, creating a bold, warming brew for chilly nights.
8) Pumpkin Ale – Ahnapee Brewery – Wisconsin
A straightforward, crowd-pleasing pumpkin ale with a focus on simplicity. Expect pumpkin puree, light spices, and a clean, malty finish that’s easy to enjoy.
9) Good Gourd – Cigar City Brewing – Florida
A full-bodied imperial pumpkin ale with rich layers of pumpkin, vanilla, and baking spices. Its creamy texture and boozy warmth make it a standout sipper.
10) Pumpkin Ale – Whole Hog Beer – Wisconsin
A hearty pumpkin ale with a robust malt profile, showcasing pumpkin, nutmeg, and a touch of brown sugar. Its smooth, slightly sweet finish is perfect for cozy fall evenings.
Honorable Mention
Imperial Pumpkin Porter – Epic Brewing Company – Colorado
The essence of the fall! This pumpkin porter explodes with aromas of sweet spices giving way to chocolate and roasted malt. Flavors are reminiscent of fresh-cut pumpkin and chocolate and complimented by hints of clove, fresh Madagascar vanilla beans, nutmeg and allspice.
The Great’er Pumpkin – Heavy Seas Brewing – Maryland
In the most worthy of pumpkin patches and during the silence of the midnight hour, the Great’er Pumpkin raises up and pours a rich deep and burnished orange color. Heady aromas of bourbon, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and clove linger seductively over the thick white head of this tremendous brew. Its love at first sip as the full malt body, dominated by British crystal malt, brown sugar and pumpkin, slowly washes over your tongue. Bourbon barrel aging rounds out the flavors with notes of oak, vanilla, and bourbon. Pairs well with crisp autumn weather and crunchy fallen leaves.
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale – The Saint Louis Brewery – Missouri
A conspicuous roasted pumpkin note, smoothly integrated spices and a dark pumpernickel bread cushion lead us to the conclusion Midwesterners reached years ago: The brewers at Schlafly know their way around a pumpkin. Best pumpkin ale drinkers with a sweet tooth will enjoy this one for its sugary pumpkin candy and cake icing qualities; spice-lovers will appreciate the soft landing of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg; and everyone should marvel at how expertly the beer’s 8% ABV is hidden.
Punkuccino – Elysian Brewing – Washington
Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale perfectly blends together beer and a kick of caffeine. Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale packs a shot of Stumptown coffee into the pint with just a shake of cinnamon and nutmeg, and pumpkin added into the mash, kettle, and fermenter. Pale, brown, biscuit, C-77 crystal, chocolate and kiln-coffee malts provide the body, German Northern Brewer lends a touch of bitterness, and lactose sweetens the beer just a touch. The final result is a toasty, medium-bodied beer unlike any other pumpkin ale with all of the beloved flavors of the Pacific Northwest.
Punkin Ale – Dogfish Head Brewery – Delaware
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery’s Punkin Ale is back! Debuting in 1995 and now is one of America’s best-selling pumpkin beers. Punkin Ale, a full-bodied brown ale, clocks in at 7% ABV. This beer is brewed with real pumpkin,