by Joshua Tiernan 

So you just got done vacationing in Europe…maybe you were even at Oktoberfest (I thought I saw you there), and now you’re back stateside with fall in full effect: leaves are changing, the air is crisp and cool, and the days are getting noticeably shorter.

The traditional summer light beer just isn’t going to cut it. Here’s a trio of top tastes that are sure to make you fall in love:

Paulaner: Oktoberfest Bier

A true München original. Paulaner, while not as well known stateside as their Bavarian brothers from the Hofbräuhaus, Paulaner offers one of the best representations of what Oktoberfest Bier should be: it is light in color but not taste, not too bitter and it’s easily drinkable. It has a hint of malty sweetness that alludes to fall. A perfect combination to celebrate a royal wedding, or the transition to fall.

New Belgium: Dunkel Weiss

An American take on a German weissebier tradition, as part of its Lips of Faith series, New Belgium nails the transitional aspect of a perfect fall beer. It has a deep amber brown color with hints of clove, bananas and black pepper that you would be more likely to find in a stout than a weiss beer, yet is malty and sweet with a finish that leaves you all warm and toasty inside.

Buffalo Bill’s Brewery: Original Pumpkin Ale

Love it or hate it, these are the most popular (American) specialty brew of the season, with almost every craft brewer in America now putting this varietal out. Buffalo Bill’s is one of the best and also the first brewery in modern times to brew with the pumpkin. It’s a sweet, fall ale that combines pumpkin with fall favorites cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. The smell and taste will remind you of a fresh baked pumpkin pie - and what says ‘fall’ more than that?