Pumpkin, Pumpcan, Punkin – what’s in a name? Monthly beer review + brewery notes

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Our beer review covers a few Pumpkin ales as well as a few others this month.

We can’t sip all the Oktoberfests and Pumpkin Ales on the market this time of year even with the amount of time they spend on store shelves. (We saw quite an array of pumpkin ales in the market in August.)

But we can try a few from well-regarded breweries.

As usual, all should be available on local store shelves. Our photos show what the beers look like, and we note our favorites at the end.

Cheers!

Famous Red

Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, Columbus, Red Lager, 5%

This was a new style for us. Usually you see Red Ale, but this is a lager. Maltiness definitely comes through, pushing the hops to the back seat. Brown-sugar notes precede a lingering, long finish.

Pumpkin Ale

Schlafly, St. Louis, Pumpkin Ale, 8%

Cinnamon is the dominant flavor in this well-balanced spicy ale that definitely leans more malty. A dry-spice finish follows, but it’s not like the brewer dumped a cabinet full of spices into the mix. The brewery’s notes say only that it is made with “a blend of spices” in addition to pumpkins. Schlafly also makes a Vanilla Pumpkin Ale variation, though we haven’t tasted that.

Punkin Ale

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware, and multiple locations, Brown Ale, 7%

Dry spice is definitely there (it’s made with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon), but it’s very balanced and the finish has a pleasing vanilla note. A nice montage, not overly sweet at all, and you can taste the Brown Ale base. Brewed in collaboration with Boston Beer Co.

Jack

Urban Artifact, Cincinnati, pumpkin fruit ale, 7.7%

This pumpkin fruit tart ale is from the brewery that focuses on fruit-tart ales. Lemon, residual-type of smoke and some fall spices all blend here in this odd, and frankly, not very tasty ale. The brewery does a nice job overall, though, so we’ll be trying other ales from UA down the road.

Seedless Watermelon Ale

Land-Grant Brewing Co., Columbus, fruit ale, 5.2%

Liquid Jolly Rancher. The lime adds a nice almost tart contrast, and there is a pleasing dryness on the finish. You better like watermelon to enjoy this one, though.

Pumpcan

Madtree Brewing Co., Cincinnati, spiced ale, 7.9%

It’s brewed with classic Christmas-ale flavors – cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice and molasses. The ginger and cinnamon notes are balanced nicely, and there’s slight toast on the finish. Good body, smooth sipper. You have to appreciate the truth-in-advertising slogan: “It’s a beer, it’s a can, it’s a pump can.”

This month’s favorite: Madtree’s Pumpcan with Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale a close second.

Six-pack of brewery news

• Paladin Brewing Co.’s Barktoberfest is today – Sunday, Sept. 7. The family-friendly Oktoberfest-themed fundraising event includes music, food trucks, raffles, prizes and adoptable dogs. Paladin is at 6520 Mahoning Ave., Austintown.

• Tröegs Independent Brewing announces the return of Double Perpetual IPA, what the brewery bills as “an amped-up version” of its year-round Perpetual IPA. The DIPA, which is 9.5% alcohol, is part of the Hershey, Pennsylvania-based brewery’s rotating Once-a-Year series, which includes Mad Elf, Nugget Nectar and Nimble Giant. Double Perpetual IPA, a West Coast-style ale, is made with Cascade, Chinook, Nugget and Citra hops.

• The Brew Kettle is pouring Jalapeño Rajah, a variation of its acclaimed White Rajah India Pale Ale.

• As hop season is upon us, it’s interesting to note the top three hop-growing states are Washington, Oregon and Idaho. A little trivia to impress pals at your next cocktail party.

• The 190th Oktoberfest runs Saturday, Sept. 20, to Sunday, Oct. 5, in Munich.

• Bell’s Brewery, which is marking its 40th anniversary, announced the launch of a new fall release, Oberon Eclipse Raspberry Wheat Ale.

Our reviews: Most of the beers we buy come from Northeast Ohio retail shops and stores. We choose from Heinen’s, Red, Wine & Brew; Acme, Giant Eagle, Mustard Seed Market, Whole Foods and others.