Smell that? No, not that! (Though I did eat chili for lunch...) It's the smell of fall in the air. Leaves changing color, a cool breeze blowing, football on television, and of course FALL BEERS. This is my favorite time of year for beer with some of the best specialty beers popping up all over. It seems like every brewery has an Oktoberfest variety or a pumpkin variety these days and some even have both! Thankfully I've tried quite a few and I'm here to tell you the essentials.
Samuel Adams Octoberfest
The quintessential "Oktoberfest" beer by America's leading microbrewers. Dark, full, rich, and delicious - this is a must have from September through November for me. Plus you can get it almost anywhere these days, which means there's always a delicious fall beer close at hand.
Jack's Pumpkin Spice Ale
By far the best offering in Michelob's seasonal collection, Jack's is the perfect autumn session beer. Drinkable for everyone, it's a great introduction to pumpkin beers without having that "pumpkin pie in a bottle" flavor that can often times be too overpowering. So perfect for fall football Sundays.
Dogfishhead Punkin Ale
For the more experienced drinker is this premium fall beer. Smoky, spicy, and full of great autumn flavor, this beer isn't for everyone but if you love pumpkin beer you'll love this.
Breaker Potbelly Pumpkin Ale
Awesome awesome fall beer from the small Breaker Brewery. This is a little darker and heavier than the others and is a great late fall choice. It's only available on tap which is kind of tragic, actually, because this is the perfect accompaniment to Thanksgiving dinner.
Buffalo Bill's Pumpkin Ale
From California, this is one of the nation's original pumpkin beers (or so they claim!) It's sort of similar to the Sea Dog Apricot in that it tastes a lot like pumpkin but isn't overpoweringly fruity. It's sort of a "refreshing" fall beer, if that makes any sense. Different and definitely worth a try. Just note that I've had a heck of a hard time finding it this season.
So there you have it. What are you waiting for? Head on out to the distributor, grocery store, or neighborhood tavern and give these puppies a shot! Fall won't last forever, you know!
"A casual drinker's guide to life, liberty, and the pursuit of beer."
Who We Are
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."The Moose
- Benjamin Franklin
Matt "The Moose" Michaylo has never said no to a good time or a good beer, and quite often the two go hand in hand. His love of Bud Light has been the catalyst for many a wild and crazy night.
NT3
Neil Trama III has never met a beer he didn't like...well, OK, maybe a couple. He's always on the lookout for new beers to try and new places to drink them.
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