Identifying an ideal fall seasonal is a challenge in a market saturated by Oktoberfest Märzen-style beers and pumpkin ales. The arrival of autumn evokes cool air, campfires, falling leaves and earthen tones, all of which are inspirations for finding the perfect pairing for the season. There are some truly exemplary options in the area. Some breweries play with form, experimenting with traditional styles for something wholly unique, while others strive to make the best example of their respective products. Others offer something entirely unusual, but still complementary to the season. As if you needed any other reason to drink, here we’ve compiled a list of rigorously-tested choices around town that are well-worth your dollars.
Against the Grain – Muy Fuerte A smoked Belgian dark, the Muy Fuerte has a toasty warmth, perfect for a cool fall evening. This is campfire beer, heavy in body, but with the flavor profile of a dunkelweizen, a kind of malty freshness that balances sweet with savory. Coming in at 6.8 percent ABV, the Muy Fuerte isn’t quite a session beer, but it’s not so intense that it’ll sneak up on you. Smoked beers can be off-putting, if the smoky essence is too much, but this has a kind of crispness to it, almost like smoked meat.
Akasha – 12 Foot Fall Lager A Märzen-style beer, the 12 Foot Fall Lager from Akasha is a refreshing Oktoberfest style beer, with a burnt amber body, and light head. The ABV is relatively low for a craft beer at 5.6 percent, and the IBU matches. There is a mild hoppiness to the flavor, reminiscent of a harvest ale, but without quite being so blunt with the floral notes.
Apocalypse Brewery – Irish Red Rapture While it may not seem like the obvious contender, the Irish Red Rapture is an excellent fall beer. Sweet, but with a mild malt taste, it is Apocalypse’s take on a classic red with a slightly-more viscous body, if only moderately so. The ABV is mild, with an equally tame IBU, giving it an easy and smooth drinkability. There is a nice carbonated aftertaste that gives it a pop, making it far and away more refreshing than a common red variety like Killian’s.
The Bluegrass Brewing Company – Oktoberfest The BBC Oktoberfest is a Märzen-style ale with sweet malt flavors and medium hop notes. The body here is thin and almost a little watery, like a lager, but with a dark amber color. This is an emminently-drinkable ale that strikes a nice balance between IBU and ABV, for a relaxing flavor that’s not too heavy, but not too sweet.
Cumberland Brews – Roasted Pumpkin Ale The Roasted Pumpkin Ale couldn’t have a more crystal clear name. Similar to Cumberland’s equally seasonally-appropriate Oktoberfest, also on tap as of my tasting, this is a nice complement to the weather. The roasted flavor is mild at best, so it comes across more on the back end of the flavor profile than on the front, and it adds a pleasant aftertaste. There is something comforting about the Roasted Pumpkin Ale in the fall. The body has a deep golden tint with an incredibly light head, making for a picturesque drink, but it doesn’t add to the flavor necessarily, although it does enhance the overall experience.
Donum Dei – 812 Nouveau An IPA with a 7.0-percent ABV, the 812 Nouveau is a delightfully delicious experience. Composed of only locally-sourced hops, the brew is wet-hopped for a juicy and smooth beverage that pairs well with the otherwise high IBU, or bitterness, of the drink. This is almost more harvest ale than traditional IPA, although it will certainly appeal to an ale fanatic either way, as there are more than enough floral notes present. With a wheaty aftertaste, this is an especially-sublime beer and one that stands out not only as a fantastic seasonal option, but among other contemporary brews.
Flat 12 – Flat Jack Pumpkin The Flat Jack Pumpkin is an excellent choice to enjoy while sitting on Flat 12’s river-facing porch. There is a strange minty quality to the brew that, at first, may seem like a weird fit with pumpkin flavor, but it ends up adding a nice pop uncommon to pumpkin ales. With a moderate 5.5-percent ABV and crisp flavor, the Flat Jack Pumpkin is an easy standout, one that has a nice snappy aftertaste to boot.
The Floyd County Brewing Company – Dunkel A deep red complexion identifies the body of the beer, which is accompanied by a sweet malty finish. This isn’t a thick beer, per se, although it is a bit heavier than an Oktoberfest or amber. There is a spicy flavor to Floyd County’s take on the brew that adds a little depth, almost like a hot cinnamon flavor that hits you on the back end of the drink. Weighing in at 6.8 percent ABV, this is a good beer to approach with a little caution, as it’s easy drinkability will catch up to you.
Goodwood Brewing – Rum Barrel Oktoberfest It was hard to pick just one beer at Goodwood, and I was hesitant to repeat my choice from last year. Still, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. The Rum Barrel Oktoberfest is, as advertised, a Märzen-style ale aged in rum barrels. The pairing is superb with the rum and beer working in perfect harmony with each other. The body is a deep burnt amber that casts a dark golden light in the sun. Despite a slight booziness to the flavor profile, part and parcel to the rum, the ABV is moderate and the aftertaste is just the right amount of sweet.
Great Flood Brewery – Toasted Brown Ale There is a nice warmth to the flavor, almost like toasted marshmallows or grilled veggies, a natural kind of flavor that blends well with the brown ale base. Like a majority of the beers on this list, the ABV is moderate, not quite high gravity, but not quite the lower alcohol content of a domestic. As the name would suggest, this is a brown ale with a body to match, with notes of chocolate that haunt your senses like ghosts.
Monnik Brewing – Kaiser Von Schnitzelburg Per usual, Monnik has an excellent seasonal offering among its many regularly-rotating taps. A golden-bodied Oktoberfest style, the Kaiser Von Schnitzelburg is an enjoyable fall beer, and a fresh take on a classic. There are hints of citrus here, but not quite like a wheat beer, and never overpowering. That mixes well with the hop profile for a beer that is entirely glorious, with a mild flavor and wonderful aftertaste.
The New Albanian – Strassenbrau The Strassenbrau is a smooth, malty beer, with a low ABV and a smooth finish — a nice addition to the variety of Märzen styles prevalent this time of year, and one sought after annually by New Albanian fanatics. The body is moderate, thicker than a lager, but not as viscous as a porter or stout, with a burnt amber color that reflects that volume. There are roasted note here that hit you at the periphery of your taste, but that stick with you for a pleasing aftertaste.
Old Louisville Brewery – Imperial Pumpkin Milk Stout There are plenty of breweries in town that offer pumpkin-flavored beers, but none buck the ale trend other than the Old Louisville Brewery. The new kid on the block, the OLB Imperial Pumpkin Milk Stout is an extraordinary experience, a thick and creamy stout that goes down entirely too smoothly. In terms of presentation, the body is black as midnight, a good sign for a solid stout, and one that sets it apart from a brown, or even a porter. With a high ABV coming in at 8 percent, this is one that will creep up on you, especially considering how seamlessly the pumpkin and stout flavor blend.
Red Yeti – Horseman’s Head Pumpkin Ale Of all the pumpkin ales on this list, the Horseman’s Head Pumpkin Ale, courtesy of Red Yeti, is possibly the richest of all. There is a velvety smoothness here that is exquisite. This is an almost regal ale, with an awesome finish that doesn’t just taste like all spice or pumpkin flavoring, but has a natural flavor that goes down great. This isn’t a sweet beer, as might be suggested — it balances the pumpkin favorably with the floral ale notes. There is a slight tartness — although one that is much more subtle than something like a gose — that adds a refreshing pop at the end.
For more coverage of local beer, pick up the print edition and read the "I'd Tap That" column.
