October nightlife brews with German inspiration

Boston lovers Carley Harris and Eric Charbonneau settle in at Half Barrel.

Boston lovers Carley Harris and Eric Charbonneau settle in at Half Barrel.

There's a sign at Half Barrel above the bar with each of the Sam Adams seasonal beers on it. As of recently, the Autumn brew, their Octoberfest to be specific, has been lit up.

This ushers in the prime season for beer drinking.

This is the time of year I find myself going out more, even though I'm drinking less. Many bars around town feature seasonal brew on tap, and as any beer drinker knows if a beer tastes pristine in a bottle or can it tastes 10 times better on draft. And with the fall brews often being thicker and more alcoholic (not to mention more expensive), it's not a great idea to throw them back at the bar.

Somehow this year it seems there are more than ever. A trip to Kroger shows you a brand new fall seasonal from Sierra Nevada (celebrating some semi-arbitrary anniversary) as well as the aptly-named Hoptober from the ever-increasing-in-popularity New Belgium (makers of Fat Tire). Even Anheuser Busch brings out a pumpkin beer during the fall, although it tastes remarkably like nutmeg mixed with Bud Light.

Finding which venues in town serve up these beverages is also part of the fun.

For example, Barley's has a pumpkin ale on draft by Cottonwood that's entirely worth the trip out to the Old City no matter where you live (especially if it's their Monday or Tuesday night $2 pint special). It's thicker than Guinness and has slightly bitter taste of pumpkin. If you can find a warm enough evening to drink it on the porch you could soak in the full fall experience.

It's hard to go through October without mentioning German beer, however. And Knoxville is fortunate enough to have a spot that delivers, which is Linderhof, located in Farragut. The German restaurant is open in limited hours (Tuesday through Saturday 5:30-10:30 p.m.) but they have beer on draft that you can't get anywhere else in the city. And if you've never experienced German brew, do yourself a favor and get on it.

German culture created the Octoberfest beer, which is no secret. Their fall celebration of the same name is centered on the completion of the brewing process of beer. Late summer is the peak harvest time for hops and barley (key ingredients in brew), and the fermentation process takes a few weeks to two months. So in October, just as the weather starts to change, you have the perfect mixture for one tasty party.

And this kind of mentality transfers well to the U.S. Octoberfest celebrations pop up every year. Here in town we have Brewer's Jam (taking place on Saturday, Oct. 24), a similar event.

It seems the most popular and common seasonal beer is from Boston-based Sam Adams. The Sam Adams seasonal beers are served on draft at most Knoxville establishments known for draft beer, and plenty that aren't.

Half Barrel offers this popular beer, which is no surprise from a venue with 30+ beers on draft. But the most pleasant surprise to me on a recent trip there is that they've cycled in a handful of new fall beers as well.

Recently, I opted for a New Belgium Hoptober draft - something I had only had in a bottle beforehand. In recent years Half Barrel has remodeled, expanding the back end of the bar. There's now a smaller bar in the back half of the building and a small, slightly-enclosed seating area that's similar to a beer garden (a distinctly European beer-drinking environment). The wooden floors and tables certainly add to the pub-feel, but that's nothing new for Half Barrel.

Wednesday nights Half Barrel has all pints for only $2.50, but the evening is typically crowded and loud. When I'm out trying to enjoy my beer, I don't typically enjoy this type of environment, but on a recent Saturday I was able to get seated and get service right away and the decibel level was tolerable.

If you are heading out to enjoy a seasonal brew, keep in mind they're often higher in alcohol content. You'll want to get a designated driver, and never underestimate the relative cheapness of taking a cab.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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