Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Fall into Oktoberfests, Pumpkins, and Fresh Hop Harvest beers

Labor Day, the Unofficial End To Summer, is behind us. Football, as we discussed yesterday, is upon us. In the beer world, we have “fall seasonals” to look forward to. This includes such tasty treats as Fest (Oktoberfests, e.g.), Fresh Hop/Harvest, and Pumpkin beers. In the spirit of drinking locally this autumn, I’ve compiled a list of these fall type of beers that breweries around the Philadelphia metro region (and in a few cases, just a bit beyond) are brewing up. Much of this was compiled from brewers, sales people, and other brewery reps, while some info was taken from brewery website details that appeared up-to-date. They might have included some additional production notes outside of the fall beers they’re working on. There are, as you can see, a few gaps that I'm waiting on feedback to fill in. If you feel that there are other additional details to be included, please drop a note to me. Prosit! Would you like to download and/or print a copy of this? Click Here.
Dock Street Philadelphia, PA http://dockstreetbeer.com Name: Biketoberfest Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest Batch Size: 10 bbls Serving Formats & Distribution: kegs & firkins Date Expected in the market: September 27th @ Philadelphia Oktoberfest, October 19th @ Biketoberfest, Fikin @ Good Dog – TBD Name: The Great Pumpkin Style: Fruit beer Batch Size: 10 bbls Serving Formats & Distribution: kegs Date Expected in the market: October 1st Name: Hop Garden IPA Style: Imperial IPA Batch Size: 10bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: kegs & specialty bottles Date Expected in the market: November 1st Other related info: Assistant Brewer Ben Potts's homebrewer competition “Best In Show” winning recipe What else is happening: We are tapping our anniversary ale Friday, 9/5: Name: Anniversary Amber Style: Imperial Amber Ale Batch Size: 10 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: On Draft only at the Pub Date Expected in the market: 9/5 Other related info: 8% ABV; 42 IBUs; Malts: Cara, 2 row Pilsner; Hops: Centennial, Cascade, Columbus
Flying Fish Cherry Hill, NJ http://www.flyingfish.com Name: OktoberFish Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest Batch Size: 1000 bbls Serving Formats & Distribution: 12oz bottles and 1/6 and 1/2 bbl kegs Date Expected in the market: September 1st Other related info: 7th year in production.
General Lafayette Inn & Brewery Lafayette Hill, PA http://www.generallafayetteinn.com Name: Oktoberfest Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest Batch Size: 7 bbls x 2 (or maybe 3) Serving Formats & Distribution: On Draft only at the Pub and soon to be at the Tiedhouse Date Expected in the market: 9/22 Other related info: Rumor says it's delicious! Name: East Coast IPA Style: East Coast IPA Batch Size: 7 bbls x many times over Serving Formats & Distribution: On Draft only at the Pub and soon to be at the Tiedhouse Date Expected in the market: Currently available (next batch 10/1) Other related info: Brewing now in its 10th year; Dry-hopped with undetermined variety of hops grown at the Beer Yard in Wayne
Iron Hill DE, PA, and coming in 2009 to NJ http://www.ironhillbrewery.com Name: Oktoberfest Style: Traditional Märzen / Oktoberfest Batch Size: 8.5 bbls Serving Formats & Distribution: On Draft at every Iron Hill location Date Expected in the market: September 15th through October Name: Pumpkin Ale Style: Fruit Beer Batch Size: 8.5 BBls Serving Formats & Distribution: On Draft at Iron Hill-West Chester Date Expected in the market: October 25th What else is happening: Something's hoppening, more to come shortly
Lancaster Brewing Co. Lancaster, PA http://www.lancasterbrewing.com Name: Oktoberfest Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest Batch Size: Serving Formats & Distribution: Date Expected in the market: Other related info:
McKenzie Brew House Chadds Ford & Malvern, PA http://www.mckenziebrewhouse.com Name: Oktoberfest Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest Batch Size: 13 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: On Draft at both locations only Date Expected in the market: 9/15 Name: Pumpkin Ale Style: Fruit Beer Batch Size: 2x 12 bbl @ Chadds Ford; 1x 17 bbl @ Malvern Serving Formats & Distribution: On Draft at both locations only Date Expected in the market: 10/15 What else is happening: We are also introducing new 750ml bottles in October for sale through the holidays. They will include Saison Vautour, Wee Heavy, Saison De Luxe (super saison), Abbey 8
Nodding Head Philadelphia, PA http://www.noddinghead.com Name: Harvest Ale Style: Fresh-hopped red/amber pale ale Batch Size: 7 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: On Draft at brewpub only Date Expected in the market: by end of September Other related info: fresh-hopped with Cascade; approx. 5.5% ABV Name: Wet Chinook Double IPA Style: Fresh-hopped double IPA Batch Size: 7 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: On Draft at brewpub only Date Expected in the market: early October Other related info: A reprise of final entry in last year's 'Single-Double' series; single fresh-hopping with Chinook; approx. 8.5% ABV
Philadelphia Brewing Co. Philadelphia, PA http://www.philadelphiabrewing.com Name: TBD Style: Wheat Wine Batch Size: 30 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: ½ barrels for draft in the city and a few sixtels for the suburbs Date Expected in the market: should be out by mid-to-end of September Other related info: Brewed in July, aging since then in medium-toast french oak; 40% Wheat; 19 OG; 9% ABV; Styrian Golding and Mt. Hood hops Name: TBD Style: Fresh-Hop Harvest (maybe Doppelbock-ish) Batch Size: yet to be brewed; hops yet to be picked Serving Formats & Distribution: keg distribution Date Expected in the market: targeting late fall (Nov-Dec) Other related info: 10 varieties of Kensington-grown hops (5 varieties in their second season); targeting 16-17 OG; plan to craft a great, hoppy character backed up with some toasty malt
