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I love this time of year - the summer heat is starting to fade, and it's time for a new season.  No, not football - the fall beer season.  Octoberfest beers are starting to hit the shelves, and this is definitely my favorite time for beers.  Tonight we grabbed some of what I think is one of the best beers that Sam Adams makes.  Their Octoberfest is very full-flavored with a beautiful golden red hue.

A delicious malty taste is what first hits with a very smooth after taste.  This is a great session beer.  I give it an A-.  This is definitely my favorite octoberfest beer that is made by a big producer - definitely worth picking up.

Aroma: Very mild earthy aroma.

Appearance:  Golden amber with a light head.

Flavor: Tastes like a lager - great amber ale.

Body: Full Flavored but still not too heavy.

Happy Octoberfest everybody!

Two Brothers Brewing Co. make a variety of beers that can commonly be spotted around Studio 265. I'm a fan of almost everything they make, if only because they are unlike most other beers. They, as the bottle tells me, "specialize is rare and seldom-brewed beer styles". We've had several other beers featured on the podcast, including Ebel Weiss and La Resistance.

This time around, we look at an Oktoberfest beer. Their fall seasonal is called Atom Smasher (likely due to their proximity to a real one). Octoberfest style beers are my favorite seasonals, so I get pretty excited this time of year when I get to combine my favorite beer with football. Atom Smasher stands with the best of the Oktoberfest style Lagers that i've had. It has a traditional red-orange color and not too aromatic. The flavor and the finish are superb, and for a full flavored beer, it really is not that filling at all.

This beer, like most of it's style, is great as a session beer, Pick up a six pack and enjoy the whole thing during an afternoon of games. You will definitely be drinking the finest beer at the party.

The beer, the myth, the legend, the 10,000th batch that Bell's has made.  Bell's has made milestone batches before, but this is apparently the last one they will be doing.  If they're going out - they sure did it in style.  It wasn't easy getting my hands on this beer.  Two six-packs made it all the way back to the burbs from the brewery in Kalamazoo, MI.

This strong american ale has a very bold malty taste to begin.  The finish is quite smooth for such a strong beer, and has a hint of hops.  The beer pours nearly black in the glass, with a creamy but light head.  Overall, I'd give this beer an A-.  Excellent all around for its style, and several bonus points for the fact that I'll never get to buy it again.

Aroma:  Nutty, almost chocolaty but not a strong aroma.

Appearance:  Dark brown - almost black with a light creamy head.

Flavor:  Malty to start, smooth to finish.

Body: Heavy and full flavored.

Cheers to the 10,000th batch made at Bell's.  Now make me some Hopslam!!

Somersault is New Belgium's featured summer seasonal. Somersault is an american blonde that has a hint of a citrus aroma.  This is a light but flavorful beer that's pretty good for a hot day spent outside.  These would go down very well at the pool, or outside playing bags all day long.

It's got a nice golden color and and a light but flavorful taste.  With a light wheat flavor as it goes down, this beer isn't as strong as I usually like - but then again I'm a hop fiend.  I give this beer a solid B, it's a good session beer, and I'll grab a twelve pack if I'm going to the beach.  I prefer this to most of the common summer beers, if only because it's a nice change of pace.

Aroma: Slightly citrus

Appearance:  Golden blonde with light head

Flavor: Wheaty with citrus hints, very smooth

Body: Very light

This beer, like most, goes down easier on each successive glass.