PSL AF: Pumpkin spice makes its way to this mouthwatering non-alc craft beer
/Let the beer’s warm flavours of cinnamon and nutmeg spice up your glass – and your table.
Pumpkin bread pudding with Libra Pumpkin Spice Ale-soaked raisins, drizzled with a caramel cream sauce. (Antoine Tedesco)
As summer turns to fall, we think of leaves changing colour, pies and pumpkins.
For those who enjoy the orange gourd, pumpkin beer is another option in addition to soups, stews, coffees, and pies.
Just in time for the cooler weather, Prince Edward Island’s Libra Craft Brewing has released its Pumpkin Spice Ale.
“We started to look at what it would take to make a non-alcoholic craft beer because we started to see, not only in ourselves but the people around us, that people were choosing to drink less,” said Mitch Cobb, CEO and Co-Founder of Upstreet Craft Brewing, Libra’s parent brewery. “Libra is really for everyone.”
The Pumpkin Spice Ale pours burnt amber in colour with a light head that quickly disappears. You get subtle hints of cinnamon and a trace of nutmeg. The flavour is sweet with mild notes of pumpkin pie spices and a hint of salt. The body is smooth, light and not overtly beer-like.
As temperatures drop, comforting drinks and hearty meals make us feel cozy and relaxed. Unique non-alcoholic beers like Libra’s Pumpkin Spice Ale are an exciting addition to anyone’s beer fridge. Not to mention, a wonderful addition to the dinner table.
The aromas and flavours of pumpkin ales go very well with many dishes—from rich stews and slow-cooked meats to fall desserts like apple pie and bread pudding. The flavours of nutmeg, cinnamon, all-spice, and ginger found in fall desserts are heightened by similar spices in the pumpkin ale.
For this review, pairing the beer with a pumpkin spiced bread pudding was a hit at Thanksgiving. The beer’s crispness helped cleanse the palette, allowing the spices to shine with each bite, while its subtle sweetness balanced the warmth of the spices.
Libra non-alcoholic craft beers are available at Well.ca
