Night Owl Pumpkin Ale is brewed by Seattle-based Elysian Brewing Company and is its signature pumpkin ale as well as a pioneer of the craft pumpkin ale movement.
About Elysian
Elysian Brewing Company, founded in Seattle in 1996, is renowned for its experimental brews, distinct label art, and iconic Space Dust IPA, an 8.2% ABV/73 IBU IPA. It operates multiple Seattle-area brewpubs. Originally an independent brewery, Elysian was acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 2015.
First brewed in 1997, Night Owl (here I am writing about a fall classic in August) was the first commercial beer to incorporate pumpkin directly into the mash, kettle, and fermenter.
Brewed with seven and a half pounds of pumpkin per barrel and spiced with the classic pumpkin pie blend of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice, Night Owl has garnered the adulation of one, if not the best, pumpkin ales in the country and the standard for all of Elysian’s pumpkin beers.
Elysian Also Brews 29 Different Beers To Include:
- The Fix: A highly coveted Chocolate Coffee Imperial Stout brewed with Stumptown Coffee and aged on Theo Chocolate cocoa nibs. It is widely celebrated on RateBeer as one of their most exceptional dark beers.
- The Great Pumpkin: Known as the world’s first Imperial Pumpkin Ale. It boasts an 8.4% ABV and is packed with roasted pumpkin seeds, baking spices, and a healthy malt backbone.
- Dayglow IPA: An American IPA featuring a striking malt bill of pale and wheat malt, bursting with tropical Mosaic hops.
- Bifrost Winter Ale: A highly rated pale winter seasonal that strikes a perfect balance of warming alcohol and floral, hoppy bitterness.
About Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale
- Style: Pumpkin Ale Characterized by it’s color, nose and flavorful spices to include nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice.
- ABV: 6.7%
- IBU: 18
- Hops: Magnum
- Malt: Pale, Munich, Crystal, and Caramel malts.
- Appearance: Pours a deep orange (almost a tea color) with a thin head that quickly dissipates.
- Flavor Profile: Nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger.
- Mouthfeel: Flavorful front and long-lasting back-end with light carbonation.
- Food Paring: Maple-glazed pork chops, lamb stew, Pad Thai, soft salty pretzel with cheese, and a scoop of Haagen-Daaz vanilla ice cream.
Overall Impression: I have to be honest, I am not a big fan of pumpkin pie or deserts in general. That said, I am a big fan of Night Owl and have purchased and imbibed in their other pumpkin-based ales such as The Great Pumpkin, an Imperial pumpkin ale, Dark o’ the Moon, a pumpkin stout, and Punkuccino, a coffee pumpkin ale, all of which you can sample in Elysian’s Pumpkin Variety 12-pack. Just a heads up, Elysian’s pumpkin lineup is only available August through September but Night Owl is on the shelf as of this post. If you plan on trying it, I’d recommend you do so ASAP.
Hopinionated Rating 4.5/5.0
Sip or Skip – Sip
Community Reviews & Comments
- LIMPD: While still not a fan of the style, I expected a rather off-putting hodge-podge of spices and lingering aftertastes. Instead, I was presented with a very well-balanced and flavorful brew. The Night Owl was very easy drinking (my better half even liked it; high praise indeed!) and a pleasant diversion from my regular beer.
- Beejay: Not a bad beer, interesting fall flavors, but not spectacular either.
- running3dogs: The aroma was a big blast of pie spices, but with a telltale vegetal note. The palate was still robust, with a pleasing mix of spice and roasted malt. Have had the beer before and remember its flavors being more vibrant, but not that much dissimilar. Further proof that a higher-alcohol beer is better equipped to stand the test of time.
- Mikelikesbrew: Poured from a bottle into a glass. A very orange amber look with a light foamy head. An even aroma of pumpkin and spice. The taste is wonderful. This is how a pumpkin beer should be.
- kds2437: I compare pumpkin beers to Whole Hog…..and that’s a pretty high bar. This is a perfectly acceptable pumpkin beer. Malty, hint of pumpkin sweetness, mild all the way around. Nothing spectacular, but a good time for the most part, like your mom.
- based_guy: This is a great beer. I didn’t expect to be a big fan as I’m not a huge pumpkin type of guy, but I’ll be damned this beer is so smooth and hearty. Subtle notes of cinnamon pervade the pumpkin taste. It’s not overly pumpkinny what so ever and is actually quite bready. As we roll into fall, I’m going back to pickup a 6er of these.
- Brews with Beck YouTube
- KyBrewReview YouTube – I think that this review was the fourth one they conducted that day. A little bit in the sauce. Just for shits and grins, this review of the same beer was aired six years ago. See if you notice any difference from the first review.
Explore Similar Beers to Elysian’s Night Owl
- Dogfish Head Punkin Ale: A brown ale brewed with real pumpkin meat, brown sugar, and spices. It has a slightly higher ABV (typically around 7%) but balances the hearty, roasty flavor beautifully.
- Schlafly Pumpkin Ale: Widely considered a gold standard in the craft beer community for its massive, authentic pumpkin pie taste. It finishes with a rich, spiced sweetness.
- Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale: A lighter, crisper alternative with a heavy emphasis on cinnamon spice and a very smooth, easy-drinking body.
- Southern Tier Pumpking: A bolder option (8.6 ABV) that takes the pumpkin flavor to the extreme. It leans heavily into graham cracker, vanilla, and pie crust notes.
Have you tried Elysian’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale? If so, let us know what you think about it and we’ll include your comment in our Community Reviews and Comments section.
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Cheers!
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