Autumnal Beer in Loudoun County, VA

In Loudoun, there’s a lot we love about autumn. Fiery foliage, chillier temps, sweaters and boots galore — everything about it is cooler (pun intended, of course). Halloween, in particular, is a feature of fall we fawn over.

We wear ridiculous costumes without fear of judgment, scare our friends without apology and, of course, indulge in glutinous treats without guilt. And while most people might associate candy with “Halloween treat,” we do things a little differently along the LoCo Ale Trail

Halloween presents a unique opportunity for our 30+ {witch}craft breweries to get up to a little bubble, bubble, toil and trouble. From pumpkin ales to pilsners, märzens to milk stouts, we brew up all kinds of malty magic here in Loudoun County.

Are you brave enough to venture along the LoCo Ale Trail and taste these fall-flavored treats?! If you’re a little intimidated by the number of options, we recommend going one cluster at a time… and bringing along a friend or five to boost your confidence 😉 Come knocking at our doors for spooky brews and autumnal ales aplenty. We certainly have a few tricks up our sleeve 😏 Keep reading for a sneak peek!

P.S. Keep your beer goggles peeled for announcements from a few breweries regarding holiday season beers! You might think it’s too early for all that, but we start buzzing about Oktoberfest in July, for goodness sake — what did you expect? 😅

ADROIT THEORY BREWING COMPANY

While you won’t find any Oktoberfests or Pumpkin Ales at Adroit Theory, the brewery has crafted some dark-themed beers that serve up the spook during Halloween season. For example, the "bunny suit" from Donnie Darko inspired Adroit to go dark with its Destructive Construction Hazy Imperial IPA [00:00:00:01 edition]. The edition is a countdown clock to the end of the world… we’re scarily intrigued! The EBK Hazy Imperial IPA [reborn edition], coming out on 10/24, is a revival of Adroit’s 2017 series. The brewery is bringing back this one-time release, where the "Death Samurai" featured on the label rises from his own grave. ⚰️☠️ Terror on tap! Craving something sweet in anticipation of candy day? Get your fix with the BLVCK Celebration Imperial Porter 🎃 No joke, the Oreo variant tastes exactly like a liquid Oreo cookie. (Easy, when the ratio of Oreo to beer is about 30 cookies:1 gallon.)

B CHORD BREWING COMPANY

Celebrate the harvest with B Chord’s latest autumnal releases: the Working Man’s Amber Ale (featuring Loudoun County Hops), the Oat and In The Way Oatmeal Stout, a VA Pale Wheat (featuring all Virginia-sourced ingredients) and the Quail Ridge Pale Ale. And, more tasty beers are on the way — look out especially for the Scotch Ale this fall, which has been aged in Catoctin Creek’s whiskey barrels. Nothing like a bit of a fiery whiskey taste to keep you warm as the weather cools! 🥃 + 🍺 = 🔥

BEAR CHASE BREWING COMPANY

Pumpkin lovers are in for a treat, because Bear Chase will be releasing not one, but two pumpkin ales: Pumpkin Patches Pumpkin Ale and Crooked Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale! The “Crooked” is a shout out to the farm providing the pumpkins. Also behind the bar are brews inspired by autumnal creatures of the forest: the Buttons the Bear Oatmeal Stout (6% ABV, 20 IBUs), the Getting Squirrely Nut Brown Ale – (6.5%ABV, 14 IBUs), and the Getting Squirrely Cocoa Nut Brown Ale (6.5% ABV, 14 IBUs).

BELLY LOVE BREWING COMPANY

This Halloween, venture out of this world with Belly Love’s seasonal März Attacks, a Märzen/Oktoberfest style beer for the fall. USA Today has even featured März Attacks as one of the country’s top ten Oktoberfest beers to try!

BELTWAY BREWING COMPANY

If you plan on rocking a Halloween costume that’s really, really ridiculously good looking, you’ll also want to be sipping on Beltway Brewing’s Hansel Sour IPA. But for serious, the Beltway team cares desperately about what they do. This beer is no different. It's not just an IPA. It's not just a Sour. It calls to mind descriptors like "hoppy" and "handsomeness" and "incredibly chiseled features." To balance the tartness, the brew features an array of hops including Falconer's Flight, Huell Melon and even Magnum. Beltway wanted to make an ambi-turner of a beer that has more than one look. Thus... "Hansel." Because sour beers are so hot right now.

