There's a nip in the air these days, and the leaves, they are a-chaingin'. But enough about the weather. Probably the single most important seasonal transition is the change of alcoholic beverages. I've written before how Corona is great for hot summer weather. I also like Rum & Ginger Beer, Gin & Tonic, and Rum & Tonic (w/ mint). Since the football season started I've been off the Corona, as it's hard to beat Sam Adams and football. Other medium ales work too.

But now it's time to stock the bar for chilly winter nights - the best drinking conditions, in my opinion. Starting with the beer, it's time to break out the big guns - dark and heavy. Guinness is a good one - if drinking at home, I prefer the tall "draft" cans with the little plastic ball in them. They aren't cheap, but cheap drinks are for summertime. Another of my favorites is Franziskaner, a habit I picked up while living in Zurich. Franziskaner Hefeweisen, technically a summer beer (in Germany), is a good match for American winters (they also offer a Dunkel, i.e. dark beer). It's very crisp, very clean, and pure tasting. It has an unmatched aftertaste of, I believe, hops - a little bit sweet but also earthy. After every sip I think "That's how beer is supposed to taste." Available at your local specialty shop in both Americanized 6 packs or the original half-liter brown bottle - look for the smiling Monk.

Cooler weather is also time to break out the wine. I am not much of a wine expert, so I won't offer much advice here. As wine is probably the weakest/most expensive alcohol when considering "bang for the buck", I tend towards the cheap stuff: Not gallons or boxes of course, but normal bottles at approximately $8 to $14 per. I go to a big box wine store (Corridor Wines, right off the BW parkway on 198 in Maryland) with about 30% discounts, so I can usually get decent bottles in that range. My wife and I like the Beringer Founders' Estate Merlot and Cabernet at around $8 per bottle, and the Chateau St. Jean Gewurztraminer ($14) is excellent with spicy Thai food. Whatever you like, dark fall evenings are a great time to match a warming, delicious dinner with a cool glass of white or a full dark glass of red.

Last year was the first year I tried single malt scotch, and as I've written before, I enjoy it thoroughly. However once the weather warmed, I lost any desire to taste of the old highlands or briny shores of Scotland. I made exceptions for Artemis' birth, and also for my friend Marc's departure to Europe, but that was only for the top notch Laphroaig 15 year, for special occasions. But the other day, feeling the cool chill of wind, I knew it was time to again partake of the good stuff on a more regular basis. My first selections for the year are some good basic bottles: Laphroaig 10 year and Balvenie Doublewood. Those are two very different bottles, with the Doublewood bringing rich wooden overtones while the Laphroaig is much more harsh but rewarding. I'll probably add a couple more bottles before Christmas to build a nice selection - it's great when you can match your drink to your mood. Some likely purchases: Bunnahabhain, MacCallen, and some others I haven't yet tried. (Note: Glenlivet is a very common scotch, and overrated if you ask me).

So, if you're looking to stock your cabinets or second refrigerator for the winter, you could do a lot worse than some caches of Guiness, Franziskaner, various Merlots, some Laphroaig or Bunnahabhain, and some Balvenie or MacCallen. Enjoy! Plus, the stuff's so expensive you probably won't be able to afford becoming an alcoholic.