Pumpkin beer is here, the nights are getting cooler, and we’re starting the season the only way we know how: cracking cans and telling the truth. We taste Market Garden Giant Pumpkin out of Cleveland, Ohio, a hefty 9.5% ABV pumpkin yam beer that claims “pumpkin pie in a glass.” We dig into aroma, flavor, and that lingering bitterness on the finish, then get into the bigger question every craft beer fan runs into each fall: how much spice is too much, and when does clove ruin a perfectly good pumpkin beer?
From there we pivot to a totally different style with Brew Kettle Pumpkin Drop Lager, a lighter, crisp pumpkin lager that actually fits the “sit by the fire” vibe without overwhelming your palate. We talk carbonation, dryness, and why subtle pumpkin can beat a spice bomb, especially when you want an easy-drinking fall beer you’d actually buy again. Along the way, we name-check our personal pumpkin beer benchmarks and explain what we mean when we say we want pumpkin flavor, not just a cupboard full of spices.
You’ll also hear what we’ve been up to off-mic, including camping food experiments, a smoked Italian pulled beef sandwich with au jus and giardiniera, and a few “would you rather” questions that go off the rails fast. And because football season is creeping in, we vent a bit about the Cleveland Browns, the money tied up at quarterback, and why being a loyal fan sometimes requires a backup team.
If you love pumpkin beer reviews, craft beer ratings, and unfiltered hangout energy, tap follow, share this with your favorite fall beer friend, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.
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