8 Local Pumpkin Brews To Seek Out This Fall

Even local breweries aren’t immune to pumpkin fever. Here, a neighborhood guide to a few of the gourd—ahem, good—craft pumpkin beers we’ve found around town.

LoDo

Wynkoop Brewing Co.’s yearly pumpkin brew, the Pumpkin Ale, weighs in at 4.2 percent ABV. The English brown is brewed with roasted, flaked pureed pumpkin, and flavored with seasonal spices. Come by for a taste of this toasty, spicy ale and stick around for second round of the Salted Caramel Apple beer: a delightful malt-based, salty-sweet fall drink.

Capitol Hill

The Pumpnik Pie-Eyed Pumpkin Ale (6 percent ABV) at Lost Highway Brewing Company is a neat combination of strong, earthy pumpkin flavor and pumpkin-pie spices. This nicely balanced brew includes the usual pumpkin seasonings: cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. However, the teasing hint of clove in the finishing notes differentiates it from other ales of the Cucurbitaceae variety.

RiNo

Epic Brewing Company has two seasonal beers on tap. At 6.6 percent ABV, the Gourdian brew is an ale sans the overly sweet Thanksgiving pie taste. The Fermentation Without Representation Imperial Pumpkin Porter (8.5 percent ABV), is a much heavier—and stronger—sudsy rendition, brewed with fresh pumpkin and Madagascar vanilla. It has a pleasant pumpkin aroma; you can taste the subtle notes on the tongue.

LoHi

Denver Beer Co.’s annually brewed pumpkin ale, Hey Pumpkin!, doesn’t overdo it on the pumpkin taste but delivers a spicy finish. Pro tip: Get a splash of Graham Cracker Porter added into your Hey Pumpkin! ale—the porter adds dark, chocolate flavors that highlight the earthy pumpkin. If you prefer your pumpkin with a side of extra hops, try it mixed with the Incredible Pedal IPA.

Park Hill

Inspired by Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Fiction Brewing Company‘s Sour Pumpkin Farmhouse (5.4 percent ABV) is bursting at the seams with fall flavor: caramel notes, squash and, of course, pumpkin. This tart and full-bodied brew, with a deliciously sour finish, is best enjoyed on Fiction’s back patio during a mild fall evening.

Santa Fe Arts District

Renegade Brewing Co.’s annual pumpkin beer is traditionally named after a song from Smashing Pumpkin’s Siamese Dream album. This year’s beer was named Mayonaise. A little mayo did make its way into the Pumpkin Spice Cream Ale (5 percent ABV), but it’s buttery flavor is only evident in the aftertaste. The brew is spicy with a very subtle pumpkin flavor. Stick around for a sample of aromatic Maple Porter or the peppery Una Mas Poblano Mexican Amber.

Southeast Denver

We couldn’t leave out Copper Kettle Brewing Company‘s Pumpkin Porter (6.1 percent ABV). The toasty brew is a blend of pumpkin and traditional spices, and is available on tap throughout the month. Swing by the brewery in the weeks leading up to Halloween for a taste of small batch creations: sample the Toasted Oats ‘n’ Honey Pumpkin Ale (October 21), Pumpkin Saison (October 28), and the Pumpkin Spice Latte (October 31).

Can’t get enough pumpkin? Grab a six-pack or bomber of these out-of-town and out-of-state pumpkin brews, available at local liquor stores:

Hailing from Seattle, Elysian Brewing‘s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale (6.7 percent ABV) tastes like pumpkin pie in a bottle: the classic spices (nutmeg, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger) mesh flawlessly with rich gourd-inspired flavor. Those with a heavier palate: don’t miss Elysian’s Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale, a mix of Stumptown Coffee toddy with pumpkin and spices.

Tucked away in Buena Vista, Eddyline Brewing‘s Pumpkin Patch Ale features original artwork of an idyllic, fall mountain scene on the can. The mixtures of pumpkin, spices, and honey make an easy-to-down ale that should be enjoyed in the same landscape depicted on its packaging.

Rogue Farm in Newport, Oregon, uses its own pumpkins to create the seasonal Pumpkin Patch Ale. This brew is refreshingly simple: you can taste the pumpkin and spices without the overwhelming sweetness. Rogue Farms recommends that you pair this ale with a dessert or pork.

(What is Colorado’s ultimate craft beer? Find out in 5280‘s Battle of the Brews!)