The trend of beers coming out well before their season seems to be taking on a whole new meaning with some Pumpkin ales hitting store shelves now, more than three months before Halloween. But we’re wondering..are all of these really from this year’s batch or may these just not have sold last year and are coming back out?

There have been reports of the aptly named Southern Tier Pumking being spotted on shelves as well as Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale though someone noted that the beer isn’t scheduled for release until mid-August [thanks to Jeff Nelson of Northeast Beverage of CT who confirmed that the new batch arrived to their warehouse already!]. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin and Weyerbacher AutumnFest could be available for sale as early as this week. Are summer seasonals that weak that breweries want to rush in the fall ones? Is it about being the first fall seasonal out there before any others? [ed: Either way, we can’t complain (except that it is nearly impossible to get our hands on Midnight Sun Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter]

Speaking of new beers, Massachusetts will be getting a lot of them soon according to a Mass distribution rep at Beer Advocate. In addition to the aforementioned Weyerbacher beers, Weyerbacher Thirteen (XIII), the brewery’s Belgian-inspired imperial stout, will finally be made available in the state in the next week or two. It has scored very well so far at both of the major beer reviews sites and appears to be in the same class as Weyerbacher’s other ‘big’ beers.

Het Anker’s Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor is finally making its way to Massachusetts after preview bottles sporadically made their way around earlier in the year. Avery Ale to the Chief should join it on shelves in the next couple weeks. Next month should bring the new Lost Abbey Ne Goeien Saison and Witches Wit as well as the Brewdog lineup.

Another beer notes update coming in the next day or two…