by Brian Beauchemin

This time of the year brings thoughts of chocolate, toffee, vanilla and caramel — and Halloween treats. Unless you’re a craft beer fan; then, those images become your favorite glassware full of darker ales and lagers introduced for our autumnal pleasure. This month’s releases have depths of malt complexity available right alongside the ever-present sour and hoppy options. A list of new and/or limited releases follows. Unless otherwise stated, all products are already available in taprooms and/or in the local market.

Birdsong Brewing

The brewery says Cranberry Cozy Sour is a “ballad to the beginning of the holiday season.” The 4.6% ABV, bright red cranberry ale invites sweet-tart flavor with loads of cranberry purée and a crisp, clean finish, with enough tartness to make this a fall favorite.

NoDa Brewing

Sticky When Wet is a 6.31% ABV wet (or fresh) hop IPA – this beer was brewed one day after the hops were harvested. The beer has an assertive bitterness balanced with bright aroma and flavors of peach and grapefruit.

Released on Friday the 13th, Blacktoberfest Black Gose was brewed in collaboration with Brew & Feed. Cuttlefish ink and lime were utilized in the 4.5% ABV gose providing a unique combination of briny and lime flavors.

Slam Dunkel is a dunkel weisse. This 4.4% ABV dark wheat beer tastes of chocolate and roasted coffee in tandem with banana and clove from the hefeweizen yeast. The beer releases October 20.

As the name suggests, Hoppy Holidays is the brewery’s holiday IPA. Spruce is added in addition to hops bringing a combination of citrus notes and a brisk piney aroma. The 6.5% ABV IPA releases October 27.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

A favorite of OMB fans, Dunkel Lager has been brewed for over ten years. The 4.9% ABV dark German lager helps usher in the beginning of fall in North Carolina. The flavor is a nuanced combination of subtle, roasty malt with dark bitter chocolate, dark coffee, and caramel. The official release is October 27.

The Brewer’s Reserve Series returns with American Brown Ale. This beer was inspired by one of their brewer’s, Chase Petrovic, and his love for the Cleveland Browns. Assisting Chase on the brew was Apprentice Brewer Scott Foley. The 6.4% ABV brown ale has notes of chocolate and orange citrus reminiscent of “chocolate oranges” while toffee candies and a touch of coffee round out the finish.

Protagonist Beer

October 13 brought two releases in both cans and draft. Julia Session Sour is named after one of the true American culinary greats. The unique sour with a drinkable 5.2% ABV was made with plums, a hint of rosemary, and then rested on orange zest to pair with your favorite fall meals.

The brewery says Ash West Coast Lager is where “groovy meets boozy.” Another quaffable ale at 5.4% ABV, this hoppy lager utilizes Chinook, Centennial, Citra, and Cascade hops throughout.

Currently available in limited quantities is the brewery’s 2023 Great American Beer Festival Gold Winner for Classic Saison. Kal-El Saison is a 5.5% ABV saison brewed with local grains and noble hops. Light, crisp, and effervescent with a hint of wheaty tartness and fruity notes reminiscent of spiced pear.

Southern Strain

All Hallows Haze is a hazy IPA brewed with 100% North Carolina malted barley, wheat, and oats. Hopped with Vista, Chinook, and Azacca the juicy 6.8% ABV brew has notes of ripe strawberries, citrus, and a touch of pine. Appropriate to its name, this beer debuted on Friday the 13th on draft, with cans available October 17.

The return of a tap room favorite, ESB, will be canned for the first time. The 5.6% ABV English bitter is brewed with 100% North Carolina malted barley. True to style, the beer is toasty, bready, and fruity, with a light sweetness. This beer was also released on October 13 with cans available October 17.

Hefeweizen is a 5.6% ABV classic hefeweizen, brewed with 100 percent North Carolina malted barley and wheat. Fermented on the cooler side for a nice bouquet of clove and a touch of banana. Draft releases on October 20.

Town Brewing

The brewery released two beers on October 14. Brewed in partnership with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation, Brewey Decimal is a 4.9% ABV Strawberry Blonde with proceeds from the sale of the beer going to the foundation in support of the CommonSpark campaign.

The second release leverages the fact that North Carolina is the number one producer of sweet potatoes in the United States, Sweet Carolina Pie is an amber ale brewed with sweet potatoes. Vanilla, nutmeg, amber candi syrup, and natural pie crust flavor are also added to this 5.5% ABV treat. A little on the sweeter side but not cloying and surprisingly drinkable, the nutmeg and vanilla along with the malt profile offers a flavor reminiscent of your grandma’s sweet potato pie.

Triple C Brewing

Commuter’s Comfort is a German Hefeweizen brewed for their annual Biketoberfest event and monthly charity event. This 4.5% ABV German-style hefeweizen has strong aromas of banana esters and a smooth mouthfeel from the wheat. The easy drinking beer, great for after a fall bike ride, releases October 20 on draft only.

Releasing on October 27, Flat Brim is a super juicy tropical hazy IPA providing low bitterness and alcohol, with a delicate mouthfeel. The 5.2% ABV hazy exudes aromas of fresh mango, ripe pineapple, and citrus zest courtesy of additions from Citra, Mosaic, Motueka, and Ekuanot hops.

Wooden Robot

Botoberfest is a strong golden festbier brewed with German-grown barley, locally malted by Epiphany Craft Malt. Bready malt character is balanced by delicate noble hops for a smooth, crisp, and rich body supporting a 5.9% ABV.

Brewed with Epiphany’s special German-grown Ursprung fest malt, Fest Kept Secret, is a malt forward 5.8% ABV Märzen that strikes a balance of toasty and bready character, delicate hops, and a crisp, clean finish.

Autumn Vibes is a sessionable autumn ale inspired by the English pale ales’ attributes of malty, hoppy, and crisp all at the same time. The 4.6% beer highlights honey and caramel malt notes balanced by a soft hop character all providing a cozy, warming quality.

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