Written by: Robert Hodson, In-house Beer Connoisseur
Did you know that although it’s only been recently, say the past 8-10 years or so, Pumpkin ales have become very popular, the style has been in existence since Colonials first set foot on America’s soil? So how did it come about that pumpkin beers were discovered?
Beer was considered a staple in England at the time, and in fact, it was not uncommon for Europeans to consume more beer than water. When the first ships set sail from England to discover the New World, among the provisions was an ample supply of beer. This supply wasn’t meant for the settlers to take ashore when the boat landed, but rather to simply provide sustenance to the passengers and crew of the Mayflower over the course of the long voyage. The fact is, the sole reason the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock is simply because the ship’s crew didn’t feel like there was enough beer to get them back to England on the return trip. The original plan was to sail to the Hudson River, but bad weather and a dwindling supply of beer forced them to land near Cape Cod.
Early settlers upon arrival were most often given no beer, and for that matter, nothing really potable to drink. However, they did have some necessary equipment with which to brew, such as kettles. They also had some key ingredients such as hops. However, it would take some time to plant the seeds to grow barley, and the Colonists would need a ready substitute. The most common ingredient used was of course corn, which was in abundance. It wasn’t long before they discovered that pumpkins also provided the necessary ingredients to produce the desired alcohol, and thus resulted in the advent of the pumpkin ale.
Today’s versions likely have little or no resemblance to the earliest pumpkin ales. The Pumpkin ales today are certainly more refined with flavors reminiscent of pumpkin pie, and in a variety of styles. Southern Tier and Weyerbacher make an Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Sixpoint makes a fresh hop version, Cape Ann brews a Pumpkin Stout, Jolly Pumpkin (of all breweries) recently released their own version of the pumpkin ale – to no one’s surprise - it’s slightly tart, with a decidedly Jolly Pumpkin twist. Smuttynose, Cisco, Greenport Harbor, Heavy Seas, Nebraska, Wolaver’s, and Elysian all brew outstanding versions from which you can sample.
So the next time you are enjoying a pumpkin brew, remember to thank the Pilgrims!
