# How to brew an excellent pumpkin ale - tried and true tips **URL:** \ **Category:** General Homebrew Discussion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003 "2015-09-10T14:51:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 2:48am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/21 "2015-09-11T02:48:33Z")
Honestly, the wife loves the pumpkin beer. I’d say I’ve tried well over 20 in the last few years and like maybe 2. ---
**Author:** ![homebrewdad7](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrewdad7/32/9396_2.png) [@homebrewdad7](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/homebrewdad7)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/22 "2015-09-11T04:03:34Z")
You may note that I acknowledged Steve’s position in the intro of the article.  🙂 ---
**Author:** ![alestateyall](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/alestateyall/32/21186_2.png) [@alestateyall](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/alestateyall)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/23 "2015-09-11T14:15:09Z")
Thanks, homebrewdad7. Every year I look forward pumpkin and other winter spiced ales. ---
**Author:** ![homebrewdad7](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrewdad7/32/9396_2.png) [@homebrewdad7](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/homebrewdad7)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/24 "2015-09-11T14:20:29Z")
Glad you found it to be useful! ---
**Author:** ![pete\_baker](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pete_baker/32/5190_2.png) [@pete\_baker](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pete_baker)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/25 "2015-09-11T15:01:34Z")
I think my aversion to seeing all the shelf space in my little local markets being taken up by pumpkin beers starting in July, in addition to many bad examples and my own snobbery, has led me to view this style unfairly. ---
**Author:** ![homebrewdad7](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrewdad7/32/9396_2.png) [@homebrewdad7](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/homebrewdad7)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/26 "2015-09-11T15:03:06Z")
I can totally see that.  I love Oktoberfests, but seeing them in July makes me irrationally angry. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/27 "2015-09-11T15:19:35Z")
> [@narvin](#): > > So, have you done a triangle tasting with the beer brewed with and without pumpkin? I have. ---
**Author:** ![brewinhard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@brewinhard](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/brewinhard)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/28 "2015-09-11T23:20:16Z")
> [@denny](#): > > > [@narvin](#): > > > > So, have you done a triangle tasting with the beer brewed with and without pumpkin? > > I have. Okay…I’ll bite.  What were your findings? ---
**Author:** ![brewinhard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@brewinhard](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/brewinhard)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/29 "2015-09-11T23:21:54Z")
> [@homebrewdad7](#): > > [quote] To me, RIS tastes like licking a burned tree stump. This is hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![brewinhard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@brewinhard](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/brewinhard)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/30 "2015-09-11T23:22:52Z")
> [@reverseapachemaster](#): > > I only drink RIS out of burnt tree stumps. > > Glassware matters. Oh my God you guys are cracking me up…Thanks for the laughs after a long week. ;D ---
**Author:** ![chumley](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/chumley/32/12153_2.png) [@chumley](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/chumley)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/31 "2015-09-11T23:53:40Z")
For the last 10 years, I have brewed beer for the office Christmas open house.  The company pays for my ingredients, as well as some brewing gear on occasionally, so it has worked out well for all parties. A couple of years ago one of the VPs told me he had a bumper crop of pumpkins this year, including pie pumpkins.  Great! I replied, I will brew a pumpkin beer this year. I cut them up, seeded them, and put them in the oven to roast.  What I did not factor in, is that freshly harvested pumpkins have A LOT OF LIQUID in them. So, while I was merrily getting the brew started up down in the basement, my wife comes home to find the oven smoking like a chimney from all the liquid oozing out of the cut up pumpkin roasting.\ I continued anyway. At the Christmas party, 2 months later, I received a few compliments on the pumpkin ale.  But personally, I could taste kitchen smoke in every sip. I will never brew another pumpkin ale again.  (And to start with, I am with Denny.  I have always hated them. Biggest. Beer. Gimmick. Ever.  [Okay, session IPA has surpassed that]).  🙂 ---
