These Pumpkin Ales are sweet in character and reminiscent of pumpkin bread. However, now the pumpkin is not used in these beers as a substitute for malt but instead accompanies the usual beer ingredients. In addition, along with the pumpkin, a handful of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger are added, making them aromatic and complex.
- What pumpkin beers look like will largely depend on the base style chosen to make the pumpkin beer. The reason for this is because Pumpkin Ale is not an officially style of beer, for that reason they generally brew it with malty/roasted "base" beers. Examples of base styles are Amber Ale, Brown Ale and also Imperial Stout.
- The aromas of pumpkin stand out clearly, since we are talking about the main ingredient. Spices and other ingredients often complement the aromatic profile, it is common to find notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.
- The body of these beers and the sensation they produce on the palate will vary. First of all it will depend on the style of the underlying beer and its balance with the ingredients used. But in general, ifyour flavor will be structured around the sweetness of malt and pumpkin.
Another very interesting curiosity about the Pumpkin Ale style is that it is traditionally consumed during Halloween parties. The traditional American holiday coincides with the month of the great pumpkin harvest season. And, it coincides that this fruit is the symbol of Halloween and at the same time it is also the great protagonist of this style. Do you want to know more about this beer history? We have everything on the Beer Sapiens Blog: here.