Best Fall Brews...ah, the Pumpkin Ale!

To me, fall screams Pumpkin Ale. I love it! The scents of ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, and, not to mention, pumpkin, get my excite-o-meter revving (so does pumpkin pie, but that's another blog)! And every year, to my delight, new ales pop up from breweries I've never heard of. Am I willing to experiment? Should I stick to the tried-and-true? Am I willing to pass on a possibly wonderful new taste experience? Heck no! I'll try 'em all! And I did...thanks to BevMo! , Willow Glen Liquors & Wine Shop, and many other fine liquor and beer establishments. My picks for this season include: Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale by Buffalo Bill's Brewery I like this beer! It taste's just like it smells - like pumpkin pie, with just a tad more cinnamon and maybe burnt on the edges a little bit! Hmmmm! It's a light beer that's amazingly refreshing. I enjoyed the slightly bitter aftertaste with the bite of cinnamon at the end. Punkin' Ale by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery This beer has the perfect amount of pumpkin and spices! The aroma is of nutmeg and cinnamon, which translates through, very nicely, I might add, to the taste buds. The additional splash of a brown sugar flavor in the end adds just the right kick. Harvest Moon by Blue Moon Brewing Co. (aka Coors Brewing Co.) Now, I don't drink domestic beers (call me a beer snob), but I'm not against any particular brewer or the other varieties of beverages said brewer may produce. I've chosen Harvest Moon here, haven't I? This beer is light and smooth with the subtle aroma of pumpkin spices that doesn't really translate strongly to taste (I would prefer more of a pumpkin spice flavor), but I still really liked it. photos courtesy of Buffalo Bill, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, and Blue Moon Brewing Co, respectively