Welcome to October, everyone. With the changing season comes new weather, food, holidays and, of course, seasonal beers. These seasonal selections will pair perfectly with autumn breezes, pumpkin picking and spooky nights. Richard Ledet, general manager of The Pelican House reccomends the following beers for your fall boozing.
1) Wasatch Pumpkin Ale has all the makings of a great fall time brew. The drink pours out to a vibrant, apricot/amber color similar to the leaves in places where leaves actually change colors. This beer tastes like the perfect complement to a Thanksgiving dinner. With a taste reminiscent of pumpkin pie, Wasatch Pumpkin combines nutmeg, vanilla, pumpkin and an array of harvest spices. With a great taste and mild body that’s not over powering, this ale conjures familiar feelings of gathering with family around a turkey and telling great stories.
2) St. Arnold Oktoberfest is a full-bodied malt that would be best enjoyed outdoors on a cool autumn evening. These suds pour slightly darker than the other beers for a caramel brown hue. St. Arnold Oktoberfest may not be from the Deutschland, but it gives American beer connoisseurs a rich and well-rounded taste of the German festival. It captures some faint pumpkin spice flavors as well as an earthy pecan taste. However, this beer is more bitter than the other selections, but not overwhelming. With 6.0 percent alcohol by volume, Oktoberfest doesn’t skim on sobriety-fighting agents.
3) New Belgium Pumpkick is a delightful beer that captures the lighter side of the harvest season. This spiced seasonal ale has some fruity notes from its cornucopia of limited edition flavors such as caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Like many fall beers, pumpkin is obligatory. However, what sets New Belgium Pumpkick apart is the inclusion of tart cranberry juice and zesty lemongrass. This ale is light bodied and would taste great with some squash-based dinner without being too filling. Also, this brew is brand-new and was developed only a few months ago.
4) Abita Fall Fest is another Oktoberfest inspired drink. Similar to St. Arnold in body and richness, Fall Fest differs with its caramel-laden flavor. While this Märzen-style lager looks light with a golden amber appearance, it’s richer than one might expect. Fall Fest is a rather mediocre beverage in comparison to the other suggestions. It’s not bad, but it’s not especially great either. The flavors are warm like toasted wheat and caramel, but fall flat when paired together. This might be a good choice for fans of malty beers rather than fruity.