For The Craft Beer Lover, Fall Means Seasonal Brews – Here’s Monk’s Top 3

When cooler temperatures hit Alabama and the leaves start to change and fall, my excitement begins for seasonal brews!

Here are my three favorites. All are easy to find right here in Tuscaloosa.

1. Pumking Ale by Southern Tier Brewing Company

This is Southern Tier's third year brewing Pumpking and the brewery states they produced more this year because of the growing popularity. This is the beer equivalent to Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. Rich and sweet and heavily laden with that wonderful pumpkin spice kick. The aroma is strong when taking your first sip. Your senses become entangled with a mixture of pumpkin, cinnamon, and maybe even nutmeg and caramel. This made number one on my list for a reason. Hands down, the best autumn beer on the market.

2. Flipside Seasonal Red IPA by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Sierra Nevada, one of my favorite breweries has again delivered a one-two hoppy citrus punch with Flipside! One word, crisp. The sharp, fruity hop notes are extremely present in ever sip but my pallet definitely notices that this isn't your everyday India Pale Ale. I get a nice toasty malt flavor with a slight caramel. With its beautiful copper color, Flipside is the perfect beer to welcome the return of fall and to help say goodbye to the warm days of summer.

3. Harvest Pumpkin Ale by Blue Moon Brewing Company

There is something about pumpkin and beer that makes me happy. Unlike the sweetness of the aforementioned Pumking, Blue Moon's Pumpkin Ale is more of a natural, light, airy wheat beer brewed with pumpkin. The color is a deep amber and the flavor has a nice spicy bite in the end. This one should be in the fridge of the person who enjoys pumpkin but doesn't overly love it.