Pure Michigan Pints

I Have a Confession I Am Ashamed of: I Apologize to the Beer Community

My hottest beer take yet.

[This is completely unsponsored. I received no compensation in any way—including merchandise or free beer—for writing this blog. All opinions are, therefore, my own and not affiliated with anybody else or any organization. However, unfortunate.]

We all have our dark secrets. Sometimes they’re not so much secrets as unpopular opinions—hot takes—we keep to ourselves because we know the judgement that revealing them will result in.

Many brewers and lovers of craft beer will be disappointed in me; it’s something heavily frowned upon and I’d like to apologize to the craft beer community as a whole.

There’s no easy way to say this … And this is my hottest beer take to date:

I love pumpkin beers.

I know all of the purists and REAL beer drinkers are shaking their heads at me. But I’m choosing to embrace fall (and Turkey Day) and with that the pumpkin beers that come with it. I’ll be ostracized from the beer community. Blacklisted from posting on Reddit, the Gram, and the Book. Brewers will warn others about me.

But … I like what I like. I happen to like pumpkin beers. I’m not saying I’m proud of this, but I have come to terms with this truth about my tastebuds.

Here are a few that tickle my pumpkin beer cravings (in no definite order or ranking):

Ichabod

New Holland Brewing— Holland, Michigan

This one’s been around for a bit. An amber ale base with pumpkin in it. It’s a light beer but with enough body and flavor to keep me satisfied. Having an amber base makes this one different than some of the other ones. While I tend to favor more of a blonde ale or cream ale base, this one hits just right.

Pro Tip: If you want to get wild with this one, make a “Filthy Pumpkin” : mix Dragon’s Milk, and Ichabod. (The ratio is really up to you here, but 50/50 works, or 60/40 favoring Ichabod.) This definitely kicks up the abv and makes a dark satisfying pumpkin beer.

Screamin’ Pumpkin

Griffin Claw Brewing Company— Birmingham, Michigan

This pumpkin ale is a tasty one that I enjoy yearly. Do I take it places? As with most of my pumpkin beer likes, this is a beer I enjoy in the privacy of my own home when nobody is over.

Their website describes it “like pumpkin pie in a can,” and this is very accurate. You get all the spices: the cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.

It doesn’t disappoint … if you’re into pumpkin beers. This one I get every year.

Bean Flicker Pumpkin Spice

Odd Side Ales — Grand Haven, Michigan

Do I think Odd Side Ales overplays their Bean Flicker varieties to capitalize on money? (For sure.) Do I think the original is better? (In pretty much all cases.) Am I still a sucker and going to buy every kind of variety of Bean Flicker I see? (More than likely.)

If I deserve hatred for liking a pumpkin beer, this one is it. It has “pumpkin spice” in the title and a part of me hates myself for liking it. (Well, and some of the other Bean Flicker variants that only come across as gimmicks at this point—and, yes, I still try them.)

Conclusion

I understand if I’m ostracized from the beer community and my opinions no longer seem relative. And to be clear: I do truly believe pumpkin spice can go too far this time of the year; I’ve seen it on popcorn and even in goat cheese. There should be limits and laws on what we allow as a society.

I’ll be honest, the pumpkin beers do it during the fall for me and prep me to get ready for stout season.

Thanks for barring with me this far (if you didn’t skim). I hope this blog wasn’t too offensive.