A Fall Seasonal Beer That Sets a Standard

Mountain Standard by Odell Brewing Company isn't your typical fall seasonal. There's no pumpkin, spices or caramel malts. But to me, Mountain Standard is the perfect fall beer in its own way. It's a double black IPA, so it features a huge amount of hops with a sturdy backbone of dark, roasted malts. I enjoy big hoppy IPAs all year-round, but they can be especially satisfying on a hot summer day. Darker beers brewed with roasted malts, like porters or stouts, are more often savored during the colder months. Mountain Standard melds the hoppiness and roasted maltiness together beautifully, and what you get is a unique drinking experience that reminds you of this season of transition.

The beer pours black with a thin head. The aroma you get up front is a large burst of hops with a sweetness from the roasted malts. The taste is exactly what you'd expect from the aroma - a fruity and piney hoppiness with some sweetness and roasted character. The big flavors you get from the ingredients hide the higher alcohol content, which checks in at 9.5% ABV. It's medium-bodied; this beer isn't overly thick or heavy, but not thin either. There's a nice balance for a beer with this much malt and hops. The finish is a lingering piney bitterness that stays with you for a minute or two.

Mountain Standard is an excellent example of this style, and a great beer for any hop head to try. The hops used in this beer are also grown locally on Colorado's Western Slope. The story told by the label is a treat as well, sparking intrigue and drawing me in. Odell is the consumate storyteller with its beers and label art, and there's a commonality to this brewery that makes it very approachable. Not to mention Odell consistently brews outstanding beer that appeals to a wide range of palates. The Mountain Standard label features a moon sneering at a grimacing sun, symbolizing the impending change from daylight savings time back to mountain standard time. The beer's roasted malts are also symbolic of the darker days ahead of us. Fortunately, enjoying some good beer with our friends and family makes those days seem not so dark.