Brewery: Southern Tier Brewing Co. | Location: Lakewood, NY
Style: Imperial Pumpkin Ale | ABV: 8.6% | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Every fall, a singular debate breaks out among craft beer drinkers: which pumpkin beer reigns supreme? For a huge portion of the country, the answer has been Southern Tier Pumking for nearly two decades. It’s the one that started the “pumpkin beer season” hysteria — and it still delivers.
Appearance
Pours a rich amber-orange with a creamy off-white head. It looks like autumn in a glass.
Aroma
Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and brown sugar hit you immediately. There’s a warm vanilla undertone and a lightly boozy sweetness that makes you want to settle into a flannel shirt.
Taste
Full-on pumpkin pie from the first sip. The spice blend is generous but expertly balanced against a rich, caramel malt base. The 8.6% ABV adds warmth without being hot. Long, spiced finish.
Mouthfeel
Full-bodied, lightly carbonated, and almost dessert-like in its richness.
Bottom Line
Pumking is not for the faint of heart or the pumpkin-spice skeptic — but if you’re in its corner, it’s the undisputed king of the style. Perfect on a cool October evening, ideally paired with actual pumpkin pie. A seasonal ritual.
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