It’s Oktoberfest and Fresh Hop Season for Craft Breweries

Tis the season! Fall seasonal beers are back at many of our local craft breweries across the Valley and around Arizona. Whether you like the malty mouthfeel of an orange-hued Oktoberfest or the bitter bite of a blonde-shaded Fresh Wet Hop IPA, there is something in store for any suds sipper here in mid-September. Let’s dive into this week’s new releases. Drink responsibly. 

Hot Off the Press from 12 West Brewing 

All the brews fit to print. 12 West’s unfiltered fresh hop IPA may be Hot Off the Press, but it’ll be chilled in your mug with lots of fruity flavors courtesy the Strata hops from Crosby Hop Farm. Available on draft or in cans at 12 West locations in Gilbert and Mesa. Pick up a four-pack for $20. 

Three new Fall beers from Goldwater Brewing 

Get in the Oktoberfest mood with three new releases at Goldwater: Rye Bock dark lager, Hefeweizen and Fest Coast festbier–style lager. Part of the Rye Bock stock is sitting in barrels from Superstition Meadery for a special release during Arizona Beer Week 2022. Let’s also cheers to the team for brewing its first ever hefeweizen! All three are available starting Friday in cans and on draft.  

Strata Wet Hop Pale Ale at Tombstone Brewing Co. 

Fans of freshness rejoice! The 2021 wet hops are here, and nobody specializes in the Strata hop more than Tombstone Brewing. It brought in more than 200 pounds of fresh Strata hops to brew up this 2021 version of its Wet Hop Pale. Look for lots of juicy flavors of pineapple, melon and papaya. Available now in cans and on draft.  

Freestyle Haiku from The Beer Research Institute 

Return of fan fave.  

Double New England Milkshake 

Releases Friday. 

How’s that for my haiku form? This whopping 12% ABV double New England milkshake IPA is brewed with pineapple, mango and peach. It returns to the taps this weekend and is available in cans to-go. 

State 48 Brewery new releases 

Chances are there’s a State 48 Brewery near you wherever you live in the Valley (locations in Surprise, Glendale, Downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale, North Phoenix and Gilbert). This weekend, there are three new beers on tap. You do the math — that’s a lot of new craft beer to drink. New on draft this week are these three autumnal options: Dirty Dirndl Oktoberfest, Cholla Hoppy Lager and Udder Madness Milk Stout.  Get a pint while it lasts.  

Sax-a-Boom 2.0 from Kitsune Brewing 

Kitsune is singing a sequel this weekend with a new and slightly altered batch of Sax-a-Boom West Coast IPA. The brewery posted it’s using more hops and less malt compared to the first batch that released in June. Look for it in cans at finer bottle shops across the Valley. 

Oktoberforest at Arizona Wilderness Brewing

Sometimes you need to see the forest through the beers (or something like that). Arizona Wilderness stays true to its name and mission of nature conservation with this new Oktoberforest release for fall.

Picketpost Pils German-style pilsner also makes a return in cans on on draft this weekend. Both new beers are available starting Friday.

Schwimmbad Dunkelweizen from Wren House Brewing

Traditional style meets Wren-style innovation in this festive new fall beer. $15 four-packs go on sale starting Friday.

Fatetoberfest at Fate Brewing

In addition to the new fall beer on tap and available in cans (starting Friday), Fate is offering new limited time entrees for Oktoberfest celebrations. If you go, look for the Bratwurst or the Crisphy Pork Belly — each are served with red cabbage, potato salad, sauerkraut and a Noble bun.