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Pumpkin Ale Cheesecake with Beer Pecan Caramel Sauce

I conducted a very non-sientiffic study on my Facebook page about pumpkin beer. To be honest with you, I have always been a touch hesitant of fruit flavored beer. And although pumpkin is a squash, therefore Β not a fruit, it seems to fall under the same umbrella in my mind since I make pies out of them.

But I love nothing more than trying new and exotic beers. And I always want input and feedback from other craft beer fans. So, my very un-scientific study yielded the final conclusion: based only on comments and likes, I want to search the town for the following Pumpkin Beers for another non-scientific Beer Tasting Study:

Dogfish Head, Pumpkin

Avery, Rumpkin

St Arnold, Pumpkinator

Southern Tier, Pumpking

If you have any suggestions, please chime in. I’m looking to expand the reach of my non-scientific study.

Pumpkin Ale Cheesecake with Beer Pecan Caramel Sauce

5 from 1 vote

Ingredients
  

For The Cheesecake

  • 9 standard sized graham crackers
  • 2 tbs brown sugar
  • 4 tbs melted butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 16 oz cream cheese softened
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cup pumpkin ale
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs flour

For The Caramel Sauce

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin beer
  • 1/4 cup corn syrup
  • 1 tbs butter
  • 1/4 cup cream
  • 1/3 cup pecans

Instructions
 

  • In a food processor add the graham crackers and brown sugar, process until only crumbs are left. While the food processor is still running, add the melted butter and process until it resembles wet sand. Dump into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan. Press into the bottom until well compacted.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the brown sugar, white sugar and cream cheese. Mix until well combined. One at a time, add the eggs and vanilla, mixing until well combined, scraping the bottom, before adding more.
  • Add the pumpkin puree, cinnamon nutmeg and salt, mix until very well combined.
  • Add the beer and stir until combined.
  • Sprinkle the flour over the bowl, stir on medium speed until just combined.
  • Pour over the crust.
  • Bake at 350 for about one hour or until the center no longer jiggles when you shake the rack the cheesecake sits on, it will still look wet in the center. The secret to a great cheesecake is not to over bake it, it's better to slightly under bake it for a smooth mousse like texture.
  • Chill until set, about 3 hours.
  • To make the caramel sauce, add the sugar, beer and corn syrup to a pot and stir over medium high heat for about 1 minute. Stop stirring and allow to boil, untouched, until it turns an amber color, about 10 minutes (230 on a candy thermometer). Add the butter and cream, stir until combined. Add the pecans and stir. Allow to cool to approximately room temperature before serving over chilled cheesecake.


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Comments


Kevin (Closet Cooking) September 27, 2012 um 4:36 am

That cheesecake looks amazing! I need to head out to find some pumpkin beer!

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Denise September 27, 2012 um 5:57 am

I seemed to have missed the step where the pumpkin ale goes in the filling mixture, did you add it with the pumpkin puree? (Or is it more for sipping while you make everything else, haha)

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Jackie September 27, 2012 um 9:38 am

Ugh. Sorry, fixed now πŸ™‚

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Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie September 27, 2012 um 6:40 am

You continue to amaze me with the things you create using beer.

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Cassie September 27, 2012 um 7:14 am

You did it again, girl! This sauce is beyond divine! There are several local breweries that have a pumpkin beer out and I would love to do a "taste test" of all of them! And then make cheesecake. πŸ™‚

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claire @ the realistic nutritionist September 27, 2012 um 7:28 am

YES YES YES YES YES YES.

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Tina @ More Please Recipes September 27, 2012 um 7:30 am

Um…Yum…Wow…IWantItNow.

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Julie September 27, 2012 um 7:45 am

i think the best pumpkin beer is shipyard’s pumpkinhead, hands down. bonus points for them also having applehead, which is EVEN BETTER.

when i saw the title of this post, i actually said "OH MY GOD" out loud. in my office. yikes.

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Megan September 27, 2012 um 8:06 am

I will be making this cheesecake this weekend! However when do you add the beer to the cheesecake mixture? After the pumpkin puree? Did I miss it? Do I need more Coffee?

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Jackie September 27, 2012 um 9:36 am

Ahhhhhh! Sorry, that’s kind I important. It’s fixed now πŸ™‚

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Megan September 27, 2012 um 10:21 am

Awesome thanks!! I’m really excited about making this by the way thanks for posting!! πŸ™‚

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Lisa September 27, 2012 um 9:28 am

To add to list of pumpkin beers, try the Imperial Pumpkin Ale by Weyerbacher

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Jackie September 27, 2012 um 9:36 am

Awesome! I’ll look for it

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Michelle Collins September 27, 2012 um 10:54 am

Southern Tier Pumpking is one of our favorite pumpkin beers. This cheesecake looks out of this world!