Roy Pitz Chambersburg, PA http://www.roypitz.com Name: Ichabod's Midnight Ride Style: Belgian-style Pumpkin Ale Batch Size: Serving Formats & Distribution: growler fills at the brewery; 1/6, ¼, & ½ bbl kegs Date Expected in the market: early fall Other related info: pumpkin spice flavors; approx. 6.5% ABV Name: Ludwig's Revenge Style: German Smoked Lager Batch Size: Serving Formats & Distribution: growler fills at the brewery; 1/6, ¼, & ½ bbl kegs Date Expected in the market:9/18/08 Other related info: based on recipe from one of Chambersburg's first breweries; approx. 5% ABV What else is happening: Their signature brew, Honest Ale (6% ABV), will be available through December.
Sly Fox Phoenixville & Royersford, PA http://www.slyfoxbeer.com Name: Oktoberfest Style: German Märzen / Oktoberfest Batch Size: 20 bbl x 7 (100 bbl of draft, 40 bbl bottled) Serving Formats & Distribution: 22oz bottles and 1/6 and 1/2 bbl kegs throughout NY, NJ, and PA Date Expected in the market: 8/18/08 Name: Dunkel Lager Style: German dark lager Batch Size: 20 bbl x ? Serving Formats & Distribution: available in 1/6 and 1/2 bbl kegs, and 12oz cans (6 & 12 packs, and our brand new 24 can suitcase) throughout NY, NJ, and PA Date Expected in the market: 9/15/08 Other related info: Available through the winter until some time in March Name: Black Raspberry Reserve Style: Fruit Wheat Beer Batch Size: 20 bbl x 3 (20 bbl of draft, 40 bbl bottled) Serving Formats & Distribution: 750ml bottles and 1/6 and 1/2 bbl kegs throughout NY, NJ, and PA Date Expected in the market: 10/1/08 Other related info: over 1 lb. of red and black raspberries per gallon of beer
Stewart's Bear, DE http://www.stewartsbrewingcompany.com Name: Dunkel Rico Style: Munich Dunkel Batch Size: 7 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: On Tap only at the Pub Date Expected in the market: Now ‘til mid to late September Other related info: GABF Bronze 2006 Name: Smoked Porter Style: Smoked Porter Batch Size: 7 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: On tap only at the Pub Date Expected in the market: Now ‘til maybe early-to-mid October Other related info: GABF Bronze 2001 & 2006 Name: Old Percolator Style: Coffee Porter Batch Size: 7 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: On tap only at the Pub Date Expected in the market: approx. 9/5 Name: Oktoberfest Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest Batch Size: 14 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: On tap only at the Pub Date Expected in the market: After the Dunkel; approx. third week September Other related info: GABF Bronze 2003, Silver 2007 Name: Mischief Night Pumpkin Ale Style: Fruit beer Batch Size: 14 bbl Serving Formats & Distribution: On tap only at the Pub Date Expected in the market: Not brewed yet, expected mid-October Other related info: Brewed with about 200 lbs of real pumpkin and lightly spiced compared to most What else is happening: Not really a fall beer, but the return of our WindBlown Blonde (2008 WBC Gold; Kolsch); 14 bbl will be ready approximately 9/10/08
Triumph Princeton, NJ & New Hope & Philadelphia, PA http://www.triumphbrewing.com
Tröegs Harrisburg, PA http://www.troegs.com Name: Tröegs Dead Reckoning Porter Style: American Porter Serving Formats & Distribution: 12 oz. bottle and 1/2 bbl kegs Date Expected in the market: August - October Other related info: Alcohol by Volume: 5.8%; Hop Bitterness (IBUs): 53; Color (SRM): Brown to Black; Availability: Seasonal; Malt: Pilsner, Caramel, Roast, Black; Hops: Vanguard, Chinook; Yeast: Unfiltered Ale What else is happening: Sitting in the tanks slated for a late October market splash is Mad Elf...we are brewing away at it getting ready to hit it hard this year!
Union Barrel Works Reamstown, PA http://unionbarrelworks.com What’s Happening: Uncle Fester (Oktoberfest) coming soon (in time for the October Beer Dinner); No specific plans for other fall seasonals as of now; Mango Wheat is still available to beat the last of the summer heat
Victory Downingtown, PA http://www.victorybeer.com Name: British Porter Serving Formats & Distribution: CO2 and cask-conditioned Date Expected in the Market: mid-to-late September Name: ESB Serving Formats & Distribution: CO2 and cask-conditioned Date Expected in the Market: mid-to-late September Other related info: made with Fuller yeast Name: Centennial IPA Serving Formats & Distribution: CO2 and cask-conditioned Date Expected in the Market: mid-to-late September Name: Harvest Pils Batch Size: 25 bbls Date Expected in the Market: Victory FallFest (9/27) Name: Harvest Ale Batch Size: 50 bbls Date Expected in the Market: Victory FallFest (9/27) Name: Wiesen Lager Style: Oktoberfest beer Other related info: 5.9% abv
Weyerbacher Easton, PA http://www.weyerbacher.com Name: Harvest Ale Style: Fresh Hopped ale Batch Size: 3 batches Serving Formats & Distribution: 500 cases and 40 ½ bbl kegs; PA distribution only Date Expected in the market: by mid-September Other related info: Hops harvested from 1500 hops plants grown on brewery’s hop farm Name: Bravo (Brewers Select Series) Style: Red Wheat Batch Size: Serving Formats & Distribution: kegs distributed to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh markets; 40 cases available at brewery store Date Expected in the market: 8/30 Name: Imperial Pumpkin Style: Fruit beer Batch Size: Serving Formats & Distribution: Date Expected in the market: by mid-September
Yards Brewing Philadelphia, PA http://www.yardsbrewing.com What’s Happening: Brewing has begun on North Delaware/Columbus Ave.; No “fall seasonals” to speak of, but the “regular lineup” will be out in the market over the course of the fall season.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

