How to Make a Pumpkin Keg

Let’s talk pumpkins guys. And we don’t mean some basic, Johnny-come-lately pumpkin spice crap—real orange ones. They’re not just good for their seeds or the autumn ambience provided by the mother f*cking decorative versions. They can also be useful tools at your next party. With a $5 plastic spigot and about 15 minutes of work you can turn your pumpkin into a keg for beer or your favorite fall punch. Not only will it add a little real pumpkin flavor to whatever you put in it, you can still turn it into a jack-o-lantern for Halloween night.

Here’s what you need:

• A pumpkin big enough to hold your required quantity of beer
• A serrated knife
• A spoon
• A Sharpie
• A plastic spigot (we used this one)

Here’s what you do:

1. Use the knife to cut the top off the pumpkin and reserve it for later
2. Use the spoon to remove the seeds and pulp – don’t worry if there’s a little pulp leftover. It adds additional pumpkin flavor to the beer. Save the seeds if you want to roast them.
3. Place the spigot on the pumpkin where you plan to insert it and use the Sharpie to trace a circle around it as a guide to cut a hole.
4. Use the knife to cut the hole for the spigot.
5. If necessary, scrape away some of the pumpkin wall to thin it out enough to attach the spigot.
6. Insert the spigot in the hole and attach it using the included gaskets and nut.
7. OPTIONAL: If you don’t want any pumpkin pulp in your drink cut a piece of wire mesh and attach it to the spigot inside the pumpkin with a rubber band.
8. Pour your preferred beer in the top of the pumpkin (we like Upslope’s Oktoberfest—it’s seasonal and the sweet, malt-forward, flavor with just a bit of subtle hop undercurrent will mesh well with a little additional flavor from the pumpkin. We’d stay away from any actual pumpkin beers as that would just be overkill)
9. Replace the top of the pumpkin.
10. Pour, drink, repeat.

Check out the video up above to see the process in action.