By Nick Dekker

Posted On: Sep 10, 2021

It's here! My absolute favorite time of the year: autumn. As much as I love summer and all its fun, autumn is when I come ALIVE! Cooler weather, cozier nights, gathering around campfires with s’mores. And best of all… fall beers.

I especially love those seasonal beers that complement the weather: clean lagers in the summer, spicy holiday ales, big porters and stouts in the winter, sweet and hoppy IPAs (okay, those are good any time of year), and the sweet and malty offerings of autumn.

Here are 13 fun autumn ales from Ohio breweries, from crisp Oktoberfest lagers to sweet pumpkin beers and everything in-between.

Photo credit: Wolf's Ridge Brewing, Facebook

Oktoberfest from Wolf's Ridge Brewing in Columbus

Wolf's Ridge is one of my favorite Columbus breweries – it's hard to tell if the beer or the food is better. Their Oktoberfest is a perfect example of the Marzen-style beer: light copper in color, lightly sweet, a nice balance of bittering hops. 

Yammy Yammy from Platform Beer Co. in Cleveland

Always the ones to innovate, Platform offers up their take on the traditional pumpkin ale by brewing Yammy Yammy, an ale with sweet potatoes. It’s sweet and a little spicy, and pours a clear orange color.

Squashing Pumpkins from Sideswipe Brewing in Columbus

Likewise, Sideswipe Brewing in Columbus creates an ale with mostly squash instead of the pumpkins. It's light-bodied and clean-drinking with just a hint of spice.

Lagerstadt from Warped Wing Brewing in Dayton

Located in downtown Dayton, Warped Wing is housed in an old industrial site. You can enjoy beers in the taproom with great views of the brewing facility and the Dayton skyline. Lagerstadt is their crisp and clean fall lager, with a slightly nutty and honey sweetness.

Frog's Hollow Double Pumpkin Ale from Hoppin' Frog in Akron

True to form, Hoppin' Frog takes the traditional pumpkin ale and amps up the sweet pumpkin and the spices. If that's not enough for you, they also offer a version aged in whiskey barrels.

Photo credit: Seventh Son Brewing, Facebook

Humulus Nimbus from Seventh Son Brewing in Columbus

Seventh Son's Humulus Nimbus toes the line between an IPA and a pale ale, with its berry-piney hops and light malts. This delicious beer can make even the cloudiest of days cheerful.

Festbier from Columbus Brewing Company in Columbus

Festbier is Columbus Brewing Company's German-style lager. It's wonderfully smooth, malty, and fun to drink. Perfect for fall-themed parties.

Chalupacabra from Devil's Kettle Brewing in Athens

There are few flavors that exude Autumn quite like Mexican Chocolate. Devil's Kettle brews a Mexican Chocolate style stout aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs, chili peppers, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla beans and lactose.

Photo credit: The Portsmouth Brewing Company, Facebook

Circleville Pumpkin Ale from The Portsmouth Brewing Company 

This brewery puts a classic beer on tap. This American wheat ale is made with a combination of pumpkin and seasonal spices, perfect for fall. 

Strangeville Spiced Ale from Brew Kettle in Strongsville

Brew Kettle beers are always fun to drink, and their Strangeville is a classic pumpkin ale, with loads of pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices.

Stick from North High Brewing in Columbus

North High Brewing in Columbus brews and cans a toasty amber ale with toffee and caramel flavors and undertones of dried apricots and pine. This beer is available October through April and proceeds benefit the Movember Foundation.

Blackout Stout from Great Lakes Brewing in Cleveland

Like many Great Lakes' beers, their Blackout Stout is a much-loved brew enjoyed all over the regionThis Russian Imperial Stout commemorates the infamous 2003 blackout that briefly left some 55 million people in the dark, literally.

Dad from Rhinegeist Brewery in Cincinnati

Rhinegeist's Over-the-Rhine brewery and taproom is one of my favorite places in Ohio, a giant, industrial building in an historic neighborhood. You can sip on beer in the taproom, play ping pong and cornhole, or discover the amazing rooftop bar. Dad is one of their many great offerings, a robust malt bill perfect for this time of year.

Celebrate and toast the season!

Fore more fall flavors and foodie fun this #FallinOhio, check out #OhioFindItHere at Ohio.org.