It appears that despite all the mishaps, the pumpkin ale turned out pretty well.  After the taste tests it was decided that I'd bring the keg home for Thanksgiving.  It wasn't touched until most people went home, especially because most of the family doesn't drink.  For the members of the family that did, it was a decent drinking beer, and when the family poker game turned into a drinking game, it depleted very quickly.  All 5 gallons were done in by under 7 people in a span of 5-7 hours.

Because of this, I've decided to try to make another batch, or rather, a double batch which is sitting in carboys.  I do not know if it will be anywhere near done by the time Christmas rolls around though.  I started this on Sunday, 4 days ago.  I expect that it will take until at least Sunday the 11th to ferment, then I will add the settling ingredients and it will settle, outside in a shed where it's 40 or so degrees.  I don't know if it will be clear by the 18th or not, but between then and the 22nd I'll taste test to see where it is. If there's a chance, then I will keg it and bring one home.  I expect that I will have about 14 gallons, or 3 soda kegs worth.  I just hope I have enough kegs.

I also started a cranberry mead using 18 pounds of honey and 6 pounds of cranberries.  We'll see how that ferments and comes out.  I'll eventually be moving that into one of the carboys from the bucket it's in.   I used a bucket because I'd need the wide mouth due to the cranberries.  I hope that one of the carboys will be ready by the time I need to rack the mead, otherwise I'll have to stick it outside to keep it cold, or worse, spend even more money on a 3rd carboy.