Fall arrives at different times. Our brewery team in Mills River, NC is throwing on hoodies while we’re still blasting the A/C in Chico, CA. But once the crisp breeze rolls in and cravings shift from summer salads to hearty soups, our taprooms get asked on repeat: What should I be drinking this fall?
Autumn embraces a range of fall beer styles; Oktoberfest lagers, wet hop and fresh hop IPAs, amber ales, stouts, and pumpkin beers step into rotation as the weather turns. Below are fall beers of ours to explore, followed by a full guide to the styles, flavors, and occasions that define autumn drinking.
What Brewers Recommend for Fall
Come fall, the brewing team at Sierra Nevada reaches for seasonal favorites like Oktoberfest, IPAs that celebrate the annual hop harvest, and bold sippers like stout. Can’t go wrong with these:
- • Oktoberfest Festbier, the Sierra Nevada collaboration with Hoppebräu Brewery, is essential for backyard hangouts this fall—the next best thing to being under the party tents in Munich.
- • Northern Hemisphere Wet Hop IPA captures what brewers really love about fall: hop harvest. This beer exclusively uses Centennial hops that are picked, shipped, and in Sierra Nevada’s brew kettle within 24 hours. Drink with beer-loving friends who like to dissect every tasting note.
- • Narwhal Imperial Stout, a malty monster at 10.2% ABV, is perfect for slow nights around the fire with friends. Cozy up to the notes of espresso, baker’s cocoa, and roasted grain.
- • The Hazy IPA Pack, with four unique IPA styles, is your crowd-pleaser when friends have different tastes. And two of the beers you won’t find outside of the pack: Rad Little Thing West Coast Hazy IPA and Peachy Little Thing Hazy IPA.
Sierra Nevada’s Fall Beer Lineup
Some say autumn is all about dark, malty ales—which we love; our very first beer was Stout—but there are other fall beer styles and autumn flavors that fit nicely with the season. Maybe the piney aroma of Pale Ale transports you to a cozy campground. Or does lederhosen (and a stein of lager) make it official for you? And if it’s just about some extra oomph, an Imperial beer could be the ticket.
There’s always a lot to choose from, so we’ve rounded up our best fall beers to help you narrow it down. Cheers! Or better yet, Prost, given the first one on the list.
- 1. Oktoberfest Lager – For Oktoberfest parties and beer gardens
- 2. Northern Hemisphere Wet Hop IPA – For harvest festivals and outdoor celebrations
- 3. Barrel-Aged Narwhal Imperial Stout – For sipping around the fire pit
- 4. Torpedo Extra IPA – For tailgating and gameday gatherings
- 5. Sierra Nevada Stout – For pairing with fall foods
- 6. West Ghost IPA – For celebrating Halloween year-round
Oktoberfest
Raise a stein of this German fall favorite.
Festbier | 6% ABV | Available July–September
Best for: Oktoberfest parties and beer gardens
“The way we did this really combines our two worlds. I thought the malty backbone combined with [Sierra Nevada’s] dry-hopping experience could be a perfect match.” –Markus Hoppe, co-founder of Hoppebräu Brewery
Our annual Oktoberfest is always a German brewery collaboration, and this year we teamed with Hoppebräu Brewery, founded in 2010 and turning heads with international awards. Expect a smooth malt character with notes of fresh-baked bread and honey, a hint of floral hops, and a crisp, clean finish. Watch our short film that goes behind the beer and deeper into the partnership. And if you’re hungry, pour a half cup of Oktoberfest toward our Pretzel Skillet with Beer Cheese.
Northern Hemisphere Wet Hop IPA
Hops from field to kettle within 24 hours.
Wet Hop IPA | 6.7% ABV | Available late September, exclusively online, while supplies last
Best for: Harvest festivals and outdoor celebrations
“Autumn in a glass. Delicious. A little darker and maltier than the typical IPA, which is perfect for the autumn chill.” –Tomas W., verified 5-star online review
Fall is extra special to craft brewers for one delicious reason: the annual hop harvest. That’s when we travel to the Pacific Northwest for “hop selection,” which includes rubbing hops—literally smashing the cones in our palms to tease out the aromatic properties.
