Fall’n Into Beer: Oktoberfests

Fall is my favorite time of beer. It is also one of the most distinct seasons for rotational beers throughout the year. Pumpkin beers, Märzen lagers, Halloween-inspired creations, and a host of end-of-harvest-flavors create a unique blend of ales as diverse as color’s of the changing leaves. So what better time to sample what’s available then my favorite season? One caveat:

Samuel Smith’s Organic Cherry Ale

Brewery: Samuel Smith (Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, ENG) Name: “Organic Cherry Ale” Type: Fruit Ale ABV: 5.1% Beer Advocate: 86   Typically I’m not a fan of fruit in my beer, but Samuel Smith makes a quality beer, put very simply. Their list of organic beers is well worth the import price, and they have a pretty readily available selection right

Bell’s Best Brown Ale

Brewery: Bell’s Brewing (Comstock, Michigan) Name: “Best Brown” Type: Brown Ale ABV: 5.8% Beer Advocate: 86   I’ll be frank, I’m not wild about Bell’s Brewery. I’ve been to their brewery in Michigan, I like their Two Hearted Ale, they really impressed me with their Oracle DIPA and their Porter is one of the best in Michigan. Unfortunately, many of their other

Crown Valley: Imperial Pumpkin Stout

Brewery: Crown Valley (Genevieve, Missouri) Name: “Imperial Pumpkin Smash” Type: Imperial Pumpkin Stout ABV: 10.6% Beer Advocate: 89 Crown Valley is typically associated with Ciders where I live, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only do they also brew several beers (Amber Ale, and Farmhouse Lager) but in fact they have put together an imperial pumpkin stout. I’ll say first

Brooklyn: Oktoberfest

Brewery: Brooklyn Brewery (Utica, NY) Name: “Oktoberfest” Type: Märzen/Octoberfest ABV: 5.5% Beer Advocate: 83 Brooklyn Brewery is a hit-or-miss brewery for me. I’ve had a few beers I’ve enjoyed, and it appears that they do take great care of their beers. Maybe they just have a malt or hop that doesn’t rub me the right way, but I’ll always give them

Sierra Nevada: Oktoberfest

Brewery: Sierra Nevada (Chico, CA) Name: “Oktoberfest” Type: Märzen/Octoberfest ABV: 6%  Beer Advocate: 90 Sierra Nevada is a big brewery that still manages to make a quality product on a consistent basis. Their Pale Ale might be old news, but the breadth of their doman is quite substantial. From well hopped IPA’s to creative takes on Goses and Pilsners to the always excellent Bigfoot

Covington: Fest Bier

Brewery: Covington Brewhouse (Covington, LA) Name: “Fest Bier” Type: Autumn Amber Lager (Märzen/Octoberfest) ABV: 5.5% Beer Advocate: NA Fall is coming! Ominous and haunting, what better time then to have a national drinking holiday? Hence, the only style of beer specifically named for a month: Octoberfest. The German Märzen is frankly not a favorite style of mine, I find they leave me

Harpoon: UFO Pumpkin

Brewery: Harpoon (Boston, MA & Windsor, VT) Name: “Imperial Donut Break” Type: Pumpkin Ale (Unfiltered) ABV: 5.9% Beer Advocate: 82 It’s that time of year when pumpkins comes out on the porch, the leaves begin to change, and Halloween—oh wait, it’s still summer and a hundred and eighty degrees outside? Damn the Mad Men of America! Every year Halloween and

Parish: Opus Vert

Brewery: Parish Brewing (Broussard, LA) Name: “Opus Vert” Type: IPA ABV: 6.8% (60 IBU) Beer Advocate: 95 In its eighth year, Parish Brewing, just outside Lafayette, LA, has been flexing its muscle in the beer world. Their yearly “Ghost in the Machine” DBL IPA is always in high demand and their “Canebrake” sugarcane-Wheat Ale is a staple of the hot days

Evil Twin: Imperial Donut Break

Brewery: Evil Twin (New York, NY) Name: “Imperial Donut Break” Type: Imperial Porter (w/ coffee, vanilla, almond, and chocolate [donuts?]) ABV: 11.5% Beer Advocate: 93 Evil Twin Brewing sets a high bar with their beers, bringing a lot of complex flavors into some high ABV brews (see Molotov Heavy @ 17.2%), and the Imperial Donut Break is no exception.   Eyes and