Fall is upon us redux, Clocktoberfest edition

Oktoberfests are heating up all over the place. Last week, I was down in Cincinnati for the city's famous celebration of its German heritage. A great time was had by all enjoying special seasonal brews from the likes of Samuel Adams, famous German brewers Erdinger and Spaten, and Cincy's own Christian Moerlein while listening to a German band perform Jimmy Buffet classics (I'm not kidding).

Back in Dayton, this weekend will see a few Oktoberfests including the annual party at the Dayton Art Institute and our own spin on it here at Bruning's: Clocktoberfest. It should be a great time. We'll be here from 9am-8pm this Saturday with an authentic German festival. German music, food, and beer will be the order of the day. In addition to the festivities outside, we will have a German beer tasting from 12-4pm at our wine tasting counter featuring four different brews from Erdinger, followed by a German wine tasting from 4-8pm with five selections from Leonard Kreusch.

Fall is upon us!

Cooler weather and heartier food is just around the corner, so I have a couple of recommendations to help you enjoy the season.

Fall is a time for beer. Oktoberfest Marzens and other heartier, sweeter, maltier styles are coming back. I have several Oktoberfests in stock, including those from Christian Moerlein, Ayinger, Spaten, and Beck's, and a few more on the way, like those from Sam Adams, Great Lakes, Paulaner, and Bell's. Porters and Stouts are also great in cooler weather, and I recommend Great Lakes' Edmund Fitzgerald, Anchor Porter, Murphy's Dry Stout, and Sam Smith's Oatmeal Stout.

One of my other favorite quaffables for Fall and Winter is Port. A fortified wine that is perfect for sipping in front of a fire after dinner, Port is rich, sweet, and, frankly, addictive. Once you learn to love it, you'll want it every night! A variety of Ports from Kopke are easy recommendations, including a 10-year aged Tawny and a Late Bottled Vintage from 2001. The oldest Port House in the world, Kopke makes every style of Port and has an unmatched quality to price ratio. The values in these wines at every price point are quite remarkable. Kopke's newest vintage offering, from 2007, which we tasted back in Spring as a cask-drawn sample and pre-ordered, will be coming sometime in October. I'll keep you posted.

Also of note in port is the Auction Reserve from respected Port House Broadbent, a great value barrel blend made up of four different vintage Ports from the the last 15 years or so. Justin Obtuse, a Port-style wine from California's Central Coast made from traditional Port varieties and Justin's specialty, Cabernet Sauvignon, is also a perfect after-dinner sipper.