#46 Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

I was excited for this one. I'd heard so many good things about it and I just couldn't wait to drink it. Dogfish Head makes some of the best beers around and of all the Pumpkin beers I've bought, I wanted this one the most.

Taste: So, I don't love it. It's okay. It's good. It's just not "Change of pants" good, and that's what I was hoping for. Maybe the hype killed it for me. I'll need to try it again later on. I got mostly nutmeg, cinnamon, and pumpkin.
Smell: Gourdish. Rye-ish.
Color: Pueblo (#7C350F)
Stars: 5.5/10
Buy Again?: Maybe (but yes to be rejudged)

#45 Tow Yard Orange is the New Black-O-Lantern

I had to buy this one in a Bullet. I had no other choice. Plus, this was a beer I found out about, so by rule, I had to purchase it. But hey, I have a new bullet!

Taste: This is definitely a heavy pumpkin spice beer. There isn't a ton of pumpkin taste. My palate just doesn't enjoy pumpkin spice anymore.
Smell: Pumpkin, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Color: Cedar (#4A1D18)
Stars: 4/10
Buy Again?: No

#44 O'Fallon Pumpkin Beer

This beer nearly screwed me. I saw this one in late August but always saw it in 6-packs. I just wouldn't allow myself to buy a 6-pack, so on my wanted list it sat and sat and sat. About a week ago, I gave in and finally found it after searching in 10+ liquor stores. And the woman behind the counter was kind enough to sell me just one. Hallelujah.

Taste: This is the first Pumpkin beer where I thought, "This has actual sugar in it." And it fit in amazingly with the pumpkin and cinnamon. Just a great beer. So glad I was able to find it.
Smell: Cinnamon, sugar, and a little pumpkin
Color: Rich Gold (#9E4B08)
Stars: 6.5/10
Buy Again?: Yes

#43 Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat

I wanted this one to be good. I own two Shock Top Pumpkin handles (Still needing the third one, too...sigh) and just wanted this one to come through for me. The pumpkin design is so cool and the beer is just not good at all.

Taste: Way too watery. There's so little pumpkin and cinnamon taste to this. God, I'm so disappointed.
Smell: Mostly sour pumpkin and cinnamon.
Color: Hairy Heath (#62C413)
Stars: 2.5/10

Buy Again?: No

#42 Horny Goat Hornacopia Pumpkin Ale

Honestly, I expected this one to be bottom of the dumpster bad. The can design was really unique, but I had only had one other Horny Goat beer before and hated it. Truthfully, it's okay.


Taste: You'll get a good amount of pumpkin with this beer. The cinnamon and allspice make nice cameos and it's rather sweet.
Smell: Somehow, I smelled Molasses and Brown Sugar and tasted neither. Miracle of miracles.I also got some pumpkin and cinnamon.
Color: Korma (#8F4804)
Stars: 5/10
Buy Again?: No

#41 Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale

I won't lie. This used to be my favorite Pumpkin beer. It has a great pumpkin taste for something that's mass produced. Just for that alone, I want to give Blue Moon a standing ovation. It is a pleasure to consume you.

Taste: A phenomenal pumpkin taste, surrounded by allspice, and cinnamon. It has an amazing subtle sweetness to it. This beer might be a guilty pleasure, but I've never not enjoyed drinking one.
Smell: Sweet pumpkin
Color: Tabasco (#9A3414)
Stars: 6/10
Buy Again?: Yes

#40 New Belgium Pumpkick

Well, I was wrong about the great beer coming soon. I decided to audible out of the beer I planned to drink and did Pumpkick instead. Oh well. Onto the next one.


Taste: A sour, yet standard taste for a gourd/pumpkin beer. I've realized I'm not a fan of pumpkin spice anymore. It's been beaten out of me.
Smell: Slightly sweet gourd
Color: Rock Spray (#B94D0E)
Stars: 3.5/10
Buy Again?: No

#39 Rivertown Autumnal Ale Pumpkin

I feel like I've fallen into a devious trap. So many bleugh pumpkin beers in a row. I need a great beer soon.


