Where Spotted: Rodman’s, 5100 Wisconsin Ave. NW

Price: $9.99 per 6-pack

The Fall Guy: All summer long, I had an appetite for only golden lagers and tart wheat beers. I got worried, wondering if I was graying prematurely, my palate no longer able to withstand a beer with more kick. Luckily, it was just my own version of seasonal affective disorder, and as fall approached, the bright, moderately hopped Humming Ale bridged the gap between seasons, welcoming me to autumn one six-pack after six-pack.

Nose Candy: Anchor has always approached hops with restraint, and Humming Ale, the brewery’s first new recipe in five years, is characteristically balanced. But it’s exciting, brewed with New Zealand’s Nelson Sauvin hops for these rich aromas of green grape and peach. It might be the epitome of beer nerdom to say this, but Nelson Sauvin—also the featured attraction of Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’—is the stretch-limo, coked-up rock star of hops.