Moving on with the Pumpkin Beer reviews I am trying out the Devil’s Backbone München on Pumpkin Lager. It tends to be less common to find pumpkin lagers versus ales, so I am always exited to try one when I see it out in the wild. You can see more on their website here. So lets see if this one is worth all the hype.

“It’s no secret we’ve always been inspired by the classic brews that originated in München (aka that’s Munich for our stateside friends.) The proof is in that sixer of Vienna Lager that’s probably in your fridge right now.  Well we’re bringing that traditional lager into the 21st century and customizing it for all those folks who have been impatiently waiting for fall.  No need to choose if you’ll celebrate Oktoberfest or pumpkin spice this year – grab a München on Pumpkin and enjoy the best of both worlds! “

Appearance: The label threw me off at first because of the flag background, which made me think of a Marzen style beer. But once I looked closer I liked what I saw. A tattooed brewer laying back in some pumpkins enjoying a brew. I also am a sucker for a label that has a custom cut.

Aroma: The aroma is much lighter than most ales. I notice a tasted bread with a slight hint of cinnamon which gets stronger as the beer warms.

Taste: The flavor is similar but lighter and semi crisp. There are hints of cinammon and a little bit of pumpkin but its very subtle.

Experience: By far this is one of the easiest drinking pumpkin beers I have had. The mouthfeel is light with a dry finish. Almost no sweetness lingers. This would be a perfect session beer that isn’t a light lager.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I decided to go with Monster Party for the NES. This is a fun twist on horror with all the typical elements of a difficult 8 bit platformer. There are a ton of monsters and more specifically bosses to deal with so you are going to need a beer that doesnt sit too heavy. Grab a 6 pack, sit back and enjoy.

Next on the pumpkin beer train review is the Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale. Now let me start by saying this is the first beer from Whole Hog I have tried, we don’t get a lot of their catalog out here. Looking at their site it seems this particular Pumpkin Ale is a multi time award winner. You can see more on their website here. So lets see if this one is worth all the hype.

“Of all the gold medal-winning pumpkin ales, one factor sets Whole Hog apart: spice. Pumpkin pie spices, natural cinnamon, nutmeg, and real pumpkin are perfectly balanced in this sweet, fully enveloping Pumpkin Ale. “

Appearance: This is a simple label with the orange and white tones that you would expect from a pumpkin beer. Bordered by a real photo of pumpkins, filtered out to blend with the bottle give this a nice touch of realism. However I should say that this bottle does not stand out on the shelf. Once poured you get a cloudy and dark amber beer with very little lacing or head. You may even see a little bit of sediment on the bottom.

Aroma: The first thing that sticks out for this beer is the cinnamon and spice. I noticed almost no sweetness or vanilla in this aroma.

Taste: The flavor is both familiar and new at the same time. I have had many pumpkin beers, but this one really did nail the spice ratio. The cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin flavor all play off of each other and it finishes with a subtle sweetness. Nothing seems artificial in this one and that makes a huge difference.

Experience: The first sip starts as almost creamy with a sweet lacing that lasts in the mouth. As you continue to drink you notice that the beer lacks a full body and is semi light. This is surprising to me as the flavor is so robust. Still with the way this beer feels I could see myself going through many bottles in one sitting.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I decided to go with Resident Evil 7. This game seems simple on the surface, you are being chased around a house by a deranged family. But soon you will discover how deep the game is and the true genius behind its design. Similar to this beer, RE7 manages to bring gamers something new and familiar at the same time. So grab a six pack, turn off the lights and enjoy these two together.

Lets start these pumpkin beer reviews off with an interesting one. The Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin is not your regular pumpkin spice filled beer. Brewed by the New Belgium Brewing Company here are some notes from the brewers themselves. You can see more on their website here.

“Enough with the run-of-the-mill pumpkin beers. I’m not interested in an ale that takes cues from a frozen coffee drink, and neither are you. That’s why I made Atomic Pumpkin. Does it really feature habanero peppers? Yep! What about Saigon cinnamon? Ding! Aji and del arbol peppers? Winner. I round it all out with a hearty malt bill that makes for a spicy brew that puts the “Fun” back in pumpkin. (Spelling was never my strength). “

Appearance: I have always been a fan of the voodoo ranger line from New Belgium. Its a fun character line that makes these cans/bottles stand out. The atomic pumpkin has a nice bright orange color with the voodoo ranger all dressed up for the occasional.

Aroma: There is a ton of cinnamon that really punches you in the face. Given the fact that they are using saigon cinnamon that makes sense why it seems a bit more spicy as well. There isn’t much else in terms of what you are going to smell, but what is here is really strong.

Taste: The flavor kicks in as soon as it hits your lips. A powerful amount of cinnamon starts the flavor and stays with you throughout. The flavor of the various peppers are detectable but not overpowering. I don’t notice anything in terms of the typical pumpkin beer flavors such as nutmeg/vanilla/pumpkin.

Experience: The spice is noticeable but not too strong, it can wear out its welcome by the end of the can as a subtle heat will last on your lips/tongue. What got to me is how it feels in your stomach. It does not sit well so this is a one and done style brew.

Game Pairing: When it comes to game pairing I will go with Fallout Tactics. A departure from the RPG nature of the Fallout series this is a game that tried something new, and while it was fun it didn’t quite hit the mark. Similar to this beer, which tries to tap into a niche market, its not bad but these two deserve each other.

I recently finished reviewing all 15 Oktoberfest beers that I was able to find around me, you can read that article here. While I did enjoy that challenge I am truly looking forward to reviewing all of the following beers. My goal will be to keep this as a sticky post which will be updated every year that way I can track the best Pumpkin Beer. Please be sure to comment on any beers I may have missed, which will be alot at first, and let me know your thoughts on these spicy brews.

• Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale: (4.2/5)
• New Belgium Atomic Pumpkin: (2.9/5)
• Sam Adams Jack O Pumpkin: (NA/5)
• New Holland Ichabod: (NA/5)
• Free Will Brewing Pumpkin Pie Mash
• Free Will Scarecrow
• Heavy Seas The Great’er Pumpkin
• Shipyard Pumpkin Head
• Elliotville Pumpkinville Latte
• Southern Tier Pumking
• Erie Brewing Johnny Rails
• Evolution Craft Brewing Jacques Au Lantern
• Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale
• Saucony Creek Maple Mistress
• Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela
• Dogfish Pumkin
• Devils Backbone Munchen Pumpkin
• Flying Dog The Fear
• Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
• Neshaminy Creek Dunkless Dunkel
• Conshohocken Nightmare on East Elm
• Southern Tier Pumpking Nitro
• Southern Tier Warlock
• Two Roads Roads Mary Baby
• UFO Journey to Planet Pumpkin
• Evil Genius Trick or Treat
• Blue Point Brewing Company Mother Pumpkin Ale