Taste: Molasses, Nutmeg, and Gourd. I don't know why most beers that include molasses or maple syrup have such an overwhelming molasses maple syrup flavor. It's never just a hint. I barely tasted any pumpkin. I would not buy this again.
Smell: Rotten Gourd
Color: Pueblo (#8B3212)
Stars: 3/10
Buy Again?: No

#38 Arcadia Ales Jaw Jacker

Taste: Gourd and cinnamon
Smell: Gourd and cinnamon
Color: Pueblo (#732E0F)
Stars: 3/10

Buy Again?: No

#37 Urban Chestnut Count Orlok Black Pumpkin Ale

If you see someone drinking this, kindly pull them aside and ask them if they know where they are and if they need help. Chances are they'll cry into your arms for quite some time.


Taste: Kind sour, yet Belgian-ish. Pumpkin and nutmeg taste.
Smell: Dark, Belgian-ish and chestnuts?
Color: Cocoa Brown (#382527)
Stars: 3/10
Buy Again?: No

#36 Griffin Claw Screamin'– Pumpkin Ale

Another beer that surprised me. I'm not even going to spoil this one for you.

Taste: Like carbonated cucumbers and Campbell's tomato soup. Yes, I think I might have lost my mind here. So when I tried it over two separate days and nothing had changed, I was pretty sure I was right. But how bizarre?
Smell: Like carbonated cucumbers and Campbell's tomato soup.
Color: Burnt Umber (#8F3326)
Stars: 7/10
Buy Again?: Maybe?

#35 Harpoon Pumpkin UFO

This one eeeeeked by. It was just good enough for me not to hate it, and not good enough to wow me. This is probably the Bud Light of Pumpkin beers.

Taste: A pretty decent and sweet pumpkin taste.
Smell: Sweet pumpkin and tiny amounts of nutmeg.
Color: Desert (#B15320)
Stars: 6/10
Buy Again?: Maybe

#34 Southern Tier Pumking

This is about as sure a thing as you can have when it comes to pumpkin beers. Pumpking has been great the last two years I tried it. It was #1 (out of 3) in 2013. It was #2 in 2014 (Out of 4). I'm expecting big things for 2015.

Taste: I was right to expect big things. Buttery with cinnamon and nutmeg before a euphoric pumpkin taste washes over you. It makes all the other bad beers melt away. This is immaculate. Thank you, Southern Tier.
Smell: God, it smells like toffee and buttery pumpkin pie.
Color: Tree Poppy (#FF8F1E)
Stars: 9/10
Buy Again?: Yes. Oh God Yes. YES!

#33 Lakefront Brewery Pumpkin

I knew this beer was gonna be bad. How did I know? The title of the beer is "Pumpkin." They didn't even try. No puns or jokes or anything. Just Pumpkin. Heck, the title of my site is Pumpkin Pints. I don't think it's too great, but at least it has alliteration.

Taste: Strictly pumpkin and allspice. Same ol', same ol'. I'm having a good beer next time. I'm going with an absolute, sure thing next time.
Smell: Like roasted pumpkin with a dash of cinnamon.
Color: Cafe Royale (#80310D)
Stars: 4/10
Buy Again?: No

#32 Lucky Girl Haunted Pumpkin Ale

No matter how many places I looked, this beer was only sold by Meijer and in 6-packs. I was not thrilled about having to buy a 6-pack. And after tasting this, I was not happy in having 5 more. God bless my poor friends that I gave these to.

Taste: No pumpkin, but LOTS of ginger. I like ginger with sushi and occasionally in a cookie. No to this beer. Stay in Meijer.
Smell: Very sweet. Full of cinnamon and ginger.
Color: Hawaiian Tan (#A15A1A)
Stars: 4/10
Buy Again?: No

#31 Magic Hat Wilhelm Scream

Boring fact coming your way! I collect tap handles and one of the taps I own is the Wilhelm Scream tap handle. You can see it in the left picture, right above the green crown. I was proud of that shot.

Taste: Cinnamon, pumpkin, and allspice. Just boring and monotonous.
Smell: Gourd and allspice. Not a great combo.
Color: Burnt Umber (#893C2B)
Stars: 3/10
Buy Again?: No

#30 Epic Brewing Fermentation Without Representation

Somehow, this is only the 4th beer I've reviewed from the initial seven that I bought back on August 8. That's so odd to think about. Somehow I've passed them up.

Taste: I don't understand how I like this. Someone pointed out to me that it tastes like olives...And they're completely right. And I hate olives. But I love this?
Smell: Oddly of Old Pumpkins
Color: Zeus (#2A211A)
Stars: 6.5/10
Buy Again?: Maybe