From the grape vines, we have ventured into the hop vines. In recent years, Long Island has seen a surge in microbreweries. This in combination with the soaring popularity of pumpkin ale offers rewarding tasting possibilities this fall. Pumpkin ales are brewed with cut up pumpkin thrown into the batch, enhanced with pumpkin pie spices that may include cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves and/or nutmeg. Some brew masters use roasted pumpkin, which deepens the pumpkin flavor. The choice of malts used can result in sweet undertones of caramel or molasses, and while most pumpkin ales boast only subtle hop bitterness, some brewers have experimented with amping up the hop flavor. Each brewery and brewpub generates its own variation of the autumnal beer, and a tasting tour of Long Island's finest awaits.
Greenport Harbor Brewing Company has formulated the most unique and flavorful rendition of pumpkin ale. The brew is aptly named Leaf Pile, a title that immediately evokes visions and scents that teleport one back to those childhood tackles into a freshly raked pile of colorful fallen leaves. The aroma is reminiscent of gingerbread, pumpkin pie and an autumn leaf potpourri. With hints of ginger, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg, this beer rivals most pumpkin ales.
Long Ireland Beer Company in Riverhead serves up their pumpkin ale with or without the crusty brown sugar coating on the rim of the glass.
Boo Brew is the creation of Port Jeff Brewing Company, made with organic pumpkin, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg and other fall spices. Boo Brew can be sampled from draft, or purchased in growlers.
At Southampton Publick House, the pumpkin ale is excellent, with a sweet malt flavor and a hint of vanilla.
Blue Point Brewing Company also bottles a seasonal pumpkin ale. It seems that everyone is riding the pumpkin ale bandwagon in a quest to capture the essence of autumn in a glass. John Harvard's Brewery and Ale House in Lake Grove offers a coveted pumpkin ale that is brewed on the premises and served in a thick cinnamon-brown sugar rimmed glass. Brick House Brewery and Restaurant also brews pumpkin ale. Finally, those willing to take their pumpkin ale taste comparisons a bit west, be sure to give Brooklyn Brewery's Post Road Pumpkin Ale a try. Finally, the Crooked Ladder Brewing Company opened its doors this summer, and fans awaited with anticipation to see if this one also pours their unique rendition of the gourd-influenced brew this fall. The wait has been rewarded by the release of Crooked Ladder’s Outta My Vine Pumpkin Ale.
Last, but certainly not least, a round of congratulations is in order for the crew over at Great South Bay Brewing Company in Bayshore. Their Smashing Pumpkin ale took a bronze medal win at this year's Great American Beer Festival. Roasted pumpkin, malted barley, cascade hops and a pinch of cinnamon and cloves created this victorious seasonal brew.
Whether you're passing through en route to the next farm stand or simply making it your mission to collect tasting notes as you compare the different local pumpkin ales, take a time out, pull up a bar stool and treat your palate to the comfort of pumpkin, autumn pie spices, caramel and molasses, all in the form of a refreshing beverage. Seize the day, however; pumpkin ales disappear after Thanksgiving as the last autumn leaves blow past along the chilling winds.
Greenport Harbor Brewing Company has formulated the most unique and flavorful rendition of pumpkin ale. The brew is aptly named Leaf Pile, a title that immediately evokes visions and scents that teleport one back to those childhood tackles into a freshly raked pile of colorful fallen leaves. The aroma is reminiscent of gingerbread, pumpkin pie and an autumn leaf potpourri. With hints of ginger, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg, this beer rivals most pumpkin ales.
Long Ireland Beer Company in Riverhead serves up their pumpkin ale with or without the crusty brown sugar coating on the rim of the glass.
Boo Brew is the creation of Port Jeff Brewing Company, made with organic pumpkin, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg and other fall spices. Boo Brew can be sampled from draft, or purchased in growlers.
At Southampton Publick House, the pumpkin ale is excellent, with a sweet malt flavor and a hint of vanilla.
Blue Point Brewing Company also bottles a seasonal pumpkin ale. It seems that everyone is riding the pumpkin ale bandwagon in a quest to capture the essence of autumn in a glass. John Harvard's Brewery and Ale House in Lake Grove offers a coveted pumpkin ale that is brewed on the premises and served in a thick cinnamon-brown sugar rimmed glass. Brick House Brewery and Restaurant also brews pumpkin ale. Finally, those willing to take their pumpkin ale taste comparisons a bit west, be sure to give Brooklyn Brewery's Post Road Pumpkin Ale a try. Finally, the Crooked Ladder Brewing Company opened its doors this summer, and fans awaited with anticipation to see if this one also pours their unique rendition of the gourd-influenced brew this fall. The wait has been rewarded by the release of Crooked Ladder’s Outta My Vine Pumpkin Ale.
Last, but certainly not least, a round of congratulations is in order for the crew over at Great South Bay Brewing Company in Bayshore. Their Smashing Pumpkin ale took a bronze medal win at this year's Great American Beer Festival. Roasted pumpkin, malted barley, cascade hops and a pinch of cinnamon and cloves created this victorious seasonal brew.
Whether you're passing through en route to the next farm stand or simply making it your mission to collect tasting notes as you compare the different local pumpkin ales, take a time out, pull up a bar stool and treat your palate to the comfort of pumpkin, autumn pie spices, caramel and molasses, all in the form of a refreshing beverage. Seize the day, however; pumpkin ales disappear after Thanksgiving as the last autumn leaves blow past along the chilling winds.