Last Thursday was my company’s annual pumpkin carving contest, where individuals and/or groups may enter a pumpkin that is then judged by peers. I got together with my publishing group — of which three people had an initial idea of what should be done — and together we brainstormed our masterpiece.

The idea: Converting a pumpkin into a keg and serving extremely small samples of beer — possibly even a pumpkin beer.

Since I am known as the brewer in the group, I was called in. I explained that it would be too late for Ray and me to brew a special concoction for the day, and also laid to waste their ideas of trying to get a pumpkin large enough to fit a commercial keg. But after battering their hopes and dashing their dreams, another issue was brought up: Could we serve beer at work?

So we switched up the plan and decided to make a mulled cider, which would go into a lemonade-style pitcher that has a spout on the bottom. I suggested we carve off the pumpkin’s bottom, and create a “mouse door” of sorts for the spout to stick out of. We were off and running.

I stayed after work the night before to bring all of our props into work (this would not be just a simple carved pumpkin) and did the initial hollowing out and etching. I got the idea from another blogger who had etched — for lack of a better term — the face of Barack Obama into her pumpkin, and figured I could do the same with the “bar” sign I had created.

The next day I finished up the carving, we decorated, and during judging we served my homemade ginger snaps and Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale. Yes, you read that right, we found our courage and supplied two six packs from St. Stephen’s on Green that I ran out for. People were surprised by our gutsiness, but even better, most liked the flavor of the beer! A lot of folks also raved about my cookies, and were repeatedly surprised that they were homemade — I guess they don’t know me well enough. We won the prize for group pumpkin, but more importantly, I helped introduce craft beer to my co-workers. A happy ending for all.

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