Maine Beer Fall 500ML

Maine Beer Fall 500ML is a 5.6% ABV American stout brewed with cold brew coffee and lactose in a 500ml bottle. Rated 4.69 out of 5 on BeerAdvocate, this seasonal release from Maine Beer Company stands apart through its collaboration with Portland-based Coffee By Design, whose cold-brewed coffee delivers notably low acidity and genuine coffee character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.6%  |  Origin: Freeport, Maine, USA  |  Style: American Stout with Cold Brew Coffee  |  Brewery: Maine Beer Company

Production & Heritage

Maine Beer Company was founded in 2009 by brothers David and Daniel Kleban in Freeport, Maine. Fall is built on a complex grain bill of American 2-row, Blue-ox wheat, Pilsner, Munich 10L, Dark Chocolate malt, Blackprinz malt, Valley malt chocolate rye, and lactose — the last of which contributes body and residual sweetness. Rather than hot-brewed coffee, the brewery uses cold brew prepared by Coffee By Design, a deliberate choice that preserves lower acidity and produces a smoother, more authentic coffee flavor. Hops come from Lemondrop and the experimental variety HBC 472, adding subtle citrus and floral dimensions that prevent the stout from becoming one-note.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark chocolate and fresh cold brew coffee lead, followed by molasses and a subtle woody quality that recalls cedar and pine. The nose is rich without being heavy, with a clean roast character.

Taste: The entry delivers mocha and dark chocolate, quickly followed by toffee and caramel at mid-palate. Lactose lends a creamy mouthfeel, while the cold brew coffee flavor reads as genuinely coffee-like — low in acidity and smooth. A restrained floral and citrus hop presence from the Lemondrop and HBC 472 additions emerges toward the peak, keeping the sweetness in check.

Finish: Dry and warming, like a well-made hot chocolate with a hint of leather and burnt toast. Lingering notes of walnut wood and subdued citrus round out a finish of moderate length.

How to Drink Fall

Best served at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, which allows the full range of chocolate and coffee aromatics to develop. Pouring into a tulip glass or snifter concentrates the nose and showcases the dark mahogany color. For cocktail-curious drinkers: a Coffee Stout Float made with vanilla ice cream amplifies the mocha and toffee notes; a Black Velvet variation using Fall in place of a traditional stout adds cold-brew complexity to the champagne pairing; and a Stout Flip — shaken with a whole egg, demerara syrup, and a dash of vanilla — transforms the beer into a rich, dessert-like cocktail.

Best For

• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts during autumn gatherings
• Pairing with a chocolate dessert course at a dinner party
• Gifting to a coffee lover exploring the intersection of craft beer and specialty roasters
• Cellar-temperature sipping on a cold New England evening

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Fall taste like? Fall delivers rich dark chocolate and authentic cold brew coffee flavor with supporting notes of toffee, caramel, and molasses, finishing dry like a well-made hot chocolate with subtle floral and citrus hop character.

How does Fall compare to Mean Old Tom? Mean Old Tom is Maine Beer Company's year-round stout, brewed with vanilla beans and offering a sweeter, more vanilla-forward profile at a similar ABV. Fall leans into roast and coffee territory thanks to its cold-brewed Coffee By Design addition and complex grain bill that includes chocolate rye and Blackprinz malt.

Is Fall good for sipping neat? Fall is an excellent sipping stout, best enjoyed at cellar temperature where its layered coffee and chocolate character can fully express itself — the 5.6% ABV makes it sessionable enough for a relaxed evening.

Where is Fall made? Fall is brewed at Maine Beer Company in Freeport, Maine, a brewery founded in 2009 by brothers David and Daniel Kleban on the southern coast of the state.

What foods pair well with Fall? Dark chocolate brownies mirror the stout's dominant cocoa notes; smoked brisket contrasts the coffee and toffee character; sharp aged cheddar plays off the lactose sweetness; maple-glazed bacon amplifies the caramel and molasses undertones; and a slice of pecan pie echoes the nutty, toasty grain bill.

What sizes does Fall come in? Fall is available in 500ml bottles, the standard format for Maine Beer Company's lineup.

Is Fall worth the price? Fall positions as a premium craft stout, reflecting its specialty ingredients — including cold brew from Coffee By Design and a seven-grain bill with lactose — and the brewery's reputation for quality; within the specialty coffee stout segment, it represents strong value given its high community ratings.

Why Fall?

What separates Fall from the crowded field of coffee stouts is its insistence on using genuine cold-brewed coffee rather than hot-brewed coffee or coffee flavoring — a detail that directly shapes the beer's low-acidity smoothness and realistic cold brew taste. The grain bill is more complex than most stouts in its class, blending seven distinct malts and grains with lactose for body and two hop varieties for balance. A 4.69 out of 5 rating on BeerAdvocate and over 27,000 ratings on Untappd confirm that the approach resonates with serious beer drinkers. For anyone seeking a stout that genuinely tastes like coffee rather than simply suggesting it, Fall delivers on that promise with uncommon precision.