The Neighborly Collaboration Behind Pretty Pumpkin

In the heart of Wilmington, a special brew has been captivating beer enthusiasts each fall for nearly a decade. What began as a simple neighborly collaboration between Apple Annie’s Bake Shop and Wilmington Brewing Company has grown into a beloved annual tradition known as Pretty Pumpkin.

The story of Pretty Pumpkin started nine years ago, rooted in a neighborly connection between two local businesses. John and Michelle Savard, owners of Wilmington Brewing Company, had recently evolved from a homebrew shop to a full-scale brewery located at 800 S. Kerr Ave., while across the street, Apple Annie’s Bake Shop was preparing for its 30th anniversary party.

Owner Rob Cooley and marketing manager Krissy Mingia were among the first to welcome the Savards to their new space and broach the subject of a potential collaboration to mark the occasion.

“For our 30th anniversary we were throwing a big party and were interested in seeing if Michelle and John would help us create a special beer for the party,” Mingia recalled.

Michelle Savard said the idea of pumpkin beer was just beginning to float around at this time, but none of the local breweries had yet brought one to market. Always eager to stay ahead of the curve, they decided to give it a try.

“I think we threw one pie in a small batch to see what happened,” she said, highlighting the experimental nature of the first batch.

The subtle notes of the pumpkin pie produced a beer that partygoers took to from the first sip, and the first keg was gone before the party ended.

As the years passed, the collaboration between Apple Annie’s and Wilmington Brewing grew, with each batch of Pretty Pumpkin Beer getting bigger and better.

Michelle Savard believes that what sets Pretty Pumpkin apart from other pumpkin beers on the market is its balance.

“So many pumpkin beers are just way too much,” she said. “This beer is subtle and not sweet.”

She describes it as an amber ale with a slight spice and a full-bodied feel, making it a favorite among those who might otherwise shy away from overly sweet or cloying pumpkin ales.

One of the highlights of the collaboration is the annual ritual of throwing Apple Annie’s pumpkin pies into the brewery’s mash tun.

“It’s something that everybody looks forward to,” Mingia said.

On a steamy Friday morning in early August, no less than 20 family members and employees of the brewery and bakery gathered for the pie throwing. Hot as it was, the brewery buzzed with anticipation of fall as the glistening pies were handed out, and Mingia and the Savards’ children were given forks to enjoy a taste or two. Once the event was commemorated with a group photo, they each took turns climbing the stairs and tossing a pie into mash tun.

Despite increasing the production scale over the years – now 100 pies for each 30-barrel batch, brewed four times over the season – the process remains a labor of love for both businesses. In addition to Pretty Pumpkin, they also collaborate on a summertime favorite, Pretty Peach, an American wheat ale brewed with Apple Annie’s peach cobbler.

“The ease of working together makes it so special,” Mingia said. “The collaboration is more than just a business partnership; it’s a friendship that has blossomed over the years.”

The popularity of Pretty Pumpkin has grown beyond Wilmington, with cans and kegs distributed as far as Raleigh. In addition to the pie-throwing event, an annual release party at Wilmington Brewing has become a celebration in its own right, complete with pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies, mini pies, pumpkin spice scones and of course plenty of beer.

This year’s release party will be held Aug. 30.