Dogfish Head's Punkin Ale returns to glow in the dark
Dogfish Head announces the return of Punkin Ale, the brewery’s iconic, fall-favorite brown ale brewed with real pumpkin meat, brown sugar and spices.
The perfect beer to warm up with as the weather cools, Punkin Ale is chock-full of spicy notes of cinnamon, brown sugar and pumpkin, with enticing aromas of cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. At 7.0 percent ABV, Punkin Ale is now available nationwide in 6pk/12oz bottles with limited-edition, glow-in-the-dark packaging.
“The annual return of our Punkin Ale is a seasonal ritual I always look forward to, way more than turning back the clock an hour. The spicy, earthy aromatics of this big brown ale and the reddish-golden hue of the liquid itself looks and tastes like vibrant, autumnal foliage squeezed into your pint glass. It’s the perfect accompaniment for a hearty dinner or a sunset hike,” said Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head founder and brewer. “When I first home-brewed what is now Punkin Ale nearly 27 years ago, before the inception of Dogfish Head, I never imagined it would one day become a well-loved, seasonal staple for craft beer fans from coast to coast. Each year’s re-release is truly a heartwarming reminder of Dogfish Head’s off-centered journey.”
First brewed in 1994, Punkin Ale gets its name from a legendary East Coast event, the World Championship Punkin Chunkin. The event not only brought people from around the world to see who could hurl a pumpkin the farthest, but also featured a pumpkin-themed baking competition, in which Punkin Ale claimed first prize. “It was actually kind of comical to watch my home-brewed pumpkin beer beat out all these beautiful, decadent pumpkin-themed desserts – cakes, pies, cookies and more,” said Calagione. “I don’t think a beer had ever been entered into the contest, let alone been chosen as the winner, but folks were really diggin’ it, so I knew I was onto something!”
Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale made its commercial debut in 1995 and has been re-released every year since. The beer’s original recipe remains unchanged to this day, but as part of the brewery’s Off-Centered Art Series, Punkin Ale’s label artwork gets a yearly refresh. Highlighting the work of a different guest artist each year, Dogfish Head’s Off-Centered Art Series is an annual collection of four beers that celebrates the creativity found at the intersection of art and ales.
The lively lineup of label artwork seen throughout the brewery’s 2021 Off-Centered Art Series features the illustrative skills of Ryan Besch, a designer known for his more than 20 years of work creating gig posters and vinyl art for notable names like Phish, the Black Keys, O.A.R. and more. Besch’s rendition of the Punkin Ale label sets an eerily exhilarating scene, as a comic book-esque character with a pumpkin for a head is electrified with the shockingly wonderful flavors of Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale. For an even spookier experience, drinkers are encouraged to turn off the lights and watch as their 6pks are illuminated by glow-in-the-dark goodness.
To learn more, go to dogfish.com.