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Ashley September 27, 2012 um 11:01 am

Pumpkin cheesecake, yes, please! Especially after having made your delicious chocolate stout cheesecake…I know it’s going to be great! I’ve been on a search for the best pumpkin beer (with real pumpkin flavor and spice) for a few years, and I’d say that Dogfish Head’s Punkin and Southern Tier’s Pumking are my favorites. You might also want to try O’Fallon’s pumpkin ale. It’s a favorite of one of my friends.

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Katie @ Blonde Ambition September 27, 2012 um 12:22 pm

My mom went to a blind beer tasting party (everyone brings 2 6-packs, then samples all the beers and rates them) recently and, not knowing what to bring, she stopped at 7/11 on the way and bought Shocktop’s Pumpkin Wheat…. It won 2nd place of all the beers!

I’m drooling over the beer caramel sauce with pecans. Sounds like something I’d like to drizzle over everything!

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Ally September 27, 2012 um 1:24 pm

The only pumpkin beer worth drinking is Shipyard’s Smashed Pumpkin! Hands down, best ever. I love making a Black and Tan with it and a really creamy stout like Firestone’s Velvet Merlin.

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Natalie September 27, 2012 um 1:33 pm

I’m a fan of Shipyard’s Smashed Pumpkin. I’ll definitely give the others you listed a try! AND MAKE THAT CHEESECAKE!! Wow!

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addie | culicurious September 27, 2012 um 1:38 pm

This looks fantastic. Definitely want to make this one πŸ™‚

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Jen @ Savory Simple September 27, 2012 um 1:52 pm

I just want to stick my face in every single thing you make on this site. DROOL!

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Vicki September 27, 2012 um 2:28 pm

I previously loved the Pumpking from Southern Tier, but recently at a beer fest (Screw City Beer Fest, Rockford, IL), I had the opportunity to try Pumpkin ale from O’Fallon…if you have the opportunity to try it, do so!

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Amber @ Slim Pickin’s Kitchen September 27, 2012 um 5:14 pm

Dogfish Head Punkin' Ale is my absolute favorite. That’s the only thing I drink when it is in season. I’ve also heard some great things about the Pumpking one too, but I haven’t tried it yet. I will, however, be making this cheesecake and will eat the entire thing myself!

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Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies September 28, 2012 um 10:05 am

Aw, I really like fruity beers. And pumpkin beer! Basically, any gimmicky beer, I am there. Oh, and I need this cheesecake immediately. Immediately!

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Carm September 29, 2012 um 9:25 pm

So excited to have found your site!! I’m trying your apply pie tomorrow but am bookmarking this one as well.

Favorite Pumpkin Beers that haven’t been listed:

Cigar City (FL)- Good Gourd (AMAZING!!)
Starr Hill (VA) – Boxcar Pumpkin Porter

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Ann September 30, 2012 um 10:45 am

The best pumpkin beer I’ve had all season is Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale. It’s absolutely delicious, with a Henry David Thoreau quote to boot!

β€œI would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”

http://schlafly.com/beers/styles/pumpkin-ale/

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Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama September 30, 2012 um 12:55 pm

My mom is obsessed with the Shipyard’s Pumpkinhead. I will have to try this out on her for our family dinner next week!! That caramel sauce looks out of this world!

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Stephanie September 30, 2012 um 5:44 pm

Another lover of Shipyard Pumpkinhead here. Mmmm soooo good.

Out of all those beers you listed, I’ve tried the Pumpking. I found that it kinda of tasted like a pumpkin creamsicle. Was not a fan.

This cheesecake looks A-MAZING. Omg.

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Lisa @ Snappy Gourmet September 30, 2012 um 6:01 pm

Sounds great!!!

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Jessica @ Portuguese Girl Cooks September 30, 2012 um 6:11 pm

This cheesecake looks awesome. I’ve been searching around for some pumpkin beer, so I guess I have a reason to look a little harder!

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Jeremiah October 1, 2012 um 2:01 pm

Rumpkin is a hard to get beer. It doesn’t see wide distribution at all. 18% abv monster of a beer. Pumpkin ale aged in rum barrels. It’s absolutely fantastic. Luckily, I have a bottle. Ages well too. If I come across more, maybe I’ll ship you a couple. haha.

Btw, awesome cheesecake. Nice touch with the caramel sauce too. May have to make this for our pumpkin beer tasting this week. Keep up the great work!

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Jackie October 1, 2012 um 5:53 pm

Is it weird if that makes me want Rumpkin even more?

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Megan {Country Cleaver} October 1, 2012 um 5:17 pm

I…I … I ….oh.. dang. No words. Just drool. Perfection, as per usual.

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Jessie October 3, 2012 um 7:24 pm

Love it. I just did some Pumpkin Ale Cupcakes, which I was really excited about until I brought some to my dad and he asked me why I would waste perfectly good beer on a cupcake. Hopefully your taste testers are a bit more supportive. Hah. This looks great!

