Pumpkin Beer: From a Colonial Neccessity to a Seasonal Treat

This is reddit, right?

Anyway, here: http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/...y-to-seasonal-treat-beer-history-brewing.html

 

For those in no mood to follow the link, the real highlight of it all could be said to be this 1643 folk song:

Instead of pottage and puddings and custards and pies,
Our pumpkins and parsnips are common supplies;
We have pumpkin at morning and pumpkin at noon;
If it was not for pumpkins we should be undone
... Hey down, down, hey down derry down....
If barley be wanting to make into malt
We must be contented and think it no fault
For we can make liquor, to sweeten our lips,
Of pumpkins and parsnips and walnut-tree chips.
​

Unfortunately for those who want to be able to ferment pumpkins, the article indicates that pumpkins as a stock for fermentation fell out of favor during the early 19th century.