Drink different

Tulsa’s autumn brews are less chuggable, more huggable

It’s not quite sweater weather just yet, but fall is in the air. While many shy away from fudgy imperial stouts, boozy barleywines and spiced ales during the summer months, cooler temps call for something a little more akin to a warm hug. That’s why we’re bringing you the rundown on the city’s standout seasonal sippers at taprooms across Tulsa. 

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American Solera
barrel aged Dilemma 

Tulsa’s boutique craft darlings American Solera may be known for bright, funky and fruit-forward flavors—but don’t sleep on their imperial stouts in the cooler months. One of the brewery’s most rewarding offerings bucks the usual profile of sour beers and hazy IPAs, opting instead for big notes of coffee, chocolate, maple and rum. This bad boy clocks in around 14% ABV, so slow and steady wins the race. 

Welltown Brewery
Oktoberfest 

As autumn turns the leaves from emerald to ember, Welltown is here to fill your glass with the perfect amber brew. At 6% ABV, the downtown brewery’s Oktoberfest offeering is a malt-forward lager that is full of flavor but well-balanced and easy to drink. This classic German-style lager will have you raising a stein and yelling “Prost!” in no time.

Prairie Artisan Ales
Corporate Dress Code

It’s no surprise the beer geniuses who bring you the renowned Prairie Bomb! have some tasty fall brews in the tanks. Corporate Dress Code is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout made with generous helpings of cacao nibs and vanilla beans. Those classic Bomb! ingredients get the barrel treatment here, lending extra layers of complexity and nuance that runs hot without overwhelming the brew. With a 12% ABV, prepare for flushed faces and honest conversations.

Heirloom Rustic Ales 
Morning Devotion

Nothing says fall quite like a fresh cup of joe on a crisp morning, and the folks at Heirloom Rustic Ales have taken that to heart. Coming on tap just in time to sip and watch the seasons change, Morning Devotion is a milk stout featuring cold brew coffee and cinnamon. At 6.4% ABV, this sippable stout is full of flavor. Go ahead and have one for breakfast. We won’t tell.

Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing
Dunkelweizen

The brewmasters at Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing have a classic and well-rounded Dunkelweizen on tap. An old-world style German beer, the Dunkelweizen is a dark copper color with a slight haze that comes from its high wheat content. This guy is on the maltier side with notes of banana and clove. Rolling in at 7.5% ABV, it’s the perfect fall festival beer.

Renaissance Brewing Company
Deutschican

Tulsa’s friendly neighborhood brewers will release a fantastic “fest bier” ahead of Oktoberfest, available at the Renaissance taproom Sept. 25. Deutschican is a smooth Vienna Style Lager brewed especially for the festival but is available around town while supplies last. The heaping portion of Vienna malt makes the brew light and toasty, and it’s easy drinking at 5.9% ABV. Drop by the taproom at 1147 S. Lewis Ave and celebrate the season with this exemplary old-world offering.  

New Era Fine Fermentations
Coconaut 

Nothing says cooler temps quite like a hearty stout. Sticking with New Era’s space exploration theme, the up-and-coming brewery is offering Coconaut, a dark and tasty concoction that’s out of this world. Clocking in at 6.1%, this American stout is aged on toasted coconut, giving the beer an underlying sweetness that’s present but never cloying. The roasted malt backbone is the perfect launching pad for Coconaut’s classic stout notes like chocolate, coffee and—of course—plenty of toasted coconut. This autumnal sipper is perfect for an evening on New Era’s generous patio, or as a complement to the restaurant’s irresistible fish and chips. 

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Of course, these aren’t the only fall beers to get you in the spirit. Tulsa is teeming with craft breweries that push boundaries and satisfy thirsty imbibers. The above offerings should give you a solid road map to start autumn off on the right foot. So next time you’re out with the crew with a hint of fall in the air, take a break from the usual and celebrate the season with a couple of these irresistible fall brews.