Philadelphia Beer Club

In 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria threw a party to commemorate his marriage and thus the first Oktoberfest was born. Decades later in 1872 the Spaten brewery adapted the popular Vienna lager and developed the first Oktoberfest beer, deeming the style Märzen (March) after the month in which it was brewed (though it wasn’t tapped until fall). But while Spaten may have founded the Märzen, Paulaner has perfected it: Malts and sweet toffee dominate but prominent hops round out the flavor resulting in a complex, satisfying brew with an essence of Heath Bar. Plus, you can’t beat the label, depicting a row of burly German women merrily hoisting beer steins in celebration of fall.

5.8% ABV

This dark amber wheat beer features fruity and spicy aromas galore. Significant strength underlies the pleasant citric appeal of this bock beer. Redolent with the flavors of harvest fruit, Moonglow typifies the traditional weizenbock-style so thoroughly enjoyed throughout Bavaria. Left unfiltered, its unique yeast strain gives Moonglow a radiance all its own.

8.7% ABV

As the leaves line the trees with colors bright, the Autumnal Amber Ramble comes into sight! Roxy Rolles pours in her wake foliage fallen and a perfect pairing of malt and hops.

5.1% ABV

Boasting superior taste and champion flavor, the Brawler is crafted in the style of English session ales. This malt-forward, ruby colored ale is great for when you want to go a few rounds.

4.2 ABV

Designed as our session beer, Rugged Trail Nut Brown Ale is bronze in color with a velvety smooth taste and subtle chocolate note. Rugged Trail’s lower alcohol content and subtle hoppiness make it the perfect beer to enjoy during the day and into the night.

4.4% ABV

A unique amber ale handcrafted with the flavors of fall, including vine-ripened pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg and allspice.

This amber-colored, naturally flavored ale is brewed only in autumn and combines the flavor of vine-ripened pumpkin and spices with traditional crystal malt.

5.6% ABV

Dead Reckoning is unfiltered and weighs in at 5.8% abv and 53 IBU’s. It features Pilsner, Caramel, Chocolate and Roasted malts along with Chinook and Vanguard hops. “The outstanding taste and flavor of Dead Reckoning originates in the chocolate and roasted malts,” says John Trogner. “There is a nice hoppiness in the front of the beer, followed with a rich, smooth cocoa mouth feel.”

5.8% ABV

From Dogfish Head’s website,

A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices. This is the perfect beer to warm-up with, as the season cools.

Punkin Ale is named after a locally-famous and seriously off-centered event here in southern Delaware - Punkin Chunkin (check out some of these Discovery Channel videos of Punkin Chunkin, you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made it’s debut as it claimed First Prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Conest - yes, that was a full 6 months before we even opened our doors for business. Punkin Chunkin has grown in size and scale with pumpkins now being hurled more than 4,000 feet through the air! If you come down to see if for yourself - come by and visit us.

Since then, we’ve brewed Punkin Ale each and every fall. It is released right around September first each year. When you find it, grab some extra because it’s usually gone by Thanksgiving.

7% ABV

Blended with barley malt, pumpkins became a commonly used beer ingredient. Post Road Pumpkin Ale brings back this tasty tradition. Hundreds of pounds of pumpkins are blended into the mash of each batch, creating a beer with a orange amber color, warm pumpkin aroma, biscuity malt center, and a crisp finish.

5% ABV

Brewed from the finest German malt and hops, Brooklyn Oktoberfest is true to the original style, full-bodied and malty, with a bready aroma and light, brisk hop bitterness.

5.5 ABV

Saranac Octoberfest is a med-bodied, copper colored lager. It’s rich, malty taste is subtly balanced by Saaz and Tettnang hops. The beer is aged slowly in the tradition of the Octoberfest beers of Munich.

5.4% ABV

As the fall days grow shorter, beer drinkers naturally start their migration toward more robust, full-bodied brews. Late Harvest is an easy-drinking, yet flavorful brew that features a deep chestnut color and unique, roasted malt aroma and flavor. Late Harvest’s rich flavor is the result of using four different malts, yet the robust profile remains balanced and sophisticated, thanks to our two distinctive hop additions.

Late Harvest pairs nicely with grilled burgers or any tailgate cuisine.
Available August through October.

5.9% ABV

Kellerweis is one of the only American Hefeweizens made using the traditional Bavarian style of open fermentation. This difficult and labor-intensive technique adds uncommon depth and flavor complexity. Our hazy-golden hefeweizen is deeply flavorful, refreshing and perfect for a sunny day. To serve, pour two-thirds into a glass, swirl and pour the rest.

4.8% ABV

From the Sam Adams website,

The blackberries we use in Samuel Adams® Blackberry Witbier are perfect for this brew. They deliver a subtle sweetness that balances the traditional citrus flavors from the witbier. The blackberries used in Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier are sourced from family farms, located at the foot of the Oregon Trail and Cascade Mountains in Western Oregon, where they have been growing some of the best blackberries in the world for centuries. By bringing the blackberries, orange and coriander together with an appealing malt character and a spiciness from the hops, we’ve brewed a flavorful beer with a smooth finish that’s both sweet and tart.

5.5% ABV

From Petes Wicked website (ha),


Pete’s Wicked Ale is an experience out of the ordinary. Our tantalizing ruby-brown ale with distinctive malts and aromatic Brewers Gold hops is sure to stir up an urge to get loose.

