What is Missoula’s Favorite Seasonal Fall Flavor of Beer?

Fall is in the air and for some reason that always makes us think of beer. Fall is traditionally harvest season meaning that a lot of the beer brewed by our ancestors was made during the fall months. The wheat and barley grew all summer, by fall the hops have ripened. It is probably why we have our natural human instinct to consume more and more beer in the Fall.

Here in Missoula, we fancy ourselves craft beer connoisseurs. We have been playing in the craft beer game for quite some time now. You would think we have a pretty solid perspective of what is good and what is not, in regards to beer. That is why we have taken it upon ourselves to find our favorite fall seasonals in Missoula.

1) Bayern Octoberfest

If you have not seen Bayern's owner, Jurgen, do a traditional wooden keg tapping. It truly is something special.

According to the Bayern Brewing website, the Oktoberfest beer recipe goes back a long way.

It is brewed according to the standards of the Brewers’ Guild of Munich, which was established in 1815 when they brewed this beer for the first time to celebrate the royal wedding of King Ludwig I and Princess Maria Theresia.

2) Kettlehouse Brewing - Hemptober Spliff

Kettlehouse has its own version of Oktoberfest beer. Except this beer isn't a recipe that dates back hundreds of years. This Oktoberfest recipe has a unique Kettlehouse spin to it.

According to the Kettlehouse website

Hemptober Spliff™ is a traditional Oktoberfest, brewed in a non-traditional KettleHouse way.  Well-aged with a balanced body and hops, this one has a slightly sweet finish and a full white head. 6.5% abv; 24 IBUs

 

3) Highlander Beer - Dunkelweizen

Even Highlander Beer has its own spin on the classic Oktoberfest beer. Traditional German beer is known for surfacing around the same time of year as Oktoberfest.

According to the Highlander Beer website

This beer is an uncommon traditional German beer, not often brewed in the United States. It is dark and malty, similar to a German Dunkel, but fermented with a hefeweizen yeast strain, which provides flavors of banana and clove.

 

4) Big Sky Brewing - Oktoberfest

YES! Even Big Sky has its take on the classic Oktoberfest Beer. Except this one doesn't involve as much lederhosen.

According to the Big Sky Brewing website

BIG SKY OKTOBERFEST IS A GREAT REMINDER THAT PATIENCE IS ITS OWN REWARD. THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IN THE BREWING PROCESS, FOLLOWED BY MONTHS OF CELLARING AT COLD TEMPERATURE CULMINATES IN A WORLD-CLASS MARZEN STYLE LAGER.