While temperatures in Charleston may not drop until later in October, many area breweries release fall beers, specifically, Oktoberfest brews, as early as late August. Some places are finally dipping their toes into pumpkin-flavored waters, err, beer and others are re-releasing popular annual brews.
If you can’t make it to Munich, you might as well drink some festive beers stateside. Here’s where to find fall beers around town.
“As the season changes, people start craving those cozy, fall flavors, which is why fall beers tend to feature darker or caramel malts that bring out toasty flavors and aromas, with many styles leaning into sweet and spicy notes,” said Two Blokes Brewing operation manager Michelle Lapp.
The brewery recently released its Blōktoberfest Märzen, which is brewed every year to start the Oktoberfest season. Cooked with imported German malts and hops, the Marzen lager is “crisp and clean with notes of toasted bread, toffee and floral hops.”
Celebrate Two Blokes’ Blōktoberfest on Sept. 14 when the brewery hosts a variety of festivities, from live music to a stein holding competition. Two Blokes will have a variety of German beers on tap including Hefeweizen, Kölsch, Helles Lager and a new Altbier.
Two Blokes has another fall beer up its sleeves, too.
“For the first time in our eight-year history, we’re also brewing a pumpkin beer, which we have been stubbornly avoiding,” said Lapp. “This one is a Pumpkin Cheesecake Sour — to satisfy the pumpkin lovers out there. We are pretty excited about it!”
Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company (EOBC) recently released two fall seasonals, the House Oktoberfest and Apple Cider Doughnuts.
“Generally we love the fall season, because as the weather cools (or as we imagine it does), it’s really nice to sink into those classic fall flavors that pair so nicely with beer — malty amber lagers, spices, and the warmth that comes from slightly stronger brews,” said Edmund’s Oast’s brewing director, Cameron Read.
The House Oktoberfest is a German-style lager “overflowing with notes of fresh, artisan-baked bread, lightly toasted marshmallow, soft red apple and the faint hint of wildflower pollen on an Autumn breeze.”
Apple Cider Doughnuts is EOBC’s attempt at capturing a quintessential fall experience. This blonde ale has notes of cinnamon sticks, apple compote, and, of course, doughnuts.
As a brewery that specializes in Belgian and Old World style beers, Munkle Brewing Co. is familiar with the European fanfare that goes with all things Oktoberfest. Head to Munkle for Munktoberfest, the brewery’s take on an Oktoberfest celebration, on Sept. 28.
In the meantime, Munkle guests can sip on a recent release, the Haust Bier, a German-style Festbier. Things get even cozier in October, when the brewery releases its Belgian spiced Christmas ale, Kerstavond and again in November with the release of the Dinner Bell Dubbel.
Cooper River Brewing makes a Marzen Oktoberfest for its taproom this fall and a Scottish Red Ale for distribution later in the season. The Red Ale relies more on malts than hops for flavor (hops have a hard time growing in the Scottish environment) and this malt-forward ale is, according to Cooper River co-owner Jamie Martin, a “consensus favorite at the brewery.”
Fatty’s Beer Works recently released an Oktoberfest brew, Fattystiltskin, available in the taproom and in 16 oz. cans around town. The “biscuit-like malt aroma and flavor [are] balanced with clean noble hop bitterness characteristic of a traditional Marzen.” According to Fatty’s founder and CEO, David McLain, this beer pairs perfectly with grilled, roasted or smoked meats.
Low Tide Brewing’s head brewer, Sam Pagano, loves fall beers. “Maybe it’s because I’m from the Northeast where cool weather activities like apple picking and leaf peeping hikes are the norm, but I can really get behind the seasonal beer selections,” he said. “I think fall is particularly special when it comes to beers. You survived the hot summer months, so now it’s time to get cozy and pack on some pounds before winter.”
You can find several fall beers at Low Tide including: Prost Y’all, an Oktoberfest-style beer brewed with imported German malts and hops; Munich Dunkel, a dark brown lager with notes of deeply toasted bread and Pumpkin Bake-off, a seasonal favorite pumpkin beer, brewed with pumpkin puree, pie spices, vanilla and maple.
“I may be an outlier in the industry, but I love pumpkin beers,” Pagano said. “[They’re] warming, easy-drinking and delicious. They are truly an early-American creation, despite being overproduced, over-marketed, and prematurely sent out to stores for an easy buck (also American?).”
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