Nantucket Island, Mass. -- There aren't that many reasons to visit Nantucket past Labor Day -- it's an island, after all -- but Cisco is definitely one of them. Their property may be small, but the bartenders are friendly and knowledgable, and I've yet to taste a beer that I don't like. This fall, they're replacing their seasonal pumpkin ale with a Crantucket Brut Rośe IPA.
Morrisville, Vt. -- No need to limit Lost Nation's brews to summer and fall: Their taproom is located off a recreational trail, accessible to the adventurous hiker, biker or even skier/snowboarders.
Portland, Maine -- Round out an autumn visit to Portland's cobblestoned streets and authentic eateries with a brewery tour (Portland has a lot of them), starting with Allagash. Expanding from the ultra-popular, Belgian-style witbier Allagash White, this taproom now does it all, even incorporating Maine cherries into a sour beer called the Nancy.
Salem, Mass. -- Originally based out of Ipswich (a popular destination in the summertime due to its expansive Crane Beach), Notch opened a beer garden in the middle of downtown Salem. You know what that means: You can wash down your tour of the Witch Trial sites with a Czech lager.
Boston, Mass. -- If fall foliage and ~nature~ isn't really your thing, you'll appreciate Trillium's setup in the modern Fort Point neighborhood of Boston. With tons -- and I mean tons -- of bar room inside as well as ample patio space and even a narrow rooftop, make this an indoor-outdoor experience while staying safely in the confines of the city.
Hampton, N.H. -- If you're not traveling north to New Hampshire in the fall, you're doing it wrong. The state's foliage-friendly Kancamagus Highway and White Mountains (that are more red and orange than white this time of year) alone are worth a drive. Cap it off with a quick brewski at Smuttynose's beer garden filled with lawn games and fire pits.
Boston, Mass. & Windsor, Vt. -- One word: Oktoberfest. Harpoon does it well, and it's not autumn until you polish off a can of their Flannel Friday brew. On a Friday. Wearing a flannel.
Charlton, Mass. -- Tree House takes the term "beer garden" to a whole new level. Their facilities mimic a college campus, with their beer halls surrounding what's essentially a quad stacked with Adirondack chairs. If the chill in the air is too much, though, their lodge-style indoor bar is always seasonally decorated to the nines.