Dogfish Head Craft Brewery- Punkin Ale: Bye Bye Summer.. hello PUNKIN'

Whether we like it or not, the days are quickly becoming shorter. Very soon it’ll be time to trade in the bikinis and swim suits for hoodies and scarves. Most of the summer beers that we’ve been enjoying for the past 3 months have all been drank, and it’s time to start looking forward. Personally, winter is a time that I do not look forward to, and autumn is a constant reminder that snow and frigid temps are on the horizon. Of course.. there’s the beer. Autumn is host to probably some of the best beers that you can get all year. Between the September release of  Marzens and Oktoberfests, and the October releases of most Pumpkin Ales; we find refuge. These beers reflect the season better then any other seasonal brew. With only a sip we are reminded of picking pumpkins with our children, jumping into large piles of leaves, and quiet calm evenings relaxing by the fire.  Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale is NO exception. This Brown Pumpkin is rich and decadent. A beer for the true pumpkin lover. Punkin Ale pours thick; a heavier bodied beer. It releases aromas as you pour the beer, and forms a lovely 1 inch, off-white head.  The lovely foam dissipates quickly so get those whiffs in as quickly as possible. You’ll pull most flavors out of the nose.. including most spices, molasses and pumpkin guts. The beer is stunning with a hazy amber ruby color; honestly the prettiest pumpkin ale on the market. Once you put this concoction in your mouth, you’re overwhelmed with nutmeg, brown sugar, orange, cinnamon and vanilla flavors. Naturally the entire gulp finishes pumpkin with almost NO hop presence to speak of.  At 7% ABV you’ll want to take it slow regardless of how badly your mouth will be begging for more. This beer is September and October in a glass; so stock up, or just enjoy it with your friends at your favorite pub!

ABV: 7%

Consumed: Dogfish Head Goblet

Verdict: Buy a Keg

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery- Punkin Ale: This Is The Great Punkin Charlie Brown

Wes has been goin’ hog wild on the Oktoberfest brews lately and I decided to jump on the Fall seasonal bandwagon.  I was rollin’ through Woodman’s after my typical Saturday morning grocery shopping trip when I decided to peruse the beer isle.  What I love about Woodman’s is that they have a great Craft Beer selection and you’ll pay a few bucks less per six pack than you do at most of the other places you can find Craft Beer.  As I scanned the selection I noticed a neck label that read “Punk” with a pumpkin behind it.  Low and behold, it’s a brew from Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.  I could hardly contain my excitement as Dogfish head consistently makes some of the best Craft Beers on the planet.  So without further ado, I present Punkin Ale.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery classifies this brew as a Brown Ale and their website describes Punkin Ale as, “A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices. This is the perfect beer to warm-up with, as the season cools.

Punkin Ale is named after a locally-famous and seriously off-centered event here in southern Delaware - Punkin Chunkin (check out some of these Discovery Channel videos of Punkin Chunkin, you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made its debut as it claimed First Prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Conest - yes, that was a full 6 months before we even opened our doors for business. Punkin Chunkin has grown in size and scale with pumpkins now being hurled more than 4,000 feet through the air! If you come down to see if for yourself - come by and visit us.

Since then, we've brewed Punkin Ale each and every fall. It is released right around September first each year. When you find it, grab some extra because it's usually gone by Thanksgiving.”

Punkin Ale pours a crystal clear copper color with a 1” tan head.  The aroma is a cornucopia of cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar as well as a faint and pleasant pumpkin and caramel malt scent.

I’m not sure where the brew magic comes from but damn, this is one excellent Craft Beer.  The magic exists in the sheer brilliance of balance in the flavor.  Punkin Ale is an amazing brown ale base that is complimented by the pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon & nutmeg.  Typically what I hate in Craft brews that contain fruit or spices is that it is always overdone.  Punkin Ale starts with a sweet malty kiss that turns pumpkin and allspice in the middle and finishes with a nutmeg spiciness that more than satisfies.  What Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale provides is pumpkin perfection.  This is a can’t miss Fall seasonal brew.  Linus was right, there is a Great Pumpkin and Punkin Ale is it!

ABV: 7.0%

Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy A Case