Local Picked Pumpkin

Brewer- Susquehanna Brewing Company

Beer- Pumpkin Ale

Style- Pumpkin Ale

ABV- 4.80%


Description – Susquehanna Brewing Company’s Pumpkin Ale pours orange amber color with frothy off white head that dissipates quickly and leaves behind a very faint lacing on the glass.  The aroma is full of pumpkin spice goodness with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger backed by hints of sweet crystal malts. The taste follows the nose with pumpkin spice notes up front that give way to a smooth sweet malt taste and feel leaving behind hints of caramel and candied sugar.  This truly is a beer that can tout itself as pumpkin pie in a glass, but it is more on the light side of the mouthfeel which keeps it from being too overly sweet as some pumpkin ales can become. The moderate carbonation and light to medium mouthfeel give this beer a smooth easy drinking characteristic which makes for a pumpkin ale that can be enjoyed in large quantities.  SBC has certainly brewed a beer that has earned its place in your fridge this fall season.

Food Pairing – Pumpkin Ales are specifically a fall seasonal beer, especially those which include fresh pumpkins in the recipe. The fall season is the time when things start to cool off as we get ready for winter and as we do we celebrate both Halloween and Thanksgiving in between.  It is also a time when warm and hearty foods begin to make appearances on our plates and push aside the lighter summer fare. This makes pumpkin ales a great pairing for these foods. Try pairing this beer with a rich hearty beef stew, but not one that is overly spiced as the lighter qualities of this beer will get lost in the mix.  This pumpkin ale is also great to stock up on and save for Thanksgiving as a perfect match for turkey and cranberries can be found with this beer, you can of course have this pairing any time you want! The sessionable qualities of this beer also make it ideal with popular fall desserts such as cider donuts, pumpkin pies, apple crisps, campfire s’mores, or even a decadent piece of carrot cake. Whatever you choose this is a beer that will impart an extra layer of flavor to your dish and help make this fall even more special.

The Final Word – Susquehanna Brewing Company has quickly gained a loyal following since opening their doors in 2012 and with delicious and sessionable beers such as this it is easy to see why. While some pumpkin beers can become veritable spice bombs, SBC’s Pumpkin Ale is delicately spiced with just the right balance to impart great aroma and taste without any residual cloying flavors. The 4.8 percent ABV is also a welcome sight when many pumpkin ales tend to lean towards 9 percent ABV, thus making most of them a one and done type beer. Instead this pumpkin ale can be enjoyed long into the evening around a warm campfire to really help celebrate the impending fall season. If you are a fan of pumpkin ales this is a must try and with it being brewed right here in NEPA, it is not a beer that will require too much hunting to find.

Where can I get it? – Currently available in 12 oz. bottles at: Backyard Ale House- Scranton, PA; Wegman’s- Dickson City, PA and Wilkes Barre, PA; Cooper’s Seafood- Scranton, PA Krugel’s Georgetown Deli- Wilkes Barre, PA; and What’s Brewin’ 6-Pack Ale Shoppe- Old Forge, PA