Pumpkin Beers Arrive Early Thanks To Climate Change

Fall is officially here, and with it, this question: Are we, as a society, so obsessed with pumpkin that the demand needed to be supplied? The Atlantic hints this may be the case, but climate change is also a factor. The publication reports that Oregon craft-brewing powerhouse Rogue picked pumpkins for its Pumpkin Patch Ale in mid-August — five weeks ahead of schedule. According to the report, last year's batch was released on October 7, as opposed to this year's September 15 release.

Why the early pickings? Oregon experienced a summer-long heat wave this year, which "sped up the growing process," Rogue states on its website. The brewery also started planting early this year "because Mother Nature deemed the spring free of frost," a spokesperson tells The Atlantic.

While it sounds like Rogue may have plotted this early release, it's not the first pumpkin beer on the market. Southern Tier Brewing Company's Pumking hit stores in mid-July. Does this make it OK for Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations to start showing up next week? We think not.

If you're one of the many looking to drink your fill of pumpkin beer this season, here's a list for you.