Malt aroma & flavor
Can vary from low to medium-high depending on the underlying style
All Origin Hybrid/Mixed Lagers or Ales
Pumpkin Spice Beer
Mixed / specialty · Can vary from pale to very dark depending on the underlying style
What to expect
Can vary from low to medium-high depending on the underlying style
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
5–50
Pale / strawBlack
Can vary from pale to very dark depending on the underlying style · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
2.5–12.0%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
5–35
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 51 · PDF page 60. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
None to medium and, if present, in harmony with spice, pumpkin or squash, and other attributes.
Perceived bitterness
Low to medium-low
Body & mouthfeel
Varies with underlying style
Clarity
Clear to hazy is acceptable
Color
Can vary from pale to very dark depending on the underlying style
Fermentation characteristics
Typical of underlying beer style
Additional guideline notes & competition context
These are any beers using pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) or winter squash as an adjunct in either the mash, kettle, primary or secondary fermentation. Pumpkin or squash may not be present or may range from subtle to intense. They are spiced with other ingredients whose character should be present and in balance. While cinnamon, allspice, clove, and nutmeg are common spices added to American-type pumpkin beers, other spices may be used. For example, a brewer could replicate a Wit-Pumpkin spiced beer by using orange peel and coriander. When using these guidelines as the basis for evaluating entries at competitions, brewers may be asked to provide supplemental information about entries in this category to allow for accurate evaluation of diverse entries. Such information might include the underlying beer style upon which the entry is based, or other information unique to the entry such as spice(s) used, pumpkin or squash used, if any, and related processing or other factors which influence perceived sensory outcomes.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.030-1.110 (7.6-25.9 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.006-1.030 (1.5-7.6 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 2.0%-9.5% (2.5%-12.0%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 5-35 • Color SRM (EBC) 5-50 (10-100 EBC)