You often overlook Rock Bottom in K of P mall.

They consistently put out good beer! Better then most of the ones you have listed...

Bryan Kolesar said...

Gimme the info and I'll be glad to post it! Btw, I agree that, on the whole, Brian and the crew unfortunately get overlooked more than they should. Although not the last couple of years by, ahem, GABF ;-) just sayin'

Anonymous said...

Thanks Bryan. I don't have any specific info but Brian does a great job.

I love your site here and check it ut every day.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

For some reason, I never really heard about the McKenzie brew house, or maybe I thought they closed down? Thanks for the update, maybe I'll use this as a chance to check them out.

Anonymous said...

Bryan, what's the IBU number on the Dock St. Imperial Amber? Sounds great. As does that Roy Pitz belgian style pumpkin ale, wow can't wait to try that one!

Are Victory sending draft of harvest pils and harvest ale around to other area accounts as in years previous? I know Capone's had both last year.

Nice work.

Scoats said...

Great work! And now you've given me work to do. There's a lot of beers to add to the Grey Lodge radar.

Bryan Kolesar said...

Rebecca, I've updated the Dock Street info above: 8% ABV; 42 IBUs; Malts: Cara, 2 row Pilsner; Hops: Centennial, Cascade, Columbus. have you tried one yet?

Scoats, no rest for the weary.