Is fall peak beer season? You could certainly make an argument. You have traditional releases like malty marzens for Oktoberfests and seasonals like bold porters and rich stouts. And then you have a wave of fresh hop beers that satiate IPA fanatics thanks to hop harvest season. All of those goodies come together for a couple of months during fall, giving beer drinkers a cornucopia of beverages to choose from. Or maybe you choose to drink them all. We’re not going to judge. Check out this list of new, seasonal beers, which reads a bit like a highlight reel.
Autumnal Molé Stout Ska Brewing
It’s fall, so that means it’s finally time to start drinking the dark, viscous, maybe a little spicy beers, right? Stout season baby! Ska’s Molé Stout is brewed with cocoa nibs, cinnamon, cumin, cloves and three different chile peppers. Don’t let the ingredient list scare you off—you can smell and taste the peppers and spice, but it’s not overwhelming. Ska released this beer for the season last week. Look for the 5.8% ABV stout in 22-ounce bombers.
Flyin’ Hawaiian Double IPA Tallgrass Brewing Company
This beer would be juicy enough on its own, thanks to the Mandarina Bavaria, Columbus and Pacific Gem hops, but Tallgrass goes a step further by adding pineapple puree. Thankfully, they stop short of creating a saccharine fruit bomb; this thing is balanced, with plenty of pine notes and a sturdy malt bill. It’s also a little boozy at 8.4%. It’s a new beer, part of Tallgrass’ special-release Explorer Series. Look for it in 16-ounce cans through October. Also a heads up if you’re a fan of Tallgrass, they also redesigned the recipe for their 8-Bit Pale Ale.
We ran an article about fresh hop beers earlier this week, but we missed this one from Boulevard Brewing, in Kansas City. Boulevard is celebrating the hop harvest with this wet hop IPA, using wet Simcoe hops before they have a chance to be kilned and dried. The process pulls the oil from the cone and delivers bigger flavor, particularly grassy notes. It’s part of Boulevard’s draft only Smokestack Series, but if you’re in Kansas City, seek it out. It hits bars on October 3.
Sticky When Wet NoDa Brewing
Want another fresh hop beer? Of course you do. NoDa Brewing made a splash a few years ago when they won gold at GABF for their Hop Drop ‘n Roll IPA, so when they put out a new IPA, everyone should take note. This one uses fresh Citra and Mosaic hops that were rushed from the Pacific Northwest to NoDa’s home in Charlotte and brewed within 24 hours of being harvested. Expect big notes of grapefruit in this one, and look for it in cans and on draft starting October 10.
Vanilla Bean Porter Stone Brewing Co.
Fun fact: Madagascar vanilla beans are the world’s second most expensive spice. And Stone uses a bunch of them in this porter, which already has notes of chocolate and coffee. It’s billed as being creamy and soft with a rich finish. Also, you know, vanilla. The new 5.9% ABV beer hit draft lines and shelves a couple of weeks ago. You can find it in Stone’s Cabin Fever mixed 12 pack, alongside Stone’s Coffee Milk Stout, Ruination, and Delicious IPA.
Mocha Marlin Ballast Point
Speaking of chocolate and coffee…San Diego’s Ballast Point is releasing a new mocha porter. They took their standard Black Marlin Porter and beefed it up with additions of coffee and chocolate. It’s a roast-heavy, 6% ABV English porter that Ballast Point insists is equally appropriate for breakfast or dessert. Look for it on draft and in 12-oz. bottles right about…now.
