Dogfish Head Punkin Ale: what it is and where to find it

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale is a autumn brown ale brewed with pumpkin, brown sugar and warming spices, and you can find it at CBC Liquors on Littleton Rd in Westford. Browse the full Dogfish Head range we carry, or read on for what the beer tastes like, how to serve it and how to get it.

What is Dogfish Head Punkin Ale?

DOGFISH HEAD PUNKIN ALE is a seasonal brown ale from Dogfish Head, the Delaware brewery known for off-centered recipes. Rather than starting from a pale lager or a hop-forward ale, it starts from a malty brown ale base and builds from there.

The pumpkin goes into the brew alongside brown sugar and the spices most people associate with pumpkin pie, such as cinnamon and nutmeg. The result is a beer that tastes of autumn without being a dessert in a glass.

If you have only tried pumpkin beers that taste mostly of cinnamon candy, this one is worth a look. The brown ale backbone keeps it grounded in malt, and that is what separates a pumpkin ale you finish from one you leave half-poured.

What does Dogfish Head punkin taste like?

Expect a toasty, malty beer first. Brown ales lean on roasted and caramelised grain, so you get notes of bread crust, light caramel and a little nuttiness before the spice arrives.

The pumpkin itself is gentle. Real pumpkin adds body and a faintly earthy sweetness more than a loud flavour, which is why the spice does most of the talking: cinnamon, nutmeg and similar warm notes, with brown sugar rounding off the finish.

It is not a hoppy beer and it is not sour. If you usually drink IPAs, think of it as the opposite end of the shelf: smooth, a little sweet, and built for cooler evenings.

How strong is Dogfish Head Punkin Ale?

Dogfish Head brews this one noticeably stronger than a standard session beer, at around 7 percent alcohol by volume. That is well above the roughly 4 to 5 percent of most lagers and pale ales.

It is worth knowing before you pour. A 12-ounce bottle of Punkin Ale carries more alcohol than a typical bottle of lager, so it suits a slower pace and a small glass rather than a long evening of refills.

As with any beer, check the label on the bottle in your hand for the exact figure, since recipes and vintages can shift slightly from year to year.

When and how should you drink it?

Punkin Ale is a fall beer, released for the season and best enjoyed while the weather turns. It works well around bonfires, Thanksgiving prep, football Sundays and cool evenings when a lager feels too light.

Serve it cool rather than ice cold. Straight from a fridge set very low, the spice and malt get muted. Give it ten minutes on the counter and pour it into a pint glass or a tulip so the aroma can open up.

Some people rim the glass with cinnamon sugar, which you can do if you like, though the beer does not need it. A good pour on its own already carries the spice.

What food goes well with pumpkin ale?

The malt and spice profile makes Punkin Ale a natural partner for roasted food. Think roast chicken, pork loin, sausages, squash soup and anything with sage or thyme.

Sharp cheddar and aged gouda also hold up well, since the beer's gentle sweetness balances the salt. For dessert, it sits comfortably beside apple crisp or a plain slice of pumpkin pie, though be careful not to pair sweet with sweet if you are already pushing dessert.

If you are hosting, one bottle is a talking point on a table that already has wine and cider on it. You can pick up the rest of the table from the beer shelves and the seasonal beers at the same visit.

Where can you buy Dogfish Head punkin in Westford?

CBC Liquors is at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886. We are open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

If you would rather not make the trip, we offer pickup during the same hours as the shop, plus delivery and shipping. Delivery runs Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. Our delivery areas page lists the towns we serve, including Chelmsford and Acton.

We are rated 4.7 out of 5 from 339 Google reviews, and with 4,596 products in stock across 1,886 brands, a Dogfish Head run is easy to combine with the rest of your list.

What else does Dogfish Head make that we carry?

Dogfish Head is not only a pumpkin brewery, and the shelf reflects that. DOGFISH HEAD 120 Minute is a very strong, heavily hopped India pale ale, one to sip slowly and in small pours.

DOGFISH HEAD RAISON D'EXTRA is a rich, strong brown ale brewed with raisins, closer to a sipping beer than a refreshing one. DOGFISH HEAD Affogato takes its cue from the Italian coffee and ice cream dessert, and suits those who like their beer dark and a little sweet.

The brewery also makes canned cocktails. DOGFISH HEAD Vodka Mule and DOGFISH HEAD Strawberry Vodka Lemonade are ready to drink, which makes them handy for guests who would rather skip beer. More of those sit in the ready-to-drink section.

What if you want more than one fall beer?

If one pumpkin ale is the start rather than the finish, a few other styles pair naturally with the season. Dark beer such as stout gives you roasted, chocolatey notes, while cider offers a lighter, crisper autumn option.

For a gathering, our guide to a 6 pack of beer in Westford explains how to put together a mixed pack that suits different tastes. It is a sensible way to try Punkin Ale next to a lager and an IPA without committing to a full case of one style.