Yet another reason to adore the wonderful season of Fall.. Craft Beer Enthusiasts packed into TJ Finley’s Bar and Beer Garden for their annual Pumpkin Fest on Long Island.
TJ Finley’s offered 24 different pumpkin beers for eager patrons to taste, served in hollowed-out mini pumpkins rimmed with cinnamon sugar. With so many seasonal beers to choose, deciding which one to try can be a sweet challenge.
Check out some of my pumpkin beer recommendations; I promise you will not be disappointed!
Top Pick Dogfish Punkin Ale This ale was named after the pumpkin-flinging competition called the Punkin Chunkin. The beer is flavored with pumpkin, caramel, brown sugar, and malts. Unlike the Punkin Chunkin, you will not want to let it leave your hands!
Best Local Pumpkin Beer: Great South Bay Splashing Pumpkin
At Pumpkin Fest, the Great South Bay Splashing Pumpkin was tapped out of a Giant Carved Pumpkin. The combination of roasted pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves malted barley, and cascade hops make this beer light and easy to drink during Halloween season.
Best Shot: Pumpkin Pie
The Pumpkin Pie shot at TJ Finley’s is a must have. The pumpkin shot is made with RumChata (a cream liquor made with Caribbean Rum and the finest cream from Wisconsin) and Crop Harvest Earth Organic Spiced Pumpkin Vodka made from organic grains of Minnesota.
Best Fall Cider: McKenzie’s Seasonal Reserve
McKenzie’s Seasonal Reserve Hard Cider tastes like apple pie in a bottle. This cider is flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg that makes it more flavorful than any other type of cider. For extra kick, add a shot of Fireball. This hard awoke cider is sure to be a new fall favorite!
Fall Fan Favorites from Southern Tier Brewing Company
My friends and I race to the beer distributor to stock up on Southern Tier Pumking before it sells out. This year’s batch continues lives up to its expectations; strong and smooth like always! However, definitely try Warlock, it tastes like pumpkin pie laced with coffee and dark chocolate which makes it sweeter than Pumking. Pour this stout over vanilla ice cream for a sweet treat
Honorable Mentions
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin The pumpkin flavor in this beer is balanced out by a fruity finish.
Two Rows Roadsmary Baby This pumpkin ale is aged in rum barrels and seasoned with spices, vanilla, oak, and a touch of rum. This the best beer Two Rows ever gave birth to!
Shihlah Pumpkin Ale Shihlah brews their Pumpkin Ale the way they did in colonial times. Colonists used pumpkin and squash as the fermenting medium, since malted barley was scarce. Enjoy this seasonal throwback beer!
