I don’t know about you, but I always start to crave soup about this time of year. Just like ice-cold beer tastes great on those 90 degree summer days, the idea of a big, steaming bowl of chili in October sounds so good. My taste for the type of beer I like to drink starts to shift with the season, too. I like the light, crisp beers in the summer, but dark and rich is what I want with my chili.
I’m not alone in this. Look at the seasonal beers that are out during summertime (Bell’s Oberon and Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy) - Light, garnished with citrus. Oktoberfest and pumpkin brews start to hit shelves in September and October. Perfect timing for the taste-shift.
There’s something hearty about the fall seasonal beers. Oktoberfest brews are typically dark lagers and bring brats to mind as well as the annual Oktoberfest festivals that bring a little more German tradition to Wisconsin. Samuel Adams, Leinenkugel’s and Capital Brewing are just a few of the brands that have great Oktoberfest beers available locally.
Pumpkin ale also comes out around this time. Pumpkin flavored beer may sound a little odd, but don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it! Lakefront Brewery and Blue Moon both make great pumpkin beers that tastes like pumpkin pie with nutmeg, cinnamon and pumpkin brewed right into the beer. All that's missing is the pie crust!
