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Best Fall Craft Beers In Sacramento

Fall is upon us and that means crunchy leaves, stocking up on candy before Halloween and the wonderful gourd flavors of pumpkin making its way into the palate of our daily lives. The same goes for the ever popular craft beer scene here in Sacramento. Not only does pumpkin find its way into the mix, but oftentimes a nod to Oktoberfest with flavorful German lagers and malts can be tasted as well. Sacramento has a bevy of fall craft beers for you to check out. Take your pick from some of these favorites below.
Rosebud Special Pale Ale
Rubicon Brewing
2004 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 448-7032
www.RubiconBrewing.com

With over a quarter century of experience brewing and winning IPA awards in the country's biggest beer festivals, Rubicon Brewing makes a mighty tasty Pale Ale to go along with fall. Its Rosebud Special Pale Ale is made with a blend of a dozen types of malted barley with a spicy hop character thanks to a few select German and Czech Hops. Reviewers have lauded Rosebud's dominant caramel malt flavors characterized by a burnt orange character. If you're in the area, stop by Rubicon as they have a full food menu to go along with their beers.

Pumpkin Falls Ale
American River Brewing Company
11151 Trade Center Drive, Suite 104
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 635-2537
www.americanriverbrewingcompany.com

With over a decade's worth of development from American River Brewing, this ale is sure to be a hit upon first sip. Reviewers can really relate and taste the quintessential pumpkin pie flavor that embodies the taste profile. Pumpkin Falls Ale hits that right balance of 80 percent pumpkin and 20 percent spice that's characteristic of any good pumpkin pie. If it weren't for the name, this would be a good ale all year round. And if you didn't already know, ARBC's name is a nod to the historic river which flows by the brewery.

Happy Jack Pumpkin Ale
Jack Russel Farm Brewery
2380 Larsen Drive
Camino, CA 95709
(530) 647-9420
www.facebook.com

Located a hop, skip and a jump from Sacramento, Jack Russel Farm Brewery makes a flavorful Pumpkin Ale that's available all year round, but is especially popular in the coming months. The flavor is very typical of pumpkin spice with a good balance of spice and hoppy gourd throughout. Intermixed are notes of nutmeg and oak. All around, it's a refreshing beer best shared with a couple of your best mates. If you're actually at their brewery and beer isn't on the brains, feel free to check out their bevy of wines which they also cultivate and age themselves.

Related: Best Historically Significant Bars In Sacramento

The Prophet Imperial Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
Out Of Bounds Brewing Co.
4480 Yankee Hill Road, Suite 100
Rocklin, CA 95677
(916) 259-1511
www.outofboundsbrewing.com

According to the label, this is a true full bodied West Coast stout through and through. Intermixed with aggressive flavor and color are notes of chocolate and hops that have been artfully aged thanks to bourbon oak. You'll find a balanced blend of chocolate, oatmeal (possibly of the steel cut variety) and maybe hints of fruit. If you're the waiting kind, a couple of years in a cool dark cellar just might be the ticket to kick this beer up a notch. If the UC system is your alma mater, feel proud as both of the founders of Out of Bounds Brewing Co. are graduates of UC Davis's Master Brewers program.

Saison Traditional Farmhouse Ale
Ruhstaller
630 K. St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.ruhstallerbeer.com

This traditional farmhouse ale is a classic balanced beer with lots of fruity flavors with hints of spice intermixed. A nod to Southern Belgium, this beer is inspired by traditional farmhouse ales. On first taste, you'll find hints of barley, wheat and toasted malts. This is a beer that's specially made for easy drinking. Keep in mind, patronizing Ruhstaller is a nod to local farms as all their hops are grown by local farmers.

Related: Best Beer Gardens In Sacramento

Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.
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