One of the best parts of living in Ontario is that food — and beer! — change with the seasons. One week we’re enjoying dockside radlers and the next, we’re cozying up by the fire with a spiced ale. In no particular order, here are the fall beer releases we desperately want to be sipping this season!
The Majestic
Side Launch Brewing Company Collingwood, Ontario
Part of the Ships of Collingwood series, drawing inspiration from the Collingwood shipyards, this is a fruity yet reserved saison that will easily carry over into the colder months. Autumn? What autumn?
Sägemehl Stadt
Sawdust City Brewing Co. Gravenhurst, Ontario
Fashioned after the traditional marzen lagers of southern Germany, this is officially unofficial beer of the Sawdust City Oktoberfest, happening September 30th. It’s said to taste of brioche, golden raisins and toasty malts. Sounds like a balanced breakfast!
Hoptoberfest
Railway City Brewing St. Thomas, Ontario
Brewed using Ontario-grown Bartlett Pears from the Turville Family Orchards in Port Stanley, this seasonal sipper also features locally grown hops from Vandeslyke Hop Farms and what they call ‘Graveyard Hops’. What’s Graveyard Hops? Simple: wild hops from am 1800’s Hop Field which is now a Graveyard.
Farm Table Marzen
Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. Vankleek Hill, Ontario
Traditionally brewed to celebrate Oktoberfest, Marzen as a style is under appreciated in our eyes. This medium, malty sipper from Beau’s is a great example of the style — but get ‘er while she lasts. This brew is a super seasonal release.
Barrel-Aged Belgium Style Quad with Cherries
Great Lakes Brewery Toronto, Ontario
After trying the Summer Stout with Raspberries last week, we’re very very excited to try the 30th Anniversary Quad with, wait for it… Cherries! It’s aged in Pinot Noir barrels for 11 months and then further aged on some on cherries for over a month. Sounds down right delicious!
Bonne Faim
Kensington Brewing Company Toronto, Ontario
The opening of the Kensington Brewing Co’s tasting room is one of the most exciting things to happen for us this summer. We’re now predictably addicted to many of their brews, including this Belgian Tripel made with hibiscus. Get it at the brewery, now open in Toronto’s Kensington Market.
Dam Dark Lager
Thornbury Craft Beer Thornbury, Ontario
Technically not a seasonal, but we look forward to cracking this dark lager ever October none-the-less. The name is a playful reference to Beaver River near the Brew House in Thornbury Village, a key passage for spawning salmon where beavers often ‘dammed’ causing much swearing from the locals until a bypass was built.
Remembrance Red
Royal City Brewing Co. Guelph, Ontario
Remembrance Red is our fall seasonal by Royal City in a dry Irish Red style. It’s delightful, easy drinking and a solid example of the style. Bonus: They donate $1 from every bottle sold to Wounded Warriors of Canada to help them help veterans of Canada’s conflicts.
Texas Tea Honey Stout
Neustadt Springs Brewery Ltd. Neustadt, Ontario
This autumn stout is made with local honey making it a little sweeter than a traditional malt-forward stout. It’s a like a warm hug on a chilly day. Find it at the brewery during the colder months.
Cranberry Derby
Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. Vankleek Hill, Ontario
This berry infused pale ale is made with organic cranberries, organic flaked oats and cranberry juice. The brewery says it tastes like cookies, but we’ll let you make that call. Get it in the Fall Mix Pack — a quad-box of beer we’ll be bringing to our Ontario turkey dinners in October!
Looking for a pumpkin beer? Here’s a few for ya.
- Tales From The Pumpkin Patch Porter, Big Rig Brewing
- Highballer Pumpkin Ale, Grand River Brewing
- Wild North Pumpkin Autumn Ale, Lake Of Bays Brewing
- Black Creek Pumpkin Ale, Black Creek Historic Brewery
- Great Lakes Pumpkin Ale, Great Lakes Brewing
Looking for more good beer? Check out the Ontario Craft Brewers.
