I’m going to take a note of inspiration from a fellow blogger who, for years now, has consistently and impressively populated his site Coffee for Two with a seemingly endless supply of essays on things he loves—many of which, it turns out, I love too. Dan Seeger and I are members of the same generation—Gen X represent!—so it’s little surprise we share a lot of the same generational touch points, like left-of-the-dial rock music, the mighty Marvel Comics of the 1980s, movies galore, and even tasty beers.
That last one is where I’m taking inspiration today. I don’t normally write about fermented starch, but I am known to occasionally imbibe a tasty libation when the mood strikes. It strikes less often these days—sometimes beer just makes me feel bloated—but this mood strikes most often during my favorite time of year: Halloween season. Autumn beers are my favorite beers, no question about it. From flavorful pumpkin ales to easy-drinking Oktoberfests, I love sampling different fall beers.
So, in the spirit of Coffee for Two’s “Beers I Have Known” series, here are some spooky good autumnal ales, stouts, and more that I love to sip on crisp, cool October evenings, preferably while watching a bone-chilling horror movie. I always like to imagine witches setting aside their broomsticks and brewing up my favorite fall beers because, as you know, I love witches. Accordingly then, look out for witches below.
Pumking Inperial Ale
Hailing from New York’s Southern Tier Brewing Company, Pumking is exactly what it says in the name: the king of pumpkin ales. I’m sure others have crowned different beers with this honor, but for me Pumking is the one true king. Tasting like the best pumpkin pie you’ve ever had (the wife says it’s too sweet, but that just means more for me!), this rich and creamy 8.6% ABV beer is for serious fans of pumpkin ales. I have to buy this one repeatedly every September and October. It’s so good that I can’t stand for the fridge to be without Pumking during the Halloween season.
Elysian Pumpkin Pack
This one’s a Halloween variety pack with three bottles each of four different seasonal brew: The Great Pumpkin, Night Owl, Punkuccino and Dark O’ The Moon. My favorite is probably Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, an amber that’s brewed with real pumpkin in the mash, plus the usual, autumnal spices like cinnamon, ginger, and clove. I also love Dark O’The Moon, which blends pumpkin into a roasty, chocolatey stout that’ll have you howling at the moon after one sip. See what I did there?
Hobgoblin Dark English Ale
Years and years ago, before the real craft pumpkin ale explosion, this was one of my go-to Halloween beers. A dark English ale, From Wychwood Brewery, Hobgoblin had creepy bottle art, and a smooth, malty, and fruity taste. Sadly, I haven’t seen it in beverage centers by me for a long time now. It’s still out there. Hopefully, one of these days I’ll find the ole Hobgoblin lurking on a store shelf again.
Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale
This bourbon barrel-aged pumpkin ale from Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. is right up my autumnal alley. Bourbon plus pumpkin plus cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice? Yum. I’m warm and cozy already just thinking about it.
Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout
I’ll close with another stellar autumn offering from Southern Tier. The awesomely named Warlock is rich and creamy, with pumpkin joyed colliding with caramel, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The supremely tasty Black Magic cousin to Pumking, Warlock is a seasonal must-buy every year.
The Starfire Lounge 