Bent Water Pumkin Lager

Bentwater Pumkin Lager is a Massachusetts-brewed lager from Esplanda, a seasonal-leaning style that pairs the clean, cold-fermented base of a lager with pumpkin and autumn spice character. The label spells it "Pumkin," so you'll find it under that name. No ABV or IBU is listed for this bottling, so treat the notes below as what to expect from the style rather than a measured profile. Lagers in the pumpkin category tend to keep the body light to medium and the finish crisp, which sets them apart from the heavier pumpkin ales. Expect a soft bready or lightly toasted malt backbone, a gentle squash-and-pie-spice aroma (cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove are the usual suspects), and low hop bitterness that stays out of the way. Because lager yeast ferments cleanly, the spice and malt read clearly without much fruity ester noise, and the finish usually dries out faster than a pumpkin ale's. Serve it cold, around 38 to 45°F. Closer to the cold end the spice stays restrained and the crispness leads, while a few minutes out of the fridge lets the malt and spice open up. A standard pint glass or a tulip-shaped pilsner glass works well, since the narrower opening concentrates the spice aroma and supports the head. At the table, it suits foods that echo or contrast its spice: roasted turkey, pork loin with apples, bratwurst and sauerkraut, sweet potato dishes, and aged cheddar or gouda. Its crisp finish also cuts through buttery, rich sides like stuffing and mashed potatoes, and it holds up beside a slice of pumpkin or apple pie without becoming cloying.