Features
Gray Market/White Whale
Call me BeerMail. It is no secret that beer fanatics in a certain place (Yourtown, USA) in a certain time (right now) long to plant their lips upon a snifter, tulip or chalice of some rarified, vaunted, practically mythical ale. Likewise, it is no wonder that some people will go through the Ahabesque task of […]
Collaborators
There was a whiff of xenophobia at the first American Beer Month held July 2000. Gathering for a rally on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a throng of brewers and beer lovers was asked to swear that each would “savor the flavor of American-made beer, responsibly, moderately and exclusively.” That attitude has […]
Dual Citizenship
Can you identify the imports? It’s not always easy. Let’s start with Kirin Ichiban over a bowl of miso soup and teriyaki chicken. Named after a mythical creature said to bring good luck, Kirin is a German-style lager that originated in Japan in 1888. But the fine print on our bottle reads, “Brewed under the […]
Beer Without Borders
The day is coming when the distinction between “import” and “domestic” will be far less important than the distinction between “mass market” and “craft.” Check out the top 25 import brands in terms of case sales, you’ll find that most of the leading brands are pale pilsners. Heck, two brands, Corona and Heineken, account for […]
Cask Ale
Over the last few years we’ve seen a veritable boom in the number of craft beer establishments around the country, including many that specialize in artisanal foods. And with this growth, we’ve also seen another development: a newfound appreciation of cask-conditioned beer.
A Case of Good Breweries
In Japan, the beer from these 24 breweries is worth seeking out. The name of the brewery is preceded by the month/year they opened and followed by their location (in parenthesis). 2/95 Echigo Beer Co. (Niigata) 5/95 Otaru Beer (Hokkaido) 6/95 Gotemba Kogen Brewery (Shizuoka) 6/95 Yokohama Beer (Yokohama) 7/95 Doppo Beer (Okayama) 3/96 […]
Craft Brewing in Japan
It was July of 2000 and Bryan and Sayuri Baird had just finished completing their new Fishmarket Taproom across the street from the port in Numazu, Japan. They had already applied for a brewing license for their startup, Baird Brewing Co. While the taproom offered Hoegaarden White, Guinness and several other beers, the Bairds were […]
Columns
Raising a Glass with Friends
Beer enthusiasts frequently say that part of the enjoyment they derive from today’s better beer culture is the social aspect of having a beer with someone they like or find interesting. Socializing over a pint or three is, and has always been, the best part of a beer drinker’s day.
A Selected Chronology of Early Craft/Micro Brewers in the United States and Canada
1965 Fritz Maytag buys San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Co., brews a genuine California steam beer. 1976 New Albion, Sonoma, CA (1976-83) Prinz Brau, Anchorage, AK (1976-1979) was small (10,000 bbl capacity), but not strictly a craft brewer. Prinz Brau was the product of German brewery Oetker’s attempt to brew German beer under the Reinheitsgebot in […]
The Craft Beer Revolution, 30 Years On
The year 1980 was pretty much the real beginning of what has become the craft beer revolution here in this country. Ken Grossman, owner, founder and CEO of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. of Chico, CA, plans to mark 2010 with a year-long celebration, in cooperation with Fritz Maytag and his San Francisco Anchor Brewery. To […]
Departments
A Random Walk Down Memory Lane
A couple of months ago we decided it was time to give our Beer Traveler passports a hiatus. We’ve had a long and pleasant relationship with All About Beer Magazine, almost seven years now. We’ve loved reporting about our travels and the many wonderful establishments that have opened their doors to us as they shared […]
with Hedwig Neven
How long have you been the head brewer for Duvel? I’ve been with the company for 17 years, and I’ve been the head brewmaster for 10 years now.