BIKE TRALE BREWING COMPANY

Bike TrAle is all about the seasonal releases! Roll up this fall for the Podium Girl Ginger Beer (no grain, 4.75 ABV) and the Pumpkit Pumpkin Ale (5.5 ABV). Then, get hooked on the holidays with a Gingerbread Stout aged in a rye whiskey barrel (coming 10/27) and the Winter Flurries American Pale Ale (coming 11/21)!

BLACK HOOF BREWING COMPANY

For a drink that’s deathly delicious, try the Poison Arrow Sour Gose! This German sour ale is full of flavor. Its mild tartness is balanced with a significant amount of wheat in the grain bill. Coriander and sea salt help to round out this beer's refreshing drinkability! The Decoy Dunkelweizen is the perfect dark wheat beer to toast the harvest. This German brew throws it back to hotter days using the same yeast as Black Hoof’s warm-weather Hefeweizen. Darker caramel flavors from the malt complement its clove and banana characteristics — talk about a Halloween treat! Trot over to Black Hoof to try the Turkey Call Maple Brown Ale, too! Locally-sourced maple syrup infuses this brown ale for a bit of seasonal sweetness, balanced with American hops. It’s perfect for cooler weather!

BLACK WALNUT BREWERY

Also on pumpkin patrol is Black Walnut Brewery with a Pumpkin Ale. We find that it mysteriously tastes better while wearing a costume… weird, right? Test our taste theory at the brewery’s Halloween Costume Party this weekend! After Halloween’s over, try the Gingerbread Imperial Stout for a heady head start on the holidays!

THE CRAFT OF BREWING

There must be some witchcraft going on at The Craft of Brewing because the beer style for the month of October at this Leesburg brewery is Pumpkin Ales. It truly doesn’t get more fall than a pumpkin stout — and that’s exactly what The Craft of Brewing’s brewing up! Get a taste of the Pumpkin Pie Imperial Stout (10.3 ABV, 33 IBUs) for automatic autumn vibes or the U505 Oktoberfest Marzen (6.1 ABV, 26.2 IBUs). Both brews made their debut at TCOB’s Oktoberfest celebration.

CROOKED RUN BREWING COMPANY

Nothing says “Halloween” like some good ol’ milk chocolate. Cue “Charm,” Crooked Run’s milk stout with chocolate! Recommended pairing: Twix candy bars 😉🍫 The rum-barrel-aged Zombie Empress Sour IPAis a huge Hallo-win for Crooked Run, as well, with vivacious ingredients like oranges, limes, pineapple and grenadine. Who knew the undead could make you feel so alive? Keep a lookout for a Berliner Wiesse-style ale with cranberries as we creep past Halloween deeper into the holiday season!

DIRT FARM BREWING COMPANY

Come and taste Dirt Farm’s unique twist on a seasonal classic, Pumpkin Ale — on tap all fall! The beer has a 5.1% ABV and is brewed with, of course, farm-fresh neck pumpkins, roasted to perfection 🎃 The mild spice characterizing this ale makes it a nice, smooth fall favorite, perfect for all you autumn addicts looking for pumpkin anything! Get hopped up on horror with Dirt Farm’s Axe Handle American Stout (6% ABV)! This beer’s a "bit less boozy" version of his tough Pop, Double Axe Handle; but don't worry — we think you’re going to bloody love it.

DYNASTY BREWING COMPANY

Dynasty has two seasonal beers this year! DynastyFest (5% ABV) is a creamy Golden Lager that’s clean, sweet and full of flavor. Its easy drinking makes it the perfect accompaniment from Oktoberfest to Festivus! When friends and family gather, stories of strength and courage start flowing! Sipping on Dynasty’s spirituous milk stout, True Story Stout (8 % ABV), is the perfect way to enjoy them – whether they be short stories or tall tales! DynastyFest is already on tap and the True Story Stout will be out at the end of October.

