There’s a slight chill in the air and green leaves are beginning to transform into a melody of gold, red, and orange. Summer’s end may be bittersweet, but fall has plenty to offer, especially when it comes to beer. Read: Octoberfest Beer Gardens (or Oktoberfest Bier Gartens for our European readers!). We’ve rounded up five delightful beers (and the like) that perfectly compliment the start of autumn.
- Pumpkick by New BelgiumThis amber ale is for all our PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) fans out there. Beer can taste surprisingly fantastic with a pumpkin kick, and this one by New Belgium Brewing Company is pumpkiny and tasty without being too sweet or cloying. What makes this pumpkin ale unique is its touch of cranberry and lemongrass, adding a slightly tart note to your glass.
- Oktoberfest by Samuel Adams Sam Adams’s ever-popular seasonal brew is an easy-to-find fall beer that adheres to the Oktoberfest tradition of copper-red Bavarian Marzen. Their easy-to-drink version of this classic style blends hearty malts for a smooth flavor with subtle caramel notes. It’s a crowd-pleaser for any beer drinker. Prost!
- Crispin CiderIf pumpkin isn’t your thing and traditional beer doesn’t appeal to you, here’s good news: hard cider has made a massive comeback in North America over the last few years. Today, there are dozens of these apple concoctions on the shelves. Unlike beer, cider is created using fermented crushed fruit, like apples and pears, rather than hops and barley. Crispin is a favorite cider brand, offering several crisp, refreshing, slightly sweet Champagne-like varieties, many of which are gluten-free– all of which are perfect for a fall afternoon.
- Imperial Pumpkin Ale by WeyerbacherCan’t get enough pumpkin? If you’re on the hunt for another pumpkin option, the Imperial Pumpkin Ale by Weyerbacher Brewery is routinely cited by beer geeks as the best pumpkin ale around, and its accolades are well-deserved. With lots of real pumpkin flavor along with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of cardamom and clove, this ale has a spicy, full-bodied flavor, perfect for sipping by the campfire. If you can find it, buy it in bulk– it’s hard to find and doesn’t last long. Watch out, though, one bottle goes a long way; one bottle has an alcohol content of 8% ABV (alcohol by volume), which is much higher than a typical beer.
- Northern Hemisphere IPA by Sierra NevadaIf you prefer a hoppy, flavorful IPA, Sierra Nevada offers several varieties. Their unique seasonal IPA, the Northern Hemisphere, is brewed a little differently: Wet hops go straight from the fields into their kettles within 24 hours. The company claims that using wet rather than dry hops preserves the precious oils and resins and yields intense herbal green flavors and citrus-like aromas. It has won over plenty of fans in the IPA world.What brew will you try first? We’re keeping our eyes out for the Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Cheers to a delicious fall!