Sip a Pumpkin Beer, Listen to Classic Rock

TOPSFIELD — If you enjoy Dunkin’ Donuts’ spice coffee, you may want to try True North Ale Co.’ Topsfield Fair Giant Pumpkin Ale in the Topsfield Fair’s Beer Garden, especially while listening to the classic rock sounds of Starship, featuring Mickey Thomas and special guest Foghat.
True North Ale, voted Best Brewery on Boston’s North Shore four consecutive years, was inspired to create the pumpkin ale by the Fair’s Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off.
“A pumpkin beer is the perfect brew for the Topsfield Fair, as the Fair is world renowned for its Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off, with three world records and the world’s first 1-ton pumpkin back in 2012,” said Gary Rogers, founder and chief of True North’s business operations.
It is the second year True North is partnering with the fair. Last year it helped kick off the inaugural year of the beer garden as its exclusive craft beer provider.
This beer is brewed with specialty malts for a rich, malt-forward sweetness, then dosed with pumpkin and spiced with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger and clove. Sweet, savory and aromatic with notes of pumpkin pie and warm baking spice.
“We truly look forward to greeting guests at the Fair’s Beer Garden with Topsfield Fair Giant Pumpkin Ale, a fall classic,” said James O’Brien, the fair’s general manager. “True North Ales is hyper local, right next door in Ipswich. The fair has actively promoted local business interests for more than 200 years.”
The 205th fair runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 9. America’s oldest county fair was founded in 1818 by the Essex Agricultural Society. The Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off, one of the fair’s most popular events, holds three world records and the world’s first one-ton pumpkin.
After tasting the great pumpkin ale, don’t pitch your empty can. The artwork on the can’s label may be a collectors’ item one day. It was created by noted Marblehead artist Amy Hourihan.
Packaged in kegs and cans, the ale will be available at the Topsfield Fair Beer Garden, at the 150-seat open-air and tented patios and 150-seat indoor seating True North Ales Taproom and in select stores in Essex County.
The Starship show, which is free with fair admission, is scheduled for the Grandstand Stage at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5.
Starship, led by Mickey Thomas, has recorded three No. 1 hit songs including We Built This City, Sara and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, one of rock music’ recognizable songs.
“We are excited to bring this spectacular show to the Topsfield Fair,” O’Brien said. “I expect that attendees with be jamming along in the grandstand to their hits all night.”
Fair ticket prices are $20 daily. Discount admission tickets, which are good any day during the fair’s 11-day run, are available at www.TopsfieldFair.org for $15.00 each plus a $2.25 convenience fee per ticket. A three-day pass is available for $42 plus a $3.50 convenience fee. Children under eight with an adult are free with an adult admission ticket.