When the AiB contributors gathered at my house a few weeks back to sample the pumpkin beers, I also procured several ambiguously labeled “fall beers” to round out the mix-six pack. We sampled these after the Pumpkin beers, and although we used the same grading system, it clearly was confusing, so I’ll just provide a round up of the tasting notes.
- I can not stop laughing at this label
Lancaster Oktoberfest was the first beer in the lineup – described as a “hearty” beer it clocks in 6.50% and you can smell it on the nose. It has perhaps one of the strangest / most hilarious beer labels I’ve ever seen showing someone who is perhaps too excited about drinking, drawing in a loose style. A drunk drawn by a drunk. Although the label amuses, the taste is of apple cider, fruity, although tasters found it “musty.” “Can’t believe this was what they were going for.” Was one comment. Ouch.
I was very excited to taste the Abita Pecan Harvest, and was not disappointed, enjoying it’s filling, pleasing mouthfeel and graphic retro bottle design. It was decided that this beer “smells like fall” and tastes nutty, with slight hoppy bitterness. One note simply said “love this beer.” Interesting, point of view, nutty, malty, but well balanced. Will definitely seek out this beer again.
- The Fall Beers
The Weyerbacher Autumn Fest felt very autumnal. The aroma was likened to apples, pears, and “walking through an orchard” meeting expectations to what a fall beer should be. It was a clean, warm, golden beer with very little aftertaste. “Would order it again” was noted. If you’re averaging $5 a pint in this city, with so much to choose from, being deemed worthy of a repeat is a high complement. Clean, interesting, fallish but not too heavy.
Southern Tier Harvest Ale was also described as clean, although with a very surprising palate. Tasters detected pineapple and grassyness, and were disappointed, noting that it was “not a fall beer, more spring.” Not that it was a bad beer, but rather failed to fulfil the ideal of a harvest beer.
The final beer sampled was the Abita Fall Fest. “Love it!” With aromas of apples and “interesting” it is a warm golden colored beer, with sweet tones. I personally really liked this beer, and not just because it came at the end of 12 other beers. It was a rich interesting golden with light grain undertones, fruity high notes, hops for grass cleanliness. I’ve been trending towards malty beers lately, and found the Abita to be a perfect fall beer.