2021 Is A Dumpster Fire, So Please Just Let Us Enjoy These 7 Pumpkin-Flavored Beers

As two of our favorite podcasters like to say:

Look. Listen. Look and listen.

2020 and 2021 have both been ROUGH years.

While we all work to dismantle the systems that have allowed for all these crappy things to come to fruition, we deserve to find occasional sources of happiness in between, where we're able.

And by that, of course, I mean pumpkin-flavored everything — but mostly beer.

The haters will tell you that it's too early for pumpkin beer season to begin. But don't let them get to you. If you're a pumpkin-lovin' person, here are 7 fall-inspired craft brews to add to your fall must-drink list.

Photo Credit: @jcg_pix

1. Saranac Brewery, Pumpkin Ale

This fan-favorite pumpkin ale recipe uses REAL pumpkins from a sustainable farm, Stahlbush Island Farm in Corvallis, Oregon. Along with 3,000 pounds (!!!) of real pumpkin, Saranac also uses cinnamon, allspice, cloves, ginger to spice up this seasonal brew.

Photo Credit: @djsbeercave

2. NoDa Brewing Company, "Gordgeous" Pumpkin Ale

This Charlotte, North Carolina brew is highly anticipated every year for good reason — it was the 2018 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal winner. The brewing team at NoDa uses whole-seed spices cracked at the brewery on brew day (including allspice, cardamom, cloves, and freshly shaved whole ginger root) along with over 200 lbs. of pumpkin and 168 lbs. of brown sugar for every batch.

Photo Credit: @cbc_warwick

3. Southern Tier Brewing Company, "Pumking" Imperial Ale

This 8.6% ABV imperial ale is deceptively medium-light in body and low in bitterness, with notes of pumpkin, pie spices, buttery crust, vanilla, and roasted pecans. Long live the King.

Photo Credit: @tripledeckerbrewing

4. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, "Punkin Ale" Brown Ale

Fun fact about this full-bodied brown ale: Punkin Ale is named after the seriously off-centered southern Delaware extravaganza Punkin Chunkin (check out some of these Discovery Channel videos of Punkin Chunkin, you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made its debut as it claimed first prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Contest, a full six months before Dogfish Head even opened! 

Photo Credit: @swamprabbitcafe

5. Elysian Brewing Company, Pumpkin Pack

Seattle's Best usually refers to coffee — but in this case, it refers to the city's top pumpkin beer collection, which has to be the Elysian Brewing Company Pumpkin Pack. The pack contains The Great Pumpkin, The Night Owl, Punkuccino, and Dark O' The Moon. 

Photo Credit: @brewcheesenorthport

6. Shlafly Beer, Pumpkin Ale

This Special Release Pumpkin Ale is well-balanced from start to finish, with notes of caramel and ginger throughout. It's fermented in pounds of fresh pumpkin squash, a brewer’s wort, and sugar mix before being filtered through a spiced infusion of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg.

Photo Credit: @tripledeckerbrewing 

7. Brooklyn Brewery, "Post Road" Pumpkin Ale

Louded as a "Colonial-Style Pumpkin Ale," Post Road is crafted using a touch of spices and pounds of real pumpkins to create a warm but surprisingly crisp spin on the traditional pumpkin ales. 

What's your go-to pumpkin beer?

Seriously, tell us, because we're on a quest to taste them all. Or at least to taste the best of them. You know, the ones that taste authentic and not like you're drinking a Bath & Body Works fall candle.

Call us basic if you must. We'll call ourselves as happy and fulfilled as 2020 will allow.

Tag @workforyourbeer when you post your favorite seasonal brews, and be sure to use the hashtag #WorkForYourBeer when you share.

Cheers to pumpkin season!