Photo Credit: Campfire Brewing Our biggest issue with pumpkin beers is an imbalance between the flavor of pumpkin and spice, usually favoring the latter. Ideally a pumpkin ale should bring to mind memories of good pumpkin pie. You know, with the graham cracker crust and all, some gingerbread or some cloves balanced delicately with the flavor of pumpkin. In short, If you’re going to make a spiced ale, make a spiced ale . we want to taste pumpkins in our pumpkin beers. Southern Tier gets it right with Pumking, one of Karl’s favorite beers this time of year. Pumking will blow your mind, you’ll ask for ice cream for an a la mode. Bars that carry Pumking include Sheffield’s Lakeview ($7, 10-ounce drafts), 42&#176 Latitude (4500 N. Lincoln Ave., $14.50 for a 22-ounce bottle), the Bad Apple (4300 N. Lincoln, $6 12-ounce drafts), Brisku’s Bistro (4100 N. Kedzie, $15, 22-ounce bottles), and Murphy’s Bleachers ($7, 16-ounce drafts).

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Chicagoist’s "Beer of the Week:" Southern Tier Pumking