Iron Hill – The Great Imperial Pumpkin Launch & Events

The Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Beginning October 1, The Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale will be sold in cork-finished 750 ml bottles for $19.50 at all nine Iron Hill locations in Newark, DE, Wilmington, DE , Media, PA, West Chester, PA, North Wales, PA, Phoenixville, PA, Lancaster, PA, Chestnut Hill, PA and Maple Shade, NJ. This seasonal beer was brewed with more than 200 pounds of pumpkins, as well as pumpkin pie spices, molasses and Belgian candi sugar, giving it a rich flavor and heady aroma, evocative of all things fall.

“This is a full bodied, intensely flavorful pumpkin beer, perfect for drinking on its own on a crisp autumn afternoon or pairing with the season’s heartier dishes,” says Director of Brewing Operations Mark Edelson.

Like many of Iron Hill’s Bottled Reserves before it, The Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale features a custom-designed label from local artist Jeff Schaller, this time inspired by the beloved comic strip Peanuts. Schaller frequently collaborates with Iron Hill; in addition to his fun, whimsical labels, he also created the signature wall murals at several Iron Hill locations.

Iron Hill North Wales: Pumpkin Month

(1460 Bethlehem Pike, 267-708-2000)

Friday, Oct. 5 Firkin Friday specials, including Reserve Pumpkin Ale on tap

Friday, Oct. 12 Special Reserve Flavored Pumpkin Ale on tap

Friday, Oct. 19 Pumpkin Cask Challenge: North Wales vs. Chestnut Hill for the Championship Belt

Saturday, Oct. 27 The Tapping of the Great Pumpkin, 4 to 9 p.m. This pay-as-you-go event will be held outdoors. Guests will enjoy six pumpkin beers on tap including: Pumpkin Ale, a full-bodied copper ale with balancing bitterness that is spiced with traditional pumpkin pie spices, instead of finishing hops; Vanilla Pumpkin Ale, aged with a half pound of Madagascar vanilla beans; Pumpkin Porter, Pig Iron porter aged with homemade pumpkin spice for a roasted chocolate and spicy pumpkin character; Brooklyn Brewery Post Road Pumpkin Ale, with hundreds of pounds of pumpkins blended into the mash of each batch for an orange-amber color and warm pumpkin aroma; and Wolaver’s Organic Pumpkin Ale, with subtle flavor of pumpkin and mild notes of spice; plus food specials, interactive games and prizes.

Iron Hill Phoenixville: Pumpkin Weekend

(130 Bridge Street, 610-983-9333)

On Friday and Saturday, October 26 and 27 from 12 noon until 10 p.m. daily, Iron Hill will host Pumpkin Weekend. In addition to the release of Pumpkin Ale, a full-bodied copper ale with balancing bitterness that is spiced with traditional pumpkin pie spices instead of finishing hops, the kitchen will prepare pumpkin specials such as: Roasted Pumpkin Soup with maple crème fraiche; Tempura Pumpkin Salad with arugula, goat cheese, spiced pecans, red onion and cocoa nib vinaigrette; Pumpkin and Shrimp Curry with basmati rice, Thai chiles, red onion and toasted coconut; Grilled Semi-Boneless Quail with apple-cranberry chutney and pumpkin broth; Stewed Lamb Shoulder with pumpkin cous cous, exotic mushrooms and pumpkin ale gravy; Pumpkin and Smoked Duck Ravioli with caramelized onions and butternut squash cream; Pumpkin Pie Spiced Salmon with corn bread stuffing, sautéed haricots verts, exotic mushrooms and sage cream; and Orange-Sweet Potato Cake with buttercream frosting and pumpkin crème anglaise. All pumpkin dishes will be available a la carte.

Iron Hill West Chester: The Gathering of the Gourds

(3 West Gay Street, 610-738-9600)

On Saturday, October 27 at 12 noon, guest brewers and their finest pumpkin beers will converge at the back bar in West Chester for the annual The Gathering of the Gourds. During this pay-as-you-go event, guests can order 12 different pumpkin beers and pumpkin beer samplers. At 3 p.m. a giant pumpkin, filled with beer, will be tapped. Costumes are strongly encouraged and guests in costume will earn free beer from the pumpkin “firkin.”

Featured beers will include:

· Iron Hill West Chester – Ichabod Imperial Belgian Pumpkin Ale

· Iron Hill West Chester – Punktoberfest

· Iron Hill West Chester – Bruce Camp-Ale

· Iron Hill West Chester – Pumpkin Ale

· Iron Hill Maple Shade – Imperial Pumpkin Ale

· Iron Hill Media – Pumpkin Berliner Weisse

· Brooklyn Brewery – Post Road Pumpkin Ale

· Elysian Brewing Company – Dark o’ the Moon Pumpkin Stout

· Elysian Brewing Company – The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale

· Elysian Brewing Company – Night Owl Pumpkin

· Otter Creek Brewing – Wolaver’s Organic Pumpkin Ale

· Stewart’s Brewing Company – Gourdzilla