Pumpkin Brew on the Shelves Too Early?

Well, apparently beer guzzlers are a little miffed to find pumpkin beer has hit the shelves a bit early this year. I'll be honest, I'm one of those annoying teetotalers who don't drink alcohol, but I found this story interesting nonetheless. Apparently, just like coffee drinkers, beer drinkers look forward to their favorite seasonal beverage, but only in due season. According to an AP article, here is what some people are saying about it:

"Everyone likes pumpkin beer, but you don't want it to come too soon. I definitely like to drink it in the appropriate season," says Nate Marsden, 23, of Boston, who nonetheless recently gave in to the temptation of his favorite seasonal brew, Pumking, an imperial pumpkin ale from Southern Tier Brewing Co.

He's got company. Beer connoisseurs who wanted to savor summer a bit longer have been airing their gripes on social media. Taking to Twitter with hashtags such as #HolidayFail and #SummersNotOver, people like Andrew Hickey let it be known they weren't impressed with the early start.

Forget being irritated about back-to-school ads, the 33-year-old tweeted — complete with a photo of the offending brew — back on Aug. 16. "Why is there pumpkin ale already on shelves?!?"

"I think it's just a rushing the season kind of thing," said Hickey, of East Brunswick, N.J. "I'm guilty of drinking them but it seems like it's getting earlier and earlier each year."

According to brewers though, it is due to an increased demand and the size of their breweries that requires them to start making the beer earlier. And that means it gets to consumers earlier, too. On the flip side, one of my other favorite seasonal drinks, Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash, has been reportedly seen in some stores for a month or so now. That's one I would not likely purchase before October, as I serve it mostly at Thanksgiving. It's an excellent replacement for punch, or better yet, used in the punch! Vote in the poll below to let us know how you feel about seasonal beverages coming out early, then let us know which ones you look forward to most!

How do you feel about your favorite seasonal
beverage coming out a month early?

Source: Early pumpkin beers brew dismay among drinkers