Fresh Fall Beer Sightings 2025

They had just closed when I moved to Philly, and re-opened under Carroll just before I left. Also sad that I never went to Vetri. Ate at 3 of his other restaurants, but never at Vetri, which was in the original Le Bec Fin space.

 

First two I have seen this year. Not sure I'll be paying those prices, especially not $16 for Left Hand.

 

Scheisse...that means Christmas is coming.

 

I always wondered why Spaten Okto is only available in either 6 pack or case format. I wish it were available in 12 packs just like HP/Paulaner. Saw it around last season after not seeing it for about 2 years, but the pricing on it made me choose other options.

 

Oh, hell nah!

 

Well, the six-pack is a division of the case, so it's really only available in cases.

However, it wasn't always that way. Maybe 20 years back (?) it was available in 12-packs -- just like the Helles and Franziskaner.

That said, I haven't seen either of those in the 12-pack format lately either. Anyone else?

@grantcty ?

I also miss the .5 liter bottles Spaten used to market; Helles, Franzi, Okto -- even Pils when they made it.

You'll note Optimator conspicuous by its absence in my reminiscence. I don't remember that in any other format than six-pack/cases.

And yes, I'm talking more take-home retail, not draft availability -- of which I've seen all, but the Pilsner.

I've also purposely left out the Maibock because its availability over here was so fleeting. Six-pack bottles at one point, then draft exclusively a little later. But now gone.

 

I was just noticing that the average cost per 12-pack of craft beer around me is right at $16.

I might be switching (back) to Irish Whiskey.

 

Stopped by another Binnys earlier today which had a small stack of this year's Spaten (4-5 cases). An employee mentioned their distributor is Lakeside. Apparently, last year they tried to deliver the previous year's stock and they refused it (good on them). Sketchy distributor practices. Who'd a thunk it.

 

Clawhammer is usually one of the first U.S breweries I see. My first buy a lot of times too. Maybe Victory Brewing.

 

Wow, the Left Hand price seems crazy ('Outrageous', even!). Looked at the Binny's site and they list it for 12.99. Might be distributor and/or retailer shenanigans there?

Sorry, meant Lakeshore, not Lakeside @steveh . Brain cramp there.

 

The last 12 packs of Franziskaner I saw were about a yearish ago. Haven't seen them since.

Last week, I was at a Woodman's that consistently carried the Helles/Original. They were out and I asked a distributor employee (who was stocking 12 packs of Beck's) whether or not they would be getting more 12 packs in. He told me that they would be.

The product search feature for the Woodman's is pretty reliable, and currently, doesn't show 12 packs as being an option/available. I'll be checking to see if that changes and more 12 packs do come in.

It would be a shame if the Original/helles 12 packs were no longer available.

Regarding Optimator--it was available in half-liter bottles in Wisconsin many years ago. I used to purchase quite a few bottles of it

 

I must have missed them, only ever bought six-packs.

 

Lakeshore is a good sign because they have the wider footprint than Glunz -- and supply my Binny's.

I think it was last year that my Binny's got a huge stack of Spaten Okto that was BB September! Thing is, it sold out quickly and was restocked with the usual April batch. I guess Lakeshore bought as much as possible from the importer because they had none the year before.

 

Sierra Nevada just tapped their Oktoberfest and it’s delicious and $5 a pint.

 

I was in New Ulm, MN yesterday, and the liquor store had Schell's Oktoberfest in stock.
Too damn early for it if you ask me.

 

Sam's Club has the new Sam Adams fall variety pack, called Fall Legends. It has 12 cans of Octoberfest, 8 of Jack-O, and 4 of a new beer called "Harvest Helles." I will probably pass on this one because I don't love Jack-O and 8 cans of it is a lot to drink.

According to this post - Instagram - the 12 pack version also has Flannel Fest.

 

Should have asked before, but which Binny's was this? I ask because a few years ago I saw the previous season's HB Maibock (presented as new stock) at one location and pointed it out to their beer section manager -- and got the "Wadda ya gonna do?" shrug.

Never went back to that one.

 

VH

 

Really? Good to know. That's second closest to me.

Not sure who the beer manager is there, but I'll mention it to the manager at Gurnee and be sure kudos are passed on.

 

In my area, last summer, there were 12 packs of Franziskaner available as well as the helles. I've seen Optimator 6 packs pop up after not seeing them for 2+ years. Years ago, the Optimator was available in 12 packs, but that was a long time ago and can't remember last time I saw them. Never even knew Spaten made a maibock!