Raccoon River Brewing Company
Find it: 200 10th St. 362-5222; $4.25
On tap: Now
You can count on the same delicious pumpkin ale you’ve enjoyed at RRBC in autumns past—“like a slice of pumpkin pie,” says brewer Dave Coy. He was first inspired to brew it back in 1997 after he and his wife tasted variations “that kind of blew our mind” in Appleton, Wis., and Denver.
Coy’s secret ingredient: vanilla extract, “which is an important component to make it a little richer tasting than a spiced ale.” You’ll also taste cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and ginger. He uses real pumpkin, too, adding it to the mash. “You get a little of that flavor, but the majority of the flavor comes from the spices. What you’re tasting more than anything is our own interpretation of that spice character.”
