Drink
When the temperature drops, look for something rich and malty.
"Autumn is a great season for serious beer drinkers," says Jes Dwyer, bartender at The Levee in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. That's because when the leaves change and football kicks off, beer lovers start thinking about chugging a new batch of autumn beers. While summer is the time for light lagers and hefeweizens, and winter is perfect for dark porters and stouts, autumn is the only time of year when you can put back a few pumpkin-flavored pints. "You always know it's fall when you can get an Oktoberfest or a pumpkin ale," Dwyer agrees. So what makes a beer an autumn beer? "There are no official rules of how a fall beer should taste, but look for a rich and malty flavor," says Dwyer. And, since they're only available for a few months out of the year, beer fans usually stockpile anything that says "pumpkin" or "October" on the label. Don't be afraid to skip your old standby in the fall months in favor of beers with the deep, rich flavors that match perfectly with the dropping temperatures. "I'm a sucker for any pumpkin ale, all the spices just scream autumn," adds Dwyer. "Goodbye, summer. Hello, autumn beers." - Corey Jones
Since the Germans invented Oktoberfest, you can understand why this Bavarian märzen was a gold-medal winner at the World Beer Championships. Only slightly sweet, it has a long, dry finish.
The sweetness of this autumn beer is balanced by the bitterness of the German noble hops, making this one of the more drinkable fall beers on the market.
At 9.6 percent alcohol by volume, you won’t want to drain this like Bud Light. Using something called a “double decoction” process, Smuttynose’s brewers pack this beer full of sweet and rich maltiness. Sip it, but don’t drink it to quench your thirst.
This is the only pumpkin lager in the world (all others are ales), which means it’s richer and smoother than any pumpkin beer. The brewers use real pumpkin in the mashing process and spices like cinnamon and clove, so skip the pie and have beer for dessert.