The Old Beer of Germany
Though beer styles have evolved relatively recently, all have tangible connections to more ancient brews through ingredients or methods. Brewers were bound by resources and climate on one hand; and regional heritage, pride and individualism on the other. For altbier, the indigenous brew of Düsseldorf, it is a combination of all those factors. Obliged to […]
Beer Talk
Dragonfly IPA
Upland Brewing Co. Bloomington, IN Available: IN, KY, WI Upkand Brewing Co. has been brewing beer in Bloomington, Indiana since 1998. The name “Upland” comes from the Norman and Crawford Uplands, the term geologists gave to the area because several glaciers advanced and retreated across Indiana, resulting in a region of rugged, heavily wooded hills […]
Dock Street Barley Wine
Dock Street Brewing Co. Philadelphia, PA Available: PA Dock Street Brewing Co. was founded in Philadelphia in 1985, the first microbrewery in the City of Brotherly Love. This barley wine has been aged in Pinot Noir barrels for 10 months, hand-bottled and bottle conditioned. ABV: 10.5 ABW: n/a Color: dark Bitterness: 76 Original gravity: 1101
Wahoo Wheat Beer
Ballast Point Brewing Co. San Diego, CA Available: CA, AZ, PA, HI Wahoo was one of the first beers brewed when Ballast Point opened back in 1996. It is spiced with orange peel, coriander and curacao. ABV: 4.1 ABW: 3.3 Color: 4 Bitterness: 12 Original gravity: 1041
LA-31 Bière Pâle
Bayou Teche Brewing Arnaudville, LA Available: LA LA-31 Bière Pâle is crafted with imported Belgian malts and American hops and yeast. The beer is crafted to compliment traditional LA cuisine such as red beans and rice, jambalaya, sauce piquant, shrimp Creole, chicken and sausage gumbo, hot boudin, boiled crawfish, fried seafood platters, crawfish bisque and […]
Samuel Adams Noble Pils
Boston Beer Co. Boston, MA Available: Nationwide Since 2005 the brewers at Samuel Adams have been offering drinkers a voice in choosing one of the new beers they will introduce in the coming year. This year voters in the 5th annual Samuel Adams Beer Lover’s Choice contest were decisive in choosing Samuel Adams Noble Pils, […]
Up The Creek Extreme IPA
Thomas Creek Brewery Greenville, SC Available: SC, NC, GA, TN, VA Up The Creek Extreme IPA is mashed in at a low temperature to increase the amount of fermentable sugars while reducing residual sweetness. Along with a triple dry-hop, this creates a hoppy behemoth of a beer with its alcohol well hidden. ABV: 12.5 ABW: […]
Organic Real Ale
Laverstoke Park Farm Overton, Hampshire, UK Imported by: C2 Imports Los Angeles, CA Available: CA, NY, FL, IL, PA, TX, NJ, MA, MI, VA Laverstoke Park Farm is a 2,500 acre organic farm in Hampshire owned by former Formula 1 World Champion, Jody Scheckter. Beers have been awarded 2 gold stars 2 years in a […]
Demolition 1800 Ale
Goose Island Beer Co. Chicago, IL Available: ND, SD, NE, KS, AR, MO, IA, MN, WI, IL, IN, MI, OH, KY, NY, DC, MD, MA Brewed to honor the brave souls who kept the brewpub open in the early 90’s while wrecking balls tore down the surrounding mall. Dry and smooth, with a grassy, citrus […]
Flashback Brown
Boulder Beer Co. Boulder, CO Available: AZ, AL, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, NE, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY Originally brewed to commemorate the milestone 30th Anniversary of Boulder Beer Co., Flashback India Brown Ale earned […]
Vinyl
Magic Hat Brewing Co. Burlington, VT Available: AL, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV Vinyl lager is a beer with a deep amber hue, sweet malt taste and a slight […]
Sheep Head Ale
Brau Brothers Brewing Co. Lucan, MN Available: MN, SD, ND, IA, WI Brau Brothers Brewing Co is a small, family owned, independent brewery in a town of 220 people in southwest MN. They grow eleven varieties of hops in their own three-acre hopyard just outside the brewery front door. They also grow 3 acres of […]
Stawski Premium Lager
Stawski, Poland Stawski Imports Chicago, IL Available: AZ, CA, FL, IL, KY, MD, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA Poland has a long brewing history that is closely tied to the great lager traditions in the Czech Republic and Germany. Today, over 70 breweries operate in Poland: a few large companies are associated with international […]
Hop Mountain Pale Ale
Old Dominion Brewing Co. Dover, DE Available: MD, DE, DC, VA & PA Hop Mountain Pale Ale is a rich, red ale made in American Pale Ale style. It is brewed with four different styles of American hops and dry hopped with two of those. The brew won the United States Beer Tasting Championship, “Grand […]
Amber Lager
Karl Strauss Brewing Co. San Diego, CA Available: CA Born and raised in his father’s brewery, Karl spent his life making beer. His work was inspired by a simple truth: life was meant to be enjoyed, preferably with good friends and good beer. ABV: 4.2 ABW: 3.5 Color: 15 Bitterness: 16 Original gravity: 1048
Railyard Ale
Wynkoop Brewing Co. Denver, CO Available: CO The Wynkoop Brewing Company is one of Colorado’s oldest brew pubs. It was founded in 1988 is housed in the glorious J. S. Brown Mercantile Building. ABV: 5.2 ABW: 4.1 Color: light amber Bitterness: 18 Original gravity: 1051
Lucky 7 Porter
Evolution Craft Brewing Co. Delmar, DE Available: DC, DE, MD In April 2009, founders and brothers Tom & John Knorr opened a boutique production brewery in Delaware, Evolution Craft Brewing Company. They were intrigued with the artistry in beer and decided that brewing their own beer would be a great new venture. OR “Lucky 7” […]