Hey Chicago beer fans!
It’s that time of year when Chicago’s breweries release their fall brews on tap around the city, and these aren’t the mass-market pumpkin spice beers you see everywhere else.
Most of these beers started showing up in mid-September, and they’ll disappear by early November. So, if you want to see what Chicago’s craft beer scene has been up to, now’s the time to try them.
We’re the Ben Lalez Team, and while we’re helping people buy and sell homes all around Chicago, we still love to make time to grab a good beer to wind down. We hope you enjoy this list as much as we do!
Revolution Brewing – Oktoberfest
Revolution has been making their Oktoberfest for years, and it keeps landing on local best-of lists. They use German ingredients and take the time to lager it properly, and the result is a beer that actually tastes like what Oktoberfest should taste like.
You get smooth, toasty flavors with that bread-like malt character that classic German lager taste. There’s a hop bite at the finish that balances the malty sweetness without overwhelming it. At 5.7% ABV, you can drink several without feeling like you need a nap afterward.
It’s easy to find because it’s all over Chicagoland. Their own taprooms and brewpubs have it on draft, and most stores are carrying the 12 oz cans.
If you prefer bigger beers, Revolution also starts releasing its Deep Wood series around this time. Those are their barrel-aged stouts and barleywines that are higher in alcohol and intensity. They’ve got a 15th Anniversary ale coming in October that’s part of that lineup.
Revolution wins awards for this Oktoberfest because they don’t try to reinvent it or add weird ingredients that don’t belong. Sometimes the traditional way works because it works.
Half Acre Beer Co. – LagerTown Oktoberfest
Half Acre threw their annual LagerTown party on September 13th with stein-holding contests, live music, and authentic German food. The beer that started this tradition is LagerTown, and it’s their version of a Märzen-style lager.
Half Acre describes the flavors as fresh-baked bread, honey, caramel, raisin, and nuts. When you drink it, that’s what you taste. It’s full-bodied and malty like good Oktoberfest should be, and it’s not too heavy on the stomach.
LagerTown hit the market in mid-September, so it’s fresh right now. Half Acre’s taprooms have it on draft, and they’re also putting it in cans for distribution around Chicago.
Spiteful Brewing – Jackass O’Lantern
(Photo credit to Jaclyn Rivas)
It’s true that pumpkin beers have a bad reputation because most of them taste like artificial pie filling mixed with cheap spices, but Spiteful’s Jackass O’Lantern actually uses real ingredients, which is apparently harder than it should be.
They roast whole sugar pumpkins before brewing, so you get real pumpkin flavor instead of extract or artificial flavoring. The spice blend includes cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla, but they use them like seasoning instead of just dumping them in.
At 6.66% ABV, Jackass O’Lantern has enough strength to warm you up when the temperature drops. The name and the devil’s alcohol content show that Spiteful has a sense of humor about seasonal beer marketing.
Jackass O’Lantern typically shows up in late September or early October and disappears fast. You can find it on draft at Spiteful’s North Center taproom and in cans at specialty beer stores around the city. People specifically seek this out for Halloween parties, which explains why it goes so quickly.
If you usually skip pumpkin beers because they’re too sweet or artificial tasting, try this one.
Dovetail Brewery – Festweizen & Festbier
Dovetail in Ravenswood releases two different fall beers instead of just doing the standard Oktoberfest lager that everyone else makes. Both are worth trying if you want something beyond the typical seasonal offerings.
Their Festweizen is what they call their “Oktober-Hefe,” which is Oktoberfest reimagined as a wheat beer. It’s darker than their regular Hefeweizen, with caramel and banana bread crust flavors plus the clove and banana notes that make wheat beers distinctive. It’s like a pumpkin spice latte in beer form, but there’s no pumpkin, and it actually tastes good.
Their Festbier is a more traditional strong Oktoberfest lager at 6.7% ABV. They brew this in early spring and lager it for months, so by fall it’s incredibly smooth. It sits somewhere between a classic amber Märzen and the paler festbiers you’d find in Munich today. This is their “party lager” for their October block party.
Festweizen is available now on draft and in cans at Dovetail’s taproom. You might spot it at some retailers as stores stock up on fall releases. Festbier comes out in early October, timed with their festival. It’ll probably be draft-only at the brewery party and a few select places around town because they can’t make enough to package widely. Lagering ties up tank space for months.
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery – Brownie Points
For the select few who want a fall beer that tastes like dessert, you’ll want to check out Maplewood’s Brownie Points
This brown ale is brewed with vanilla beans and tastes like chocolate brownies and toffee bars. Maplewood calls it “malty chocolate and toffee flavors” with a creamy body from flaked oats. There is some vanilla that adds a nice smooth finish, and the beer comes in at 5.7% ABV.
Wine Enthusiast gave Brownie Points a 93-point rating, which is impressive for any beer, especially a seasonal release from a local brewery. It shows up in fall and winter months, so watch for it on tap at the Maplewood Lounge and in 16 oz four-packs at Chicago stores.
Brownie Points has developed a following over the years. You’ll see bars posting “New Tap Alert: Maplewood Brownie Points” when they get it, which tells you something about how people react when it shows up.
Bonus: Off Color Brewing – Waddle Offtoberfest Lager
Off Color makes unusual beers throughout the year, so calling their Oktoberfest “Waddle” and their celebration “Offtoberfest” fits their personality.
The beer itself is a traditional Märzen and has warm toasted malts that taste like fresh bread from a good bakery. There’s biscuity malt sweetness balanced by spicy German Hersbrucker hops. At 6.5% ABV, it’s stronger than some festbiers, which gives it fuller flavor that works as temperatures drop.
Off Color’s head brewer originally created Waddle for his own wedding, and it was such a hit that it became their annual fall lager. It’s released in the early fall, and you can find it at their Mousetrap taproom in Lincoln Park, usually with Oktoberfest events and stein specials. They also package it in 16 oz four-packs at select retailers around the city.
Since Off Color is smaller, their distribution stays mostly local. TimeOut Chicago listed Waddle among the best fall beers in the city. When you see it, grab it because it’s limited and disappears after October.
Finding These Beers
All of these breweries have their beers available at their own taprooms. Most can also be found at local stores and bars, but availability will vary.
Revolution and Half Acre have the widest distribution since they’re bigger brewhouses, so you can find their beers at most liquor stores and many bars around the city. Spiteful, Dovetail, Maplewood, and Off Color have more limited distribution, so you might need to find them at specialty beer stores or the breweries themselves.
Remember that breweries start transitioning to winter releases in early November, and once these fall beers are gone, you’re waiting until next year. Some breweries don’t make the same seasonal beers every year, so if something sounds interesting, try it now rather than waiting for it to come back next year.
What Are You Waiting For?
We all know fall in Chicago is short because winter is just around the corner, and we can’t think of a better time to enjoy the autumn than with a seasonal local beer.
Whether you stick with traditional Oktoberfest styles or try something a little bit different, you’re supporting local businesses that put a lot of effort into their craft.
And if you’re thinking about making a move in the city, give us a shout! We’d love to help you find the perfect spot, maybe even one within walking distance of your new favorite brewery.
