Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/205938
great tastes ~ Craft Beers Seasonal Craft Beer Selections: "pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere!" by Certified Cicerone® Jean-Marc Aubuchon Let's face it, these beers sell well, they're going to stay. Everyone take a moment say out loud, "Pumpkin beer is here to stay." Ok, now text your best friend and tell them "Pumpkin beer is here to stay." They will most likely text back, "Yeah man, I've been drinking it since August 1st." Welcome to pumpkin beer season, it seems to creep up on us earlier and earlier each year with beers hitting shelves late July in some cases and selling well into November. The number of breweries producing these offerings has increased dramatically over the past four years. The ever-popular Buffalo Bills Brewery in California had started the trend in the late 1980's and many breweries have since followed their lead. Wachusett Brewing, Southern Tier, Newport Storm, Brooklyn, Smuttynose and Cisco Brewers of Nantucket have all created this beer style and they all vary greatly from one another. I'd suggest picking up a few six packs of different breweries' pumpkin offerings and sharing with friends. This style varies hugely, each brewer creating their own unique twist on the seasonal favorite. "Many of my customers prefer the imperial, higher alcohol versions with some even being aged in bourbon barrels. They offer great flavor and are more of a real beer," comments Tom Powers of The Union Brewhouse in Weymouth. The history of pumpkin beer actually dates back to brewing in our very own South Shore coast beginning with the Pilgrims. These innovative brewers in search of flavor and sugar mostly, diced up pumpkins and threw them into the mash. Let's remember that 104