Best Non-Pumpkin Fall Beers

Pumpkin consumes about every piece of the food and beverage market through the fall months, and beer is no exception. Pumpkin flavored beers are available in nearly every grocery store, pub, and find dining restaurant in Pawleys Island. While the pumpkin craze carries a unique flavor, science shows it’s not just the taste that makes us craze the beverage as the temperatures cool. We’re connected to the pumpkin flavor on an emotional level. The nostalgia that comes with the first flavors of fall make us crazy pumpkin spice everything.

We admit, even as the leaves change colors and you reach for a light jacket, sometimes you need a fall beer that doesn’t carry a pumpkin label. If you’re headed out for an evening of outdoor dining in Pawleys Island or you’re planning a fine dining date night, explore a few beers that are perfect for fall but won’t compete with your pumpkin spice latte.

River Rat Hazelnut Brown

Enjoy the flavors of autumn by sipping a Hazelnut Brown Ale by River Rat Brewery. This medium brown ale is brewed with English malts, hops, and fresh Hazelnuts. It’s a perfect beverage for those who enjoy a malty dark ale as well as the novice beer drinker. The hazelnut flavor will pull you into the fall season without the slightest pinch of pumpkin spice. Enjoy this smooth and creamy beer with smoked barbeque.

Hopzeit Autumn IPA

Hopzeit Autumn IPA from Deschutes is perfect for the IPA drinker who needs to make the transition from summer to fall but isn’t ready to commit to a stout. This beer brings the traditional American pale ale flavor with a touch of German märzen. The bitterness of the IPA is expected, but it’s the richness of the spice that makes this a great fall beer.

Oktoberfest

There are many to choose from, so let us get more specific. The Oktoberfest flavor from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is always a unique flavor. Each year the brewery partners with a different German-based beer maker to create an Oktoberfest-style märzen. This golden-amber beer is the perfect pairing to a spicy dish or a thick meat grilled over an open flame.

Harvest

The Southern Tier Brewing Co. creates the Harvest beer selection with a splash of citrus and spices. The golden ale color makes for the perfect autumn beer and its drinkability makes it a good companion to nearly any dish.

Black Lager

Sam Adams is particularly known for its Oktoberfest during the fall season, but the Black Lager choice is the one that makes our list. This medium-bodies beer pour a near black but offers a soft, velvety taste. The aroma is a mix of chocolate, caramel, and coffee. Like most Sam Adams beers, there is a slight bubble and light taste. Opt for a smoked meat or spicy dish with this beer.

Don’t forfeit your fall to pumpkin beer. Try these autumn flavors at your favorite Pawleys Island restaurant or relaxing in the Chive Blossom courtyard.