Pumpkin Beer Matchup

Happy Thanksgiving (for those of you who read this)! Okay, I admit this is a little late in the season for this, but it will be good for future reference. My brother, my uncle and I compared two pumpkin beers on Thanksgiving that have been recommended to me as the best. Both beers have been recommended to me as the best of the pumpkin style so I had to try them side by side and decide which one is actually the best (at least in my opinion). Feel free to do the same, if you can find any, or wait until they come back around next year.

Pumpkin Beer Championship Match:
Southern Tier Pumking vs. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

In one corner, the Southern Tier Pumking. Bottled in a 750mL, it poured a vibrant, clear orange color with very minimal head that dissipated quickly. The first sniff gives off an aroma of sweet pumpkin while leaning more towards pumpkin pie than an actual pumpkin. Nutmeg was the prevalent spice with maybe a little cinnamon hiding behind. Upon tasting, it was medium to full body and a lot sweeter than I expected. I've had a few other pumpkin beers in the past that was nowhere as sweet as this. The sweetness gave way halfway through, though, surrendering to strong notes of nutmeg and cinnamon. The finish was slightly bitter and really lasted long after swallowing. The lingering bitterness and spiciness was enjoyable and really added to the flavor. Pumking was smooth, easy to drink and very enjoyable.

In the other corner, the Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Bottled in 12oz bottles that come in a 4-pack, it poured a lot darker than it's competitor. Instead of a clear orange, it poured a dark brown that wasn't all that dense with a small head that didn't stick around. The pumpkin aroma was strong and smelled more like a pumpkin than like a pie. It was powerful enough to overwhelm the underlying spices. I had a difficult time finding the cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and clove that the bottle claimed was in there. The beer had a fuller body, definitely strong, more bitter taste of pumpkin with very little spice to counteract. It wasn't like taking a bite out of a pumpkin but it was all I could detect and it wasn't nearly as sweet as Southern Tier's version. It finished dry and bitter (in a good way) but it faded relatively quickly. No lingering spices or bitterness on this one.

And the winner is.....

Southern Tier Pumking! If I were to crave a pumpkin beer next year, this would be the one I would look. There was just enough sweetness without being cloying and boasted a much nicer blend of all of the ingredients. No one spice or flavor overpowered the others as the Weyerbacher tasted more like pumpkin than anything else. The Pumking was smoother, easier to drink and a lot more flavorful and enjoyable. I don't want to come off as anti-Weyerbacher's pumpkin ale. I just prefer the one from Southern Tier. Weyerbacher's had its own positives and is definitely worth picking up and trying for yourself. But personally, next year, I'm going with Southern Tier.

Once again, I apologize for doing this taste test this late into November since it's unlikely that you will find any left in stores. (For the record, last I checked, there were still two 4-packs of Weyerbacher left in the Shop Rite Wines & Spirits in Emerson, so make haste if you want to try it!). Hopefully when next August/September comes around, you can pick up both and do your own taste test!