MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — Even though it's August, O'Fallon Brewery in Maryland Heights has found a way to bottle up fall and box up cooler weather. It might seem crazy to some, but it's already that time of year for pumpkin beer.
Head Brewer Brian Owens said, "I'm one of those people, I'm the guy who waits for the weather to cool off before I drink pumpkin. But you'd be surprised at how many people would drink pumpkin on a 100 degree day in July. So August 1 is the target for us to have pumpkin available in the marketplace."
Pumpkin beer is only around for a few months.
He said, "I know people that stock up for the year. There are people opening pumpkin bottles in May. Just because they bought cases to last them through to the next pumpkin season."
The demand for it is huge. In fact, it's the most popular seasonal beer made by O'Fallon Brewery in Maryland Heights.
He said, "Every year, it amazes me how people still are ready for pumpkin to come out sooner and sooner."
O'Fallon Brewery's original pumpkin beer and vanilla pumpkin beer are available in six packs.
He said, "Right when you think there's nothing else you can do with pumpkin, we find another way to put it into another beer style."
So this year, they brought back the ever popular Pumpkin Pack, which allows you to sample four varieties of pumpkin beer.
Brian said, "Just so happens to be one of hardest projects to put together because it's a hand assembled package."
You'll find the Jack O' latte in the pack which is a coffee cream stout.
He said, "It's like a pumpkin latte."
There's also the Great Pumpkin, a Belgian style whit.
He said, "Pumpkin, orange peel, cinnamon, so it has traditional Belgian whit character with a little pumpkin spin on it."
And then the most interesting beer in this year's sampler pack is called Salted Caramel Pumpkin Beer.
He said, "It's literally like a liquid salted caramel candy. So nice balance between salt and balance from sugar. Liquid dessert in a bottle."
Get your pumpkin fix while you can because it won't be here for long.
45 Progress Pkwy Maryland Heights, MO
Pumpkin Fest: 9/291-5 PM
A chance to sample a variety of pumpkin beers from O'Fallon Brewery and other breweries.
