Ask A Denver Expert: Fall Beers To Try
Guests attend a Belgian beer and food pairing seminar during the 19th annual Taste of Vail at the Marriott on April 2, 2009, in Vail. (credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Taste of Vail)
The wonderful thing about beer is that you can change up the recipes and adjust the flavors to fit any time of year. In the fall, many breweries bring out their Oktoberfest and pumpkin flavorings, two of the most common ways to enjoy fall beer. With the weather cooling off, the leaves changing and pumpkin-everything getting ready to hit the store shelves, it's time to think about what beers you would like to enjoy for your weekend celebrations or even just for a little quiet time at home. Make sure to check out all of the great local craft beer options this fall, as just about every brewery offers up something special this time of year.
Nathan Flatland
Mu Brewery
9735 E. Colfax Ave.
Aurora, CO 80010
www.brewbymu.com
Nathan Flatland is the owner and operator of one of the newest and most exciting micro-breweries to hit the Denver area, Mu Brewery. This new brewery just opened up in the heart of the Aurora Cultural Arts District on Colfax and is already getting attention for great tasting beers and a relaxed and comfortable setting. For fall, Mu will be rolling out its own Oktoberfest creation that Flatland and his team have worked hard to perfect over the years, "The first batch will probably be ready in early September," he explains. "We were just checking it to make sure everything is ready to go just in time." As Flatland finishes up the final touches on his Oktoberfest beer at Mu Brewery, he offers up a few suggestions of his own favorite fall beers.
Imperial Pumpkin from Dry Dock Brewing
15120 E. Hampden Ave.
Aurora, CO 80014
(303) 400-5606
www.drydockbrewing.com
Dry Dock Brewing has been brewing in Aurora since 2005. It started as a tiny brewery but eventually grew due to its award-winning Amber Ale. Now, this brewery is located in two brew houses with a 30,000-square-foot facility to handle production and distribution all over the state. Flatland really likes the Imperial Pumpkin from Dry Dock. "It's not too heavy on the spice, good on the pumpkin. It's pretty tasty." The spice for the beer includes Saigon and Indonesian cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, mace and cloves, making it the perfect fall beer.
Marzen Oktoberfest from Prost Brewing
2540 19th St.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 729-1175
www.prostbrewing.com
Prost Brewing is one of the best representatives for German-style beers in Colorado. This brewery is always a popular spot for beer lovers, and the many different seasonal flavors offer up several reasons to return. "They make a good Marzen-style Oktoberfest that is really sturdy," Flatland offers. "Prost is a very traditional-style German brewer and its Oktoberfest is just really very good." The Marzen Oktoberfest is known as a "Marzenbier" and offers a rich malty flavor due to the use of malt from Vienna and Munich.
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Barrel Aged Old Ruffian from Great Divide Brewing Company
2201 Arapahoe St.
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-9460
www.greatdivide.com
Since 1994, Great Divide brewing Company has been offering up a large variety of craft beers that any beer lover will enjoy. Great Divide has won 18 Great American Beer Festival medals, as well as five Wold Beer Cup awards and has been rated number 12 in Ratebeer.com's "Best Brewers in the World" list. Clearly, this is one local brewery that knows how to do beer right. Flatland loves the Barrel Ages Old Ruffian Barley Wine-style beer, "Great Divide really knocks it out of the park with its Old Ruffian. It's a really solid beer." This beer is aged for more than nine months in whiskey barrels from Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey. It's a long process but allows the flavors to really mellow and offer subtle flavors. Plus, each bottle is limited and is numbered so you know just how rare this delightful beer truly is.
Tree Shaker Peach Ale from Odell Brewing Company
800 E. Lincoln Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 498-9070
www.odellbrewing.com
Odell brewing was started in 1989 by the Odell family with the goal of bringing high-quality craft beers to the Fort Collins area. This large 45,000-square-foot facility brews 45,000 barrels of beer, and continues its tradition of innovative beers featuring locally resourced ingredients. The Tree Shaker Peach Ale from Odell is one of Flatland's favorites. "It's made from fresh harvested peaches from Palisade, Colorado. Yum." Odell purees more than 3,000 pounds of Colorado peaches to make this bright citrus beer, with lots of fruity sweetness and just the right amount of hop.
Related: Top Craft Beer Bars In The Denver Area
Octoberfest by Samuel Adams
Find it at Argonaut Liquor
760 E. Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 831-7788
www.argonautliquor.com
www.samueladams.com
"It's not local and may not technically be viewed as craft beer, but Sam Adams' Octoberfest is always my go-to for this time of year," Flatland explains. "It is one of the top notch Octoberfest-style beers around. It's a really solid beer." Of course, beer fans all over the world know and love the Samuel Adams beers, and the Octoberfest is one of the most popular seasonal choices. This seasonal offering sells out often at local stores, due to the smooth flavor and caramel notes that create the perfect fall flavor. "I really will just default to this beer a lot this time of year. It's really that good."
Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
