Admittedly, pumpkin beer isn't for everyone. Some people think it’s too dark, some think it's overspiced, while others simply prefer their ales unadulterated. Understandable, I suppose. But I like beer brewed with plenty of pumpkin, and spices and stuff. It is the epitome of fall for me. A tall brown bottle, maybe some meat cooked over a campfire and some kind of squash. Simple stuff. Hearty.
Elysian Brewing has been a favorite of mine for awhile now. Their Avatar Jasmine IPA is one of the best beers I've ever had. Honest.
So when Erika at
Full Throttle Bottles told me Elysian was introducing a fall four-pack featuring three of their usual pumpkin beers, as well as a limited edition offering, I drove down to Georgetown and picked up a patch as soon as possible. A tall, narrow box with four big brown bottles inside, Elysian's 'Pumpkin Patch' includes their Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, The Great Pumpkin Imperial Ale, Dark O' The Moon Pumpkin Stout and their limited edition Hansel & Gretel Ginger Pumpkin Pilsner. An eclectic assortment. Something for everyone, as far as we’re concerned.
The Night Owl Pumpkin Ale is Elysian's most popular pumpkin beer. First brewed in 1998, Night Owl is brewed with over 7 lbs. of pumpkin per barrel and includes seven different malt varieties, green and roasted pumpkin seeds, as well as pumpkin in the mash, boil and fermenter. Spiced with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, ginger and allspice, Elysian's Night Owl contains 5.9% ABV and goes down easy. Real easy.
The Great Pumpkin was the world's first Imperial Pumpkin Ale (according to Elysian). It is brewed with Pale, Munich, Cara-Hell, Cara-Vienne, Cara-Munich and Crystal malts. Pumpkin is added to the mash, kettle and fermenter, and roasted pumpkin seeds can be found in the mash as well. The Great Pumpkin is spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice and contains 8% ABV. It is the strongest of Elysian's pumpkin beers, but by no means overwhelming.
Elysian's limited edition Hansel & Gretel Ginger Pumpkin Pilsner is only available in their 'Pumpkin Patch' four-pack. It is brewed with organic pale, Weyermann Munich and Cara-Hell malts, with pumpkin added to the mash, kettle and fermenter. It is spiced with fresh ginger and contains 4.5% ABV. It is the lightest of their four pumpkin beers, but probably the most pungent in terms of flavor.
Dark O' The Moon is Elysian's pumpkin stout, and is brewed with Great Western pale, Crisp Crystal, Munich, Cara-Vienne, Roasted Chocolate and Special B malts. There are roasted pumpkin seeds in the mash, while a plethora of pumpkin is added to the kettle and fermenter. Dark O' The Moon is bittered with Magnum hops and finished with Saaz and crushed cinnamon. It contains 6.5% ABV and is the both the smoothest and heartiest of their offerings.
You can find Elysian Brewing's 'Pumpkin Patch' at Seattle's own
Full Throttle Bottles.
