Shipyard Brewing Smashed Pumpkin
Shipyard Brewing Smashed Pumpkin is Pumpkinhead's big brother — 9% ABV (18 proof), a 4-pack of 16oz cans, a big-bodied pumpkin ale brewed in Portland, Maine with real pumpkin and nutmeg over a malt bill of 2-Row British Pale Ale, malted wheat and Light Munich. Where most pumpkin beers whisper, this one — an imperial-strength take on the style — speaks up. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 9% (18 proof)
- Size: 4-pack of 16oz cans
- Style: Pumpkin ale — big-bodied, imperial strength
- Malts: 2-Row British Pale Ale, Malted Wheat, Light Munich
- Bitterness: 26 IBUs
- Origin: Shipyard Brewing Company, Portland, Maine, USA
Pumpkinhead's Big Brother
Shipyard, the family-owned Portland brewery founded in 1994, built its autumn reputation on Pumpkinhead Ale — and Smashed Pumpkin is the same idea at full volume. Real pumpkin goes into the brew (the brewery credits the pumpkin's natural tannin with balancing the fruit's sweetness), nutmeg leads the spice, and the higher original gravity gives the beer its coppery-orange body and warming 9% strength. The brewery pairs it with sharp cheeses, nuts, lamb and hearty stews, and chefs cook with it — braised short ribs are the house suggestion. Browse it among our craft beer shelves and the wider beer range, or see the brewery on the Shipyard Brewing vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Pumpkin and nutmeg, warm and inviting. Palate: Big-bodied and malty — pumpkin fruit sweetness held in check by tannin and spice, over the British pale and Munich malt base. Finish: Warming and smooth, the 9% ABV arriving as body rather than heat.
How to Enjoy
The brewery's own guidance: serve at 55 degrees Fahrenheit — cool, not ice-cold, so the pumpkin and spice open up. Pour it beside pumpkin pie or flan for the full autumn effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong is Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin? 9% ABV — imperial strength for a pumpkin ale, which is why Shipyard calls it Pumpkinhead's big brother. The bitterness is a mild 26 IBUs.
What size is Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin? This listing is a 4-pack of 16oz cans, the brewery's current package for the beer (it is also produced in kegs).
Is there real pumpkin in it? Yes — the brewery brews with real pumpkin and nutmeg, crediting the pumpkin's natural tannin with balancing the sweetness.
Autumn in a can, at imperial strength — order Shipyard Brewing Smashed Pumpkin online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.