Top Ten Beers to Try This November

By Christopher Osburn

It’s time to move from the light beers into something darker and more complex. We can’t continue to drink Hefeweizen and Pale Ale as the days continue to grow cold and crisp. It’s time to break out the fall beer. This is Chilled Magazine’s list of ten beers to try this November.

1. Founders Harvest Ale (Michigan)

This 7.6% ABV American IPA is brewed by Founders Brewing Company in Michigan. It’s one of Founders’ fall offerings and definitely should not be missed if you still like to enjoy a beer in autumn with major hop character.

2. Sixpoint Autumnation (New York)

Sixpoint Brewing’s fall offering is also an American IPA. This one has a little less kick though at 6.7% ABV. The most interesting thing about this beer is that the hops featured in it are chosen by fans of the brewery.

3. Troegs Hop Knife Harvest ale (Pennsylvania)

This 6.2% ABV American IPA is made to pay tribute the countless farmers who have tirelessly hand-picked hops for use in beer. This is one of Troegs’ Hop Cycle seasonal series beers.

4. Southern Tier Harvest Ale (New York)

Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Harvest Ale is listed as an extra special/strong bitter (ESB) and carries a manageable 6.7% ABV. The malt, hops and sweetness work in unison to create a terrific fall beer.

5. Great Lakes Nosferatu (Ohio)

Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Nosferatu is named for the 1922 horror film starring Max Schreck as an extremely creepy interpretation of a vampire. This brew doesn’t have the bite of Dracula, but it does pack a potent 8% ABV.

6. AleSmith Evil Dead Red (California)

One of my favorite scary movies of all-time is Evil Dead, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a beer named in its honor. The spookiness doesn’t end there. The alcohol content is a devilish 6.66% ABV.

7. Rogue John John Ale (Oregon)

I would have added Dead Guy to the list, but the folks at Rogue have done one better. They aged Dead Guy Ale in Dead Guy Whiskey Barrels. The result is a 6.4% maibock that you’ll be extremely lucky to find.

8. Bell’s Best Brown (Michigan)

The second beer from Michigan, Bell’s Best Brown is on the lower end of alcohol content on this list at 5.8% ABV. What it lacks in alcohol kick, it makes up for in toasty, malty, sweet flavor.

9. Ommegang Scythe & Sickle (New York)

Cooperston’s Brewery Ommegang is always pushing the limits with their Belgian offerings. Scythe & Sickle is a 5.8% Biere de Garde and is the brewery’s first beer made to pay homage to the harvest season.

10. Sierra Nevada Flipside (California)

When you are a brewery that is mostly known for one style of beer, sometimes it’s hard to branch out. Luckily for Sierra Nevada, everything they make is spectacular. Their fall offering is a 6.2% red IPA that is full of hops and sweetness.