And some hops are so magical, we just can’t wait; we skip the drying and packaging steps entirely.
Northern Hemisphere Wet Hop IPA, at 6.7% ABV, exclusively features Centennial hops that we pick and rush to our brew kettles the very same day. This earns it the “wet hop IPA” designation, and its vibrant notes of citrus blossom, rose, and pine are like your personal stroll through a hop field.
Barrel-Aged Narwhal Imperial Stout
From the depths, our barrel-aged autumn imperial stout.
Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout | 11.9% ABV | Available online year-round
Best for: Sipping around the fire pit
“It is rich and complex with the bourbon flavor in the background being subtle and just right!” –Mardy I., verified 5-star online review
Our original Narwhal Imperial Stout spends nearly a year in bourbon-barrel hibernation, emerging transformed with notes of oak, vanilla, and coconut layered onto the Stout’s malt flavors of dark chocolate and espresso. Pour it into a snifter glass and settle in for a slow-sipping delight.
Torpedo Extra IPA
A direct hit of hops, every time.
Extra IPA | 7.2% ABV | Available year-round
Best for: Tailgating and gameday gatherings
“This one goes out to the West Coast hopheads. Torpedo is an explosion of hop flavor and aroma.” –Terence Sullivan, Sierra Nevada product manager
Turn on the game, make some wings, and taste explosive hops with Torpedo’s intense notes of citrus, tropical fruit and pine, all cranked to max flavor through the custom Hop Torpedo dry-hopping device. You win, even if your team doesn’t.
Sierra Nevada Stout
The launchpad for, well, everything.
American Stout | 5.8% ABV | Available online year-round
Best for: Pairing with fall foods
“This is the best Stout I’ve ever tasted. I’m sure it’s because of Sierra Nevada’s quality ingredients.” –Lawrence B., verified 5-star online review
Pale Ale often gets the credit, but it all started with Sierra Nevada Stout, the first beer we ever made on our original hand-built brewhouse. (What better way to stress test your handiwork than with a bold and dark Stout?) It’s packed with deep, roasted malt flavors, plus a nod to the West Coast with a heap of American hops.
West Ghost IPA
Hauntingly hoppy.
Modern West Coast IPA | 7.2% ABV | Available online year-round, limited retail distribution
Best for: Celebrating Halloween year-round
“From the moment you crack open West Ghost you know this beer is a great one. The aroma tells you everything you need to know. It’s hoppy and fruity, and goes down so smooth!” –Philip C., verified 5-star online review
Clear, crisp, and aggressively hopped, West Ghost IPA is a fresh take on the classic West Coast IPA. We use Amarillo, Citra, and Idaho 7 hops for loads of citrus, sweet fruit, and woodsy dank notes. And that clean finish? Disappears as quick as it came.
Fall Beer Styles
Not ready for the list above? Then let’s zoom out and explore beer styles for fall that embody the comfort of autumn. From deep, dark flavors that wrap you like a blanket to easy-drinkers for holiday hangouts, these are some go-to styles for the cool months ahead.
Fresh Hop IPA
Hop harvest happens once a year, right as fall approaches, and hop flavor is most intense right when they’re picked. Fresh hop IPAs like Celebration IPA capture the full power of citrus, pine, and floral notes from just-picked hops. Some brewers use the phrases “fresh hop” and “wet hop” interchangeably, but we break ‘em out. Wet hops, like we use toward Northern Hemisphere IPA, are picked, not dried, and race to the brew kettle within 1–2 days. Fresh hops meanwhile go through the standard process — they’re kiln dried and packed into 200-pound bales — but they’re also rushed into brewing, within a few weeks. Either way, you’re getting peak hop flavor with a fresh hop IPA or a wet hop IPA.
Stout
The American stout is as dark as it gets, the abundance of roasted malts lending that midnight color, while also boosting the body and evoking flavors of chocolate and coffee. But here come the hops, in true American craft beer fashion, to dial up the bitterness units and weave in citrusy or earthy notes, depending on the hop varieties. Sierra Nevada Stout was the first beer we ever made, and now the malty monster Narwhal Imperial Stout is a favorite in our lineup. Get the fireplace rolling this fall, sit down with a stout, and breathe a happy sigh.
