Horseheads Pumpkin Ale

For the most part, pumpkins beers suck. For over a decade, I have been trying to convince myself otherwise but I feel it is time to admit the truth. Many other beer enthusiasts have not only felt this way for awhile, they practically scream their dislike of pumpkin beers the second they start showing up on shelves. The reason I have held out so long from saying this is, there are some pumpkin beers that I really enjoy. Southern Tier Warlock and Pumking for example are two that I look forward to every year. Another pumpkin beer I really enjoy is Cigar City's Good Gourd. Still, for one of those pumpkin beers I enjoy, there are another twenty on shelves that are better off being poured down the sink than consumed by anyone.

A terrible pumpkin beer in particular that stands out in my mind is Shipyard's Pumpkin Ale. Drinking that beer practically traumatized me from not only pumpkin beers but beer in general. Shipyard's horrible base beer was not only masked by spices, it was obliterated by them. The beer is so bad I am offended whenever I see it return each August. Don't get me wrong, there are many other terrible pumpkin beers on the market but that one, to me, is by far the worst one. At this point you are probably wondering if I think pumpkin beer is so bad, then why am I writing a blog about it? The reason is, most people reading this blog are probably going to buy some pumpkin beer this fall season. Instead of wasting money on terrible ones, I want to use this blog to recommend one that I think is exceptional.

You might not have heard of Horseheads Pumpkin Ale but if you enjoy the style you should pick it up immediately. At the same time, if you don't understand why people like pumpkin beers, this one is so good it might change your mind. The aromas of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, pie crust, pumpkin and caramel can simply be described as autumn in a glass. The taste matches the nose but what makes everything work here is balance. The spices compliment the pie crust and caramel malt, they do not over power it. The mouthfeel is also pleasantly creamy, enhancing the dessert-like feeling to this beer. Everything about Horseheads Pumpkin Ale works and works well. Nothing seems out of place and no one flavor overpowers another.

Horseheads Pumpkin Ale, in my opinion, is the best pumpkin beer on the market today. If you enjoy the style and have yet to try it, do yourself a favor and buy a bottle. If you are on the fence about the style but have just not found a good one yet, give this one a try. Or if you hate the style, I still think you might be pleasantly surprised. Horseheads Pumpkin Ale, plain and simple, is a well-made pumpkin beer. It turns out there is such a thing and I highly recommend giving it a try as the weather starts getting cooler.

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Thanks for reading. Sláinte!