With fall well upon us, many breweries offer a variety of autumnal ales to whet our appetites. Generally this means a run of pumpkin-spiced beers, kicked up with seasonal sweetness. Victory Brewing Company, of Downingtown, PA, has a different idea for autumn. Available for a short period of time in the fall, Moonglow Weizenbock is Victory’s take on the the dark amber German brew. This is a wheat beer brewed in the traditional Bavarian style, using malt, hops and yeast imported from Germany.

Served on tap in a tulip glass or poured from the 12-ounce bottle, Moonglow has a slightly hazy, rich golden-brown glow. The nose of the beer packs a perfect whiff of the fall season. Bananas are up front, followed by a slight malt sweetness, nutmeg, and coriander. The tropical ripeness returns as the main attraction in the first few sips of the brew, giving way to a harvest fruit and spice balance that is not too sweet nor heavy-handed. In spite of its strong alcohol content (8.7% ABV), Moonglow is very creamy, smooth-drinking brew that gives a slight hint of warmth just as you reach the end of the glass.

Moonglow is a refreshing change for a fall beer, bucking the uber-popular pumpkin trend (check out 8 pumpkin beers here). It’s what we’ve come to expect from Victory, an offering outside of the norm that is full of rich flavors and shows great brewing expertise.