The fall season is upon us, and spooky season is here! Beer lovers everywhere are awaiting the return of their favorite fall flavors. The end of each summer marks the beginning of the hop-picking season when freshly harvested hops are immediately brewed into fragrant, full-flavored beers. This is a time for innovation in breweries all across the world. From Oktoberfest beers to seasonal stouts, these are some of the best beers in October.
What’s October without Octoberfest? So, get out your Lederhosen and prepare for an intense wave of Bavaria Hysteria. The Ultimate Oktoberfest is here! Founders Brewing Company is taking this classic German-style Märzen and kicking it up by adding the smooth, rich flavors only nine months in a bourbon barrel can provide. The first sip starts with initial impressions of bread crust, cashews, light honey, and many other notes associated with the traditional lager. The beer retains much of the original’s drinkability as bourbon flavors apply their toasty, bitter, whisky spice. However, its pungent taste suggests this is more of a sipping session. You wouldn’t necessarily see this poured into a stein at an Oktoberfest celebration, but drinking a single glass at your own pace, on your own time, is a pretty rewarding experience. This new-school take on an old classic is a great way to welcome fall.
Halloween is around the corner, and we are more than a month from Thanksgiving, but you may see all sorts of Christmas decorations already on the shelves. For all you folks who just can’t wait for this holiday season any longer, our friends at The Brew Bridge whipped together one of the most unique stouts you will see this year. In collaboration with Owensboro local and award-winning homebrewer Bobby Edge, this stout was inspired by a holiday classic… Elf. Brewed with pounds of spaghetti (yes, you heard me correctly) and then conditioned on cocoa nibs, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla beans, marshmallow fluff, and coffee, this beer is a real treat and covers all the main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup, of course. This pastry stout is a sweet tooth’s dream, maintaining a sense of maturity for such a playful drink. If you’re looking to try one-of-a-kind stout packed full of nostalgia and literal spaghetti, then remember to ask for the Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins next time you’re at your local Mellow Mushroom.
Did you think I’d not include the most essential part of this season? Did you? The quintessential flavor to the fall experience! Of course, I’m talking about the infamous pumpkin spice. Usually associated with our lattes and muffins during this time of year, but what about your favorite fruited sours? The team from Prairie Artisan Ales has finally given the essential pumpkin spice a whole new life! They are serving their prestigious kettle sour beer with a Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend and calling it the Pumpkin Kerfuffle. The aroma of this sour is straight to the point, with a whiff of baked pie crust, graham crackers, cinnamon, and a heaping helping of vanilla Cool Whip. It is decadent for even an imperial stout. The flavor, however, is slightly tart up front with citrus notes, quickly followed by a sweet, creamy marshmallow note mid-palate. The finish brings out the spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and some ginger. Lingers of vanilla, cinnamon, and some lactic tartness carry out this symphony of seasonal goodness. The flavors are perfect for the start of the leaves falling and for any beer lovers trying to hop on the pumpkin spice craze train.
From Oktoberfest beers switching up on us to seasonal stouts changing the game and sours taking over the pumpkin spice craze, these are only some of the October specialty beers coming to Mellow this month. More than any other season, fall is prime time for cracking a few brews. Be it while watching a football game, catching up with friends on Halloween, hoisting liters of lager at your local Oktoberfest bash, or just trying to enjoy the change in scenery, October’s cooler weather welcomes a bounty of fall beers that will make this month special.
-by Maeve Black
