The Hops: September 2011 Brews of the Month

To satisfy both tradition and season, I am suggesting two beers for September.

Unsure what to recommend, I asked John’s Grocery beer guru Joe Hotek what he thought and he immediately gave me a bottle of Pauwel Kwak, brewed by the Brouwerij Bosteels of Buggenhout, Belgium. Named after an 18th century innkeeper and brewer, and traditionally served in glasses specially designed for drivers of horse-drawn carriages, Kwak provides the shift toward maltier brews that autumn weather brings. For those not driving horse-drawn carriages, Kwak should be served in an oversized wine glass or tulip. Its color is a ruddy, deep amber and it offers aromas and flavors of sweet candy caramel, toffee, bread, yeast, brandy and so much fig that it actually reminded me of Fig Newtons. At 8 percent ABV it is on the potent side, but the alcohol is completely masked. In the area, it is only available at John’s Grocery.

Along with cooler weather and football, September also brings Oktoberfest–and we should look no further than neighboring Iowa County for a fitting märzen. Oktoberfest, brewed by the Millstream Brewing Company, is excellent. Robust and flavorful, it eschews the current trend at Munich’s Theresienwiese for lighter colored and flavored versions. Last year’s edition was incredible, and this year’s is much the same except for being a tad hoppier. Best served in a pint glass or mug, Oktoberfest is a slightly dark amber color. The aroma is a bouquet of cocoa, caramel, toffee, honey and grassy barnyard malts, and the flavor follows suit. It reminded me of a Ferrero Rocher chocolate ball with caramel or chocolate mousse inside. It is available at John’s Grocery, New Pioneer Food Co-op, most area Hy-Vee stores and wherever else Millstream is sold.