September 18, 2013 | Posted in:Craft Beers

I love Pumpkin beers. When September rolls around, I’m happy to spend most of my time hunting down and trying every style of pumpkin beer I can get my hands on. This year, pumpkin beers have been plentiful in Central Florida and there are more brands and styles still making their way onto the shelves.

I enjoy reading Bryan Roth’s This is Why I’m Drunk posts on Pumpkin beers and especially liked his pumpkin pie rating scale. Bryan seems to love the pumpkin beers as much as I do, so we are partnering up to compare some of the widely known and easy to get your hands on Pumpkin beers. Bryan will keep on blogging on others and so will I, as we are in different markets we have different access to beers. So, sip along with us here and here and also with Bryan and myself on Untappd as we explore and rate our favorites and try to steer you away from some of the skunkier pumpkin beers out.

First Smackdown: Buffalo Bills Pumpkin Ale vs. UFO Unfiltered

Buffalo Bill’s

Lisa: It’s been a few years since I’ve had this Pumpkin Ale style beer brewed by Buffalo Bill’s Brewery in Hayward, CA. I won’t be picking it up again unless there are some serious changes. Clear, pumpkin carmel color. Yeasty nose, slightly sweet tasting but not many spices. Little to no pumpkin taste. Lacking bubbles. Since Bryan’s tasting notes are so different, I’m wondering if the transport to Florida’s warmer climate is cooking the pumpkin and spice taste out of Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale.

Lisa: One pie slice

Bryan: I agree that the carbonation wasn’t outstanding, but found this brew to have a strong malt base that mixed with a taste of actual pumpkin. Clove/ginger flavor was pronounced and works with cinnamon aftertaste. Pumpkin pie flavor borders on sugar-sweet after each sip, but close to pie for me!

Bryan: Four pie slices

UFO Unfiltered

Lisa: This is the first year I’ve seen the UFO Pumpkin brewed by Harpoon Brewery in Boston, MA. It’s an unfiltered beer, which I think gives it more pumpkiny goodness. The hazy pumpkin carmel colored beer has nice spices on the nose; a nutmeg and slightly fruity aroma. Great bubbles, there was a nice head until the last sip (or gulp if you are my Hubby). Good spices and pumpkin pie flavor, this is a solid pumpkin beer.

Lisa: 4 pie slices

Bryan: I admire Harpoon for sticking to their guns with the unfiltered approach, but I think it takes away from the beer. I couldn’t pick up any true discernible flavors or smells, although a general “malty” amber taste. The spice mix seemed bland, maybe from the yeast esters that could be stronger from extra conditioning in the bottle.

Bryan: One pie slice

With each beer having an equal total pie slice scores, this Smackdown is a DRAW!

Check out our next round now on Bryan’s blog This is Why I’m Drunk  where we pit Anderson Valley’s Fall Hornin’ against Shipyards Pumpkinhead!

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1. Don’t Be a Blockhead: Battling Pumpkin Beer So You Don’t Have To | This Is Why I'm Drunk - […] I’m hosting two beers – Shipyard’s Pumpkinhead and Anderson Valley’s Fall Hornin’ – and you can head over to…

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