Club Corner
Beer Club October 2026: Orange Season
While I do appreciate San Francisco’s constant of 60℉ and foggy, one thing I miss living here is the beauty of the changing seasons. Luckily, I can track the passage of time through the decorations I see outside: flags representing different holidays, menorahs displayed in windows - and the rare but ever impressive 12 foot tall skeleton looming over Home Depot.That last one, brings us to our theme for this month. With Halloween season in full swing, the spooky signage is everywhere. My dad has hung up his spider web spanning from the house to the tree in front, and he continues to ornament it right up till the big day.One thing that is still missing from it though, is the color Orange. One half (the other is of course black) of the Halloween hues, Orange reps both the changing autumnal foliage and the pumpkin-to-jack-o-lantern transformations that define this time of year.So why not the beer the too? deGarde Brewing, nestled in the Oregon coast, is known for their naturally fermented wild ales. This month we are featuring their The Frais a l’Orange, which has spent some time brewing with orange zest. This nod to the color-that-rhymes-with-nothing is fantastic for the feasts that occur during the holidays, and adds a bit of warmth and spice with which to weather the colder temperatures.Boo!Daniel RuppertBeer Buyer The Frais a l'Orange Wild Ale Brewery: deGarde Brewing Brewery Notes: We make beer and wine that has something to say. Expressions and illustrations of the farms. Projected colors and recollected aromas of the vineyards. Locally and responsibly sourced ingredients from our region, painstakingly processed by hand. No additions, subtractions or modifications are needed. None are offered. Just honesty, care, and quality. Nature provides something unique each year. We embrace that innate beauty and potential. We are a family-owned business. There are no investors or outside inputs. Just our own small team. Crafting and sharing beautiful things that we care deeply about. We hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do. It has all been worth doing. It’s about place. It’s about time. Tasting Notes: Pours a hazy orange with an ombre to peach. Citrus and barnyard funk on the nose. Bright acidity and tropical fruit cover the mouth. Short bitter finish. Locale: Tillamook, OR ABV: 5.5% Price: $25.99
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Beer of the Month: September picks for Oktoberfest
With September almost over, Oktoberfest festivities are fully underway. However, this club has featured Oktoberfest beers for our September selections for the past 4 years; which has, for the most part, mopped up all the options. Fortunately for us, a few weeks ago, a pre-order opportunity came across my desk that fit perfectly for this club. Finback Brewery was founded in 2011, with a passion to brew artistic beverages and cultivate welcoming spaces for other creatives. Blossoming from the co-creators’ backgrounds in the arts, one a freelance graphic designer, the other an architect, they decided to pursue their shared hobby of homebrewing as a career. Flip flopping between names and locations; they ultimately decided on Finback in honor of a whale that had unfortunately beached 2 years earlier, and Glendale, a quiet spot in Queens. They have since expanded with a spot in Brooklyn and a few other beverage and food focused business ventures. Enough of that, what about their beer, this is a beer club after all? While some may recognize this brewery from one of our October selections last year, this month’s selections are more reflective of their core offerings, featuring their Hazy Pale Ale and Pilsner, with a Double IPA and Festbier added on as it is still September after all. They prioritize using non-standard ingredients allowing them to explore the bounds of what beverages can be. Cheers, Daniel Ruppert Beer Buyer Greener Pastures Double IPA Brewery: Finback Brewery Tasting Notes: Pours a hazy gold with a medium length lasting dense head. Orange peel and tropical fruit make up the nose. Orange mellows on the medium bodied palate with a velvety texture; leading to a long citrusy finish. Pairs well with a campfire by your tent after a long day hiking. Locale: Queens, NY ABV: 8% Price: $6.99 per can Daily Catch Hazy Pale Ale Brewery: Finback Brewery Tasting Notes: Pours a cloudy amber, with a dense quick head. Minty, dank, citrusy nose. Dank notes continue on the palate, now paired with dried tropical fruits. Medium length finish. Compliments a good day on the green when you consider lowering your handicap. Locale: Queens, NY ABV: 4.8% Price: $6.99 per can Crispy Morning Pilsner Brewery: Finback Brewery Tasting Notes: Pours a hazy yellow with a dense head. Piney hop notes and dried citrus peel on the nose. Hoppy notes continue on the palate now paired with more ripe citrus notes. On the finish, the hop notes turn bitter and linger pleasantly. Great while watching a sports game in person or on the TV. Locale: Queens, NY ABV: 5.2% Price: $6.99 per can Festbier German Style Lager Brewery: Finback Brewery Tasting Notes: Pours a clear gold with a short lasting fluffy head. Soft malt notes make up the nose. Light body with lively bubbles on the palate, malt and bitter hop notes pair neatly. Bitter earthy hop notes the medium length finish. Matches with a day spent out in the sun. Locale: Queens, NY ABV: 6% Price: $6.99 per can
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