6 Non-pumpkin Michigan Faall Beers You Must Try

Upper Hand Brewing has their seasonal Deer Camp on shelves now. A nod to the classic Michigan tradition of opening day for deer season, it’s an easy-drinking ale.

Cheboygan Brewing- A new offering from Cheboygan Brewing is their Oatmeal Cookie Stout.

6 non-pumpkin Michigan fall beers you must try

Amy Sherman MiBrewTrail

It’s fall y’all, and that means it’s time to switch up what’s in your glass. Every season brings new brews to try, and old seasonal favorites to revisit. As the weather turns chilly, and the days grow shorter, we tend to move to darker, more robust beers that can warm us up from the inside out and keep our taste buds happy. Here are seven beers to quaff this autumn season, from classic offerings from well-established breweries to seasonal favorites that only come around once a year, and brand-new offerings to try for the first time. And not that there is anything wrong with a well-made pumpkin beer, but these are not that. Happy drinking Michigan. Short’s Brewing Company Super Delicious Stout is a new, lovely alternative to thick and sticky barrel aged bombs. It is a light option when you are craving those roasty, coffee and chocolate notes, but don’t want all the alcohol that those BA beers offer. Super Delicious comes in at a very mellow 4.4% ABV, which I would consider a session stout, and that means you can enjoy more than one. The other thing I love about this beer is that it’s a nitro stout, so pour it in your pint glass to enjoy that super creamy foam that is the trademark of this style. I’m also planning to keep this on hand throughout the season to add a kick of Short’s flavor to some of my favorite dishes. Add a can to your chili, braise some short ribs in it, or add to French onion soup, you’ll be amazed at the depth of flavor a beer like this can add to your cooking. Balanced with just the right amount of hops, this full flavored, but easy drinking stout is quintessential autumn drinking. Keep on the lookout for two new variety packs from

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Short’s Brewing- Super Delicious Stout is a new, lower ABV nitro stout from Short’s Brewing Company.

Short’s, a super hoppy holiday pack out in October, and the ‘tried and true’ pack which will arrive in November. A new offering from Cheboygan Brewing Company is their Oatmeal Cookie Stout, which is going to be available in limited release throughout the state in cans and on draft. The brewery describes this beer “as just like your grandma used to make”, which we can totally get behind. The generous use of malt gives the beer both its deep color and rich body. The addition of flaked oats rounds out the mouthfeel. This beer is a touch sweet, but not cloying. I love the idea having a pint of this stout in the afternoon, and remembering when life was simpler, and all you had to worry about was finishing your after-school snack of cookies and doing your homework. Take me back for just a minute, Cheboygan. A very seasonal, and very Michigan beer is Deer Camp from Upper Hand Brewing. A sister brewery to Bell’s, Upper Hand is Larry Bell’s love letter to the Upper Peninsula, served up in liquid form. Upper Hand opened in Escanaba in 2013, and at first their beer was only available above the Mighty Mac. That changed this year, and you will now find Upper Hand throughout the state. Deer Camp is described “as crisp as opening day” and is a nod to this classic Michigan fall tradition enjoyed by so many. I’ve found it to be very nice, light drinking with its low 15 IBUs, and it’s easy to imagine enjoying one around the fire after a long day in the woods. Also, be on the lookout for the new beer release from these guys with the same camp theme, Red Buck IPA. My favorite beer from Founders is their traditional, yet exceptional, porter. I tend to drink seasonally, and I save this beer to be enjoyed only once the leaves have started to turn, and that first autumn chill hits our shores. I’m always excited to crack my first one open, my mouth starts watering just thinking about this excellent rendition of such a classic style. Billed as “dark, rich, and sexy” it lives up to its hype. The porter pours a deep, dark, opaque black, with just a touch of a creamy head. Big notes of chocolate, and lots of caramelly malt contrast so nicely with the robust use of hops. No adjuncts, no extracts, no gimmicks. Another great beer to cook with, the porter will be put to use this season in dishes like milk and beer braised pork, used to enhance a chocolate layer cake, and poured into frijoles borrachos. Lucky for you it is available year-round. Another beer you can grab anytime, but one that in my mind is especially suited to fall, is La Roja from Jolly Pumpkin. The brewery

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