So far this season we have reviewed a host of fall seasonal beers. We have pitted them against one another like the review Jim did of Southern Tier’s Pumking vs Avery’s Kaiser, as well as the more traditional reviews I did of Sam Adams Octoberfest, and Shipyard’s Pumpkinhead. Plus I know there are plenty of fall seasonals that Jim and I have drank that we haven’t reviewed. They are getting play on other sites.
There are literally droves of fall seasonals with either an octoberfest or Marzen bent or the host of traditional pumpkin or other squash beers made to taste like pie in a glass. There is really no way one site can review them all, or even keep up with all the releases, so I thought I would turn the tables a bit here.
How about you tell us what your favorite is? There are so many we can’t possibly try them all, so let us know what to pick up and try.
Are there certain seasonals you wait all year for? If so, what are they, and why do they fill you with such anticipation? Do you stock up? Or do you just buy a few and then wait for them again next year?
One of my favorite stories so far is how Brandon Lackey, a fellow blogger that runs Brandon Lackey’s Bolg O’ Crap where his irreverent humor and stories of beer and cigars keeps me going back time and again, bought a 15.5 gallon keg of Sam Adams Octoberfest last year and almost killed himself to finish it! Do you have a story like his? Have you loved a seasonal so much you bought a keg of it? Or perhaps cooler fall weather put you in a whiskey state of mind?
As usual let us know in the comments.
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Sierra Nevada Tumbler.Great beer for the season!
Thanks Steve. That is a Brown Ale correct? I know its everywhere here in Idaho so I will pick some up and give it a try.
It’s fantastic
I’ve never had it before, so I’m looking forward to it this year, as Jim raved about it last.
While I love almost everything SN puts out, I’m not a fan of Tumbler. In my humble opinion it’s plain, boring and uninspired. It’s true to style, almost to a fault. Moose Drool is a much better brown ale.
I agree. I liked the first bottle I had of Tumbler, but the next was a little too dry for me, the same way I feel about a lot of Anchor’s brews. I think it’s a sweetness thing – there’s not enough for me.
Tumbler is a SN brew. Not Anchor
The Bruery Autumn Maple and Jolly Pumpkin Fuego Del Otono are by far my favorite Autumn/Fall Seasonals. Autumn Maple being thick, rich, yammy, maple syrup goodness and Fuego Del Otono being a bit lighter, spicier and truly tastes like Fall to me. I try to hoard as much as possible but i have limited space, so i just drink them when they are around and wait anxiously till next year. Although i have found a few bottles of 08′ Fuego recently and it has aged amazingly! just a thought for the hoarders.
That sounds really good Matt. I know I can get the Autumn Maple and already have an order placed with my beer guy to hold a couple bottles for me. This will be my Thanksgiving brew. The Fuego Del Otono sounds just great, but sadly Jolly Pumpkin doesn’t ship to Idaho. Hopefully someday those great Michigan beers will find their way out west.
Get an extra Autumn Maple for Evan. He’s dry up there in WA and I can’t score him a bottle.
I’ll try. Should be able to.
I love Autumn Maple as well, Matt. I now save a bottle for Thanksgiving, as I think it complements the flavors of fall so well.
Yea if you can get your hands on anything Jolly Pumpkin get it, Every brew from them is pure quality.
Autumn Maple will make a great after dinner beer, or paired with any sort of Thanksgiving desert
Founders Harvest Ale is amazing.
Yeah…Dave. Rub in the fact that you are in Founder’s country. I’ll bet its amazing. I’ll also bet I won’t have any for a very long time… 😦
Haha, funny you used my “near death” experience as an example! Thanks! And yes, Sam’s Octoberfest is still high on my list. 🙂
That story was way too good to hold back! I loved it.
I’m a sucker for Marzens especially Ayinger, Paulener and Spaten.
Hey Mike, I’ve only had the Ayinger and I liked it a lot, especially the little goat ornament on the neck. Totally cool and goaty. I’ll have to look for the other two. I’m pretty sure my store has them.
Dogfish Head Punkin’ and Ayinger Oktoberfest sittin’ in the fridge…
Haven’t had the punkin, but I’ve herad nothing but good things about it. Agree whole heartedly about the Ayinger. Good stuff.
I’ve tried a few, and I’m going to go with the Sam Adams Octoberfest and surprisingly the Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin as my favorites in the Marzen/Oktoberfest categories this year.
Love the Octoberfest. Haven’t tried the pumpkin yet. I’ll have to look for it.
The Sam Adams Octoberfest was pretty good, but I thought the Harvest Pumpkin tasted like veggies tossed in Worcestershire Sauce…which is odd, since most people seem to like it.
Well veggies in Worcestershire doesn’t sound terrible…
Nothing specific, I just like being able to finally drink porters, stouts, scotch ales, and their like without feeling out of sorts.
I used to look forward to Harpoon’s Winter Warmer, but I think they changed it a few years ago so it’s a lot heavier on the spice. Not happy…