During the fall, who can resist the appeal of the pumpkin? The orange relative of the squash is the very symbol of the third season, and we see it manifested in products of all sorts from cheesecake to candles to brews.

The team at Mellow Mushroom serves up a variety of pumpkin beers, but they don't let their affinity for autumn stop there.  They've taken it to the next level with the Pumpkin Bomb. Similar to an Irish Car Bomb, this beverage is meant to be enjoyed by dropping a shot into the beer. But enjoy it with haste -- one has to imbibe the whole thing quickly, before the creaminess of the shot curdles in the pint glass.

The cast of characters in the Pumpkin Bomb? Good Gourd Imperial Pumpkin Ale is the starting point. Good Gourd is the latest seasonal offering from Cigar City Brewing, brewed with Ceylon cinnamon, Jamaican all-spice, Zanzibar cloves and nutmeg.  Into that goes a shot of Baileys Irish Cream and Pinnacle Whip (whipped cream flavored vodka), sprinkled with cinnamon.

In this column, we always like to reccomend food pairings with our beers -- but can one choose a dish to complement a beer that's technically a giant shot? Sure, why not? We choose the Holy Shittake Pie: a pizza with shiitake, portobello and button mushrooms, an olive oil and garlic base, Montemore cheese, parmesean, garlic aioli, and a spritz of black truffle oil -- the flavor profile is earthy and perfect for fall, making it a great complement to the Pumpkin Bomb.  Always, and especially when enjoying speciality drinks like this -- we remind you the importance of having a designated driver!

Cheers, Westchase!