Drink of the Week: The Great Pumpkin, Elysian Imperial Pumpkin Ale

With autumn underway and pumpkin-flavored foodstuffs abounding, Seattle-based Elysian Brewery takes the reins in the beer department (even hosting the annual Great Pumpkin Beer Festival) with a full line of seasonal, squash-infused offerings. The Great Pumpkin is their imperial pumpkin ale, a brew that strikes the right balance of sweetness and spice with a crisp, bitter backbone. The bright, coppery ale is brewed with pumpkin and toasted seeds for a sweet, malty flavor up front complemented by classic pumpkin pie spices, while magnum hops and a boozier bite (8.4 ABV) keep it all in balance. The seasonal release is available in 22 oz. bottles or within the pumpkin sampler pack. See elysianbrewing.com for distribution.