What is The Pumpkin Beer Tour?

The Pumpkin Beer Tour is an annual event conceived by Scott Muoio during the waning months of summer 2005 and held during the greatest season of them all: autumn. It has so far been held twice in Boston, Massachusetts on October 25, 2005 and October 6, 2006 and five times in Seattle, Washington on November 02, 2007, October 17, 2008, October 17, 2009, October 23, 2010, and October 22, 2011. Satellite Pumpkin Beer Pub Crawls have also been held in Boston and Cambridge, MA by Chris Corde and Kristen Bourgault, respectively, in 2008 and 2009. Kristen has hosted Pumpkin Beer House Parties in Wallingford, Connecticut in 2010 and 2011,

Why a pumpkin beer tour?

The idea for The Pumpkin Beer Tour came to Muoio after realizing his beloved pumpkin beers might actually be better enjoyed at a bar or with friends rather than at home alone in front of the television. By combining his love of pumpkin brews with social interaction as well that disappearing institution, the bar crawl, the table was set for this most unique and entertaining event.

Are there really that many pumpkin beers?

Indeed! While the big name breweries originally ignored the trend you can now find both craft breweries as well as the giants churning out this great seasonal beer. They may be hard to find in certain parts of the country, but no doubt they are steadily gaining in popularity with each passing year. Some notables I've encountered on the Boston scene include Shipyard Pumpkinhead, Rock Bottom Pumpkin Ale, Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, Post Road Pumpkin Ale, and Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. Favorites on the Seattle scene include a variety of Elysian brewery concoctions, Big Time Brewery's Hopgoblin Pumpkin Ale, Elliott Bay Brewery's Mashing Pumpkin, and of course, "the liquid caramel sensation," Southern Tier's Imperial Pumking Ale.

Are there many bars that carry pumpkin beer?

Finding bars that serve pumpkin beer is by far the most challenging aspect of our tour. As if it isn't difficult enough trying to find eight fun and different bars within walking proximity of one another, throw in the pumpkin beer factor and total pandemonium ensues. My outlook on the matter is that there are definitely bars out there serving pumpkin beer, you just have to ask around.

What if a stop on the tour doesn't serve pumpkin beer?

Ahhhh, the "what if" scenario. Listen: this tour is first about having fun, second about getting out and seeing the town, and third about enjoying some seasonal refreshment. With that in mind, we do our best to enjoy pumpkin beer at each stop. However, a bar not serving pumpkin beer isn't the end of the world or our tour especially when many Oktoberfest brews can easily take their place and often must. Equally capturing the fall season, Oktoberfests are always our second choice and definitely keep with the seasonal theme.

Can I pass on ordering a pumpkin beer?

Of course! More than anything, we want all our revelers to enjoy themselves. That means if you want to order a water or a cola or even a Coors Light, go right ahead. We're a team, dammit, and that means we look out for one another. And since there's nothing fun about a sloppy drunk we support any choice you make.

Can I meet you partway through the tour? Can I leave the tour early?

No problem. The most enjoyable aspect of The Pumpkin Beer Tour is the element of surprise. You never know what beer you'll be sampling next or who you'll be enjoying it with. Over the years we've enjoyed a plethora of revelers stopping by at all points of the tour. Some go start to finish. Some meet for a drink before dashing off to another party. And still others just come whenever they can. While the tour does have a specific route it will take there are absolutely no rules on when or where you have to join or leave. In other words, feel free to pop in and out at your leisure. I pesonally follow a strict "one and done, let's move on" philosophy, but it's all up to you!

What's this business about doing the tour from your house?

When I moved from Boston to Seattle in 2007 I kept the pumpkin beer train rolling. Unfortunately, finding pumpkin beers at bars in The Emerald City was an enormous challenge. My compromise: if I can't bring the people to the pumpkin beer, bring the pumpkin beer to the people. With that, I hit up every store and brewery in town and stock piled my refrigerator and closet with an immense selection of as many pumpkin brews as I could find. I then invited everyone I knew to join me for a tasting and the chance to vote for their favorites. It has been, without a doubt, an enormous success and has created a new path for The Pumpkin Beer Tour.

How do I get on board the pumpkin train?

Check this website for details regarding all future pumpkin beer tours but do expect the tour to take place sometime in October or November. You can also always contact Scott Muoio if you have any questions or ideas about past, present, or future tours. I'm all ears!