TOPTOBER: Top 5 Fall Beers That Aren't Named Pumking

As a celebration of all things October, BGH asked each of our writers to submit a Top 5 list of their choosing. Stay tuned all throughout October to see what these demented folks come up with!

Spooky School in in session kids. Get your trapper keeper ready, because after class we’re going to meet out behind the bleachers and get shit faced on some tasty brews. What beers you might ask? Well bellow are a handful of options that I think would do the trick for this season. And while I love Southern Tier’s Pumking as much as the next guy, I kind of feel like we’ve talked enough about it over the years to give it a year off. Enjoy!

New Glarus Brewing Company - Staghorn Octoberfest
New Glarus, WI

People in the Midwest lose their shit over New Glarus beers and for good reason. Part of it is probably due to the fact that they don’t distribute outside of Wisconsin, but there’s a lot of breweries that keep it local, yet few of them draw the kind of hype that these guys do. Their seasonal Octoberfest beer is chock full of malt and has a big toasty flavor to it, but unlike most beers of this style it also has a really nice hop bite on the tail end of it. If rivers of cheese aren't enough reason to make the trip to Wisconsin, this beer probably is.

Southampton Publick House - Pumpkin Ale

Southampton, NY

There are more pumpkin beers out there right now than you can shake a stick at, but this one is hands down my wife’s favorite and if there’s one thing I’ve learned after 7 years of marriage it's that she’s always right. What makes this one so special? What if I told you it had the magical power to allow you to see into the future? To be clear, it doesn’t, but to be honest there’s nothing that’s going to knock your socks off about this beer. That's that’s kind of the point. It’s got a great balance of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and malt that make it a really drinkable beer that you can down while one Elsa after another comes to your house begging for candy.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales - Chicory Stout

Milton, DE

This Saturday, if you hop in the car and just drive around for three or four hours, you'll most likely pass at least one giant field where a bunch of parents are standing around watching their kids attempt to play soccer while they sip lattes and contemplate where their lives went wrong. Wouldn’t that entire scenario be a lot better with a tasty beer? How about a beer that tastes like the greatest cup of coffee you’ve ever had in your life? That’s Dogfish Head’s Chicory Stout. It will literally keep you from walking into oncoming traffic when little Billy misses the soccer ball for the thousandth time. I just saved your life. You’re welcome.

3 Floyds Brewing Company - Broo Doo

Munster, IN

It is spooky time, so there’s got to be at least one spooky beer on this list and if you’re looking for a brewery to melt your freakin' face off, it’s the folks out at 3 Floyds. It's a given that their most evil beer would come out around this time of year. It’s a hopped up harvest ale made with hops picked right of the vine. Want more evil? There’s a god damn troll right on the label! No, not the kind troll that lives under a bridge and eats goats. It’s one of those magic trolls that little kids and weirdos who play bingo at church every week love. I think I’ve proved my point.

Rogue Ales - Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale
Newport, OR

Maple syrup, donuts and bacon? It's a trinity that stinks of fall time so hard that it should be wearing a plaid shirt while chasing tail around the hills of Vermont. I mean, it doesn’t. It physically can’t because it’s a bottle of beer. What the hell is wrong with you? Bottles can't just get up and walk around let alone start to feel attraction to things? Wow, you really are a sicko. Anyways, if you can get your hands on this beer I fully recommend it. It's really big on the maple flavor and has a decent amount of smoke going on that it's kind of like drinking a camp fire. In  a good way I mean. I would never lie to you.