It feels odd to say goodbye to the beers of summer on a day the mercury hit the upper 80s in the DMV. But with cooler weather in the forecast, I’ve officially made the transition from light, crisp, refreshing ales to maltier, full-bodied brew. Heck, I’ve even been drinking pumpkin beer.

So here’s Part 2 of my farewell to The Beers of Summer. Cue the Don Henley…

Goose Island Summer Session Variety Pack

What’s better than a mixed 12-pack? A mixed 24-pack! Summer beer-drinking calls for cans, and this Goose Island case of cans answered the call in a big way.

Best Beer: IPA. Sure, the Chicago-based Goose Island was bought by A-B InBev five years ago. But the beer is still solid. Don’t believe me? Just ask the Chicago Tribune. The IPA “is among the most honored beers in the history of the Great American Beer Festival; it has medaled six times in the English-style India pale ale category…and still tastes mighty fine.”

Oskar Blues Brewery Canundrum

Best Beer: Dales Pale Ale. Simply a classic.

Sam Adams Pack of Rebels

Best Beer: Does it get any better than a mixed 12-pack of IPA cans for the pool? I’m taking a pass on best beer from this 12-pack; they were all damn good!

Old Ox Brewery Variety Pack

Best Beer: Alpha Ox, a session IPA, was perfect for day-drinking on the weekend camping trip that I brought this 12-pack. But when the sun went down, I was loving Golden Ox, a Belgian-style Golden Ale.

Cans, Cans, and More Cans

Best Beer: I built this mixed 6-pack of cans at Corridor Wine and Spirits in Laurel, Maryland. Uinta’s Hop Nosh Tangerine IPA was my favorite, and I bought a couple more 6-packs of this delicious brew over the summer.

Burley Oak Brewing Company

I found Sorry Chicky, a dry-hopped sour ale, at the pool bar at the water park during a weekend camping trip to Frontier Town near Ocean City, MD Love the can art! And love the beer!

Flying Dog Brewery

Snake Dog IPA is my go-to brew on hot summer nights at Orioles Park at Camden Yards. These 16 oz cans hit the spot! Go O’s!

Oh, and there were a few notable 12-packs of bottles from this summer…

Starr Hill Brewery Four Kings IPA Pack

What’s better than a mixed 12-pack of IPA? A mixed 12-pack of Imperial IPA!

Best Beer: I’m all aboard the citrus IPA bandwagon, and the Grapefruit King of Hop was my fav of the four.

Fat Tire & Friends Collabeeration Pack

To celebrate its 25^th anniversary, New Belgium collaborated with five other breweries to put a new spin on an old favorite – Fat Tire.

Best Beer: With collaboration brews from breweries of the likes of Firestone Walker, Avery, Allagash, Rhinegeist and Hopworks Urban Brewery, its hard to pick a favorite. But I’m partial to Maine breweries, so I gotta go with Allagash Fat Funk.

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall!