Fall is full of a lot of wonderful things: cooler weather, Halloween and, most importantly, Oktoberfest. One of our favorite aspects of the transition from summer to fall is the seasonal beer releases by all of our favorite local craft breweries. Inspired by the season’s “it” veggie, pumpkin, and the biggest beer holiday of the year, Oktoberfest, these local brews have us ready for sweater weather and giant pretzels.
Wren House Brewing Co.
Pie Thief
This pumpkin wheatwine will be tapped this month and clocks in at 10 percent ABV. Pumped with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, a whole bunch of pumpkin and a little ginger, this beer will be a mouth full o’ fall. Wren House is tapping half of their batch this October and aging the other half in durum wheat whiskey barrels for next year, so go ahead and get pumped for 2016, too.
2125 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, 602.244.9184, wrenhousebrewing.com
SanTan Brewing Company
Oktoberfest Lager
Coming in at 5.5 percent ABV, this German style lager is a celebration of everyone’s favorite traditional beer festival, which fits perfectly with their annual Oktoberfest celebration in Chandler. Just like that highly anticipated event, this beer is a well-loved staple around the Valley and has a strong, toasty, caramel malt profile.
8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, santanbrewing.com
Uncle Bear’s Brewery
Barktoberfest Lager
After you learn that they named their brewery after a beloved Labrador retriever, the name makes more sense. This fall beer comes in at 21 on the international bittering units scale and at a 5.8 percent ABV, so it has a bit more punch than some of the others on this list. It may have a bit more hops, but it still holds a smooth texture and a slight sweetness.
4921 E. Ray Road, Phoenix, 480.961. 2374, uncle-bears.com
Four Peaks Brewing Company
Pumpkin Porter
There is just no denying it. This time of year, people get pumpkin-crazy, and Four Peaks was way ahead of the crowd on this one. Now on their 18th year brewing their Pumpkin Porter, they definitely know how to hit all the right notes. This favorite brew is made with actual pumpkin puree and is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet, which makes it an ideal sipper for the 85 degree AZ fall weather.
1340 E. Eighth Street, Tempe, 480.303.9967, fourpeaks.com
The Perch Pub and Brewery
Flocktoberfest
This beer may be made in a tropical bird rescue, but trust us, it’s not strictly for the birds. The Perch is Chandler’s next hot spot and this brew will ring in fall wonderfully. Ringing in at 4.9 percent ABV and only marking a 10 on the international bittering units scale, this is a nice, relaxed, malty German-style amber lager. With a toasty and bready flavor and dry finish, we can’t wait to get our hands on this one.
232 S. Wall Street, Chandler, 480.773.7688, perchpubbrewery.com
College Street Brewhouse & Pub
Oktoberfest
College Street’s fall seasonal is a straight-up tribute to the classic German brewing style in honor of the annual festival. With a 5.4 percent ABV, this “bier” comes in with a little malt that meets with the perfect amount of hops for every brew lover out there. One sip of this guy and you’ll be Prost-ing all night in honor.
1940 College Drive, Lake Havasu City, 928.854.2739, collegestreetbrewhouseandpub.com
