It can be tough to embrace autumn when Texas weather is still flirting with 90 degrees, but seasonal beer releases certainly aren't dictated by temperature changes. With more than 35 craft microbreweries in the area, North Texans can already expect to see fall beers gracing bar taps and retail shelves. These beers tend toward darker, more full-bodied styles and often incorporate spices. That includes plenty of pumpkin offerings, of course.
Here are 24 local brews we're excited to try this season. You can find them on-site at the breweries and retail stores such as Total Wine or Spec's, as well as beer-focused bars like Strangeways, FM Smokehouse, World of Beer and Brass Tap.
A Lost Epic | Peticolas Brewing Co.
This Tripel (pictured above) may seem unassuming with it's vibrant orange hue and medium body. It maintains a hoppy aroma and delicious, sweet aftertaste, but don't be fooled -- this bad boy clocks a whopping 11 percent alcohol by volume. Cool fact: The name is an anagram of Peticolas. Get a taste on draft between October and the end of the year.
Oktoberfest | Oak Highlands Brewery
This new addition to Dallas' craft microbrewery scene is celebrating the season with a traditional Marzen-style lager. At nearly 6 percent ABV, the copper-colored brew promises to be more malty than hoppy. It's currently available on draft.
Den of Sin Pumpkin Ale | Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
If you're looking for an explosion of fall flavors, look no further than this brown ale brewed with pumpkin and spices. Described as pumpkin pie in a glass, the notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and all spice are unmissable. And at 10 percent ABV, it packs a punch. Grab it in four-packs of bottles and on draft beginning in October.
Alemán | Four Corners Brewing Co.
The name of this altbier is Spanish for "German," so expect something of a traditional, dry malt profile accentuated by fruity and caramel flavors. There's a mild hop bite, too, which rounds out the 6 percent ABV brew. Try it on draft beginning Sept. 21.
Oktoberfest | Franconia Brewing Co.
Considering brewery founder Dennis Wehrmann comes from a long line of German brewers, there's likely no more traditional tasting Oktoberfest in the area. It's a malty, amber-colored lager with notes of fruit and spice coming in at 5.5 percent ABV. Grab some in six-packs of bottles and on draft through mid-October.
Punkel | Lakewood Brewing Co.
A dark copper brew spiced just right, this dunkel is not overwhelmingly fragrant but still boasts the effervescence of autumn thanks to the toasted caramel malts. The medium body and 5.5 percent ABV make this one an easy go-to throughout the holiday season. It's currently available in six-packs of bottles and on draft.
Shannon Honey Porter | Shannon Brewing Co.
Brewers describe this beer as a complex Baltic porter with a rich sweetness, courtesy of dark malts and dried fruity notes. At 7.5 percent ABV, expect it to pack a punch, too. Find it on draft during October and November.
Chocolate Stout | Small Brewpub
Expect lots of flavor and a crisp finish from this dry Irish stout. The brew combines oats, cacao nibs and Madagascar vanilla beans, for a taste that smooth, drinkable and not overly roasted, according to brewers. It will be available at the Oak Cliff brewpub, as well as a few spots beyond on draft.
The Stout | Bearded Eel Craft Brewery
Drinkers can get their Russian imperial stout fix ASAP thanks to this Fort Worth brewpub. The beer's a hefty 10 percent ABV that brewers describe as savory, boozy and smooth in all the right ways. A slightly bitter finish rounds out the experience. It's out now and distributed in 22-ounce bottles.
Drunkin Pumpkin | Cobra Brewing Co.
This beer has all the holiday flavors drinkers need in one glass. The 7 percent ABV ale is brewed with mashed pumpkin and the traditional seasonal spices. It debuts in late-September and will be available on draft through November. On Halloween, Cobra will release a limited batch called Nitemare Before Xmas Pumpkin, which boasts darker roasted grains and a stout finish.
Idle Playthings | Braindead Brewing
Brewers say this Belgian strong ale couples a soft malt character with floral and spicy notes. It's about 7 percent ABV with 26 International Bitterness Units, and will be available exclusively on draft at the Deep Ellum brewpub beginning in October for one to two months.
