The holidays have a way of taking over the five senses with nostalgic and familiar traditions — green and red decorations, dry pine needles and crinkled wrapping paper, cold rain and wool scarves, chiming bells and carols. But the holidays also have a specific and instantly recognizable taste and smell: pumpkin, cinnamon, eggnog, caramel, ginger, peppermint. Many cafes and restaurants take advantage of this recognizable and timely spectrum of flavors to add new drinks to their seasonal menus. These limited-time options mark the real beginning to the holiday season in a way that only your tongue can appreciate. Eugene is no exception, and here are just a few of the places around town that offer special seasonal drinks.
Starbucks offers its popular pumpkin spice latte and salted caramel mocha through December, and Dutch Bros. introduced its candy cane mocha, eggnog latte and gingersnap mocha on Nov. 1. However, specialty drinks are not limited to national chains.
Vero Espresso, located on 14th Avenue and Pearl Street, has their own version of an eggnog latte and pumpkin latte. Other holiday drinks can be picked up on campus and other Allann Bros. locations around Eugene. Allann Bros. sells a plethora of holiday drink concoctions: pumpkin spice lattes, eggnog chai, eggnog lattes and peppermint mochas.
But it’s not just caffeine-lovers who can take advantage of this season’s sweet drinks. The Bier Stein offers on tap two seasonally-inspired alcoholic beverages. McKenzie Brewing Company’s Pumpkin Ale is available at the Bier Stein, Cafe 440 and Cafe Zenon. It’s made with roasted pumpkin, pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice.
Oakshire Brewing’s Big Black Jack is a limited-time drink also available at the Bier Stein. An imperial chocolate pumpkin porter, the Big Black Jack is created with roasted pumpkins and dark cocoa.
It’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit, and in Eugene, finding a beverage to help you get ready is easy.