**Author:** ![klickitat\_jim](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/klickitat_jim/32/6601_2.png) [@klickitat\_jim](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/klickitat_jim)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/32 "2015-09-12T01:11:27Z")
> [@chumley](#): > > For the last 10 years, I have brewed beer for the office Christmas open house.  The company pays for my ingredients, as well as some brewing gear on occasionally, so it has worked out well for all parties. > > A couple of years ago one of the VPs told me he had a bumper crop of pumpkins this year, including pie pumpkins.  Great! I replied, I will brew a pumpkin beer this year. > > I cut them up, seeded them, and put them in the oven to roast.  What I did not factor in, is that freshly harvested pumpkins have A LOT OF LIQUID in them. > > So, while I was merrily getting the brew started up down in the basement, my wife comes home to find the oven smoking like a chimney from all the liquid oozing out of the cut up pumpkin roasting.\ > > I continued anyway. > > At the Christmas party, 2 months later, I received a few compliments on the pumpkin ale.  But personally, I could taste kitchen smoke in every sip. > > I will never brew another pumpkin ale again.  (And to start with, I am with Denny.  I have always hated them. Biggest. Beer. Gimmick. Ever.  [Okay, session IPA has surpassed that]).  🙂 Session Belgian DIPA served from a Pumpkin Randall ---
**Author:** ![pete\_baker](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/pete_baker/32/5190_2.png) [@pete\_baker](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/pete_baker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 12:06pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/33 "2015-09-12T12:06:50Z")
> [@klickitat\_jim](#): > > > [@chumley](#): > > > > For the last 10 years, I have brewed beer for the office Christmas open house.  The company pays for my ingredients, as well as some brewing gear on occasionally, so it has worked out well for all parties. > > > > A couple of years ago one of the VPs told me he had a bumper crop of pumpkins this year, including pie pumpkins.  Great! I replied, I will brew a pumpkin beer this year. > > > > I cut them up, seeded them, and put them in the oven to roast.  What I did not factor in, is that freshly harvested pumpkins have A LOT OF LIQUID in them. > > > > So, while I was merrily getting the brew started up down in the basement, my wife comes home to find the oven smoking like a chimney from all the liquid oozing out of the cut up pumpkin roasting.\ > > > > I continued anyway. > > > > At the Christmas party, 2 months later, I received a few compliments on the pumpkin ale.  But personally, I could taste kitchen smoke in every sip. > > > > I will never brew another pumpkin ale again.  (And to start with, I am with Denny.  I have always hated them. Biggest. Beer. Gimmick. Ever.  [Okay, session IPA has surpassed that]).  🙂 > > Session Belgian DIPA served from a Pumpkin Randall Ironically I find DIPAs more session able than Sassoon ipas. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/34 "2015-09-12T16:37:44Z")
> [@brewinhard](#): > > > [@denny](#): > > > > > [@narvin](#): > > > > > > So, have you done a triangle tasting with the beer brewed with and without pumpkin? > > > > I have. > > Okay…I’ll bite.  What were your findings? Pumpkin doesn’t matter.  Only a single data point, though. ---
**Author:** ![klickitat\_jim](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/klickitat_jim/32/6601_2.png) [@klickitat\_jim](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/klickitat_jim)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/35 "2015-09-12T17:12:24Z")
> [@denny](#): > > > [@brewinhard](#): > > > > > [@denny](#): > > > > > > > [@narvin](#): > > > > > > > > So, have you done a triangle tasting with the beer brewed with and without pumpkin? > > > > > > I have. > > > > Okay…I’ll bite.  What were your findings? > > Pumpkin doesn’t matter.  Only a single data point, though. I’ve never brewed one, but if I did it would have no pumpkin in it. Just a touch of pumpkin pie spice in the tail end of the boil and a neutral bittering hop. That would be my plan. Maybe to enhance the spicey pie aspect I’d use a belgian yeast. Or, brew a dark belgian strong and tell people its a harvest beer, leave it at that. ---
**Author:** ![EnkAMania](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/enkamania/32/12525_2.png) [@EnkAMania](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/EnkAMania)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/36 "2015-09-13T16:08:13Z")
> [@denny](#): > > > [@homebrewdad7](#): > > > > Okay, Denny - I address that in the intro.  😛 > > It’s all about personal tastes, huh?  Just because I’ve never found one I like dosen’t mean that other people shouldn’t like them. Have you tried Elysian Night Owl?  Mine is pretty similar to this, pumpkin pie in a glass ---
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/37 "2015-09-13T17:47:21Z")
Night owl is one of the only pumpkin beers I like. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/38 "2015-09-13T19:20:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Night owl is one of the only pumpkin beers I like. Actually, on htinking about it, I kinda like Oakshire’s Big Black Jack, a spiced pumpkin beer with chocolate.  Not the kind of beer I’d suck down pint after pint, but I wouldn’t pour it out, either@ ---
**Author:** ![snowtiger87](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/snowtiger87/32/9272_2.png) [@snowtiger87](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/snowtiger87)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003/39 "2015-09-15T23:25:13Z")
In my experience using pumpkin in the mash gives some color and mouthfeel, and makes for a bright orange mash  :o [Previous page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/how-to-brew-an-excellent-pumpkin-ale-tried-and-true-tips/21003.md?page=1)