Brilliant Beer

While it’s not yet the first day of fall, no doubt you have seen signs of the next season in the store. Pumpkin beer, Oktoberfest, and a few other fall brews are already lining the shelves; some examples of these styles have been available since early August!
Now, don’t get me wrong. I am rejoicing the arrival of these richer, maltier autumn selections. After a long summer, I’m totally thrilled for these cool weather brews. But there is one seasonal option that is neither pumpkin nor marzen. And, it may be the best beer of the season.
Although Autumn ale or Harvest beer is not exactly a recognized style, a number of brewers make earthy, fuller, more interesting beers to fit into the fall season. I believe this to be the best beer for this time of year, certainly the finest fall beer that’s not a pumpkin or a marzen – Harvest Ale from Southern Tier.
The pride of Lakewood, N.Y., you’re likely already familiar with Southern Tier Brewing Company. Their imperial stout series is already legendary. Sweet, opulent, at times cloying, big and black, beers such as Jahva, Oat, Mokah, Crème Brulee and Choklat are a few of the best imperial stouts made today. Southern Tier is no stranger to fantastic IPAs either. But it’s their Harvest Ale that is the star of the autumn season.
Southern Tier lists Harvest Ale as an ESB (extra special bitter), but it’s unlike any ESB I’ve ever known. Correction, it’s unlike any classic English ESB. Typical ESB’s from England are tea-like in flavor and body, making use of English hops which are significantly less pungent and powerful than their American cousins. However, when you realize that ESB falls under the umbrella of English Pale Ale, Southern Tier’s fall seasonal makes more sense.
Brewed with “four varieties of hops and two types of malts”, Harvest Ale is no malt only affair. This is a well hopped ESB if I’ve ever had one. I would rate this as more of a pale ale or hoppy amber, but components of a classic ESB are present, including copper to ruby colored, caramel malt flavor supports a solid dose of hops, slightly fruity and a medium to full body.
The beer pours up a hazy amber color, reminiscent of fall, with a tall head of foam, and some active bubbles teaming up from the bottom. Lace can be found down the sides of the glass. The aroma is bright orange peel, possibly pineapple, with some sweet malt also in the mix. The nose leans toward an APA (American pale ale).
As delicious a fall beer as you can find, Southern Tier’s Harvest Ale is everything I want from a beer this time of year. Hoppy, malty, medium bodied, carbonated but doesn’t taste like burning, rich yet easy to drink. Damn, I love this beer. Caramel and bready malts compete with spicy citrus hops in a not quite full bodied beer.
One other difference, compared with English ESBs is the alcohol by volume (ABV). Harvest Ale is 6.7 percent, moderately higher than its English cousins, and just high enough to keep this beer from becoming an autumn session star. That said, my first 6-pack of Harvest Ale didn’t last two days. It’s a seasonal, buy it now, it will be gone before you know it. Enjoy the brews … Cheers.
Gene’s Haufbrau has at more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. While they don’t have every beer the Beer Snob writes about, they probably have most. Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.