For part two in our fall beers spotlight, here are four more brews to try before the winter whisks them away for another year.
Great Lakes Brewing Company Nosferatu
As a northeastern Ohio native, I have a natural affinity toward Cleveland-based companies. Consequently, Great Lakes Brewing Company is among my favorite breweries. In June, I reviewed the exceptional Lake Erie Monster and yesterday’s post included the middle-of-road Oktoberfest. Nosferatu bridges the gap between the two. This imperial red ale has hop-heavy and intense flavor but one that never overpowers. And with the amazing artwork that pays homage to the silent film masterpiece, this beer is a must-try for all classic horror fans.
Arcadia Ales Jaw-Jacker
With a strong pumpkin spice flavor, Arcadia Ales has hit a Halloween homerun with this brew. I’m normally not a fan of unfiltered beers, but Jaw-Jacker easily won over my initial skepticism. Versatile enough for traditional beer fans but unusual enough to appeal to craft fans, this is a close second to yesterday’s favorite Hop Knife. Plus, the label with a toothy pumpkin accompanied by a bevy of bats is too much fun to resist.
Shipyard Pumpkinhead
Shipyard’s Pumpkinhead lives up to its name, tasting much like a well-spiced pumpkin pie. While it’s not as candied as yesterday’s Southern Tier Warlock, this beer should satisfy those with an inveterate sweet tooth. Another great choice for anyone in your life who might not be convinced about the merits of pumpkin beers, Pumpkinhead is a perennial favorite of beer connoisseurs.
Full Pint Brewing Company Night of the Living Stout
Zombies galore! Based out of Pittsburgh (AKA America’s Zombie Capital), Full Pint Brewing Company makes the most of its roots with this ode to George Romero’s seminal film Night of the Living Dead. With the undead crawling from the ground, bottle in hand, this label is definitely the best of the beers reviewed, and the dark beer boasts a rich flavor in this West Coast Style Stout. No pumpkin in this one, but still a terrific choice for a Halloween party–or any other time of year.
So those are our favorite beers of the season. Enjoy, but as always, drink responsibly. Fall’s too much fun to be anything less than safe.
Happy haunting!