Pumpkin & Fall-Flavored Brews To Spice Up Your Autumn

Never be ashamed or try to hide your tried and true love for pumpkin-flavored bites and beverages. It's an unavoidable yearly craze that hits coffee shops, groceries, bakeries and breweries nationwide. 

Luckily, Sarasota is on always board with the pumpkin-spiced hype and offers a few special release seasonal brews for craft beer lovers to enjoy during our balmy autumnal equinox. Head to these breweries and cafes to get your pumpkin fix in liquid form while they're on tap! Cheers to giving them pumpkin' to talk about! 

99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop

In Downtown Sarasota, find 99 Bottles' 34 rotating taps including an entire wall-to-wall shelving unit of hard-to-find bottles and cans for retail purchase. Every season, jump on their selection of seasonal pumpkin beers to enjoy onsite or to-go. As of now, the cult-favorite Pumking Pumpkin by  Southern Tier Brewing Co is on tap featuring a pumpkin puree-flavored ale with spices and coffee notes. Opt for your glass to be dipped with a cinnamon sugar rim and topped with a cinnamon donut. For those that need to stock up and are feeling the fall vibes, grab some pumpkin beer in cans to take with you. Draught beers are offered while supplies last and are rotated out once the kegs are kicked. 

Motorworks Brewing

Down in Bradenton, the award-winning brewery not only boasts Florida's largest beer garden, but also a seasonal special on draft called Hiya Gourdle, featuring sweet pumpkin flavors derived from 100 pounds of dehydrated pumpkin, ethically sourced Saigon cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and fresh galangal (a Thai ginger-like root). The beer is hazy auburn in color with a medium-heavy body, floral aromas of star anise and fresh, spicy cinnamon with a smooth finish. Don't be fooled with its decadent flavors, as this craft brew has a higher ABV than you'd think! For something a touch lighter, opt for the Oktoberfest Märzen.

Scullers Draft House

Up at Univerity Town Center, find an unassuming local hangout with an impressively festive craft draft list on tap. From Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier and Edmund's Oast Oktoberfest Marzen to Cigar City Cider Mead Homemade Apple Pie and Keel Farms Pumpkin Pie Cider, there is no shortage of malty aromas and sweet fall flavors to sip on at Scullers during a game of darts or catching up with co-workers or friends.

Dearborn Coffeehouse & Bakery

Venture down to Englewood to the rebranded coffee shop and bakery located on happening Dearborn Street. The cozy morning joint offers a variety of scratch-made pastries and muffins, including a seasonal pumpkin muffin with a vanilla bean drizzle, pumpkin white chocolate scones and whole pumpkin bread loaves available for takeaway. If there's a bit of chill in the air, or you're just feeling in the mood for fall, opt for decadent drink specials, like Snickerdoodle Latte, Maple Cinnamon Latte or Apple Pie Latte Macchiato. 

Palma Coffee

Shifting gears from beer to coffee, there's a hidden stripmall gem that is worth every bit of the journey to check out its specialty seasonal menu of lattes for fall. Palma's fall-festive recipes include Brujeria, a spiced apple cider, cold brew and ginger beer concoction, as well as The Acer, infused with organic maple syrup, pumpkin spices, your milk of choice and a hazelnut crunch. Grab a fresh pastry and listen to some old-school vinyl to get your early fall morning in check.

Clever Cup

Over in Gulf Gate, find a longtime local staple known for its fun with seasonal specials. This fall, Clever Cup's Chaider is back, the house apple cider chai, made either iced or hot. With notes of cinnamon, apple and chai spices, this is the perfect drink to sip on in the crisp mornings or warm afternoons of Florida's fall. For pumpkin lovers, try the Pumpkin Caramel Latte paired with a homemade muffin, or, if cold brew is your jam, top off your beverage with the seasonal pumpkin cold foam!

Big Top Brewing Co. 

With a new, expanded Sarasota location, enjoy a cool autumn evening on the large outdoor beer garden of Big Top or within its circus-themed interiors. Get your fall fix at the longtime Sarasota brewery while playing cornhole or taking in the fantastical murals. A higher-than-norm ABV % can be found in a can of Pumpkin Stiltskin Ale, brewed with the flavors of baked pumpkin, cinnamon, roasted honey, brown sugar and fresh vanilla beans. Seasonal, limited-release beers are often only monthly releases and rotate out with limited supply. 

Buddy Brew Coffee

This beloved pup-friendly Tampa-based coffee shop is once again offering its annual spiced pumpkin lattes – hot or iced – with a slice of pumpkin bread. This elite combo couldn't get any more seasonal hype! Find the nearest Buddy Brew on Palm Ave in Downtown Sarasota—and yes, dogs are most definitely allowed!