BEER

Best fall beers to try at breweries around Phoenix

Kellie Hwang
The Republic | azcentral.com
SunUp Brewing Co. is featuring this Oktoberfest beer, which is a German lager.

As autumn approaches, what you eat and drink will change based on what's in season.

Like chefs, brewers are getting away from light, crisp and fruity tastes, and moving toward fragrant spices and robust flavors. And, of course, some are utilizing fall's most ubiquitous ingredient: pumpkin.

Here are some of the best fall season beers you can get now or in coming weeks.

(Note: ABV stands for alcohol by volume; IBU for international bittering units.)

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Pumpkin Porter 

Most people are likely familiar with this popular seasonal from Four Peaks Brewing Company, which hit pubs on Sept. 1 and is now available in six-pack cans in stores across the state. The tasty brew mimics the flavor of pumpkin pie with just the right amount of sweetness. In late October, the brewery will introduce the Double Pumpkin Porter.

ABV: 5 percent.

Details: Four Peaks Brewing Company, locations in Tempe and Scottsdale. fourpeaks.com.

Rice Pudding Porter 

Huss Brewing's Rice Pudding Porter is brewed with a blend of fall spices, including cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and vanilla.

ABV: 5 percent. IBU: 18.

Details: Huss Brewing Company, 1520 W. Mineral Road, Tempe. 480-264-7611, hussbrewing.com.

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Sage Thyme English Pale Ale

This herb-forward pale ale will come out at The Perch in early October. Fresh sage and thyme are added late in the boil, adding flavors and a scent that is reminiscent of Thanksgiving. The herbs blend together nicely with the English Golden Promise malt and East Kent Golding and Fuggles hops for a well-balanced brew.

ABV: 5.7 percent. IBU: 22.

Details: The Perch Brewery, 232 S. Wall St., Chandler. 480-773-7688, perchpubbrewery.com.

Fall Maple Ale

The brewers at Dubina utilized real maple syrup while crafting this tasty Scottish-style ale, balancing the malty flavor with the sweet, rich maple.

ABV: 9.5 percent.

Details: Dubina Brewing Company, 17035 N. 67th Ave., Glendale. 623-412-7770, dubinabrewing.squarespace.com.

Fall Fest Marzen 

Marzen is a style of lager that originated in Bavaria, Germany. Mother Bunch's version is amber-colored and has been aged all summer, producing a medium-bodied beer with a malt-forward flavor.

ABV: 6.6 percent. IBU: 24.

Details: Mother Bunch Brewing, 825 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-368-3580, motherbunchbrew.com.

Oktoberfest Lager

The brewers at SanTan created the Oktoberfest Lager in the Southwestern style, which is a malty beer with caramel and spice aromas. The lager is brewed with a variety of malts, including Vienna and Munich, and CTZ hops with a crimson brown hue. The lager debuted in 2008 and this year features a new can. It will be available through October.

Details: SanTan Brewing Company,  8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler. 480-917-8700, santanbrewing.com.

Candy Bar Milk Stout  

This decadent beer comes out in October, and features McFate's milk stout, brewed with cacao nibs, vanilla bean, roasted peanuts and sea salt. It's so delicious it earned a silver medal at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival.

ABV: 6 percent. IBU: 25.

Details: McFate Brewing Company, 7337 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, 480-994-1275. And, 1312 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480-656-9100. mcfatebrewing.com.

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German Marzen and Litchfield Hollow Pumpkin Ale 

This West Valley brewery will release a traditional German Marzen on Oct. 1 during its Oktoberfest event. In late October, head back to the brewery for the Litchfield Pumpkin Ale, brewed with real pumpkin, cinnamon, allspice and ginger.

ABV: 5-5.5 percent (both beers). IBU: 10-15 (both).

Details: Peoria Artisan Brewery, 10144 N. Lake Pleasant Parkway. 623-572-2816, peoriaartisanbrewing.com.

Oktoberfest and Hoppy Pumpkin  

SunUp introduces two fall beers for the season. Oktoberfest, a traditional German lager made with German malt, hops and yeast, comes out Sept. 16. The Hoppy Pumpkin, an ale created from real pumpkin that will come out in early October.

ABV: 7 percent for Hoppy Pumpkin, 4.5 percent for Oktoberfest.

Details: SunUp Brewing Co., 322 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-279-8909, sunup.beer.

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