Wheat ales are unique for a myriad of reasons. Traditionally, wheat ales are softer and more delicate than other ales. Containing little to no hop presence and higher carbonation, these ales are certain to be refreshing and sessionable beers that pair with both the heat and cuisine of summer.
Each year the World Beer Championships takes time to review what we describe as Continental European ale styles. This year’s tasting included a variety of Belgian brewed and inspired ales, as well as, alt, kolsch, and seasonal maibock styles.
The two towers of the ale world, Britain and America, have legions of devoted fanatics. One camp would campaign that too many North American craft ales have become too brash, too assertively hoppy, leaving drinkers craving the subtle and traditional session ales inspired by the U.K., while the other camp lusts for even bigger “imperial” American-inspired ales. Who’s winning the war? Who cares? Read More…
While some brewers feel stifled by stringent style guidelines, others have been quietly pushing against rigid style-centric enforcers for years. Empowered by their own ingenuity, many brewers have found success with products that cannot necessarily be defined by conventional nomenclature. I am not suggesting that strict style-adherence is unimportant, but rather that being “style-aware” would be a better approach in today’s brewing industry. Read More…
In a distant bowling alley, I remember bowling with my grandfather while he enjoyed his beer of choice, a beer some might now call a “macro lager.” So what has become of the lagers of my grandfather’s generation?
A year ago, I mused about the proliferation of specialty beers (i.e. beers made with unusual fermentables or techniques) diluting the very concept of what it means to be a specialty beer. Based on the wide range of “extreme,” fruit flavored, smoked, herbed, spiced and “alternately grained” beers we reviewed from around the world in this year’s specialty session, the transformation of specialty to normalcy is far from over. In fact, it’s accelerating. Read More…
The Beer Lover's Buying Guide is produced by the Beverage Testing Institute, an independent, full-time, professional review service.
Michael Miller, owner, Delilah's Night Club; Brian Van Zanbergen, Merchant Du Vin (Importer); Chad Wulff, BTI; Jerald O'Kennard, Director BTI; Patrick Berger, Paddy Long's; Tom Gardner, Duvel Moortgat USA.
