Food & Drink The best Fall beers: 5 SD brew experts share their picks

It's the time of year when San Diego residents occasionally think about opting for sleeves, and the lighter, fruitier beers of Summer are traded for the heartier, more flavorful beers of Fall. If you don't want to end up being that Autumn cliché who consumes anything and everything pumpkin-flavored just because of the calendar, let our five local beer experts tell you what's good.

Scot Blair, Owner of Hamiltons, Monkey Paw Pub and Brewery, and Small Bar

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen (Märzen/Oktoberfest, 5.8%)

Scot says: “The beer is nice and chewy, with a medium to medium-high body. The flavor is slightly sweet with caramel, toast, and nutty characteristics. Mid-range ABV and not too much heat from the alcohol. To me, this is the paragon of Autumn warming, with a wonderful malt backbone at a nice sessionable ABV.”

Anchor Porter (American Porter, 5.6%)

Scot says: “One of the oldest and best porters ever made, in my opinion. This is a black beer with a creamy tan head that sits straight up with dark fruit notes of plum, fig, and dates that intermingle with roast, chocolate, and molasses. The hops lend an earthy/floral character to the beer, and its drinkability is nothing shy of exceptional.”

Beau Schmitt, Co-Founder of the San Diego Brew Project

Rip Current Hazardous Hazelnut Porter (American Porter, 6.9%)

Beau says: “Moving into October, this is a great beer to accelerate your sweet tooth for Halloween. It's a dark, creamy porter that could be a Nutella beer. It's delicious.”

Zumbar Dark Chocolate Imperial Coffee Stout (American Double/Imperial Stout, 9.3%)

Beau says: “Again, I look forward to the 'warming' beers as Fall approaches. They brew Zumbar with Columbian coffee that is roasted locally, and add 22lbs of Belgian dark chocolate. You'll satisfy your sweet tooth and get a little coffee 'kick' as well.”

Ray Astamendi, Brewer

Eagle Rock Solidarity (English Dark Mild Ale, 3.8%)

Ray says: “Definitely the best thing to come out of Los Angeles in recent memory, Eagle Rock Brewery has a solid lineup of beers that demonstrate their brewing skill and appreciation for balance. Solidarity is their take on a British mild, with the color and roastiness of a porter. The nose is a pleasant blend of coffee-like roastiness, with a subtle backbone of sweet, caramel malt. Though the beer only clocks in a 3.8% ABV, it avoids the watery like mouthfeel that plagues some other lighter styles. This beer brings the best elements of an English brown ale and a porter, and will leave you wanting more.”

AleSmith Anvil Ale ESB (Extra Strong Bitter, 5.5%)

Ray says: “One of, if not, the best all-around brewery in San Diego. AleSmith truly has demonstrated their ability and understanding of the brewing arts! Anvil Ale has a pleasant nutty caramel aroma, with a subtle hint of earthy and woody English hops. The flavor showcases a wonderful balance of nutty, caramel character with a subtle hint of roastiness. The hop character is very reminiscent of English hops, and supplies ample bitterness to support the meticulously crafted malt character. Anvil Ale is extremely sessionable, and can be appreciated by the 'average beer drinker' and the most ardent beer-geek alike.”

Kenny Casciato, Co-owner of Ciro's Pizza & Beerhouse

Port Brewing Board Meeting (American Brown Ale, 8.5%)

Kenny says: “Board Meeting is a lightly hopped 8.5% American brown ale with a coffee flavor up front. Its a little on the stronger side, and since its slight alcohol bite is covered by the flavor of the coffee and roasted malts, it goes down smooth. This beer can definitely sneak up on you.”

Hess Romani Siceram (American Pale Wheat Ale, 7%)

Kenny says: “Not only is this the first beer collaboration that Ciro's has done with a brewery, but it's named after my son Roman. The name actually means 'Roman's drink' in Latin. It has a smooth flavor, and because of the way the wheat counteracts the hoppiness, it's really balanced for an IPA.”

Val Guagliardo, Certified Cicerone at Societe Brewing

The Lost Abbey Avant Garde (Biere de Garde, 7%)

Val says: “When I think of Fall, I get excited about football, comfort foods, and cooler weather. However, one of my favorite thing about the season is Thanksgiving with my boyfriend, 'The Beard', and his family. There is no better beer for Thanksgiving dinner than a biere de garde. A great choice is Avant Garde from The Lost Abbey. This farmhouse-style beer has notes of green apples, peaches, bready malt, and a very subtle spice.”