I was looking for a mixed 12-pack at Magruder’s and the Starr Hill Box Set caught my eye.  The box set included:

• Amber Ale, an Irish Red Ale
• Jomo Lager, your standard light lager
• Pale Ale, an English Pale Ale
• The Love, a wheat beer

The Pale Ale, a solid session beer, was my favorite, followed by The Love.

I’m a big fan of Starr Hill Brewing Company (Charlottesville, VA) and I couldn’t resist picking up a  six-pack of Festie, their fall seasonal, when I was buying beer at Rodman’s a few days ago (October 16).

Festie is a rich and malty Oktoberfest lager — one of the best I’ve had this season.

Even better though, is the Dogtoberfest from Flying Dog Brewery (Frederick, MD).  I picked up a six pack of this even before I found out that it had won Gold in the German Style Märzen category at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival.  I’ll be getting more of this easy-drinking brew.