Fresh Fall Beer Sightings 2025

Up to 103° now.

Fortunately, been to 3 different locations over the past few days -- no Fall seasonals to skew my perspective.

 

Anytime I see a seasonal show up way early Im always skeptical if its new or from last year. Especially since New England never gets the stuff early and before everyone else.

 

Nothing yet other than last year's Octoberfest at my local Total Wine.

 

To all, but especially to those who remember the “is dogfish still relevant” thread…

Looks like the two selected DFH zombie beers have been revived and here is their packaging. They are in the fall variety pack along with punkin ale and 60 min…



I had Chicory Stout on tap there last November for the first time in ages and it was a real treat. Guessing distribution will follow soon but it’s currently available at brewery, the variety pack.

 

I'll likely be purchasing that. It'll need to fight for room in my fridge with the Oktoberfest onslaught beginning soon...

 

Picked up a 4 pack of Maplewoods Fest and also Paulaners FestBier today.... already seeing some Warlock and pumpkin out

 

Happy to report that I breezed through my local grocery's (large) liquor section this morning and saw no Fall releases.

 

Saw the makings of an Oktoberfest table display at a local Binny's. Spaten Oktoberfest Ur-Märzen sixers, Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier various formats, Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier 4 pks appeared to be the early imports there. I think all of these had April 2026 best buy dates on quick inspection.

 

Interesting. The beer guy at my local Binny's said the distro told him he wasn't sure he'd see Spaten this year.

Is your Binny's supplied by Lakeshore or Glunz*? (If you even know, I understand I have more minutiae insight into Spaten than most. )

*And yeah, there are two distros in northeast Illinois that handle Spaten. That's minutiae I haven't uncovered yet.

 

Good question. Not certain. Will see if I can find out next time I'm there. I see a few stores having 'Limited Availability' of the beer on the Binny's website. Not 100% guaranteed but I'm likely thinking these stores might have some but certainly worth calling first.

 

I've become skeptical of the Binny's website because it has often disappointed me.

I also see something like those limited availability listings and have to wonder if it isn't old stock. Who knows?

 

Capone’s, an OG bar/restaurant and bottle shop in the Philly suburbs, which has showed up many times in BA posts.
Matt's July 17 mailing lists Founders, Spaten and Ayinger O-Fests in stock.
SMH cause last year seemed especially "creepie", but this might be a new Land Speed Record.
TBH I am on the QT for Great Lakes Octoberfest. Last year's was a sight to behold. Almost missed out but did manage to snag some at the 11th hour.
Looking forward to this batch.
But geez, it's not even August...

 

A variety pack that offers real variety?

 

That’s a shame, I don’t enjoy the punkin. For what I guess will be $22 or more a 12 pack it’s tough to pay that for 9 beers I want. Maybe the TW will have this at sub $20

Enjoy

 

Give the Punkin to someone that likes them. Where else are you going to get the raisin d'etra and chickory stout?

 

That’s true, Chicory was in my rotation way back. I did attend a launch event for a friend at the place above Le Bec Fin. My friend got free beer for the event from DFH and I remember chicory and Punkin were two of the beers. We were mixing them together and got quite hammered. Might need to try that combo again.

Enjoy

 

Didnt know people hated DFH Punkin. Of all the mass produced pumpkin beers I'd say its one of the better ones. The fact that its more unique and is a brown ale is why I like it.

 

Pumpkin and stout are a great combo! I wish that pumpkin stouts were that weren't sickeningly sweet were more prevalent.

Is Le Bec Fin still around? I know Jen Carroll resurrected it, but it wasn't the same. When I lived in the midwest, their crab cake recipe was considered the way to go for fine dining restaurants, which really upset my Chesapeake Bay upbringing. The technique is solid for fish cakes, though.

 

No, closed quite a bit back. Not sure what that space is today or what Georges is doing now. I was getting the place I worked in ready to open and he opened the pocket doors and walked in saying “I am Georges Perrier”. I sat him with his guest, served them coffee and he left me $20. I was happy. I also picked up our pastries from Le Bec every day and got to try them out each day. They were quite nice.

Never ate at Le Bec, was inside though.

Those were fun times.

Enjoy