So, I’ll be honest, Pumpkin Beers aren’t something I rush to try every fall. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy them, but in small amounts and only when the weather actually feels like fall. I decided to select a few Colorado Pumpkin beers from my local liquor store and do a blind taste test to select my favorite. 

I had my husband set up my taste test for me. He poured a small amount of each beer into small glasses and then gave them to me without me knowing what they were. I decided I would taste each of them individually, describe them, and then give them a rating out of 5. After I selected my favorite, my husband revealed what each of them were. I will share my descriptions and rating and then tell you what beer it ended up being. Let’s start with beer one!

Beer One:

• Light in pumpkin flavor 
• Bit of an artificial taste 
• Thin body 
• Beautiful burnt orange color 
• Rating 2/5  

Beer Name: Chunkin Pumpkin 

Brewery: Crabtree Brewing, Greeley CO

Description from the Brewery: Our Serenity meets sweet and savory with this scrumptious seasonal beer. Real CSA locally grown pumpkins are baked, chunked and thrown directly into the mash tun with a cornucopia of spices. Perfect on a fall day when the leaves begin to change. Loving this beer is as easy as pie!

Beer Two:

• Cloudy in appearance 
• Roasty flavor 
• Light in pumpkin flavor 
• Rating 3/5 

Beer Name: Patchy Waters Pumpkin Ale Gluten Free 

Brewery: Holiday Brewing, Golden, CO

Description from the Brewery: Patchy Waters is the name of a beloved family sailboat that has carried many memories, from early summer to late autumn every year. Drift into the change of seasons with a smooth pumpkin ale brewed with organic pumpkin and a blend of fall spices.

Beer Three:

• Darker in color (didn’t realize I purchased a porter)
• Sweet in flavor- can taste marshmallows 
• Fuller mouthfeel than the previous beers
• More of sweet/spice flavor than pumpkin 
• Rating 3.5/5

Beer Name: Fluffy Pumpkin Toasted Marshmallow Pumpkin Porter 

Brewery: Odyssey Beerwerks, Arvada, CO

Description from the Brewery: When the cool sting of autumn hits, warm your senses with Fluffy Pumpkin, a Toasted Marshmallow Pumpkin Porter. Brewed with ample amounts of roasted pumpkins, select seasonal spices, vanilla, and marshmallow, Fluffy Pumpkin hits the spot for those of us longing for both the holiday table and the campfire ring.

Beer Four

• Creamier mouthfeel 
• Beautiful clear amber color
• Sweet almost like a honey flavor 
• More a yam or vegetable flavor 
• Rating 2/5  

Beer Name: Pumpkin Patch Ale 

Brewery: Eddyline Brewing, Buena Vista, CO 

Description from the Brewery: Golden quaking aspens, a dusting of powder on the peaks and the first fire in the fireplace represent harvest time. Celebrate the bountiful season with our pumpkin patch ale made with real pumpkin, spices, and honey.

So, it looks like my favorite was the Fluffy Pumpkin Toasted Marshmallow Porter from Odyssey Beerwerks. Like I stated above, I didn’t realize I was buying a porter while at the store. I thought I grabbed all ales. I didn’t want to read all the descriptions at the store, worrying that if I did, I would be biased in my ratings. I really enjoyed the sweet marshmallow flavor of this beer. The spices also paired well and made it an enjoyable fall beer. 

What are some of your favorite pumpkin and/or fall beers? Any I should look out for when I visit the store next? Let me know!