THE GIST
Juneau’s Alaskan Brewing Company is removing pumpkin beers from its fall release schedule. They'll instead release a coffee-infused Brown Ale created in partnership with Juneau-based roaster, Heritage Coffee Roasting Company. The beer garnered rave reviews when it was released in small quantities at last years Great American Beer Festival, and will be available from September until mid-November.
WHY IT MATTERS
Love them or hate them, we’re just weeks away from liquor store shelves being crammed to the gills with pumpkin beers. But earlier this year, Forbes reported that, come Spring, there was still a glut of gourd brews sitting unsold in many stores. Has America’s most traditional seasonal beer passed its saturation point?
America’s palate appears to be evolving, with people shifting away from easy drinking, malt-forward beers toward Goses and fruited IPAs. This move from Alaskan is indicative of the trending change, but it could also be an effort to stand out in what is perhaps an oversaturated sector of the craft beer market.
Pumpkin beer fans needn’t worry, though, as there will plenty of the stuff at a bottle shop near you soon. But it will be interesting to see if any other breweries decide to follow Alaskan’s lead.
—Matthew Curtis
READ MORE
Alaskan Brewing Eliminates Pumpkin Offerings from Fall Seasonal Lineup [Brewbound]
Pumpkin Beer Sales Go Flat, With Leftovers Lingering On Shelves Through Winter [Forbes]