8 Fall Seasonal Beers That Should Be on Your List
It’s harvest time. Leaves are starting to turn, the days are getting a little bit shorter and our minds are turning to all things fall. With each harvest comes a brand new crop of barley and hops that will go into craft beers around the globe. It’s a time of plenty, and that applies to beer as much as it does to your local farmers’ market.
There are notable brews that are traditionally made especially for this season. Oktoberfestbier is the hallmark example. In the past few decades, however, the autumn season has inspired a plethora of worthy ales and lagers that range from sweet and spiced, to boldly hopped and assertively dry.
We’ve done the heavy lifting to find the top eight beers that you must try this autumn. They represent the harvest—each in their own way. These beers are not your average everyday sip. To fully appreciate them you’ll need the proper glassware and the time to quaff and savor.
Fresh or Wet Hop Ales: Choose Birrateque IPA
Sierra Nevada’s Estate Ale: This special ale is brewed with organic wet hops, wheat and barley all grown at the brewery in Chico. Hop aromatics that hint at grapefruit and spice are perfectly balanced with a smooth malt backbone. Grab this extremely limited offering—one of the few estate made beers in the world—if you can!
Terrapin Beer Co.’s So Fresh & So Green, Green: An annual celebration of the hop harvest, the hops included each year vary in this single-hop ale. The result is a revolving evolution of flavors that reminds us that nothing really stays the same. Fresh, wet hops are flown in overnight from the Yakima Valley in Washington to make this special and highly aromatic brew.
Brown Ales: Choose Birrateque Tester
Lake Placid Brewing Company's Ubu Ale: While technically an English Style Strong Ale, the malt profile of this beer will have brown ale fans smiling. Flavors of dark fruits, roasted malts and a hint of maple give way to a dry and pleasantly bitter finish.
Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale: Samuel Smith’s is known worldwide for quality. Its brewers coax alluring flavors and aromas into this special brown ale, using only a few simple ingredients. Pronounced nuttiness and a complex malt profile are complemented by a refreshing dry character and effervescent carbonation.
Pumpkin Beers: Choose Birrateque Seasonal
Weyerbacher’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale: Pumpkin pie meets high-gravity beer in this rich, sweet and boldly spiced ale. Pronounced flavors of pumpkin and caramel are matched up with the assertive presence of four different spices, resulting in a highly quaffable brew. Indulgence in a glass.
Brooklyn Brewery’s Post Road Pumpkin Ale: This beer is perfect for a bright autumn day. Subtle flavors of pumpkin round out a copper-colored ale with a biscuity malt core and a just-dry-enough finish. Not over the top, or missing anything, which is what we like about it. A “session” beer for those who want a little pumpkin.
Stouts: Choose Birrateque Stout
Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Warlock: Technically an Imperial Stout, although this pumpkin-and-spice-laced version may turn your expectations on their head. Moderate carbonation and a silky smooth mouthfeel illuminate the huge roasted malt character with its overtones of pumpkin and spice. Southern Tier describes the flavor as “pumpkin pie laced with coffee and dark chocolate.” We agree. Grab this pungent, viscous brew while you can!
Great Divide Brewing Co.’s Oak Aged Yeti: Sometimes the only way to make an already great Imperial Stout even better is to age it in oak. So that’s exactly what Great Divide did. Hints of vanilla and oak mellow Yeti’s robust hop character and complement the complex malt bill. The result is a contemplative brew that’s as dark as it is delicious.
All of the beers above should be on your list, as should our Birrateque glasses. The Birrateque Collection was crafted in conjunction with the renowned Centro Studi Assaggiatori. These organoleptically superior glasses are dishwasher-safe and made with our proprietary SON.hyx for superior strength and clarity. Like all Luigi Bormioli products made with SON.hyx, it carries a 25-Year Guarantee that guards against chipping on the rim, as well as discoloration or cloudiness resulting from washing. These unique glasses also feature a Foam Control System (FSC) to maintain a steady stream of effervescence, because no one wants their brew to go flat mid-sip.
Luigi Bormioli, the designer label of glassmaking, is synonymous with Italian Lifestyle. Our proprietary glassware formulas allow for an exciting fusion of elegance and technology. Designed to enhance the tabletop and elevate the entertaining experience, these machine blown glasses are made in Italy, lead-free, durable, have laser cut fine rims, and will maintain their clarity after thousands of dishwashing cycles. You will enjoy their quality, brilliance, and strength for many years to come.