Aldi’s Holiday Ale Is Back In Stock — And Customers Hate It

Oh, dear. Aldi’s not having the best run right now with its beers. Just yesterday, we were talking about its new Field Craft Nectaron Juicy, which has been met with some fairly tepid reviews from its customers. Today, though, we bring you news of a holiday-focused brew. Festive beers have started to appear in stores again (Modelo’s brought back its Noche Especial Lager, after a successful debut last year), and Aldi’s decided to revive its Pumpkin Ale for another year. 

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So, what’s the problem? Unfortunately, if customer sentiment is anything to go by, it ain’t good. Let’s discuss.

Aldi State Of Brewing Pumpkin Ale

That’s right, folks: Aldi’s State Of Brewing Pumpkin Ale is back. As a quick primer, Aldi’s seasonal ale first dropped in 2021, and it’s been a seasonal staple ever since. It’s a malty, sweet, spicy affair with cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg notes all shining through. As you can probably tell from the description, this thing is precision-engineered to be imbued with the joys of winter, with all the flavors that come with it. 

That’s not enough to impress customers, though. This year, Aldi’s Pumpkin Ale has been subject to some especially harsh criticism from its shoppers over on Reddit, with multiple threads discussing how bad it is. “Super sweet and just plain gross,” said one person, while another said it was “One of the worst beers I have ever drank. Obnoxiously flavored.” Those comments are on the milder side, too; a couple of choice words were used to describe it that we’re not going to repeat here. 

It’s Not All Bad…

For balance, I should note that Aldi’s State Of Brewing Pumpkin Ale has received some good reviews in certain corners – and also that Reddit responses can sometimes skew especially negative. Over on Beer Advocate, the ale has its fair share of low ratings, but it’s also collected a lot of admirers. Importantly, though, the bulk of its positive reviews are from several years ago; has the recipe changed, we wonder?

Aldi’s done a much better job elsewhere with its pumpkin drinks, too. Several people have pointed out that its Wicked Grove Pumpkin Cider is a winner — although it doesn’t seem to have made an appearance in stores yet this year. If you had your heart set on a pumpkin beer this year, though, don’t worry: There are plenty of good options out there to try.