New England: Six States, Six Must-Try Meals (Beer And Dessert Included)

Fall starts next week, and you know what that means: Instagrammable foliage, cable-knit sweaters and Pumpkin Spice Everything. But fall is also a great time to pay homage to New England, with its forest-shrouded covered bridges, church steeples and old-world quaintness. So in honor of America's easternmost expanse, here is a list of the meals you must try from each of the six New England states.

Connecticut: New Haven-Style White Clam Pizza

Robyn Lee / Via theilladelph.blogspot.com

Move over, New York. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, which opened in 1925, brought the world New Haven-style pizza, also called apizza. This creamy, cheesy, clam-topped variation of appiza has become Connecticut's signature pie.

Wash it down with: The Olde Burnside Brewing Company's Ten Penny Ale

Top it off with: A slice of Old Hartford Election Cake

Maine: The Lobster Roll

Via roadfood.com

It's no secret that Maine does this meaty, buttery, mayonnaisey delicacy best. There are so many places serving up this dish on Maine's crinkle-cut coast that it's difficult to say which one holds the title for the best, but three of Yankee Magazine's favorites are from The Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth, J's Oyster Bar in Portland and Red's Eats in Wiscasset.

Wash it down with: Allagash Brewing Company's White Beer

Top it off with: A piece of wild Maine blueberry pie

Massachusetts: New England Clam Chowder

Via browneyedbaker.com

Ask for clam chowd-ER, or ask for clam chowd-A. Just don't ask for anything that starts with the word Manhattan. From classic recipes (see: The Summer Shack in Cambridge) to fancy varieties (see: Neptune Oyster in the North End), Boston seems to be America's capital for this creamy, chunky all-time New England favorite.

Wash it down with: Cisco Brewers' Whale's Tale Pale Ale

Top it off with: Cannolis from the locals' favorite, Modern Pastry Shop

New Hampshire: Yankee Bean Pot Chili

Via mrorph.com

When you think of chili, you probably think of a state like Texas. That being said, nothing warms you up on a chilly winter night quite like a steaming-hot bowl of chili (pun very much intended), so it makes sense that New England would concoct its own brand of this southwestern comfort food. Here's a recipe for New Hampshire's own Yankee Bean Pot Chili.

Wash it down with: Smuttynose Brewing Company's Pumpkin Ale

Top it off with: The Common Man restaurant's Uncommon Baked Apple

Rhode Island: Clam Cakes

Via popsugar.com

That's right; crab cakes have a lesser-known cousin, and they just might be better. Rhode Island is know for its quahog clams, and this dish–clams ground up in dough and deep-fried to crispy perfection–is perhaps the state's best. Whether you eat them on-the-go or at the dinner table, be sure to have plenty of tartar sauce on hand.

Wash it down with: Narragansett Brewing Company's Narragansett Lager

Top it off with: Doughboys–the Ocean State's take on fried dough

Vermont: Grilled Cheese

Via cabotcheese.coop

Wisconsin may be full of cheeseheads, but Vermont, home of the Cabot Creamery Cooperative, is known for its cheese too. This grilled cheese recipe calls for Cabot's Seriously Sharp Cheddar and applewood smoked bacon.

Wash it down with: The Alchemist's Heady Topper

Top it off with: Ben & Jerry's ice cream (try it drizzled with hot maple syrup on top)