The Pumpkin King
"There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin." --Linus van Pelt
With Halloween a week away, if you haven’t done it already, it’s time to send a letter to the Great Pumpkin. All the Schultz fans know that on Halloween night, the Great Pumpkin rises from the sincerest pumpkin patch in the land to deliver gifts to all the good boys and girls. But as Linus learned every year, any sign of doubt in the Great Pumpkin’s existence will result in its absence for the year.
Pumpkins make an appearance on most menus this time of year and we’re glad they’ve become just as prominent on the savory side as the dessert side. But why aren't they on the beverage menu as well?
Pumpkin beer is the new reason to look forward to October and the tapping of the Great Pumpkin at Elysian’s annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival is what Linus should be getting excited about these days. While the festival took place two weekends ago, many of the pumpkin beers are still available at the three Elysian locations around town. In tasting various types of pumpkin beers, we’ve come to realize that many people don’t know the true taste of pumpkin. When most think of pumpkin, the flavor profile they imagine is that of pumpkin pie or more accurately, the spices associated with pumpkin pie. We think that’s where pumpkins get a bad rap, especially when it comes to beer. Pumpkins are a squash after all, and have a relatively mild flavor.
We realize that most home brewers aren’t likely to buy pumpkins with the purpose of fermenting them, so we’d like to suggest savory applications that aren’t so spice-heavy, such as pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin soup, or pumpkin risotto. So get cooking, grab a six-pack, and we’ll meet you out in pumpkin patch. And don’t forget to write a letter to the Great Pumpkin, just in case...oops.