Amber Ale
Amber ales are “less hoppy and perhaps slightly darker than Pale Ales,” says brewing scientist Charlie Bamforth. Indeed, with their artful balance of malt and hops, amber ales are a crowdpleaser — have been since the ’80s. Crystal and caramel malts, kilned at high temperatures, provide the style’s namesake amber color, hints of toffee, and extra body. Citrusy and piney hops ensure amber ales don’t veer too sweet and stay in harmony. Watching the game with friends? Can’t go wrong with an amber ale.
Oktoberfest Beers
Beer’s biggest party comes around every fall, and the official Oktoberfest in Munich features the Festbier style, which is a bright golden lager with malty flavors—but not heavy because drinkability is key with those jumbo 1-liter steins. The other Oktoberfest style is Märzen, which is darker and richer than Festbier, leaning into a bready and toasty malt flavor.
Each fall we like to brew a German-American collaboration Oktoberfest, and this year’s release with Hoppebräu Brewery is a Festbier that will turn your backyard into a beer garden.
Brown Ale
Right there in the name, the American-style Brown Ale is a darker beer that zeroes in on malt-driven chocolate and caramel flavors, while the hop presence is meant to balance the malt, not distract from it. Brown Ales feel inherently like fall, which is why our elusive Tumbler Brown Ale, with notes of chocolate, toasted bread and a hint of smoke, shows the autumn leaves tumbling down.
Pumpkin Ales vs Other Fall Beers
Pumpkin ales are usually malt-forward beers whose core flavors are driven by pumpkin puree or pumpkin pie spice, while other fall beers showcase different seasonal ingredients like freshly harvested hops, dark roasted malts, or coffee beans. That’s a big range of flavors, so what’s driving your choice: a deep preference or feeling out the moment? If you simply love spice flavors, explore those pumpkin ales. But if you like to keep it spontaneous, other fall beers might fit the setting—a fresh hop IPA at sunset happy hour, an Oktoberfest for the backyard dinner party, an Imperial Stout around the fire pit.
The pumpkin flavor defines the pumpkin ale, whether it’s brewed with the real deal, like pumpkin puree, or accomplished with pumpkin pie spice. And brewers use a range of styles as the base recipe for a pumpkin ale, including amber ale, brown ale, and stout. Beyond pumpkin, these ales often feature additional spices that define holiday baked goods—think nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, clove. Pumpkin ales don’t have a set ABV range; you’ll find light-bodied and refreshing versions in the 4–6% ABV range, all the way up to barrel-aged pumpkin ales cresting 10–12% ABV. Like Oktoberfest beers, you’ll find pumpkin ales on shelves generally between August–October, then they’ll disappear as fast as Halloween decor.
Pumpkin ales vs Oktoberfest lagers: Pumpkin ales elevate the flavor of pumpkin or baking spices over the nuances of the base malt. Oktoberfest lagers, meanwhile, celebrate their malt character, like notes of toasted bread and soft sweetness. Their lager yeast also imparts a crisp, refined finish.
Pumpkin ales vs fresh hop IPAs: Pumpkin ales stay rooted in the cozy fall flavors of holiday baking, while fresh hop IPAs showcase hops at their brightest and most intense, immediately after fall harvest.
Pumpkin ales vs stouts and amber ales: Pumpkin ales use pumpkin and spices to express the fall season, while styles like stout and amber ale rely on caramel, crystal, and dark malts for colors and rich flavors that brace against the chilly autumn elements.
- • Reach for a pumpkin ale when: pumpkin carving, holiday baking, tailgating
- • Reach for an Oktoberfest lager when: attending Oktoberfest parties, playing lawn games, hosting a big friend meal
- • Reach for a fresh or wet hop IPA when: September arrives (and so does hop harvest), happy hour is on the patio, pairing with rich fall foods
- • Reach for a stout or amber ale when: the game is on, the fire’s crackling, dinner stretches late into the night
We don’t currently have a pumpkin ale, but watch our online shop for barrel-aged beers perfect for fall sipping like Trip in the Woods Barrel-Aged Narfoot, a blend of Narwhal Imperial Stout and Bigfoot Barleywine-Style Ale, both aged for 5 years in bourbon barrels.
