Day 7 — Howling Gourds Pumpkin Ale
Welcome to a special 10-day “TJ’s Quay” series where we hoist the main sail of autumn by reviewing Trader Joe’s hottest fall foods.
There are plenty of options to liquefy your pumpkin spice. As the coolio kids say you’ve got the Bux, the Kin, the Horts, the Kremes, the list goes on. They all have their respective followings and collectively enough sugar to shore up Florida’s coastline.
Looking for a liquid treat that won’t turn your teeth into a jack-o’-lantern?
Well as of this posting it’s… checks the time… 6:32… am… but on a Friday so it’s pumpkin o’clock somewhere. We’re all seasoned sailors here so you decide if/when you’re ready to crack open a Howling Gourds Pumpkin Ale along with me.
Flavor — 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 8/10
Amber. Spiced. Smooth.
The pumpkin ale is now a given for every brewery outside of yelling distance from the actual Oktoberfest. I assume it much easier for brewers to make a pumpkin beer than it is to set out seasonal decorations so let’s just call it a win-win.
Good ol’ Josephsbrau has done it again packing the whole spice season into each can. You’re first greeted with a beautiful, slighty more orange, amber as it pours from the can. You get light whiffs of cinnamon and clove even before your first sip.
As the liquid gold goes down the hatch, your taste buds get to enjoy what your eye buds and nose buds have already feasted upon. The flavors are well blended, noticeable but mellow, and without sweetness.
Pumpkin ales are a polarizing item on their own but if you like them, you’ll like this.
Ingredients — ?/10
We’re left sailing by moonlight here. There’s no ingredients list but they do share the only two things you do care about.
Up first, it has an IBU (International Bitterness Units) of 24 which is on the lower end of the 5-100+ scale. Most importantly, we really get sailing on the ABV (alcohol by volume) registering at a hearty 7%.
You’ll probably want to consume this at steerage way speeds. That’s not such a bad thing as its spiced essence doesn’t lend itself to many additional rounds anyway.
Value — 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 9/10
The combination of decades-long craft beer explosion and recent explosive inflation leaves me double-taking at beer prices these days. In the landscape of lagers there’s options as high as you’d like to pay. I even heard famed Dogfish Head Punkin Ale is now trading at a Krugerrand per can?!
The Trader will have none of that. Joe keeps his pricing modest and well below “name brand” craft beers. If you’re lucky, you might even find some loose ones — as I did — and just pay per can.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a pumpkin refreshment on these (still) warm afternoons, look no further. If you’re looking for a pumpkin refreshment on these (now) cool mornings, I won’t judge.