A Liquid Taste of Fall
By Michael Buck and Michelle Pittman
It’s no secret that fall is our favorite season. The air is cool and afternoon sun warms your skin. T-shirt and jeans (along with the occasional sweater) are the standard uniform. Trees are bursting with color. It’s perfect weather for sitting outside.
What does that all add up to? Drinking. Oktoberfests, harvest festivals, beer tastings and Halloween.
We’ve cobbled together a short list of our favorite autumn drinks. There’s something for everyone on this list. Some are local legends, some can be procured with local ingredients. All are delicious.
Boilo. The quintessential Pennsylvania fall beverage. A classic concoction from the coal region, boilo is whiskey mulled with apple cider and served warm. It’s also one of the more dangerous drinks on the list, so keep in mind it’s high octane while drinking. Feaston has a good recipe.
Yuengling Lager and Woodchuck. It’s in the same vein as a black and tan. If poured by a skilled hand you’ll see a nice separation of colors and tastes. The pair tastes great and makes us think of flaming red leaves. Plus, Yuengling is produced locally. Bonus.
Pumpkin Ale. Right now we have Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin stocked in our fridge. It’s a subtle pumpkin ale. If you want something more local and really packed with fall taste, we recommend Easton-based Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Stop by the brewery on Line Street in Easton on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. to sample some. Don’t just take our word that it’s good, it recently won third place at The Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
Apple cider. Pressed apples in juice form. You can get a fix at most grocery stores. If you want something special, aka the good stuff, head out to Scholl Orchards at 3057 Center Street in Bethlehem. They serve up fresh pressed, unpasteurized apple cider.
Buttershots. Butterscotch schnapps. If you have never tried it, get some. Mix three parts buttershots to one part Kahlua. Microwave it for a few seconds. Yum!
Ocktoberfest beer. Any kind. All of them. Seasonal and delicious. Our recommendations: Leinenkugels, Sam Adams, Bells and Spaten.