Situated in the land of mainstream lagers, Schlafly Beer takes a different path, producing a wide range of distinctive, characterful beers for a burgeoning army of devotees. Blasting out of the glass with mounds of bright, assertive spices, Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale is a big, warming beer from St. Louis’ largest independent brewer. Boasting an 8 percent ABV, this brew fills the room with warm aromas of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg, all backed up by an elegant, refined caramel note. Tom struggled to find the pumpkin, but dug deep enough to pull it from the assertive cinnamon and nutmeg aromas, opining that the “nose lacked sufficient pumpkin to be a pumpkin beer.” Scintillatingly clear, glowing a rich, burnished copper, and blessed with a profusion of tiny bubbles and densely foamy head, this beer is sheer beauty in a glass. Bold spice flavors assert themselves over the malt and pumpkin, though they don’t overpower. Pete enjoyed the rich, warm spiciness of the cinnamon and nutmeg and its balance against the pumpkin’s nutty, slightly sweet flavor. Yet, he felt the beer “fell a little flat overall” as a pumpkin beer. The pronounced alcohol heat caught Rick by surprise, but he did like how it worked with the spices, finding the effect “much like chilled cinnamon schnapps.” Perfect for cool weather, this spicy brew is the ideal finishing touch to any hearty meal.