Despite my love of cool weather and sweaters, autumn truly means only one thing to me: seasonal brews.

The fall is full of countless seasonal beers that will do a fine job of delighting your palate while warming your chest. Darker amber ales and brews filled with flavors of pumpkin and spice are hitting the shelves and also my wallet.

Two of my personal favorite fall beers are the Great Lakes Oktoberfest and Dogfish Head Punkin Ale. They offer something unique in flavor that you can only experience in autumn beers.

Great Lakes Oktoberfest

This beer is nothing but smooth all the way to the last drop.

I had to try to control myself from finishing my six pack immediately after purchasing this one. Even as the beer got warmer, it never lost its rich flavor and left no disappointment.

The beer came out as a light amber color when I poured it. Amber ales often get me excited as they combine the richness of darker ale with the subtle flavor of some lighter ones. This Oktoberfest kept it light enough to leave me wanting more but dark enough to keep me warm.

Great Lakes put in such a rich and fulfilling flavor that I am not used to in seasonal beers. This was one of the best and is certainly one I plan on visiting again. Even a novice beer lover can appreciate this Great Lakes Oktoberfest. The distinct flavors come strong enough to be recognized but are not off-putting in the least.

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Pumpkin ales have always been a side of fall beers I tend to stay away from. I can appreciate pumpkin flavors but often find them overwhelming. Luckily, Dogfish Head changed my mind.

The Punkin Ale poured a brownish-orange color that made me think it would contain lighter flavors. The peculiar color definitely kept me very interested in how it would compare to the other seasonal brews.

While this beer certainly delivered on some great caramel and pumpkin flavors, the star on my palate was the brown sugar. The brown sugar pulled together the sweetness and light tartness of the beer very well. This is certainly a beer I would love to have with my Thanksgiving dinner.