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He’s back!

The Irish folk story goes like this…

Once upon a time, there was a man by the name of Stingy Jack. He was known far and wide as the stingiest man on the Emerald Island and the good folks of his area learned not to trust him. They didn’t trust him because he would invite people to drink with him and when the check arrived, he always had an excuse why he couldn’t pay the bill. So, you see, not only was he stingy but he was also clever.

One day he invited the Devil to have a drink with him. The Devil welcomed this invitation because he wanted Stingy Jack’s soul and if sharing a few pints of brew with the man could help with that soul snatching, the Devil was all for it.

A good time was had by both of them and when the bill arrived, Stingy Jack was his usual self and he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a silver coin so the bill could be paid. When the Devil turned into a silver coin, Stingy Jack put the coin in his wallet next to a cross and the Devil was helpless. He couldn’t get to Stingy Jack’s soul sitting next to a cross since it took all of his powers away from him.

Stingy Jack set the Devil free with the condition he would not be bothered by the Devil for a period of one year. Shortly thereafter, Stingy Jack died. The God of heaven refused him entry and the Devil wouldn’t allow him into hell. Because Stingy Jack was thus sentenced to wander in darkness for eternity, the Devil gave him a burning hot coal to light his way. People began to say that at certain times of the year — when summer turned into fall — Stingy Jack and his burning coal could be seen walking the earth.

He turned into a feared object of the fall season and the Irish would carve scary faces into gourds — they didn’t have pumpkins — place a lighted candle in it and put them in their windows to frighten Stingy Jack away from their homes.

When the Irish came to America, they brought their gourd carving custom with them and discovered that pumpkins were perfect products into which to carve their scary faces. Thus, was born the American tradition of pumpkin carving at Halloween.

Therefore, we must continue the tradition of keeping Stingy Jack away from us! It’s time to carve pumpkins! And to enjoy a beer while doing the cutting.

But what face to carve into the pumpkin with what beer? Well…

If you like to carve a ghostly face into your pumpkin, why not pair that activity with a New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin Beer? You may have guessed this beer isn’t your grandparent’s latte style beer and you would be right. It has serious kick to it because habanero and arbol peppers are added to the mix along with some Saigon cinnamon. Your ghostly carved pumpkin face will match perfectly with the face you make when you taste this beer.

Maybe you like to carve a pumpkin with a nice owl face. If so, Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale is the brew to drink while doing your carving. This beer has serious pumpkin taste and is made using real pumpkin and its seeds. The result is like the beautiful hoot of the night owl — rich and satisfying.

Let’s say that when you carve your pumpkin there will be a full moon to light your activity. The obvious beer to have at this time is a Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Wheat Ale. It’s been around since 1995 and it’s the go-to beer for a true pumpkin tasting beverage. ade with real pumpkin along with the spices of allspice, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon it’s like eating a pumpkin pie in a glass. The only thing missing is a bit of whipped cream.

I kind of like to sip a bit of brandy when I cut my usual award winning pumpkin and our neighbors to the east of us in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are proud to give us Lakefront Brandy Barrel Aged Pumpkin Imperial Ale. The name says it all. It’s aged in brandy barrels, is loaded with spicy pumpkin tastes and the resulting ale has marvelous vanilla flavor with a nice lively brandy tasting finish. My usual award winning carved pumpkin has a smiling face — just like you’ll have when you taste this fine ale.

Perhaps you like to carve a pumpkin with a mysterious face. If that’s the case, I suggest you have a Pumpkin Grinder from Mankato Brewery. Arguably the best pumpkin beer in the state, it’s made with real pumpkin flavors, a secret spice recipe and is fermented for a month. If you can lay your hands on a Grinder, close your eyes as you sip it. Your memory will bring forth a pumpkin pie.

Because it’s getting colder and harder to carve pumpkins outside, Take 16 Brewing in Luverne has a very nice fall beer in its Sundown Nut Brown Ale. It’s malty sweet, hearty and just plain warming.

This is such a fun time of the year with its rich colors and traditions. However, I urge you to make sure you carve a pumpkin or two and place them in your windows with lighted candles.

One never knows when Stingy Jack will come back and try to have a beer with you!

Next week, what’s wine got to offer?

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!

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