Weekly Beer Thoughts: The most wonderful time of the year

Fall is closing in fast. Put away those swim trunks and fish out those warm mittens and socks. This time of year not only brings on Michigan fall colors (the best), Halloween, football and the paralyzing fear of the coming winter season, but it also ushers in a new season of beers - Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest, or Marzen (German for March), is a top-fermenting lager typically displaying very clean and crisp malt flavors balanced with slight sweeteness and a very fleeting hop profile. The alcohol by volume range usually falls within the 5 to 7 percent range, and the beer is best served fresh poured into a giant liter mug and served with, oh, maybe half a dozen German sausages and sauerkraut.

(Disclaimer: That is not me in this picture. I don't think so at least)

Being the premier beer destination it is, the southeast Michigan area has plenty of Oktoberfest events coming up soon. Local beer writer David Bardallis does a wonderful job cataloguing the various beer events in and around Ann Arbor, and has done just that with the Oktoberfest season.

Cheers!