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Note: This post was sponsored by Brandon Fell. Thanks for your BevMo shopping, babe! Pumpkin, pumpkin everywhere. Pastas, soups, cakes, coffees, candies, and most favorably: beers. How in the world do you choose between the various fall-flavored libations before November quickly creeps into December, leaving us sans pumpkin and facing a plethora of ginger snap, mulled, cranberry and clove spices? Please. It would be our honor to help you. We recruited cousin Meggie and her fab fiance, Jonny, to aid us with our sampling in their charming apartment. This proved to be a most excellent decision as a) Jonny had all the right buzz word descriptions for each beer, which I will now blatantly copy, b) their puppy, Fritz, is to LIVE for cute and c) 2 tipsy cousins are usually better than 1. Here we go! In no particular order, with 1-10 rankings from everyone, and taken word for word from my in-the-moment notes. Seven random pumpkin beers we grabbed off the shelves (and split one for each round). 1. Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy  This beer ended up being my favorite. I really enjoy the heightened level of crisp carbonation and true pumpkin + nutmeg spices. I also feel I can have more than one with a meal (maybe this isn't a plus?), versus feeling too overwhelmed with pumpkin. I love that the founder (according to commercials) claims to have never been good at holding a job, so he combined his two passions; beer + traveling, to start his own company. I gave it an 8! J: 5. It's too sweet up front. Kind of like a pumpkin soda. Bleck. No more for me, but good if you really like a pumpkin pie taste. M: 7.5. It's similar in pumpkin pie flavor to Leinenkugel, but without the artificial taste. T: Yes, good call Meggie! B: 6.5. (he's a man of few words) Click below for more!  T: 5. This has little to no spice smell or taste. J: 6. Meh, I'm underwhelmed. This is definitely more a pale ale...or an amber ale, even. It's extremely average in taste. M: Did you pour me the right one? T: Yes Meggie. M: Ok then 6! B: 4. I taste zero pumpkin. No point to this one. You guys can have the rest of the 6 pack.... 3. Maverick's Pumpkin Harvest Ale - Half Moon Brewing Company  J: Smells like...biscuits? B: Yea, this would make a nice Thanksgiving candle! M: Yea! Thanksgiving! Ooo I could drink that. T: {laughing} B: I say 6. M: I don't know it's not my favorite. T: You just said you liked it! This tastes like a well made, local beer. It's definitely more of an amber ale, but the spices are a perfect touch. 7.5! M: Actually yes this is a delicious beer. 7.5! J: This is my favorite so far. Very balanced flavors. 8.5. 4. _Leinenkugels Harvest Patch Shandy  J: Ugh, this does not smell fresh. {sips} Disgusting! Very cinnamon-y. T: You know right when you open it that this is a pumpkin beer. It has kind of a "thicker" flavor. B: Crisp and clear flavor. I can smell vanilla and ginger snap. My mom used to make pumpkin martinis with crumbled ginger snap on the rim. This smells like that. I say solid 7. T: Whoa, can she make them for me? B: No. T: Mean. M: This one is way more spicy. Although this brand in general has a weird aftertaste with their shandys. But I like it! 5.5. J: Ugh, I don't. Too sweet. Nope. Tastes super artificial. 3. T: Yea I like this for only a one-beer treat. But I can't drink more than that. Too much like cramming extra dessert in my tummy. I say 6.5. 5. Sam Adam's Pumpkin Batch  This review is short and sweet because nobody cared for this much. M: There are no..."clouds"...in this beer. J: You mean it has a golden, copper color? Extremely subtle spice. B: Where the eff is the pumpkin?! J: I taste something fall-ish, but not the pumpkin spices... B: Yea, like I just licked a gourd. 2. T: Is there a metallic taste? Meh, 3. J: 3. M: Hmmm...4! I don't know why. 6. Saranac Pumpkin Ale  J: Does this taste like a PBR with pumpkin? T: Kind of, yea! B: It says ale, but it doesn't have very strong ale taste. I mean that in a good way. 6.5 J: {another sip} Maybe I was being a little harsh. It's not bitter. 5 T: Ok me too. I'll be nicer. 6.5. Meggie? {Meggie took the dog into the kitchen. No notes from Meggie} 7. Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin  M: Mmm, it's not a strong smell, but it's pleasing. J: It's more pumpkin forward than I'd expect to enjoy, but it's very well balanced. A bit heavier, but the balance is much better than the other strong pumpkin beers. 8! B: This is a favorite for me. Even with a slightly copper smell. 7. M: It should definitely be more than 55 degrees, but I like it! T: 55 degrees? M: Yea the recommended serving temperature on the bottle! 7. T: {laughing} Fair enough. I also say 7. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Then we all ate chinese food and played with Fritz!! Wahoo! Thanks for reading :) -------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. BONUS BEER REVIEW FROM BRANDON (our post sponsor): Pumking  We didn't have any of these on hand to share with Meg & Jonny, as I have to order + ship them from the east coast when B is on good behavior. But it wouldn't be a pumpkin beer review without this fan favorite....
B: This is so delish. 11 out of 10!!! T: Can you elaborate? B: It's my favorite!!! T: Yes. But why. B: IT'S SO DELISH!! T: Kay. B: Full disclosure: this contest was over before it even began. No beer can stand a chance against Pumking. EXTRA BONUS-BONUS TIP: A little splash of vanilla vodka makes it taste exactly like pumpkin pie. T: Well that was nice of you to sponsor us anyway! B: I know. In Gratitude, Trish
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