Apple pie beer is a style of beer that tastes like the classic American dessert. It usually contains apple juice or apple flavoring, along with warm pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. The beer has a nice balance of fruit and spice flavors that evoke the experience of eating fresh apple pie. But who actually makes this tasty beverage? Let’s explore some of the breweries crafting apple pie beer.
New Belgium Brewing
One of the most widely available apple pie beers is New Belgium’s Fall Seasonal called Applespice. This beer is based out of Fort Collins, Colorado and was first released in 2015. It’s a brown ale brewed with apple juice and a blend of fall spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. The beer pours a slightly hazy deep amber color with a creamy off-white head. On the nose, you pick up fresh apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, and bready malt. Each sip brings those apple and pie spice flavors together in a very balanced way. Neither the fruit nor spices overpower. Instead, you get a nice warmth from the cinnamon and nutmeg blended with just the right amount of fresh apple sweetness and tartness. The body is on the thinner side for the style, making this one easy-drinking apple pie in a glass. This is one of the examples you’re most likely to find at your local craft beer store during the fall months.
Cigar City Brewing
Tampa, Florida’s Cigar City Brewing makes a beer called Good Gourd Imperial Pumpkin Ale that fits into the apple pie beer family. It’s brewed with pumpkin along with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, and lactose sugar. But they also add apple cider and pie spices, giving this beer the distinctive apple pie flavors. Good Gourd pours a hazy dark orange and is packed with pie spice aromas. Drinking it, you get a nice balance of fresh apple, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. The lactose addition helps give it a silky and creamy mouthfeel. Weighing in at 8.5% ABV, this is definitely a bigger bodied apple pie beer. It first debuted in 2011 and is now an annual fall seasonal release for Cigar City. If you see it on the shelf, grab it for the ultimate apple pie in a glass experience.
Revolution Brewing
Chicago’s Revolution Brewing makes a year-round apple pie beer called Fistmas. This brown ale is brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. But the key ingredient is fresh apple juice sourced from Michigan orchards. Fistmas pours a beautiful clear mahogany color with some creamy tan head. The apple and spice aromas hit you right away on the nose. Drinking it, you get fresh juicy apple flavor up front, followed by pie spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of vanilla. It’s medium-bodied and very well balanced between the fruit and spices. If you love apple pie, this beer is sure to satisfy your craving. As a year-round offering, it should be easier to find than some seasonal apple pie beers.
Thirsty Dog Brewing
Thirsty Dog is brewery located in Akron, Ohio, best known for its flagship Pumpkin Ale. But they also make an apple pie version called Barktoberfest. This autumn seasonal is amber in color with nice apple and mild spice aromas. The flavor profile features fresh apple, cinnamon, and brown sugar. It’s a malty, bready beer but with a light fruity apple taste. While not overly heavy on the pie spices, this a nice drinking apple pie-inspired ale. Thirsty Dog’s Barktoberfest is definitely worth checking out during the fall beer releases.
Seattle Cider Company
While most apple pie beers are ale or lager styles, Seattle Cider Company takes a different approach. Their Apple Pie Cider is obviously made with apples, but also includes classic pie spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and vanilla are added to create the apple pie flavor profile. It pours a cloudy amber cider with lots of warm, welcoming spice aromatics. The semi-sweet apple flavor really comes through, balanced by the pie spices and a hint of tartness. The mouthfeel is much lighter and crisper than the ale versions. Overall, this is a nice autumnal twist by using cider as the base for apple pie flavors. It comes in at 6.5% ABV.
Flying Fish Brewing
Located in Somerdale, New Jersey, Flying Fish Brewing makes a unique apple pie beer called Pie in the Sky. This is an American brown ale brewed with cinnamon, maple syrup, and apples. The local apple cider adds a fresh apple flavor and tartness to complement the pie spices. The beer pours chestnut brown with some orange hues and a fluffy off-white head. The aroma brings lots of cinnamon along with mild maple syrup and apple fruitiness. Drinking it you get the cinnamon and maple up front, transitioning to a fresh apple cider taste on the finish. Pie in the Sky’s flavor profile evokes thoughts of apple pie topped with maple glaze. This seasonal beer debuts in October and is a must-try for apple pie fans.
Urban Artifact
Coming out of Cincinnati, Ohio, Urban Artifact Brewing produces some delicious sour beer styles. One of their offerings includes Keypunch, a gose style ale brewed with apple pie spices. This hazy yellow beer is made with sea salt and coriander, with added cinnamon, nutmeg, and lactose. The lactose addition enhances the apple pie character and provides a silky body. Tart apple comes through on the palate along with hints of pie spice. This is a lighter, more refreshing take on apple pie beer as opposed to heavier ales. If you enjoy sour beers, Keypunch is a nice apple pie version to check out.
Conclusion
Apple pie beer brings together the comforting flavors of fresh apple and aromatic pie spices. Many craft breweries are creating their own unique takes – from hearty ales to light ciders and sours. Your best bet to find apple pie beers is during the fall season, but some breweries make them year-round. From New Belgium’s Applespice to Thirsty Dog’s Barktoberfest, Seattle Cider Company’s Apple Pie Cider and more, there are many options to satisfy your apple pie cravings. The next time autumn rolls around, grab a slice of apple pie in a glass!