Fall Beer Flavors
Some of the best autumn beers balance malt richness with seasonal spices.
Smoked Beer
Smoked beers owe their distinct character to (surprise!) smoked malts, which are dried either directly or indirectly over an open flame that’s burning a hardwood such as beechwood. The smoke dances through the grain bed and imparts flavors that conjure scenes of campfires and BBQs. It can be subtle, like in our Narwhal Imperial Stout, or the smoky flavor can headline beers like the German-style rauchbier. Ale or lager, light or dark, most any style can be smoked if a craft brewer imagines it that way.
Coffee Beer
Certain malts can impart coffee-like flavors, but a true coffee beer for fall is one that’s infused with actual coffee. Brewers accomplish this in different ways, like steeping coffee grounds in fermentation tanks or directly adding cold-brew coffee to the beer before packaging. We’ve made variations of Coffee Stout over the years, and the fusion of roasted malts and rich coffee yields notes of dark chocolate, fruitiness, and caramel.
Barrel-Aged Beer
Barrel-aged beers are those where the base beer has spent time maturing inside wooden casks that originally aged spirits, wine, or another beverage. Popular beer styles for barrel-aging include fall favorites like stouts and porters, while popular barrels include those that previously housed bourbon, rum, tequila, and even wine. To create Barrel-Aged Narwhal Imperial Stout, for example, our standard Narwhal spends a year in bourbon barrels. The beer emerges with new notes of oak, vanilla and coconut, layered onto the pre-existing malt flavors of dark chocolate and espresso.
Fall Occasions & Pairings
For Oktoberfest parties and beer gardens
Oktoberfest lagers, typically either Festbier or Märzen, are by their nature celebratory, linked to the official Oktoberfest party in Munich, Germany, dating back to 1810. Whether you choose a Festbier (on the lighter side) or a Märzen (richer, darker), Oktoberfest lagers are brewed for drinkability and extended time with friends. It’s popular to serve Oktoberfest beer in steins, just be ready to Prost, or cheers, on demand. And for that backyard Oktoberfest party spread, consider German-inspired food like bratwurst, soft pretzels, and potato salad.
Sierra Nevada picks for Oktoberfest parties and beer gardens:
Oktoberfest German brewery collaboration
Trail Pass Non-Alcoholic Fest Brew
For harvest festivals and outdoor celebrations
For brewers, the annual hop harvest signals the start of the fall season, making wet hop IPAs and fresh hop IPAs right at home in harvest festivals and outdoor celebrations. These beers showcase hop character at its brightest and most intense, a fitting complement to the vibrant, changing leaves around us. Alongside food, those bold hop notes double as a natural palate cleanser, standing up to richer plates like roasted turkey or Celebration Braised Steak—exactly what you want on the outdoor family-style table come fall.
Sierra Nevada picks for harvest festivals and outdoor celebrations:
Northern Hemisphere Wet Hop IPA
Celebration Fresh Hop IPA
For sipping around the fire pit
Rich and full-bodied beers, including porters, stouts and barrel-aged ales, reinforce the cozy vibes around a warm fire. A wide-bottomed snifter glass is ideal for sipping and savoring malt-driven flavors like caramel, dried fruit, baker’s cocoa, and espresso. If the beer is barrel-aged, it absorbs flavor from the wood and whatever called it home before—bourbon, Scotch, wine, you name it. And let’s assume you’re snacking by the fire versus eating a full meal; try equally rich items like aged cheese, peanut brittle, and bread pudding.
Sierra Nevada picks for sipping around the fire pit:
Narwhal Imperial Stout
Sierra Nevada Porter
Trip in the Woods Barrel-Aged Barleywine
For tailgating and gameday gatherings
Kickoff approaches and the energy is explosive, so grab a Pale Ale or IPA for hop power that matches the gameday passion. A can or bottle might be best—skip the glass today—since you’ll be up-and-down shouting at the action or cheersing big plays with friends. Their hoppy notes can include tropical fruit, citrus and pine, but Pales Ales and IPAs often have pronounced bitterness that cuts through greasy (and delicious) gameday foods like chicken wings, sliders, and bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers.
