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When August arrives the summer haters and sweater-weather lovers rejoice because all their favorite fall-flavored foods start to hit store shelves and the long-awaited return of the PSL is just that much closer. But one of the most exciting parts of fall, in our opinion, isn't the strange cinnamon-loaded sweets but the autumnal beers. It's just too bad that brewers of those beers are already having trouble getting pumpkin puree for their seasonal suds.
According to Draft Magazine, the pumpkin shortage from last year is affecting those trying to get their hands on pumpkins now. Basically, if you didn't get your order in early, you're out of luck.
The beer magazine reports that Nebraska Brewing Co., for example, was almost cheated out of pumpkin because its supplier was unexpectedly unable to fulfill the order 5,000 pounds of puree for the brand's iconic Wick For Brains pumpkin beer. Luckily, the brewer found a replacement at the last second.
While this may not spark an all-out shortage, smaller breweries are definitely feeling the pinch. Draft reports that the ingredients message board on the Brewers Association forum has been loaded with posts and comments from brewers who are scrambling for inventory. A common theme is that some breweries ordered enough pumpkin for a few batches beer and had the intention of ordering more down the line—until they were told the inventories were scarce. Some companies have had to contact dozens of suppliers before finding any coveted surplus pumpkin.
"I was able to patch it together this year and I referred this supplier to a couple other Virginia breweries that I'm friends with," Brian Nelson, head brewer at Virginia's Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, told Draft. "We'll be fine this year, but I know there are other small breweries scrambling. And I hear it's not only in the brewing industry but in the culinary industry as well."
So you might want to watch the shelves in the beer aisle and snatch up your favorite brews ASAP before they're long gone. Especially if you plan on making any pumpkin beer cocktails.
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