Something’s in the air these days. Autumn is upon us. The blaze of new colors appearing on the trees only to gray and brittle, crackling underfoot as they begin their inevitable return to the earth from whence they came. Eventually, fall gives way to the undertaker’s spade of winter, burying all that surrounds under frigid, white, unforgiving snow.
Of course, some of us just appreciate fall for the beer.
Here’s a sample of just a few of New Hampshire’s finest breweries.
Tuckerman Brewing Co.
Heading to the North Country this fall? Tuckerman Brewing Co. is the place to be! The brewery’s exceptional selection of beers will be flowing at Mount Attitash in Bartlett when Tuckerman hosts a German Oktoberfest from Oct. 9-10. Lace up your boots and hike up your lederhosen for some serious golden brown brews in the White Mountains. Tuckerman also hosts a tour and tasting at their Conway brewing facility every Saturday at 3 p.m. Calling ahead is recommended. Get up there and drink until you’re plumb tuckered out.
64 Hobbs St., Conway
447-5400
tuckermanbrewing.com
Redhook Brewery
The Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth plays host to the New Hampshire Brewers Festival on Oct. 2. New England’s finest microbrewers will be on hand to showcase their wares and, if you’re lucky, you might just be able to get a taste of Redhook’s Late Harvest Autumn Ale as well. If you can’t make the festival, you can get down to local bands rocking the beer garden every Thursday night. Or, take the brewery tour any day of the week for just a dollar! Drinkers, beware: You might get hooked.
35 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth
430-8600
redhook.com
Smuttynose Brewing Co.
Forget Fenway, leaf-peeping and back to school; fall in New England is all about seasonal brews. No New Hampshire brewery does autumn beer better than Smuttynose’s annual batch of pumpkin ale. Make a trip to Portsmouth in October and sample Smutty’s gorgeous gourd-based concoction, straight from the pumpkin patch. Free tours of the small-scale brewery are offered on Fridays and Saturdays, so make it a weekend visit. Get ready to give Charlie Brown a run for his money, because you’ll be in the home of the real “Great Pumpkin.”
225 Heritage Ave., Portsmouth
436-4026
smuttynose.com
White Birch Brewing
Located 20 minutes from Concord, the Hooksett-based White Birch brewery hand crafts barrels of unique beers on a daily basis. While White Birch has been in business just over a year, brewmaster Bill Herlicka has been in the beer-making biz for the past 16 years and is still going strong. Almost as strong as his Belgian-inspired Barrel Aged Tripel (with its 11.65 percent alcohol content). If that’s too much for you, try the Dubbel or the slightly less potent Belgian-Style Pale Ale. If you’re still feeling daunted, you’d better get a spine and raise a stein lest you miss the boat on the Concord area’s top brewery. Tours are available and can be scheduled by calling Bill at 244-8593.
1368 Hooksett Road, Hooksett
244-8593
whitebirchbrewing.com
Elm City Brewing Company
Keene may be remote, but the Elm City Brewing Co. is one great reason to make the trip.
Elm City is worth a visit for the Timmy-style wings alone (30 cents a pop at happy hour). But the real draw here is the delicious draft beer.
Brewed on site, Elm City’s local favorites include Monadnock Mountain Ale and the hoppy No Name IPA. Stop by this fall and grab a growler of Oktoberfest Lager, just in time for the Elm City Oktoberfest celebration on Sept. 25. Or take a break from the crowds and grab a pint during Keene’s annual pumpkin festival on Oct. 16.
222 West St., Keene
355-3335
elmcitybrewing.com
Woodstock Inn Brewery
If you’ll be cruising the Kancamagus this fall, you owe it to yourself to swing by the Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery. Nestled in New Hampshire’s picturesque White Mountains, the Woodstock Inn is not just a brewery, it’s a getaway. Book a room at the inn and you have access to hiking galore, not to mention as many frosty mugs of delicious Autumn Brew as you want. Pay tribute to the Granite State’s fallen icon by downing an Old Man Oatmeal Stout. Swing by the brewery for a free tour daily at noon, or, if you’re a real cerevisaphile or aspiring home-brewer, book the brewer’s weekend special and enjoy a two-night stay and a hands-on lesson of the brewing process.
135 Main St., North Woodstock
745-3951
woodstockinnbrewery.com
