Fall Flavors
Columbus Brewing Company: Festbier
Columbus Brewing Company, known locally as CBC, offers an incredible slate of beers worthy of being the city's namesake brewery. Their Festbier, named such for its purpose of being consumed during Oktoberfest celebrations, is a smooth and malty amber lager brewed with specialty imported malts. Pick up a 6-pack wherever you shop locally, or head to their relatively new taproom just west of downtown to sip on-site.
Land-Grant Brewing: Lawnraker
Picture this: You've just finished clearing the leaves from your yard and everything is bagged and ready for yard-waste day. Now what? You've earned yourself a cold treat and there's nothing better than Land-Grant's Lawnraker, which the brewery describes as "not hoppy, malty, easy drinking." This Oktoberfest style beer offers a light, silky texture featuring a burnt toffee aroma and notes of caramel and chocolate. Pick some up through October at the brewery's Franklinton tap room - and consider staying to enjoy in their considerable beer garden - or your local grocery store.
North High Brewing: Oktoberfest
North High’s Oktoberfest is a marzen style, offering a biscuity sweetness with a hint of toastiness, built on Vienna malts. The cans of this amber lager are as festive as its flavor!
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing: Oktoberfest
Wolf’s Ridge’s Oktoberfest is a shining example of the style: deep copper but clear, a little sweet and easy to drink. Pair it with a nice meal in their dining room or a chill afternoon in the tap room.
Parsons North Brewing: Fest Bier
Parsons North's version of Fest Bier is also smooth and malty, with a hint of nuttiness bitterness. One of the brewery's inventive bartenders did some experimenting in the kitchen and came up with a Beer Cheese and Friend Schnitzel Ball combo using the brew that's not to be missed. After you purchase your beer - 6 packs available in the taproom - send them a message on social media for the recipe so you can try it at home!
Credit: Parsons North Brewing
Saucy Brew Works: Festbier
Though a Cleveland-based brewery, we're excited that Saucy Brew Works recently opened a location in our Harrison West neighborhood. If you haven't had the chance to visit yet, now is the perfect time to pop in and grab their version of Festbier, which is described as "traditional, medium light body, well carbonated, with a distinct German yeast aroma and noble hop nose."
Sideswipe Brewing: Squashing Pumpkins, Cinnamon Apple Tart Takedown, Elegant Hoodlum
When it comes to fall beers, Sideswipe Brewing truly has something for everyone. For their Squashing Pumpkins, they change up the standard pumpkin ale recipe by substituting squash for pumpkin, making it still spicy, warming and a little sweet, while keeping the ale lighter-bodied. For those sour drinkers out there, Cinnamon Apple Tart Takedown is brewed with apples and cinnamon (shocking, we know!) for a light and fruity autumn flavored drink. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Elegant Hoodlum is a smoked stout that pours black and has notes of chocolate and molasses. Stop by their west side taproom to pick up one or all of these before it's too late!
Credit: Sideswipe Brewing
Buckeye Brews
Land-Grant Brewing: Stiff Arm, Skull Session
Land-Grant Brewing was founded by OSU graduates and named such in honor of Ohio State's status as a land-grant university, so it stands to reason that the brewery has the ultimate Buckeye beer line-up. Their Stiff-Arm IPA and Skull Session Lager are both ridiculously drinkable. Folks attending games at The 'Shoe can snag stadium-exclusive 16 oz. cans, while those not attending should consider heading to the taproom to watch games on the big screen in the beer garden and enjoy these on tap (then take a 6-pack to go).
Credit: Land-Grant Brewing
Barley's Brewing: Bourbon Meyer Buckeye Stout
As one of the city's oldest breweries, Barley's is still innovating its beer selection. Their Bourbon Meyer Buckeye Stout, named of course for famed former head coach Urban Meyer, is an imperial stout ages in bourbon barrels with chocolate and peanut butter. For those who aren't familiar, The Ohio State University's mascot is a buckeye, and this tree nut is often emulated in candy by rolling a peanut butter ball and dipping it in chocolate, the taste of which is exactly what you can expect from this creative brew.
Zaftig: Nuts for You
Zaftig's peanut butter stout - Nuts for You - offers a similar flavor, though emphasis here is on the peanut with accents of dark chocolate. Don't forget about Zaftig's relatively new Italian Village taproom, making it a great place to stop before or after a game.
Credit: Zaftig Brewing
Each of the breweries listed in this post is close to the downtown core and easily accessible to visitors in the area. Discover seasonal brews at more than 50 breweries across all parts of central Ohio on the Columbus Ale Trail!