Off With Your Red | Rabbit Hole Brewing
Brewers call this red India pale ale "aggressively" hoppy. At an impressive 88 IBUs, the beer relies on its malt backbone to balance the flavors. It's a heavy-hitter too, at almost 8 percent ABV. Find it one draft now through December.
Wildin' | On Rotation
Brewers at this newish East Dallas brewpub spiked their IPA with Brettanomyces, a yeast that sours the beer. They allowed it to age to develop the funky, fruity flavors as well as bring out the citrus in the hops. It'll be tapped in early October at the brewpub and only available for one or two weeks.
Earthy Sow | Chimera Brewing Co.
Chimera will have several brews available throughout the season at the brewpub in Fort Worth, but one of the most unique has to be this saison brewed with smoked black truffles. It comes in at 6 percent ABV but it won't cost you an arm and a leg -- roughly $4.50 for a 12-ounce pour and $10-18 for a growler, depending on size. Expect to see it on draft in late-October.
Barrel-Aged Four Swords | Deep Ellum Brewing Co.
This Dallas brewery took a big beer and made it bigger by aging it for a year in cabernet barrels. Four Swords at its core is a Belgian-style Quadrupel with a full-bodied malt profile and notes of dark fruit and caramel. Add in the aging and you have a 10.5 percent brew not for the faint of palate. Grab it in 22-ounce bombers beginning Sept. 26.
Cinnamon Girl | Revolver Brewing
Late-September marks the return of this unique spiced beer. Brewed with cinnamon, ginger and black pepper, it's then aged on rose petals. It's a warm 6.5 percent ABV, with a mild finish, thanks to the balance of the malts. Find it on draft through December.
TUPPkin | Tupps Brewery
This spin on a pumpkin beer will be a robust porter, brewed with dark caramel and chocolate malts. It has a healthy helping of hops too, brewers say, which gives it an earthiness in addition to spiciness. It clocks about 7 percent ABV and will be available on draft from October until the end of the year.
Ascension Coffee Porter | Community Beer Co.
Community's collaboration beer with the local Ascension Coffee shop returns for another fall season. It's a roasty, chocolatey porter brewed with single origin coffee beans (from Papa New Guinea) coming in at almost 7 percent ABV. New this year, drinkers will be able to find it in four-packs of bottles as well as on draft.
Chai Lager | Audacity Brew House
This Oktoberfest-style lager showcases 17 different spices, including cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. Expect a pungent and pleasant aroma followed by a spicy flavor and smooth mouth feel. At roughly 5 percent ABV, you can also have a few to get in the fall spirit. Grab it on draft until Thanksgiving.
Pecan Porter | Four Bullets Brewery
Another newbie to D-FW's craft scene, Four Bullets will be releasing a porter brewed with fresh pecans. Brewers say isn't not a heavy dark beer, and at 5 percent ABV, we'd consider that a good thing. The beer will be available exclusively at the brewery in Richardson beginning in October.
Turtle Power | Martin House Brewing Co.
October marks the return of one this Fort Worth brewery's microseasonals, a full-bodied blackberry altbier that's as tasty as it is good for the animal kingdom. Martin House donates a portion of sales from this brew to the Turtle Survival Alliance, which aims to diminish poaching. The beer will only be available on draft.
Crackin' Up Pecan Porter | 903 Brewers
This full-bodied ale utilizes one of Texas' greatest assets: pecans. Expect bold, roasted malt flavors balanced by generous helping of hops for an overall sweet brew hitting 8.5 percent ABV. Get a taste in six-packs of cans from November to February.
Somethin' Shady | Texas Ale Project
Described as unusually drinkable, this porter relishes in notes of coffee and chocolate. It's 5.5 percent ABV and 28 IBUs, and can be found on draft.
Butternut Squash Ale | Barley and Board
Brewers at Barley and Board wanted to create a beer using an unconventional fall veggie, so they chose butternut squash. The brew is said to offer ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon notes as well as a creamy mouth feel. The Denton brewpub will tap it Sept. 28 and expects it to be gone in one week. But if it's popular, the beer may make a reappearance in November.
