Now that summer's oppressive heat has lifted (saying goodbye to summer seems to hurt less when you say it like that) and the days are filled with crisp, clean air it's time to turn from light ales and thirst-quenching lagers to ones that have a little more heft—beer that'll put hair on your chest . . . or at least ones that will stand up to the hearty stews and heavier dishes that become customary this time of year.

Luckily we live in a country of devoted beer drinkers which has created a flourishing market for micro-brews. Many of them are crafting exceptional fall-friendly beers in addition to full-bodied European ales, stouts and Abbey beers.

Broken down into three main categories (with some overlap), here's a quick guide to choosing a beer that’ll both quench your autumnal thirst and compliment your meal.

Ales
Ales represent a diverse range of beer: from pale to dark, bitter to sweet, hopsy to malty and can be categorized by region, style, colour or flavour. Ales tend to pack more of a punch than lagers, with pronounced elements that showcase fruit notes, spice, hops or malt.  Much like the world of wine, the colour of the ale is generally a good indicator of flavour. On the light end are Belgian white beers with notes of citrus rind and coriander seed. On the dark end of the spectrum are the rich malty-caramel flavours found in darks, stouts and porters. 

One to Try
Wellington Arkell Best Bitter, Ontario
A light beer with real flavour. The result of careful malt selection and the use of several varieties of fresh hops. Light in alcohol, but big in flavour, try it with roast pork, lamb or beef stew.

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