After you've had your fill of bready, malty lager goodness from the Oktoberfest season and the barrage of hundreds of pumpkin ales has ended; it's time to reach for those special libations that bridge the remaining gap in fall beer before winter shows up. It's a truly wonderful time of year for beer... I feel like I say that a lot but sneaking in the last chance to use the grill or early evening bonfires with friends or even raking leaves all provide a wonderful backdrop for beer that captures the essence of the season. Of course we could further exhaust Oktoberfest and Pumpkin options but here are other exceptional brews that complement fall every bit as well.
Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale. Tampa's most celebrated brewery makes one of the tastiest little fall camping beers around. The rich chocolate and grain aromas are like a beautiful breath of fall air. This brown ale offers plenty of flavor to keep you interested while sitting around the fire but also has a pleasing, smooth finish that leaves you awaiting another sip of its nutty, cocoa flavors. The addition of flaked oats are the culprit for the beer's smooth texture. For a special treat, seek out Vanilla versions of Maduro for a cake-like drinking experience.
Let's talk about Founders Harvest Ale. One of the greatest things about fall is the abundant use of freshly harvested hops in fragrant and juicy ales. Founders has earned a reputation for so many great beers, but year after year Harvest Ale continues to be one of their most celebrated. The use of freshly picked, wet hops contribute greener citrus aromas speaking to the timely nature of their use. Usually shipped to brewers within 24 hours of harvest, these wet hops have all the precious hop oils in their purest form. This ale will pair great with swordfish garnished with red pepper and mango salsa, playing nicely off the beer's lemon and orange notes.
For a complex bottle worthy of a chilly night, reach no further than the classic Schneider-Weisse Unser Aventinus. A weizen dopplebock, or strong wheat based lager that is brimming with flavors of banana, raisin, fig and plum. Its decadent dark fruit ways mask the beer's 8.2% alcohol. A ruby brown hued glass of this beer will keep you coming back just for aroma alone. This is what would happen if raisin bread and banana bread had a magical liquid baby. There's no surprise a beer like this is an ideal companion to stew season- beef or venison will both benefit from a splash or two of Aventinus in the slow cooker.
This time of year also brings on an increased thirst for stouts. Those pitch black, roasty pints that seem to somehow taste even better when the temperature dips down and the sweaters go on. Especially the tipsy imperial versions that seem so appropriate with campfire smoke in the air. Bomb! by Prairie Artisanal Ales is the 13% prescription for what you need. A jet black viscous monster aged on vanilla beans, espresso, ancho chilies and chocolate to round out the mix. It is a harmonious interplay of flavors. If you don't smile after sipping this, your mouth might be broken.
Sometimes the greatest beer of the season is simply the one made by your local brewery, those who are there sharing your seasonal experience. You have a brewery near you and I bet they make a great representation of what you want to be drinking right now. For me, it's the appropriate Rushing Duck De Levende Doden, Dutch for "The Living Dead", brewed in New York's amazing Hudson River Valley. What could be better than a Belgian style porter with chocolate and roast notes, spicy accents from a Belgian yeast strain and a round fruit quality from the addition of cherries? It's like Halloween night in a glass.
So the next time you need a beautiful autumn offering, don't be afraid to look beyond the wall of pumpkin beer for something truly unique that reflects the season.