All the Foods You Should Be Pairing with Pumpkin Beer

Get the best Food Network recipe to pair with your favorite fall brew.

Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie

Photo by: Tara Donne

Tara Donne

It’s October and that means pumpkin beer is on the menu. We asked experts from breweries around the country for their dish recommendations when it comes to dining with this seasonal brew. The options are diverse, so there’s sure to be something for everyone. Next time you pick up a pumpkin-flavored six pack, add ingredients for these recipes to your cart, too.

This Thanksgiving classic brings out the nutty flavors in pumpkin beer, according to Devon Poulos, executive chef at Growler USA. “Plus, it has a crunchy element and you could even incorporate pumpkin beer into the filling,” she says. Try Ree Drummond’s five-star recipe if you’re not sure where to start.

Rogue brewmaster John Maier pairs his favorite pumpkin ale with savory stuffed mushrooms. “Nothing says fall in Oregon like mushrooms, especially when stuffed with blue cheese and a little sage to brighten it up,” he says. Giada De Laurentiis’s stuffed mushrooms are grilled with gorgonzola and sausage.

Scott Vaccaro, founder of Captain Lawrence Brewing Co., loves to pair pumpkin beers with chocolate cheesecake. “I think that the spices and the chocolate go great together,” he says, since the flavors in most pumpkin beer are based on pumpkin pie spice, not actual pumpkin. This Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake is the ultimate dessert for chocolate (and now pumpkin beer!) lovers.

Devin O’Brien, freak chief and certified cicerone of Coney Island Brewing Co., goes with chicken and waffles when he wants to pair pumpkin beer with something unexpected. “The pumpkin and caramel-like sweetness in our beer would complement the waffles really nicely, and cut through some of the greasy richness of fried chicken.” This recipe from Food Network Kitchen is a classic.

Photo by: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Brian Kennedy, 2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

It’s time to break out the slow cooker and this time you can pair dinner with a pumpkin beer. “Slow-cooked meats have a savory, nutty, caramelized character that compliments the malt forward flavors of most pumpkin beers,” says Andrew Gerson, chef and head of culinary programming for Brooklyn Brewery. This Slow-Cooker Pot Roast is always a hit on busy weeknights.

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

There’s nothing like a warm cup of chili on a crisp fall day and it’s perfect when paired with pumpkin beer. “The mild spice profile of the chili is balanced perfectly with the notes of cinnamon and nutmeg featured in the Pumpkinhead ale,” says David Squillante, general manager and chef at Shipyard Brewing Company. We love Bobby Flay’s recipe.

Spicy curry contrasts the sweet flavors in pumpkin ale. “The spices balance each other without creating a spice overload,” says Al Marzi, Harpoon Brewery’s chief brewing officer. Rachael Ray’s recipe for soup is ready in less than 30 minutes.

Photo by: Tara Donne ©FOOD NETWORK : 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

Tara Donne, FOOD NETWORK : 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

“Anything that mom makes in the fall would pair well with pumpkin beer,” says Patrick Carroll, executive chef at Three Notch'd Craft Kitchen and Brewery. For sweeter beers, he recommends a classic apple pie. This recipe from Food Network Kitchens is a fan-favorite with more than 100 reviews and 4.5 stars.

Brad Cooper, founder of Steam Bell Beer Works draws inspiration from where pumpkins originally come from: Mexico, which is why he pairs pumpkin beer with Mexican cooking. “Mole negro is traditionally prepared with spices such as cinnamon and clove that are also found in many pumpkin beers,” he says. Guy Fieri’s Mole Negro Grilled Chicken is a reason to break out your grill pan this fall.

060816_All-Star Pumpkin Recipes

Photo by: David Malosh

David Malosh

The team at Sam Adams loves to pair their pumpkin beer with savory pumpkin ravioli. Ree’s recipe couldn’t be easier. It calls for wonton wrappers so you don’t have to worry about rolling out fresh pasta.

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