Light jacket weather in Pittsburgh can only mean one thing – Fall brews abound! Pumpkin patches sprout pumpkin beers and everyone is German with Oktoberfests.
Here is a harvest of local fall brews to kill off the chill. Watch the leaves change color, daydream of hayrides and cuddling pumpkins, and warm up with these Fall-flavored drinks — and do it quickly before these seasonals disappear and a “chilly day” is only a distant memory.
Penn Brewery
Tried and true hometown original Penn Brewery’s Oktoberfest, much like the event itself, is fun and crisp and goes down yodellingly smooth. There is also a Pumpkin Roll Ale which arrives early and gets harvested so quickly that you may just have to jingle on to their Nut Roll Ale if you miss it.
Southern Tier Brewing
You could catch a hayride in a pumpkin patch but it’s better to just sit and sip on a vast variety of Southern Tier options. You get a bountiful harvest with only having to do the work of lifting your hand to your face. There are almost too many options to list: Pumking Imperial Ale, Harvest Ale, Rum Barrel Aged Pumking, Cold Press Coffee Pumking, Warlock Imperial Stout, and Chai Tea Infused Pumking.
Hofbrauhaus
While not technically locally brewed we aren’t complaining that the Hofbrauhaus Oktoberfest gets imported from Munich to our festival-loving SouthSide. Even better the October beer of the month is a Pittsburgh-brewed Festbier. Authentic German taste drips from the stein and captures Autumn in a glass.
Hitchhiker
This Oktoberfest marries a taste of apples and honey. They also offer The Hitcher pumpkin ale. Get hitched!
East End Brewing Company
The folks at East End Brewing are not kiddin’ around with their Bourbon Barrel-Aged Nunkin. We totally agree with them that it offers “maximum sweater weather enjoyment”. Grab one of these and find a fire pit.
Mindful Brewing
Mindful’s Oktoberfest is earthy, spicy, made of German noble hops, and pairs all-to-well with giant pretzels.
Aurochs Brewing
So limited Aurochs doesn’t even list it on their website as an option, but if you are lucky you’ll be able to harvest a pint or two of their seasonal pumpkin beer.
Brew Gentlemen
A new entry in Pittsburgh’s craft beer scene the Brew Gentlemen of Braddock have entered the autumnal space swimmingly with their BG Oktoberfest – available only in their taproom be sure to rake it up before this rotating selection leaves town.
Helicon Brewing
Pairing pinball with pints Helicon may seem a touch off the wall so you should expect their fresh Festbier to be no different. Gobble hole it while you can.
Insurrection Ale Works
Heidelfest was brewed and lagered in the bowels of Heidleberg at Insurrection Ale Works and has emerged from its dark slumber to spook you straight to Munich.
Spoonwood Brewing
Only a ghoul would be foolish enough to pass on Spoonwood’s Cinnamon Ghoul Pumpkin Ale with its spooky-good mix of cinnamon-nutmeg-ginger-vanilla-and-pumpkin. This no doubt pairs well with any one of these 9 can’t-miss fall desserts. And it’s only available in their special edition 32oz growlers.
Rivertowne Oktoberfest
Rivertowne’s Oktoberfest is a lager to long for and we swear that when we drink it we hear the oompah of a Bavarian band as though we were right there in Germany.
And while cider isn’t quite the same as beer apple treats are pretty synonymous with Fall. We couldn’t rightfully make a Harvest list without a shout out to two local cider joints where you can consume Autumn-in-a-glass year-round. For apple-ly crisp treats check out Arsenal Cider House (our seasonal recommendation: Picket Bone Dry) and Threadbare Cider & Meadery (our seasonal recommendation: Farmhouse).
Every year the sun tends to set sooner and sooner on these seasonals. If you missed out on any of this year’s crop take note – 2019’s harvest ought to be just as plentiful!
@insurrectionaleworks @spoonwoodbrewingco @rivertownebrewing @hofbrauhaus_pittsburgh @mindfulbrewing @heliconbrewing @brewgentlemen @aurochsbrewing @mindfulbrewing @eastendbrewing @hitchhikerbrewing @stbcbeer_pgh @pennbrewery
