The fall is by far my favorite season. The weather is warm but not hot during the day, the nights have the perfect sleep-inducing chill in the air, and the trees slowly explode into a symphony of rustic beauty.
Every year, there’s one moment in early September or late August when I step outside and the air temperature is just right, and a happy little switch flips in my head – autumn is upon us.
That moment happened at 6:57am this morning, as I went to let Daisy the Wonder Poodle out. According to the Weather Channel app on my phone (it’s sad that I check the temperature where I’m standing with the Internet and not a thermometer) it was 53 degrees out there. All I know is my body understood the moment I stepped outside that my favorite time of year was beginning.
Two things happened at once. I thought about sweaters, which I think a lot of people do – I didn’t make up the phrase “sweater weather” – and I wanted a pumpkin beer. My body didn’t care that it was so early, my bones simply ached for Southern Tier Pumking.
And soon I shall oblige. I’ll stop off tonight and load up on all those fall beers I was complaining about a couple of weeks ago, happy that they’re here now that I crave them.
Between real football starting, a few leaves turning and pumpkin beers on the brain, I’m psyched for the sights and sounds and smells and tastes of the fall.
Especially because I don’t have to go back to school – those days have long passed. Instead, I get to make my kids get up early, tease them that their slacker summer days are over, and say that phrase our dad would always gleefully chime the night before we headed back: “TIIIIIME FOR BED, SCHOOO-OOOL TOMORROW!!”
I love the fall.
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
You have no idea. After a crapload of record-breaking temps this summer, I’m looking forward to fall more than usual (and I usually look forward to it a lot). We haven’t quite had our autumn chill moment here in STL, but it’s coming soon. Much like one of those people who puts Christmas decorations up in November, anxious for the holiday, I even picked up the Schlafly Pumpkin when it hit the shelves last week.
I picked some up as well, and it’s already gone, except for one bottle I saved for a pumpkin beer round up. That stuff is so good this year – I’m eager to see how it stacks up against Pumking.
Don’t get distracted by pumpkin beers. Fall means Fresh/Wet hop and harvest ales. Keep your eye on the prize, Jim!
Nice pro tip! I usually fumble the opportunity to taste those when they hit, so I’ll keep an eye out this year for sure.
I agree. Fresh/Wet hop time is the most wonderful time of the year! Great Divide Fresh Hop and Sierra Nevada Harvest Estate are two of my favorites.
I totally agree. Buy the pumpkins, but stash them for later. Jump on the wet hops. The Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest is always my favorite. I just wrote a post on Fresh/Wet Hop beers with a few suggestions. Some may make it to you’re end of the world. http://wp.me/s2ucmM-907
I’ll jump on the fresh/wet hop bandwagon as well. It’s my favorite seasonal type beer, bar none. You can have your pumpkin, Xmas, and spiced beers, just give me a wet hop beer.
Hasn’t quite dropped into the 50’s here in Sykesville, MD yet–61 this morning and they’re calling for 90’s tomorrow, so I’ll forgo the DFH Punkin just yet. Not sure how much color we’ll get this year either. Some trees have already dropped their leaves (heat stress), others are just turning brown. But I’m prepared for cooler weather in any case w/ FD’s Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout and Gonzo Imperial Porter (not to mention my BM Dark Hollows–which is sittin’ in the beer frig, bottle conditioning as I type this.) Maybe this fall I’ll finally find that elusive oatmeal stout to take the place of my old favorite, Wild Goose (hope springs eternal.)
I think my fall feeling is going to last about 18 hours as well, as a heat wave is due here as well. Still, once the switch flips, I’m ready for the fall beers!
Ocktoberfest beers are coming!!! (Or already here.) My favorite beer time of the year. We shall do the annual German vs. American taste tasting. I think last years winner was New Glarus but the year before it was Paulaner. BBK puts out an excellent one as well. A lot of craft guys miss the mark and hoping for a better US showing this year… the shame… Any suggestions?
Sam Adams always wins blind tastings, so poke your friends in the eye and give ’em a glassful! 🙂
I’m enjoying Schlafly’s Oktoberfest this year, but mostly because it has that “Schlafly” taste I love, not because of its purity of style.
I always prefer the Hofbrau Okto myself. It’s a little dryer than the standard amber Marzens.
Sams is good. Gotta check Hoffbrau this year.
My favorite German Oktoberfest beers are Spaten’s and Hacker-Pschorr’s, they’re what I grew up on. We’re lucky here in Denver for the craft variety since an outstanding brewery, Prost, just opened up. Some of the best German style beers I’ve ever had brewed on this continent. I would recommend a visit to anyone who’s coming out for GABF.
The first thing I thought when I saw the title and read the first couple of paragraphs was, “Man, he is fickle. Wasn’t he just bitching about the fall beers being stocked on shelves while it’s still summer just a week or two ago?” But, I see you acknowledged your cognitive dissonance, so, well, never mind. Carry on.
Well hell, Norm, you’ve been reading the blog long enough to know I’m fickle!
Craving a pumpkin beer at 6:57 in the morning and pondering sweaters is a danger sign. It’s a short and slippery slope to an environment filled with Bloody Marys, stretch pant suits and unfiltered cigarettes kicking off every day.
The next deception will likely involve drowning your Cheerios in a cream stout, under the guise of being lactose intolerant. This will be followed with filling the coffeepot with gruit before anyone else gets up and declaring how much you enjoy a good cup of joe in the morning. All this culminating with waiving the kids off to school and the wife to work, and an offer to clean up the breakfast table where you can ponder taking a vacation day. That reminds me; I got to call the boss.
It’s funny you mention that, as I was in a track suit smoking a Camel (old-skool, natch) when the mood struck… 🙂
Fall is my favorite time of year too (besides returning to school anyhow D:) The weather just always seems to be perfect and there is an atmosphere about this time of year that I love. I need to plan a bonfire here soon. I’m looking forward to Epic/D.C. Brau Fermentation without Representation hitting soon! It’s an Imperial Pumpkin Porter that blew me away last year.
Getting a bit fall like here, too. At least in the mornings. Broke down and opened an Elysian Great Pumpkin yesterday. 🙂
I think you are my spirit animal…I also had the ST pumking last night. How could I not? It is my favorite of all the pumpkin beers (though I plan to do a full taste testing round-up in October).
Unfortunately, I am in FL so it will never be “sweater weather” 😦
Go to the mall – its always sweater weather there!
I can’t drink beer at the mall…
Your post title made me laugh out loud. Additionally, I am a sweater thinker and that is the best commercial ever made. I’ll be toasting a Southern Tier Pumpkin to you this weekend!
Great minds, I guess! 🙂
As I am reading this my husband is in the kitchen sparging grains for our peanut butter, gram cracker stout. Making beer always makes the house smell good!
I tried several of the fall beers from this list: http://www.shoppersvineyard.com/store/pc/Fall-Beer-Guide-d150.htm and I think you all will enjoy them just as much as I do! They have several awesome pumpkin beer selections!