Fall is right around the corner, and two local breweries are ready to welcome the flavors of the season — albeit a tad bit earlier than we may have expected.
Frisch’s Big Boy and Taft’s Brewing Co. have once again teamed up to bring back their beloved Pumpkin Pie Ale. The seasonal brew features notes of cinnamon, ginger, vanilla and nutmeg, “with a malty profile for a smooth, rich finish,” reads a release.
The ale is hitting Greater Cincinnati retailers this week, as well as regional cities including Columbus, Dayton, Lexington and Louisville.
“Taft’s and Frisch’s are back to brewing for the return of our full-bodied ale celebrating the world famous taste of Frisch’s Pumpkin Pie,” said Alison O’Keefe, Frisch’s VP of Marketing, in a release.
A local staple dessert during the fall season, Frisch’s has been seen selling their secret-recipe pumpkin pie for over half a century. Crafted in small batches in their Walnut Hills kitchen, the Cincinnati-based restaurant chain sells more than a million slices each year.
”We’re thrilled to again be partnering with local favorite, Frisch’s, on our delicious Pumpkin Pie Ale. These iconic flavors, combined with our hand-crafted beer, makes for a perfect ale as we head into fall,” says Dave Kassling, managing partner at Taft’s Brewing Co., in the same release.
If one squash-flavored local brew isn’t enough for you, you’re in luck. Oakley-based MadTree Brewing also recently released their pumpkin ale for the season. The popular Pumpcan spiced ale, which has not shown its festive face to the world since 2018, features “all the pumpkin pie flavors and spice without any actual pumpkin,” a Facebook post says, and has a 7.9% ABV.
Watch a video about the story behind Taft’s and Frisch’s Pumpkin Pie Ale below.
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This article appears in Jul 21 – Aug 4, 2021.