Jack-Ina-Lantern

I love pumpkin. I seriously can’t get enough of some effing pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin custard, pumpkin donuts…I’m getting off on just typing the word pumpkin over and over again. If they started making pumpkin flavored meth, the glass dick would be down my throat. I love pumpkins so much that for a moment, I don’t think Anne Geddes is some weird psycho. With this utter love of all things pumpkin that I have, it’s no surprise that we are quickly approaching my favorite time of year.

Some call it Fall. Others Autumn. I like to think of it as a time people don’t look at me like some sort of hard-on for eating pumpkin at every meal. Aside from a pumpkin pie on my birthday, I’ve been weaned off the junk up until this weekend. Because you see, of all thing flavored pumpkin, my favorite to partake of is pumpkin beer. And for some glorious reason, they decided to start selling the stuff in the middle of August this year. If you’ve never had some, get off your ass and get some. Kansas City has access to some of the finest liquid pumpkin crack around, and I shall be your tour guide.

First things first, the shite. If you ever got to World Market, you will see Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale. It’s made in CA and tastes like crap. But it’s not my least enjoyed pumpkin brew. That designation would belong to Blue Moon’s pumpkin offering. Honestly, I don’t taste the pumpkin at all. I generally enjoy a normal Blue Moon from time to time, and I liked their summer release, but their pumpkin leaves a lot to be desired. As a rule I stay away from both of these and stick to my local guns.

O’Fallon Brewery over on the other side of Missouri makes a badass pumpkin beer that you should be able to find in most large liquor stores, as well as some smaller ones. This is what I started sucking on Saturday night. It’s a safe bet that my fridge will be filled with this and Leinie’s Oktoberfest until November starts rolling around. O’Fallon actually has quite the arsenal of season beers. The wife can’t get enough of their summer beer, Wheach. And I always enjoy grossing some people out by picking up their winter offering of Chocolate Cherry. I don’t have any problem getting any of the three down my gullet, but pumpkin is my big dog. It has a great aroma and good taste. Might be a little too pumpkin-y if you aren’t expecting a flavor-bomb of cloves, nutmeg and pumpkin spice. I’m working my mouth to a foam just sitting here thinking about my last bottle at home.

For those of you social drinkers, 75th Street Brewery has what I will label as the best pumpkin beer I’ve had. I love going to 75th Street for their handcrafter assortment, and the pumpkin is the only one I ever feel compelled enough to get a growler of to take home. It’s just lovely, a lot like the O’Fallon offering with its almost overpowering nutmeg and pumpkin aroma and taste. It’s like getting tossed on baked goods, which I can’t recommend enough.