The Perfect Pumpkin

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Beer: Southampton Pumpkin Ale

Brewer: Southampton Publick House

Style: Pumpkin Ale

ABV: 5.50%

Description: Southampton’s Pumpkin Ale pours clear rich amber with frothy beige head that dissipates quickly, but leaves very little lacing on the glass. The aroma is simply amazing this time of the year. Notes of pumpkin pie, nutmeg, molasses, brown sugar, cinnamon, caramel malts, and vanilla all meld together and emanate out of the glass. Happily, the taste follows suite with the nose. The first taste to hit the palate is the sweet caramel malts, which are very quickly followed by all spices with cinnamon being the dominant one, followed by nutmeg and clove. In the midst of this, the roasted pumpkin makes a grand appearance, blended seamlessly with brown sugar before a very mild hop bitterness encroaches and wraps up the experience with a long dry finish. The body of the beer is a solid medium with moderate carbonation that leaves the palate invigorated instead of fatigued, as many pumpkin ales can with heavy spicing. This is an absolutely superb pumpkin ale that is a must-have this time of year.

Food pairing: Pumpkin ales are typically most at home at the end of the meal with a wide variety of desserts because of the sweetness and spicing. However, Southampton’s version of the style has created a beer that is perfect with a wide assortment of dishes. The best pairings for this beer are meats that tend to take on caramelized characteristics whilst cooking. Roasted chicken or turkey are obvious choices, so this is yet another pumpkin ale that is perfect with your Thanksgiving day meal. Another great pairing is venison dishes; try with venison stew, but use milder spices, or try Pumpkin Ale with a venison and wild mushroom stroganoff. Desserts are still a must to pair with this beer and the number one pairing would be with pumpkin pie; try making it with a graham cracker crust for an extra delicious match up. Southampton’s Pumpkin Ale is also a great beer to pack up for a night of sitting around a campfire, as the beer is a dream match for s’mores; the cinnamon graham crackers, smooth melted chocolate, and sugary marshmallows flawlessly melt into this delicious ale and at first sip almost seem like they belonged together all along.

The final word: While many pumpkin ales are heavy-handed on the spices and sweetness, Southampton has managed to brew one that delivers a lot in the aroma, but also has a perfect balance in the taste. The pumpkin and spice are certainly present, but do not hit you upside the head to make their appearance. This showcases the true talents of the brewers at Southampton Publick House. The seasons are changing now and stores are already stocked to the ceiling with Christmas items, so pumpkin ales may be starting to leave your fridges, but I cannot think of a better way to end the pumpkin beer season than with a pint or two of Southampton Pumpkin Ale.

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Where can I get it? Currently available in bottles at: Exit 190 Beer & Deli, Dickson City; Krugel’s Georgetown Deli & Beer, Wilkes-Barre; Backyard Ale House, Scranton


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