It was one hot, sticky summer, but now the days are cooling off and the nights are getting frigid. Just as the leaves turn over, so, too, do the beer taps in an autumn parade of ambers and browns.

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Whether you want to stick around town or maybe take an adventure, look no further than just down the road. Mid-Missouri has a lot to offer by way of beer, from the most balanced Oktoberfest to the creamiest ales and stouts.

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                          Photo: Shannon Henderson

Keep it close to home

Looking to find some crafty libations that support local brewers? There are plenty to chose from at your favorite restaurant, pub, taproom or grocery store. Take on autumn in sips and gulps all over Columbia.

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BROADWAY BREWERY

Broadway Brewery is downtown’s home for hyper-local experiences. The chefs produce a seasonal menu with produce and meats from local farms, and the brewers make an effort to source their beer equally near and dear.

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Camacho Coffee Stout

This brand-new brew just hit the tanks and will be ready for consumption by the end of October. Its low-grade alcohol content (roughly 5 percent) makes it easy to sip the coffee-forward flavor edging on cocoa and a touch of creaminess.

To design this beer, the brewery collaborated with local coffee roasters Camacho Coffee, which donates part of its profits to a number of charities, including the Central Missouri Humane Society. The release party, scheduled for Oct. 25, will feature a special coffee-infused dessert, and part of the proceeds will go to Camacho’s charities.

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BUR OAK BREWING COMPANY

Bur Oak is a favorite for many mid-Missouri locals and transplants alike. Scan the aisles of your grocery store, or head out to the taproom for a glass. You can also take home a 64-ounce growler or make your own mix-and-match pack of seasonal and year-round specialties.

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Clyde’s Caramel Cream Ale

This seasonal favorite is as sweet and smooth as the grain-guarding cat it was named after. As Clyde keeps the brewery’s grain room free of pests, brewers are busy creating this creamy mouthful of luxurious vanilla and caramel notes. Clyde’s Ale takes it easy at a temperate 5.7 percent alcohol content, or ABV, which means alcohol by volume. Find it at your local grocery store or head out to the taproom off I-70 Drive Southeast and grab some fresh off the tap.

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Fest Bier

This is Bur Oak’s first attempt at a traditional Oktoberfest beer. Toted as a golden lager, the Fest Bier sits at 5.8 percent ABV. It is a bright and malty libation fit for any harvest party or polka dance. The beer is available in cans, growlers and on tap.

 

FLAT BRANCH PUB & BREWING

Flat Branch has been a Columbia staple since 1994. The restaurant is usually packed, so try to a snag a seat at the bar for a sampler of the constantly rotating beers made in-house. Can’t get enough? Growlers are available for your personal stash.

 

Great Pumpkin Ale

Take a big orange pumpkin and stab it with a tap. Sprinkle in some pumpkin pie spice, and take a sip. That is the Great Pumpkin Ale. Brewers use more than 200 pounds of fresh pumpkin to make this seasonal favorite; it’s basically like sipping your pumpkin pie, and at 6.2 percent ABV, this sweet and spicy ale takes drinking your dessert to a whole new level. 

 

LOGBOAT BREWING CO.

Logboat is easily known as Columbia's local hero. This fall, they have a bevy of seasonal beers at the ready. Seek out a glass of the Knot Hole Marzen lager or Raspberry Shiphead ginger wheat while they last. Cozy up to the taproom bar, or head to any local pub or grocery store for this brewery’s creative concoctions.

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Cowboy Me

This outlaw is loaded with roasty flavors. The cowboy in you will look to the stars for guidance through layers of smoke, chocolate and malt. At 5 percent ABV, it might not put hair on your chest, but it will prepare you for cold autumn nights. This black lager is now on rotation*, so keep a watchful eye on your herd of pubs and stores.

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Imperial March

Fit for a thirsty king, this bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout is bound to whip you in shape. At 10-percent ABV, it will warm you up in more ways than one. The barrels give it the scent of leather, oak and vanilla, while the brew joins the flavors of toffee and coconut. Once it releases in mid-October, this small-batch production won’t last long.

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                Photo: Shannon Henderson

Get outta town!

Looking to escape the Columbia grind but want to keep it semi-local? Take a trip out to some of mid-Missouri’s finest breweries, or take at look down your store’s beer aisle for a few Show-Me State stars.

 

PINEY RIVER BREWING CO.

This small-town brewery is making leaps and bounds across the state. Buried deep in the Ozarks on an 80-acre farm in Burcyrus, Missouri, Piney River is turning well-water and grain into delicious, nutritious liquid bread — and you’re going to want some. It’s a bit of a drive down to the brewery, but the beers are available on tap at select pubs and bars or in cans at grocery stores such as Lucky’s Market.

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Sweet Potato Ale

This unique seasonal was inspired by the brewers’ favorite post-harvest comfort food: sweet potato pie. Similar to its pumpkin alternative, the Sweet Potato Ale is loaded with malt and spice, and it rounds out to 6 percent ABV. A balance of hops and roasted sweet potatoes make for a slightly earthy edge, while notes of vanilla and a warm spice aroma come to a sweet, smooth finish.

 

PUBLIC HOUSE BREWING COMPANY

Public House is Rolla’s homegrown celebrity when it comes to beer. The brewpub, just a few blocks down from Missouri S&T, is a thriving hangout for both college students and families. The brewery’s quick success motivated a second brewing location in nearby St. James, home of another small-town craft, St. James Winery. If you can’t make it down to the taproom, don't worry. Public House brews are available at grocery stores and on tap all over town.

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Giddy Goat Coffee Milk Stout

Public House teamed up with Rolla-favorite Giddy Goat Coffee House to create this rich, dark stout packed with flavor. This beer combines a wide range of malt, a touch of bitter-balancing hops, and a healthy dose of Papua New Guinea coffee beans. It is extremely well balanced and makes for a creamy, sweet way into your heart. You can find it soon at places such as Craft Beer Cellar or Hy-Vee.

 

TIN MILL BREWING COMPANY

It’s Oktoberfest season, which means Tin Mill in Herman, Missouri, will be brimming with energy every weekend in October. If you’re planning a trip out to the historic German town, swing by and grab a pint or two, or pick up a growler for your travels.

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The brewery offers a constantly rotating cast of beers, including some sweet seasonal flavors. Check out the Cranberry Radler, a juice-infused brew bound for tart sweetness. There’s also a traditional Oktoberfest for the straight-laced folks out there. You can also start your day of merriment with the Morning Whistle, a rich beer made from the house doppelbock and infused with dark coffee.

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