JACK’S RUN BREWING COMPANY

This autumn, lose control for the German-style Ctrl+Alt+Del Altbier (6% ABV, 41 IBUs) at Jack’s Run. Translating from German to “Old Beer,” this beverage was historically brewed in Westphalia around the city of Düsseldorf. Its name refers to it being top-fermented using an ale yeast, which is an older method than making lagers with bottom-fermented yeast. Jack’s Run’s interpretation is a well-balanced, bitter yet malty, clean, smooth ale. After being cold-conditioned (lagered) for a few weeks, this brew pairs perfectly with the cooler fall weather. Jack’s Run will also participate in Purcellville’s 8th Annual Halloween Block Party on October 27.

LOST RHINO BREWING COMPANY

Around Oktoberfest season, we’re all looking for a brew designed for the funfair of traditional German culture (which wouldn’t be complete without beer). That brew is found in Lost Rhino’s RhinO’fest Märzen: an excellent companion to autumn’s first chill with its full body, malty flavors and a clean, dry finish. But, don’t just take our word for it — this märzen won the 2016 World Beer Cup Silver and the 2013 Great American Beer Festival Gold!

In the Dachshund Dunkel, a large amount and variety of Munich malts create a fuller-bodied beer that leans toward notes of bread, nuts and a caramel chocolate sweetness (hello, grown-up Halloween candy). Additionally, the use of Noble hops such as Hallertau, Tettnang and a touch of Czech Saaz give the Dunkel a balance without any distinguishable bitterness. This classic Munich-style lager is smooth and complex without being overly heady or heavy and boasts dark chestnut brown hues — perfect for evenings when it gets dark earlier and earlier!

LOUDOUN BREWING COMPANY

LBC has got the {gourd} stuff. We’re talking about its Obligatory Pumpkin Ale, of course! Carving out time to taste this harvest favorite is an absolute must. On top of that, Loudoun Brewing Co. released not one but two Oktoberfest biers this autumn! Imposter (perhaps a subtle shout out to convincing Halloween costumes?) is a Pilsner collaboration with James Rowell from the Loudoun Hops Association. Zwei Bier Bitte uses ingredients like Munich malt, classic German hallertau hops and honey 🍯 for a bit of Halloween sweetness!

ROCKET FROG BREWING COMPANY

Hop over to Rocket Frog for a fun Halloween- and horror-themed Halloween Trivia Extravaganza! There will be a costume contest, a raffle for a $75 Rocket Frog gift card, candy and Halloween goodies. Win all sorts of prizes and earn bonus points with a great costume. Got any old costumes around your home? Bring them in to donate! Gently used costumes will be donated to Spirit of Children! So, come grab a beer and some candy, and play a fun round of Trivia... if you're not too scared...

Gather your gang for the first holiday hangout at Rocket Frog’s Winter Warmer Fest on December 1st. Greet the final month of 2018 with six guest beers, as well as a full line up of Rocket Frog beers. Looks like it’s going to be a very happy holiday season!

SOLACE BREWING COMPANY

For the fall season, Solace has released both an Oktoberfest and a Pumpkin Common Lager. The "Gute Nacht" OKtoberfest is a traditional Märzen-style lager. Malty and full-bodied, this award-winning, classic Märzen-style lager is the perfect beer to kick off the fall season. "She Made Me," a Honey Pumpkin Common Lager, brings a subtle pumpkin spice flavor accented with wildflower honey. This beer finishes crisp, clean and crushable!

TWINPANZEE BREWING COMPANY

Twinpanzee released its long-awaited Oktoberfest ale called "Märzen Monkeys". That’s right — your new favorite malty, delicious lager has been tapped and is ready to enjoy by the stein-full. Salud, prost, skol or cheers...raise those glasses high to this delicious autumnal lager. For all you Halloween-heads out there with a major sweet tooth, look out for an Oreo milk stout coming very soon 👀

Give thanks for "Rye So Punkee," Twinpanzee’s Thanksgiving beer! This ale is brewed with cranberries, rye malt and organic pumpkin. Flavor starts with a slight tartness and finishes with rye peppery notes, making it the perfect beer to compliment your turkey dinner or any fall feast!

Returning just before December will be “Dunk'ed Dipp'ed & Drank'ed,” Twinpanzee’s Imperial Gingerbread Milk Stout, crafted with ginger snaps and freshly baked gingerbread butterscotch cookies. The festive recipe behind this brew also includes tons of organic ginger and a special blend of spices to make this stout a dessert in a glass. That sounds pretty good, right about now 🍬