Ep 132 - When rye barrels outshine bourbon and pumpkin learns new tricks

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Forget sugar-bomb pumpkin beers—this tasting tour is all about balance, craft, and a few bold surprises. We line up six fall pours that couldn’t be more different: a rare pumpkin lager, a chili-spiced ale that warms on the finish, a silky nitro pumpkin spice latte with coffee, and two barrel-aged heavyweights that turn seasonal flavor into slow-sipping art. The arc builds from approachable to audacious, and it’s capped by a rye barrel–aged Belgian-style quad with figs and molasses that drinks impossibly smooth for its strength.

We start by probing where spice belongs in a lager that keeps things subtle, then flip the script with New Belgium’s Atomic Pumpkin where cinnamon meets habanero heat in a clean, lingering finish. From there, we chase the perfect “pumpkin pie” profile and diagnose what a well-made ale might be missing when the allspice and clove don’t quite pop. Texture takes center stage with Left Hand’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Nitro—the cascading pour, pillowy head, and smartly restrained coffee note create a café-meets-taproom moment that feels tailor-made for sweater weather.

Barrels change the conversation. Lexington Brewing’s Kentucky Pumpkin Barrel Ale layers caramel, vanilla, and bourbon warmth without the burn, showing how oak can elevate rather than overwhelm. And then the showstopper: Three Sheeps’ Pumpkin Spice Veneration, a rye barrel–aged quad where molasses, fig, and pumpkin-spice glow meet Belgian depth and a gentle peppery edge from the rye. It’s complex, warming, and a clear beer-of-the-year contender.

Along the way, we touch on the surprising roots of pumpkin beer in early America and why modern brewers are revisiting the style with more finesse. Looking for the best pumpkin beers to try right now? We’ve got picks for newcomers, heat-seekers, nitro lovers, and barrel fans. If you enjoy thoughtful tastings, honest scores, and a little beer history with your pour, you’ll feel right at home. Subscribe, share this with a fall beer friend, and leave a quick review to tell us your go-to seasonal pick.

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