Tastemakers: Roasted Pumpkin Soup - Jack‘s Pumkin Spice Ale

Oct. 18, 2006

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkins aren’t just for carving or pie. They make delightful soups, breads and even pancakes. There are several recipe variations available by Googling the Internet. Here are a couple of secrets to add additional flavor to your pumpkin soup.
First, when preparing the soup stock, include a local Gewürztraminer from Chateau Fontaine or Peninsula Cellars -- two award winning ones. Substitute 1/4 of the chicken stock with the wine. Gewürztraminer pairs well with spices in pumpkin soup and will enhance flavors.
Another great secret to a great pumpkin soup is to use roasted pumpkin. Using medium size pumpkins slice in half and remove seeds and slim. Coat inside with olive oil and sprinkle a mixture (use fresh ground when possible) of sea salt, pepper mélange, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Place pumpkins face down on low to medium heated grill and slow roast for 15 to 20 minutes (keep an eye on them so they don’t burn), soft scoop out pumpkin filling for use in your pumpkin stock.
A side note: this roasted filling also is great in pumpkin pie recipes or pumpkin scones and even pumpkin pancakes—pumpkin sweet potato pancakes make a great side dish. For fall dinner parties use small to medium size pumpkins as soup bowls, decorate the outside of the pumpkin or place each dinner guests name on the pumpkin and use the table setting place card. Certainly, the above-mentioned Gewürztraminers pair well with pumpkin recipes as does Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale.

Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale
Criticism is often unfairly launched at the “big boys” of the brewing industry. Primarily by those whose palate preferences lean towards the styles crafted by microbreweries. There is this assumption that macro-breweries are incapable of crafting small batch, flavorful beers that their cousins in the microbrew business produce.
The truth is that the world’s largest breweries have some of the best brewmasters working for them and are capable of producing beers that even the most discriminating palate will be satisfied with. A great example is at Anheuser-Busch with their Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale. Introduced last year as part of new four-seasonal small batch brew offering by the guys who make the “King of Beers,” Jack’s Pumpkin Spice was gobbled up as fast as grandma’s pumpkin pie. Hand-crafted, this ale is a wicked blend of Golden Delicious Oregon pumpkins, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves brewed in small batches to deliver the rich flavor of Fall. “Beer’s versatility allows us to experiment with a variety of ingredients, making fall the perfect time to brew with pumpkins,” said Florian Kuplent, brewmaster, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “When hand-crafting an ale like Jack’s, striking just the right balance between the distinct tastes of pumpkin and seasonal spices is key to bringing adults an enjoyable beer. Given what a passionate following Jack’s had last year among beer lovers, we’re excited about brewing it for them again.”
Last year it was released only on tap but now is available through mid-December in bottles. Brewed with two-row, caramel and carapils barley malts and a blend of imported Hallertau and domestic Saaz hops along with seasonal spices plus Golden Delicious pumpkins from the Stahlbush Farm in Oregon, this “fall-flavored” ale pairs well with several seasonal classics. Serve in a white wine glass for best aroma enjoyment. Look for Jack’s Pumpkin Spice Ale at your favorite shop or on tap at your local watering hole.