Herbed or spiced beer is nothing new! In ancient times, before hops were used to make beer, brewers used other plants to flavor and bitter their beers. Since hops are the most commonly used flavoring and bittering ingredient in beer today, the use of herbs, plants and spices can add unique and unfamiliar flavors to beer.
Modern herbed or spiced beers may be brewed with or without hops. If there’s hopping, it’s typically quite mild to allow the other ingredients to shine through. Herbed beers or spiced beers cover the full range of color and can be special, customized recipes, or more traditional styles with the simple addition of herbs or spices.
ABV range: 5-12% IBU: 5-65
Popular Pumpkin Ale-style beers: Dogfish Head Midas Touch, Chateau Jiahu and Theobroma; Rogue Juniper Pale Ale; Left Hand Good Juju; Coney Island Albino Python Lager; Yards Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce Ale; Bison Organic Gingerbread Ale
Serving Temperature: Cool, 46-54°
Cheese Pairing Ideas: Soft, mild cheeses including Chèvre, Mozzarella
Food Pairing Ideas: The base beer style is a factor, but general pairings include Asian entrees, spicy dishes, baked seafood, chicken and turkey
