October is one of my favorite months for many reasons. The leaves are changing, it’s sweater weather, and I am always down for a bonfire and hopefully someone brings s’mores. Following suit, there are also many changes in what’s available in the “seasonal” department of craft brewing. Fewer seen are the light, crisp summer ales and pilsners, which are replaced by the maltier lagers and amber ales. While Oktoberfest historically took place in September that first year, the beers are still available throughout the season. Sam Adams is not a brewery that typically comes to mind when considering craft beers, but their Oktoberfest is special. To anyone who either is looking to try an Oktoberfest that can be found in many stores and restaurants in the area, or who,
like myself, would normally dismiss something from one of the big, national breweries, I say this: Dude, just give it a try. It’s better than quite a few others I’ve tried from breweries that I normally really like.
Hi-Wire Brewing follows their Big Top Circus amusement theme with their take on the classic Oktoberfest style, Zirkusfest. The thing that sets this one apart from many other Oktoberfests is it’s noticeably lighter finish. The use of Munich malts give this beer a mildly sweet nose and flavor upon first sip which then turn nutty and toasty on the palate. The beer ends crisp and a little dry with very little hop character, which is good news because when looking for an enjoyable Marzen or Oktoberfest style lager, you don’t want a big hoppy ending.
Blue Holler Brew Supplies located in Bowling Green, and not to be confused with the offroad park of the same name, has been around for a few years now selling (you guessed it) supplies for home brewing. There’s also a bar inside with 20 different taps on rotation and plenty of games to play with friends or strangers. Most exciting, however, is the recent addition of Blue Holler’s own beer, made in house. So far I’ve only tried the Amber, but I know there are at least two sours on my list to try as well, and Chris, the owner, is going to put out a whole lot of variety in time. The aforementioned Blue Holler Amber is a wonderful example of the style. It’s malty, it’s mild, and it’s very sessionable. While the beers are beginning to become available outside of ground zero where they’re brewed, if you do find yourself in the area, you should definitely check out Blue Holler for their own beers as well as see what else they have on tap that day.
Pumpkin ales are back once again just like the pumpkin spice lattes from that coffee chain that somehow can’t spell Josh. I mentioned in more detail last year that Schlafly Pumpkin Ale is one of my favorite if not number one favorite beer, but if you’ve been reading since then, I won’t bore you with repetitive information. Just know that if you like pumpkin things and also beer, go get some. Moving on, a different, almost as personally favorited pumpkin beer is Uinta Punk’n. Available in cans, Punk’n contains all the flavors of fall and pumpkin pie such as cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and a hint of roasted malts and is quite sessionable. I expect if you took this to a bonfire, with marshmallow on a stick in one hand, this beer in the other, you would take a sip and exclaim, “Yes! This is what it feels like to experience synergy.”
Earlier this week, an alery was brought to my attention out of Cadiz in Western Kentucky. St. Arnulf Alery is the name, and I was able to get my hands on the Hexagram 2018, which according to the paper-wrapped bottle is a “Coconut, Raspberry, Vanilla, Milk Stout.” Yeah. There’s a lot going on in the name, and once I poured it into my mouth, there was a lot going on there as well. Let me start by saying this beer is jet black, 9.5% ABV, and took me around half an hour to drink 12 ounces. The smokiness from the burnt malts reminds me of a campfire burning out in the best way. The coconut and vanilla were much less prevalent as clear flavors but did help balance out the sweetness in the end. The raspberries however, were not used sparingly and took the beer to a different level entirely. If you need a recommendation on a pairing with this beer, get yourself some of those little Ghirardelli squares with the raspberry filling. (Ghirardelli did not sponsor me to say that, but if they want to send me some chocolates, they know where to find me).
-by Josh Helton
