With a new football season comes a new round of fall beers that are perfect for a tailgate at the stadium or a lazy day on the couch.
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Fall beers usually mean porters, Oktoberfests, fresh hop ales, and – yes – even pumpkin beers. All of these beers also go perfectly with your favorite football snacks and activities.
Pair your hoppy ales with wings or nachos. Or, grab a porter and try it with a sloppy joe to bring our the sweet BBQ flavor. Pumpkin beers can go well with doughnuts in the morning while tinkering with your fantasy lineups.
Here are five beers you should be drinking this football season:
Tröegs HopKnife Harvest Ale – 6.4% ABV
Citrus rind, resin, and dank notes dominate this fall seasonal from Tröegs. It’s one beer that should have a permanent place in your fridge and game day cooler as long as you can get it.
Perfect for: Passing a football, fantasy waiver claims, spicy chili
Boneshire Brew Works English Curse Porter – 4.5% ABV
For only clocking in at 4.5% ABC, this porter has a lot of flavors. You can taste sweet chocolate, roasted coffee, and a hint of toffee at the end of the sip. It’s a lighter porter, and that makes it easy to drink a few. With Boneshire’s new 16 oz. canning system, it’s even easier to take home, too.
Perfect for: Setting up a tailgate, long days on the couch, pulled pork BBQ
Zeroday Brewing Co. Critical Condition Imperial Amber – 8.0% ABV
When you’re seeking something with a little more “oomph,” look no further than ZerØday’s Critical Condition. It has a malty backbone that is balanced by great hop flavors. Bring a crowler to your next party or tailgate to make some new friends.
Perfect for: Pregame shows, watching highlights, burgers & dogs
Lancaster Brewing Company Oktoberfest – 5.4% ABV
Though it’s sometimes a challenge to find Oktoberfest beers by local breweries, this style is perfect for a crisp fall day. LBC’s version of the traditional German brew is a bit darker than expected but carries a nice malt sweetness and hop balance.
Perfect for: Long tailgates, sharing with friends, Bratwursts
Brewery at Hershey Flash Gourd’n – 5.8% ABV
It wouldn’t be a list of fall beers without at least one pumpkin ale. While they aren’t my “thing,” I know there are plenty of people out there that consider pumpkin ales a fall tradition. Flash Gourd’n is a terrifically spiced ale that uses a traditional Oktoberfest recipe at its base and is flavored with allspice, nutmeg, and ginger.
Perfect for: Playing cornhole, shaking off a loss, early morning doughnuts
There you have it. A perfect roundup of local craft beers from all styles of the spectrum. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just a good starter for any football weekend.
Let us know what you’re drinking this season!