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Lisa October 4, 2012 um 6:02 pm

Canadian thanksgiving thanks you! This will be my dessert this weekend. Can’t wait to try it!

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Serena October 5, 2012 um 7:56 am

My boys (23 and 21) swear that Saranac Pumpkin Ale is the best, and they are quite the craft beer lovers. Give it a shot.

I, on the other hand, am not a beer drinker, but a major pumpkin freak — so I can’t wait to make your cheesecake. It looks awesome!

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Gerry @ Foodness Gracious October 7, 2012 um 9:27 pm

I haven’t found a pumpkin beer which I would divorce for yet, but man that cheesecake is screaming at me to call Larry H Parker!! Doh…

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Jess Davis October 17, 2012 um 10:07 am

I made this today with Angry Orchard Hard Cider in place of the Pumpkin Ale as I did not have any on hand and had a special occasion to make it for tonight. I used the apple ginger flavor of hard cider. It smelled AMAZING while baking in the oven. I didn’t have a spring form pan, so used a deep dish pie pan and that was no where near large enough for the batter. I did not have time to make more crust (I also made crust with gingersnap cookies instead of graham crackers to add even more ginger flavor), so I used two premade graham cracker pie crusts in foil pans that I had no idea what to do with and made two extra cheesecakes. The two in the premade pie crusts came out perfect- no splits or anything. The one I made with my gingersnap crust in the pie pan split a little bit on top, so I decided to take a little tiny piece to make sure it was edible to serve for my anniversary dinner tonight… Soooo yummy, even with the changes. I can’t wait to try the original!

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shannon October 22, 2012 um 11:12 am

I have a Pumpkin cheesecake recipe that I made for the past 15 years. Decided to try this over the weekend. Got rave reviews and plan on replacing my usually go to recipe with this one. Super delish. Thanks!

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Jackie October 22, 2012 um 1:55 pm

Thank you Shannon! That’s my favorite comment I’ve gotten in a long time πŸ™‚

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Amanda October 26, 2012 um 4:57 pm

These pies smell delicious baking in my oven! Thanks for sharing this beer-tober-fest style recipe. My advice to anyone who makes this is the filling is enough for 3 pies! I recommend you either cut the recipe in half or make extra pies crusts to share : )

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Jackie October 26, 2012 um 6:19 pm

Glad you like it!
Did you make it in a spring form pan? The recipe is for a tall cheesecake made in a spring form pan. It would be way too much for a regular pie pan.

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Sharon October 29, 2012 um 12:22 pm

LOVE Pumpkin Ale! We have a couple of local breweries here in Ontario, Canada and I have to admit, I’ve tried them all! I’m a bit of a beer snob and prefer microbreweries! I’m definitely going to make this cheesecake!!

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Ginger Mathews November 1, 2012 um 1:07 am

My brother made this! And now I think he is kind of obsessed with you πŸ™‚

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Summer Hill November 1, 2012 um 8:37 am

I made this last night for a Halloween party and it was the best cheesecake I have ever made! I think I always over cooked them until I read this post. Great tip on slightly under baking, worked great. Thank you!

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Margaret November 16, 2012 um 6:10 pm

One of the best pumpkin desserts ever! So wonderful that I made it twice in one week for two different groups. Only change I made the second time was to toast the pecans a little – added some extra crunch and a nice toasty flavor to the delicious sauce. I’m trying the leftover sauce tonight on some vanilla ice cream – can hardly wait!

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Becky August 14, 2013 um 8:24 am

THIS IS SO GOOD! I CAN’T STOP YELLING!

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Betty September 7, 2013 um 2:35 pm

Have you tried
Samuel Adams—- OctoberFest
Samuel Adams—- Harvest Pumpkin Ale
Samuel Adams—- Fat Jack Double Pumpkin Ale

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Alexys September 17, 2014 um 10:30 am

Where you able to find the Pumpkinator by St Arnold?

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Jackie September 17, 2014 um 11:03 am

I wasn’t, do you like it?

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Mike October 27, 2014 um 6:10 am

I’m not sure where you’re located, but Baked Pumpkin Ale from Lancaster Brewing Company (Lancaster, PA) is fantastic. I plan on making this for our annual Black and Orange Potluck Luncheon (Can’t say Halloween). Thanks!

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Laura November 16, 2014 um 4:00 pm

I didn’t see if you were using light or dark corn syrup; or does it make a difference? Thanks!

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Jackie November 16, 2014 um 8:26 pm

Light corn syrup

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Andrew November 16, 2014 um 8:46 pm

My daughter made this tonight…was amazing! She used Tommy Knocker Pumpkin Ale and I drank the leftovers πŸ˜€

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Hannah August 17, 2023 um 11:52 pm

5 stars
I’ll be making this for a pot luck soon with a local pumpkin porter! How long will cheesecake be good for after it’s made?

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