It is about the time of year when I start to hear the frustration and sometimes disgust from many customers about the curtailing of the summer beer season. Oktoberfest brews are available as of now. Although I resist ordering them at first (as I am doing now) I am soon forced into it so that I can have the variety that is available before they sell out. Crazy, right? To think that I have to order O-fest supplies when August has barely begun to make sure inventory is complete for the season burns me up. Summer is but 1/3 over. Consumers are rightfully frustrated by retail seasons being far from real seasons, but it is not retailers at fault – it is suppliers. As much I love Oktoberfest beers (my favorite seasonal indeed) I hate the premature end of summer in the beer world. Competition for draft lines and many consumers’ distaste for purchasing a beer named October after October has passed have driven suppliers to madness in the summer. This year summer seasonals were released before the first day of Spring and as we find ourselves finally enjoying the heat of the summer they are stripped away from us. As ludicrous as I find retail seasons to be I have to admit that in my opinion summer beers pale in comparison to Oktoberfest beers (no pun intended). I much prefer the hardy lager when the weather is cooler and fall is in the air but at least the quality is there, besting many summer styles. So, forget about the name and the implication that summer is coming to a close. Autumn isn’t here until September 22nd even though the beer with its namesake is. Just enjoy the brew while you can because this season will also be closed before its time. Long time favorites are Berkshire Brewing, Victory, Hofbrau and Ayinger. Soon to be on the shelves.
