Features
Cerveza Tica goes Artesanal
The logo for Imperial, by far the most popular beer in Costa Rica, is a black predatory bird set against a field of gold. Inspired by the black eagle from Germany’s coat of arms, the logo is so omnipresent in Costa Rica—on bar signs and T-shirts, not to mention the fact that the product itself […]
Not Your Father’s Hard Cider
At Hawthorne Hophouse in Portland, OR, patrons can order whatever’s new from several nearby breweries, perhaps discovering they love peppery saisons or tart krieks. But the 24 taps don’t end there, as there are fermentations from producers around the Northwest, all vying to create beverages locals might like. And locals like hops. So a dry-hopped […]
Columns
Forest From the Trees
It was the first of a lot of things: my first trip to Chicago, my first chance to see Wrigley Field. It was the first time I had beers with author Michael Jackson; it was my first authentic deep-dish pizza and late-night Chicago Red Hot. But most importantly, it was my first taste of bourbon […]
The Care and Feeding of Your Favorite Publican
In the old days, not the long-gone old days, but the recent old days, when craft brewing was new, I made an interesting discovery. I noticed that when I visited Seattle and sampled Oregon craft beers on draft, they didn’t seem to taste as good. I concluded that they did not travel well, hence the […]
Friendship in a Bottle
Alcoholic beverages were not a part of my upbringing. There was no prohibition or religious objection—it just wasn’t a daily part of our lives. We had the tiny glass of concord grape wine with our weekly Sabbath dinner, and my parents hosted the occasional cocktail party. In retrospect, I would seem an unlikely candidate to […]
Departments
Milk Stout
The lineup of beer styles available today is quite impressive, but the lines between them are often blurry. The difference between porters and stouts might only be a matter of brewer’s discretion. These two form a virtual continuum, the minor differences barely justification for designating them one style, or sub-style, versus another. Avid beer fans […]
More Brewery Hotels Around the World
Not going to one of these featured destinations? Don’t cry in your beer for lack of fun accommodations. There are more than 100 more lodging-based breweries around the world. Roughly 23 are in the Czech Republic. In addition to visiting Prague, head out to the countryside and stay at Zámek Zábřeh (U Zámku 42/1, Ostrava), […]
Brewery Hotels
Perhaps the biggest question when planning beer travel, after where to actually go, isn’t which breweries to tour or how many cases you can realistically cart home, but where to stay. Best case scenario would be to drink as many pints as you like in the brewery’s tap room and pass out on the spot, […]
A Primer on Lagerbier
I am an unabashed lager lover. My first beer epiphany came from a glass of Hacker-Pschorr Dunkel in the mid-1970s. A few years later, homebrewing brought the giddy realization that I could brew my own. Much has changed on the homebrew front in the past 25 years, making the chasm between commercial and homebrewed lagers […]
Pull Up A Stool With Brad Wynn
Big Boss has been through a lot of incarnations, hasn’t it? It was Tom Cat, which became Pale Ale (it was really owned by the same people), then it became Rock Creek, and that’s when I became involved. Rock Creek became Chesapeake Bay for a very short time and nearly went under. We came back […]
Beer Talk
Sour Reserve Blend No. 2
Upland Brewing Co. Bloomington, IN Upland’s sour ale project began in 2006. By blending the sour ale from choice barrels together in various amounts, we created a live harmony of tartness, fruitiness and layers of flavor that can never be replicated. ABV: 5.5 ABW: 4.4 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: N/A ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A
Eiraphiotes Imperial Pilsner
Olde Hickory Brewery Hickory, NC A Greek epithet for Dionysus, Eiraphiotes means “Twice-Born”—Its second birth from chardonnay barrels has transformed this pilsner dramatically. Very limited production. ABV: 7.5 ABW: 6.0 COLOR: 6 BITTERNESS: 55 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1.0688 AVAILABLE: NC
Burton IPA
Southampton Publick House Southampton, NY A classic British ale like those made in the town of Burton-On-Trent, a brewing center famous for its high mineral content water. Minerals are added to our water in order to replicate this classic ale. ABV: 6.5 ABW: 5.2 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 55 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1061
Karma Ale
Avery Brewing Co. Boulder, CO “You get what you give.” Inspired by this principle and the farmhouse and pale ales of Belgium, Avery created Karma Ale, a decidedly fruity and estery ale, intricate in body and nose, all driven by a unique Belgian yeast strain. ABV: 5.4 ABW: 4.3 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 17.5 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: […]
