Fall beer in West Virginia

While another official Oktoberfest season has come and gone, the fall beer season is still in full bloom. In the West Virginia autumn we still expect mostly mild, pleasant weather for the next month or more. Good beer drinking weather.

For local craft beer, you’re guaranteed lots of malty, richly-flavored brews will be on tap at the state’s small brewery taprooms.

We hope you haven’t yet gotten your fill of Oktoberfest-style brews, because there’s still plenty of these beauties out there. We’ve recently tasted some good ones in both the traditional malty, Märzen style and the modern pale Festbier style. 

Look no further than Big Timber Brewing for one of each. Their quite dark and stormy Forestfest bounces off the wall of at the dark, malty end of the Märzen style. While their light-colored  Festbier hits middle ground in its pale style category.  

Give your taste buds a true fall treat at Abolitionist Ale Works in Charles Town. They are loaded for bear with malty fall-seasonal brews, including Abofest, AutumnFest, Morgan’s Märzen, and Fall Bock. 

Always worth a purchase are the Märzen style beers from Bridge Brew Works (Oktoberfest ) and Weathered Ground Brewery (AJ’s Märzen). And WGB also offers an excellent contemporary pale Festbier.

For a drier, less malty take on the Märzen style, checkout the Prost Fest from Bad Shepherd Beer Co.

If you are near Short Story Brewing’s home-base taproom in Rivesville, get over there on Saturday, October 10 for a special Oktoberfest party. For a straight down-the-middle winner in the Märzen style category, try a glass of Short Story Märzen. The beautiful malt flavors and great balance stand out.

Our small brewers are really doing good things with their fall beers. Another one to enjoy is Herbstfest from Köerber Beer Co. 

Herbstfest is the German word for fall festival.  Since in Germany, only the fall beer festival in Munich can be called Oktoberfest, all the festivals in other communities are typically called Herbstfests. Their beers are similar in style to the Oktoberfests. Köerber has brought herbstfest to West Virginia

More seasonal specialties

Here is a sampling of other seasonal specialties from West Virginia brewers.

Midway through the WVU football season, it’s prime time for Big Timber’s Mountain Beer in Coal Rush cans; and also for Connection 304 Ale from Parkersburg Brewing. Both are widely available on retailer beer shelves.

At Abolitionist Ale Works in Charles Town you can get a dark, malty bock beer, The Bockway Home, to take home in cans or drink a pint at the bar.

At Screech Owl Brewing, get a glass of the tasty Preston Harvest Ale.

At Greeenbrier Valley Brewing’s taproom in Maxwelton, get there soon to try the small-batch Boone’s Pepper Ale. A malty,  bold jalapeño spiced ale.

For pumpkin beer fans check out Weathered Ground’s Small Batch Pumpkin Beer.

Frank N Stein Festival

Get your tickets for Frank N Stein Festival taking place October 24. A fall beer and food festival in downtown Fairmont that provides attendees with the opportunity to sample amazing craft beers from 10 or more West Virginia craft breweries, plus more from out of state. Food from local vendors. Ciders too. Festival supports Main Street Fairmont business development activities.

Tickets at this link

Funksgiving

Put November 25 on your calendar for the 10th annual Funksgiving event at Abolitionist Ale Works in Charles Town.  It’s a royal celebration of wild, funky, and barrel-aged ales.