Sierra Nevada picks for tailgating and gameday gatherings:
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Torpedo IPA
Trail Pass Non-Alcoholic IPA
For pairing with fall foods
Fall foods often go hard in savory or sweet directions, especially around holiday gatherings, and the robust malt of stouts and barleywines complement everything from braised meats and roasted vegetables to cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. When the food and beer both have vivid flavors, they can deepen each other; choose too light a beer and it’s completely lost beneath the food. And if you just can’t part with hops during dinner, an assertive IPA can also stand up to the Thanksgiving lineup.
Sierra Nevada picks for pairing with fall foods:
Sierra Nevada Stout
Cellared Bigfoot Barleywine
Celebration Fresh Hop IPA
Fall Beer FAQ’s
What is a fall beer?
Fall beers are brews that pair perfectly with cooler weather, changing leaves, and cozy evenings. They often feature richer malts, warming spices, and seasonal ingredients like pumpkin or maple. Think Oktoberfest, amber ales, stouts, and even some hop-forward IPAs that bring a little extra depth.
Is an IPA a good fall beer?
Yes! While stouts are traditionally known as great fall beers, IPAs can be just as satisfying when the temperature drops. Many fall IPAs dial up the malt character or use hops that evoke pine, citrus, or spice—making them a bold, refreshing choice for autumn sipping.
What’s the difference between stout and IPA?
Each offers a different experience for chilly evenings. Stouts are dark, roasty, and often creamy, with flavors like coffee, chocolate, and toasted malt. IPAs are hop-forward, with bright bitterness and aromas ranging from citrus to pine. Both can be excellent fall companions—it just depends on your mood and taste.
Are there Oktoberfest IPAs?
While traditional Oktoberfest beers are usually Märzens (malty lagers), some brewers always enjoy getting creative and sometimes craft IPAs with Oktoberfest-inspired malt profiles. These hybrids blend the hop punch of an IPA with the smooth, toasty backbone of a Märzen—perfect for fall festivals…with a twist!
Where can I find fall beers near me?
Your best bet is to check local breweries, bottle shops, or grocery stores with a seasonal beer section. Many breweries release limited-edition fall beers, so keep an eye out for fresh drops. You can also visit Sierra Nevada’s Beer Finder to locate their seasonal offerings near you.
What are the most popular fall beers right now?
Oktoberfest lagers and fresh or wet hop IPAs are popular fall beers since they align with annual events: the Oktoberfest party in Germany, and hop harvest in the United States. Look for Sierra Nevada’s collaboration Oktoberfest and Northern Hemisphere Wet Hop IPA. Malt-forward, dark styles like stout and porter, including barrel-aged versions, also surge in fall because they evoke a sense of comfort in cooler weather. Sierra Nevada will ship Barrel-Aged Narwhal Imperial Stout right to your door.
What beer do brewers recommend for a harvest festival or fall celebration?
Brewers cherish the annual hop harvest, which yields fresh and wet hops IPAs that are must-haves at any harvest festival or fall celebration. Hops are at peak aroma and flavor the moment they’re harvested, so these beers, like Northern Hemisphere Wet Hop IPA and Celebration Fresh Hop IPA, showcase hops at their most vivid and intense. Bonus that they pair nicely with a variety of fall foods.
When does fall beer season start?
Seasonal fall beers start hitting shelves in late July, similar to those sneaky Halloween decorations, and Sierra Nevada’s collaboration Oktoberfest is among the first. Fresh and wet hop IPAs like Northern Hemisphere typically land in September, while other dark and barrel-aged beers continue emerging through October.
What food pairs best with fall beer?
German-inspired staples like bratwurst, spaetzle, and potato salad are natural picks for Oktoberfest lagers. Malty styles like stout and even bold IPAs stand up to rich fall foods, from roasted turkey to sweet potato casserole. For the tailgate or gameday fixtures—burgers, wings, nachos, pizza—the hoppy bitterness of Pale Ale or IPA eases the grease.
