The Best Fall Beers to Have On Tap at Your Bar
One thing a bar owner can be sure of, is that fall brings out the beer drinkers, especially those seeking a good craft beer. Where summer beer is generally light, the flavors of fall are more substantial and heartier. The colors of fall beers generally mirror that of the changing leaves.
Whether it is a seasonal specialty or a solid standby, it is important for any bar owner to know how to match the season with the brew. The following are some popular beers for autumn, as well as some advice on how to promote them, so you can always be one step ahead.
Pumpkin Ale
Nothing says fall like pumpkin. The Southern Tier Brewing Company offers an ale fittingly called “Pumking,” complete with a jack-o-lantern label. The copper-colored beer smells just like a pumpkin pie, and fits the season perfectly, as it can pair well with actual pie. With 8.6 percent ABV, it contains a well-balanced blend of hops and malt to accompany the power of the flavor well.
American Brown Ale
The Louisiana based Abita Brewing Company offers up a find craft beer known as “Pecan Harvest Ale.” It was first produced in 2007 and has been running strong ever since. The name gets it’s flavor, obviously, from roasted pecans that are added during the brewing process. The caramel malt features a flavor profile containing touches of toffee as well, that make for a rich, holiday beverage.
Red Ale
Just as this season brings out the spookiness in people, so does this beer. San Diego’s AleSmith Brewing Company has created a blood red beer called “Evil Dead Red,” that makes for a great conversation piece. The flavor of the caramel malt contains citrusy hops, and boasts a hearty 6.66 percent ABV. AleSmith advises to pair the beer with “caramel apples, toffee, or even your favorite horror flick.
American Brown Ale
What better ale to choose for autumn than something called “Autumn Ale.” Breckenridge Brewery has truly created a great fall beer, incorporating flavors of roasted grain, dark fruits, and chocolate. It also has characteristics of both a Märzen and a stout, containing a nutty malt. Brewmaster Todd Usry was inspired by his memories of autumn growing up in Virginia, and the fall afternoons he spent outdoors. The passion he has put into crafting this ale really shows.
Market Your Fall Beers
No matter what the season, a good bar owner knows the power of social media. The best way to inform your customers of new craft beers, is to reach them where they always are, and these days, it’s generally plugged into at least one form of social media.
No matter how big or small your establishment is, creating a Facebook page, Twitter, or sharing pictures of your bar on Instagram, is a free form of marketing that is sure to draw a larger crowd. TapHunter is a great platform that helps you achieve all of this from one simple dashboard. They can provide live updates to your Facebook page of your new beers, tweet a drink list for the weekend, and even post your Instagram photos on your TapHunter profile.
No matter what brew you choose this season, or how you choose to market it, changing out your beer selection often, can only prove to draw in a larger crowd. Keep in mind some things may work, some may not, but everyone enjoys celebrating the season with the flavors they are so familiar with. Nothing is better in fall than pumpkin, pecans, and caramel!