Jamaica Stout
Big City Brewing Co. Kingston, Jamaica Imported by G. K. Skaggs, Inc., Irvine, CA A strong Foreign-Style Stout with a big roasted malt component, followed by a sweet thick notes with charcoal-wood characteristics. Medium-to-not-quite-full-bodied. Finishes dry with a touch of a pucker. ABV: 7.6 ABW: 6.08 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 30 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1070 AVAILABLE: AL,CA,DE,FL,IL,IN,LA,MI,MN,NY,PA,SC,TX,NJ,VA,WV
Denver Pale Ale
Great Divide Brewing Co. Denver, CO An award-winning English-style pale ale. A copper hue and an assertive floral hop aroma with a malty middle that is complemented by a hearty and complex hop flavor. The hop finish is marked by crisp yet moderate hop bitterness. ABV: 5.4 ABW: 4.32 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 40 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: […]
Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale
Spoetzl Brewery (Gambrinus Company) Shiner, TX A classic American Pale Ale featuring two row barley malt with a blend of Munich and Caramel malt for rich malt flavor and golden color. High alpha Bravo and US Golding hops are used in the kettle and fermenter for crisp bitterness and assertive fresh hop fruit and floral […]
The Summer Ale
The Brooklyn Brewery Brooklyn, NY A modern rendition of the “Light Dinner Ales” brewed in England throughout the 1800s. Brewed from English barley malt, which gives this light-bodied golden beer a fresh bready flavor. German and American hops lend a light, crisp bitterness and a citrus/floral aroma. ABV: 5.0 ABW: 4.0 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 18 […]
Maracaibo Especial
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales Dexter, MI A brown ale inspired by the monastic brews of Belgium, as well as the jungles of the tropics. Brewed with real cacao, and spiced with cinnamon and sweet orange peel. ABV: 7.5 ABW: 6 COLOR: 37 BITTERNESS: 25 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1062 AVAILABLE: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, […]
Wreck Alley Imperial Stout
Karl Strauss Brewing Co. San Diego, CA Dark as the depths of its namesake, an Imperial Stout of uncharted complexity. Brewed with darkly kilned malts, cocoa nibs, and Ethiopian coffee beans, Wreck Alley has rich layers of dark chocolate, toffee, and espresso-like roast. ABV: 9.5 ABW: 7.6 COLOR: 100 BITTERNESS: 50 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A
No Apologies Double IPA
Blue Point Brewing Co. Patchogue, NY Crafted in small batches from European malts and American hops. An earthy hop aroma is followed by a pleasant caramel sweetness. Four hop varieties round out this balanced beer. ABV: 10.0 ABW: 8.0 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 93 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1091
Summer Weizen
Smuttynose Brewing Co. Portsmouth, NH Brewed with a combination of domestic and continental wheat and barley malts, lightly hopped & fermented with a Belgian wit yeast, resulting in a tangy & refreshing flavor. ABV: 5.5 ABW: 4.4 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 15 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1050 AVAILABLE: CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, MA, MD, MN, NC, […]
Summer Ale
Narragansett Brewing Co. Providence, RI A light session ale made with two row pale malt and citra hops. Blonde in color, pours golden, producing a generous white head. Malt is smooth, balanced out by a crisp bitterness. Aromas of mixed fruits are evident, but mild on the palate. ABV: 4.2 ABW: 3.36 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: […]
Twilight Summer Ale
Deschutes Brewery Bend, OR Made with a unique blend of four hops and malts, this lively straw-colored ale has a vigorous hop essence with a malt body that complements the flavor of this special seasonal brew. ABV: 5.0 ABW: 4.0 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 35 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A
Sea Nymph Summer Ale
Heavy Seas Brewing Co. Baltimore, MD Light gold in color, yet crisp and refreshing. This ale will pair well with grilled seafood and salads. ABV: 4.5 ABW: 3.6 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: N/A ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A
Whippet Wheat
Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. Akron, OH This hefe is made with 50 percent wheat malt and pure German wheat yeast. This yeast shows in the cloudiness of the beer, and also creates the delightful clove vanilla and banana aromas. ABV: 5.2 ABW: 4.16 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 10 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1050