Photo by Kensie Wallner

It’s that time of year again…

Fall Ales

By Suzanne Redekopp  
Contributing Writer

The air turns crisper every day. Trees transform from their earthy green tones into vibrant collages of fire and the summer beer selection slowly disappears from the shelves - all signs pointing toward the inevitable: autumn is approaching. 

There comes a time in the fall months when summer beers graciously step aside and allow darker ales to steal the limelight. However, we’re at a very awkward time of year. Technically, fall doesn’t officially begin until Sept. 23, but fall ales are still becoming available. So what can we look forward to drinking in the upcoming frigid months? More specifically, where can we enjoy tasty beers? I’ve narrowed down my list to two of my favorite establishments that have a killer tap beer selection. Let’s be serious – unless you’re an avid bottle drinker, sipping beer that was poured directly from the tap tastes like Christmas.

Here are my two favorite tap beer selections based on the amount of beer available and the delicious food that goes along with it. In no particular order:

:: JL Beers – I’m sure you could’ve guessed that JL Beers would make the list. With over 30 beers on tap (along with homemade potato chips and freshly made burgers to go along with the beer), JL Beers has become quite popular ever since they opened a few years ago. If you’re unsure of what to try, ask for a sample or two.

:: Rhombus Guys – Rhombus Guys started as a simple smoothie business, but I’m sure all of the F-M area is glad they opened their current location by Babb’s Coffee House. Rhombus Guys offers a variety of beers on tap and an amazing amount of other liquors, just in case you’re not in a beer mood (can that happen?). Plus, their pizza is amazing. If you haven’t had the T-Rex pizza, drop whatever you’re doing right now, pick up the phone, and place an order. You’ll be glad you did.

Now that we know where we can enjoy a variety of tap beers, what should we drink? With JL Beers offering over 30 beers on tap, the process of choosing your ideal beer can get quite confusing. I guess it depends on what you’re in the mood for.  If you’re going for dark ale, I’d recommend the Breckinridge.

The spicy vanilla and chocolate flavors of the Vanilla Porter taste divine, especially as we get more into fall. I’m pretty sure it’s available at both JL Beers and Rhombus Guys, but the latter for sure. A great India Pale Ale (IPA) is the Sweetgrass IPA. I’m not the biggest IPA fan, but the Sweetgrass IPA is void of any overly bitter or harsh, hoppy flavors. It’s not exactly a “fall beer,” but it still tastes great in the colder months if you want something lighter and more refreshing. Try it if you dare.

Just in case you’re not in the downtown area, I should mention a great beer that is available on tap at many restaurants. By looking at the rich amber color of Sam Adam’s Octoberfest, right away you know that autumn has arrived and you should say, “Yes, this is what I should be drinking.” The blend of toffee and vanilla flavors hits the spot after months of fruit-flavored and light summer beers. If it isn’t available on tap, it can most likely be found in the bottle form.

There are a lot of wonderful beers that I didn’t have the article space to mention and many restaurants that have a pretty good tap beer selection. You can catch a wide variety of beers coming up at the Fargo Beer Festival. There will be 60 beers to sample from, and for the small entry fee you also get authentic German food and live music to boot! For more info and to buy tickets, visit http://fargobeerfestival.com/

I thought I’d throw a few names out to get you in the fall mood.  In the words of Ben Franklin, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

Questions and comments: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)