There’s a drink to suit every nuance of the weather, says Don Kavanagh.
Now that the heat is draining from our days we can finally enjoy the beauty that is autumn.
I’ve always loved autumn, with its colour splashes, crisp mornings and vibrant sunny days. But mostly I love it for the chance to enjoy some quality ales.
I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. I have a theory about beer and the seasons and it goes like this: when you get home from work, look at the sky.
The type of beer I drink depends mostly on how much light is in the sky about 6pm.
If it’s still broad daylight, drink lager and, as the light seeps from the heavens, go darker with the year.
So I’ve been having a ball recently, since some of my favourite beers are amber-to-brown in colour.
Monteith’s came out of the blocks early and released its Amber Autumn ale, a lively and refreshing ale that manages to combine a hint of darkening foliage with a bright, hoppy finish.
It’s a perfect partner to autumn, hinting at darker nights to come and still celebrating the bright, dry summer we’ve all enjoyed—apart from the farmers, of course, but I’ve never met a farmer who wasn’t complaining about something, so I tend to discount their opinions.
Autumn gives me the chance to enjoy some of the best beers in the country.
I’m not sure why, but New Zealand makes some fantastic autumnal beers and Hallertau Copper Tart, Renaissance Stonecutter, Founder’s Generation Ale, Sunshine Brewery Reserve and Sprig and Fern Scotch Ale are all on my ‘‘to do’’ list and that fills me with joy.
It also means that I can start back on the whisky, which also fills me with good feelings.
It’s not that I’ve exactly given it up over the summer, but there is something very satisfying and very right about finishing off the evening with a warming dram of something soft and golden.
I think it’s pretty much compulsory to toast the lighting of the first fire of the year with a large measure of whisky.
It is a bit sad that summer has ended but, let’s be honest, we’ve had a good run of it and winter is inevitable.
Let’s make the most of this lovely time of the year with a nice glass of something celebratory and start thinking about what we’re going to drink to drive the cold winter away.