5.3% ABV

Japanese style beer brewed in America (Anheuser Busch).

With his gold label and Special Premium Reserve appellation, Ichiban outclasses and outperforms.

In 1990, Ichiban’s debut made a splash in the world of super premium beers. The luxurious single wort (or first press) process yields a unique, complex flavor. With his gold label and “Special Premium Reserve” appellation, Ichiban outclasses and outperforms. But don’t be fooled by a snooty attitude — this is a great beer that goes with anything.

What makes Ichiban great

Prominent wort. Finest barley malt, premium hops, smooth finish, no bitter aftertaste.

4.95 ABV

The pride of Mexico’s dark ales, Negra Modelo is characterized by its smooth texture and full-bodied flavor. Negra Modelo is a perfect example, one of a few remaining examples of an original Vienna lager. The unique flavor of Negra Modelo has led to its being considered as Mexico’s “micro brew.” Negra Modelo is brewed with levels of carbonation that are higher than lagers, resulting in a rich foam and strong effervescence, but does not have the heaviness and harsh, bitter bite normally associated with dark beers. Its unique flavor makes Negra Modelo a real discovery for consumers.

5.4% ABV

Grolsch has a distinctive, full bodied and crisp taste that has been developed through almost four centuries of crafted brewing tradition.

Grolsch owes its superb quality to the selection of the finest natural ingredients, the traditional bottom fermentation brewing process and the unique stain of yeast.

Peter Cuyper’s significant discovery of the two hop types in the mid 1600s has been recognized by incorporating them into the Grolsch Brewery logo that is still in use today. This design has been inspirational as a symbol of the distinctive taste of Grolsch, which will be brought to mind wherever you see this logo.

PS: Props to whoever designed the Grolsch bottle with that script style hand writing.

5% ABV

From Victory’s website,>

We celebrate the pioneering spirit of old Horace ‘Hop’ Wallop and those who dare mighty adventurous things in this vivid, robust ale. As our annual homage to the hop harvest, expect loads of aromatic splendor and bitter beauty.

8.5% ABV

As in Intercourse, Pennsylvania. For those of you that have never heard of Intercourse, it’s a small town out in Lancaster County, PA.

Lancaster is of course the famous home to the Pennsylvania Dutch (who are from Germany mind you), many of whom are Amish. If you read the linked wikipedia entry, you’ll also note that Intercourse is located in Leacock township.

Now let’s get this straight, the Amish, also know as Amish Mennonites, or simply Mennonites, have a clustering of followers in Intercourse, part of Leacock. Men…intercourse…c*ck…If that isn’t some pun-laden joke waiting to happen, I don’t know what is. Except, I think there is so much potential, it’d be hard to pull it off just right. That’s why I’m not even going to try.

Instead, take a look at the label to Intercourse Brewing Co’s Paradise Pale Ale. Intercourse Brewing…you can’t say the Amish don’t have a sense of humor.

And then a silo, with two bushes, what does that look like to you? And a barn with the doors open? Sounds like intercourse is brewing alright..

5% ABV

Harpoon Summer Beer is a Kolsch style ale. Originating in the Rhineland city of Cologne (Koln), Kolsch ales have the characteristics that many people associate with lager beers. Kolsch is brewed with an ale yeast, but like other northern German light ales, it is straw gold in color and light bodied. The flavor is mild. The hopping levels provide a crisp, dry finish that make this beer particulary refreshing.

5% ABV

Traditional Bavarian dark unfiltered, keg-conditioned wheat ale.

5.3 ABV

Here we have another interesting beer from the fine folk at Dogfish Head in Milton, Delaware. Raison D’Etre is brewed with Belgian beet sugars and green raisins and is sure to be a unique experience. As the bottle says, this beer pours a deep mahogany color that is very opaque, with red tones shining through as you bring it to the light. Producing about 1/2 inch of very light tan head that settles very quickly. The aroma is intriguing, prune and raisin scents are nicely rounded off with gentle roasted malts and a slight smell of alcohol. The flavor of this beer is very different. Tastes of raisins or plums and a very strange sweet flavor surely influence by the beet sugar used in this brew, a bit of malt seems to round off the flavor but it is rather difficult to place the flavors in this ale. Though this beer is 8% ABV the alcohol is rather mute, particularly when distracted with all of the very interesting flavors in this beer. As with many complex ales, more flavors are noticeable when served cool, but I find this beer more drinkable cold. The mouthfeel of this beer is a bit sticky but it is reasonably drinkable and the body isn’t too heavy. Though the flavors of this beer are very unique it goes down quite smoothly but likely will not be drunk very quickly. Certainly not the beer for everyone but if you are looking for something different and don’t oppose fruit flavors you may enjoy this brew. Give it a shot and ride your bike.

8% ABV

Pours a nice dirty blonde color, nontranslucent with no carbonation activty present after pour. Decent two to one finger head with a nice cling to the glass. This beer has hints of wheat added with some citrus smells. Nothing prominent but good mild smells. The taste goes along the same as the smells. Good combinations of citrus and clove tastes as well as. Nice mellow finish to the beer. Overall a good hefeweizen with a nice taste and smell. Very nice beer to have on a hot summer day.

5.5% ABV

Great summer memories are born out of uncomplicated times. We’ve made that the basis for our summer blonde recipe and kept this ale pure and simple. Relax and enjoy this all natural, light, golden beauty; a seasonal offering from the River Horse Brewing Company.

4% ABV