The beginning of autumn is a bittersweet time of the year.  On one hand, days are getting shorter than nights, dropping air and water temperatures make for less-than-ideal beach conditions,  and the family’s free-time and flexibility gives way to more structure and routine.  On the other hand, the football season is in full swing, performing arts seasons have just begun or are about to begin, and as if you needed an excuse to drink more beer, Oktoberfest celebrations are happening.

I’ve never made it to Munich (for Oktoberfest or otherwise), and this year will be no different.  I don’t think I’m even going to make it to any of the local Southern California celebrations this year (in years past, I’ve favored Alpine Village in Torrance to Old World in Huntington Beach, largely because the latter loses points for serving beer in plastic cups).  So to keep up the spirit, I’m just going to have to drink Oktoberfest beer at home and at USC tailgates, and leave it to our friends at Costco to help facilitate that, um, need:

For the purist, they offer the benchmark Spaten Oktoberfest — the world’s first Oktoberfest beer, according to the brewer — for the amazing price of $1/bottle (of course, this is Costco, so your going to have to buy it in 24 bottle increments).

If you prefer to support the American economy more fully, they are offering the Samuel Adams Harvest Collection:

• The new Bonfire Rauchbier
• OctoberFest (note the Americanized spelling)
• Harvest Pumpkin Ale
• Irish Red
• Black Lager
• The ubiquitous Boston Lager