But not here. In August, we are still very much in the throes of summer. The heat is here to stay, and it's not going to cool down any time soon.
Regardless of the searing sun and 110-degree days in the Valley, national companies have decided it's time for fall. Spirit Halloween locations are popping up and home decor sections are filled with fall leaves and apple-scented candles.
On Tuesday, one of the most ubiquitous signs of fall returns: The Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Many local spots are hopping on the national bandwagon and launching their autumn flavors as well.
In downtown Phoenix, Greenwood Brewing has been pouring its celebrated Harvest Diem, an autumn-spiced beer served with a cinnamon and honey rim, since Aug. 15. Bartender Dan DeMaegd says customers ask for it year-round.
"It's a little early, but I think the demand is there for sure," DeMaegd says. "A good handful of people come in just for that beer, and when we don't have it, it's something that we get hounded about."
Despite its early start, the beer does have a limited run. Currently, it joins a menu of summer sips flavored with watermelon and mango, some other fall flavors such as a roasty oatmeal stout and Greenwood's core lineup.
"We do try to keep it well-rounded," DeMaegd says. "We have some light beers. We're pretty hop-forward. Other than that, we have options for the summer, whatever you're feeling. The variety of beer drinkers that come in, they want that variety too."
If the demand is there, why not serve fall flavors early? Even if that does mean pumpkin spice in August, it makes sense. Customers want fall to arrive — maybe especially so, here in Phoenix — so businesses provide. Seasonal creep is nothing new.
But willing cooler weather to arrive won't make it happen. Every time pumpkin starts popping up on menus while we've still got months of hot days left, it feels just a little cruel. Yes, we wish it were fall. No, it's not in Phoenix. And it won't be for quite some time.
Just a few blocks from Greenwood, one local coffee shop is taking a stand. Orlando Pelagio has been a barista at Songbird Coffee & Tea House on and off for the last few years. When asked why pumpkin has yet to appear on the menu, he says, "It's too hot outside. Come on. It's 115 degrees still."
"At Songbird, we believe that fall should be fall, and winter should be winter," he elaborates. "So pumpkin spice showing up earlier than the first day of fall, which is at the end of September, shouldn't be happening."
The coffee shop plans to release its seasonal flavors on the first official day of autumn, which falls on Sept. 22 this year. Thankfully, no one has asked for pumpkin yet, Pelagio says. But with Starbucks releasing its PSL, he's anticipating the questions to start coming.
"To me, pumpkin spice is the Black Friday of syrups where it just becomes increasingly earlier and earlier every single year," Pelagio says. "Let the anticipation build, because if you're serving it in the summertime or even earlier than fall, then it's just like now you feel fall should be happening way earlier, and the holiday spirit is gone."
So what do you think? Are you ready for pumpkin spice? Or is it way too soon for the flavors of fall? Let us know in the comments or at [email protected].
