Schlafly Pumpkin Ale and Oktoberfest Mark their Triumphant Return

St. Louis based Schlafly Beer, easily ranked among the best craft breweries in the state of Missouri, has announced the return of two of its most popular seasonal beers: Pumpkin Ale and Oktoberfest. These award- winning beers will hit store shelves starting August 5 and will be available throughout the fall season while supplies last.

Beer for the Season

We are still in the month of August and much of the nation is experiencing record high temperatures. Therefore, this might seem like an unusual time to release fall seasonal beer. But as craft beer fans are fully aware, the trend has been toward earlier and earlier releases of seasonal beer. So far, I can’t think of any brewery that has released fall seasonals until very late July at the soonest. So, it is highly possible that this early release trend has reached its limit, which is a good thing.

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale and Oktoberfest are, indeed, among the best representatives of their respective styles. Thus, the fact that they are released early is perfectly fine by me. Schlafly Oktoberfest is sporting a new look this year in six packs of bottles and 12 packs of 16- ounce cans. Pumpkin Ale will be available in the usual 6 pack bottles, like in the past.

Schlafly lead brewer Jared Williamson knows as well as anyone how much the public craves these two seasonal releases.

“Our Oktoberfest and Pumpkin Ale are two of our most anticipated seasonal beers for good reason. Experienced beer drinkers across the country have named Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale as one of the best, and we intend to continue to earn that title, by using the same blend of seasonal spices to make a fresh, pumpkin-forward beer,” says Williamson. “Oktoberfest is a true-to-style German beer with Munich malt and German hops that honors Schlafly’s German heritage.” 

Beer Specifics

Here are some quick notes on each release:

Pumpkin Ale (8.0% ABV): Schlafly Beer’s special release Pumpkin Ale has been an award-winning (Thrillist and Delish) seasonal staple for over 10 years. Pumpkin Ale highlights sweetness and spice. Intended to taste like a slice of pumpkin pie in a bottle, the squash-forward beer is balanced with a blend of seasonal spices. 

Schlafly’s Oktoberfest (5.5% ABV): Authentic in its execution and evocation of heritage, Munich malt and German hops contribute to the smooth and clean traditional Märzen brew. Amber in color and balanced in its sweetness and toasted malts, the celebratory autumnal style is a tribute to Schlafly’s German roots. 

Get Your Seasonal Beer Fix

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale and Oktoberfest are available beginning Aug. 5 throughout and continuing throughout the fall across Schlalfy’s distribution area. If you happen to live in the St. Lous area, you can also find these beers at the Schlafly Tap Room in downtown St. Louis, Schlafly Bottleworks in the Maplewood neighborhood of St. Louis, Schlafly Bankside in St. Charles, MO and Schlafly Highland Square in Highland, IL. 

For more information on Schlafly Beer’s distribution and products, visit Schlafly’s website. And enjoy these excellent seasonal beers while they last!