Features
Session Beer Revolution
In 2006, bigness was in style. It was the height of the extreme beer revolution, and though pale ales, IPAs and other classics remained the backbone of the craft brewing industry, America was burning in the high heat of extreme beer fever. Dogfish Head was just assuming national celebrity status, “imperial” renditions of almost all […]
In the Shadow
Beer has deep roots in South Africa. That’s no surprise, since it was colonized in the 17th century by the Dutch and later by the English. In addition, some tribes such as the Zulu and Xhosa have a history of sorghum and maize-based brewing. The brewing industry there is younger, however, dating to the 1895 […]
Distribution in America
If you were to ask fellow beer drinkers to describe their favorite brewery, where would they start? They’d probably mention things like stainless-steel tanks, certain flagship and seasonal offerings, pot-bellied growlers, the smell of steeped barley, intermittent beardedness, the tall rubber boots… What about their favorite retailer? Perhaps they’d start with the beer aisle or […]
Over-the-counter hangover remedies
Last Round A natural supplement that comes in a 2.4 oz bottle, Last Round is a blend of kudzu root, stevia leaf, green tea leaf, ginko leaf and Ural licorice root. It tastes something like a Ricola cough drop and they recommend one bottle before bed and one bottle when you wake up. Worked for […]
Anatomy of a Hangover
“Never again is what you swore the time before.” These song lyrics from Depeche Mode summarize our feelings about the curse of imbibing: the hangover. The symptoms are unmistakable: headache, body aches, nausea, fatigue and perhaps tremors. It is of little comfort to know that despite its widespread prevalence, medical science has not developed a cure […]
Columns
From Wine to Beer
“Why did you switch from wine to beer?” “I graduated!” always gets a laugh. Though I’ve been commercially close to Gambrinus far longer that I was to Bacchus, I have never lost my taste for wine. Neither tipple is nobler than the other, though beer snobs pale in comparison to wine snobs. Over the years […]
Patience!
Today, we live in an automated society with debit cards, movies on demand and smart phones bringing things instantly to our fingertips. Everywhere we turn, automation has made our work less manual and more efficient. Today, fewer things are truly handcrafted than ever before.
Magic Beer—The Annual McMenamin Drink Tank
Portland brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin have built themselves a modest empire of wondrous proportions. They operate some 56 (mostly historic) establishments. They include about 23 breweries and brewpubs, a vineyard, a really good winery and two excellent distilleries (one—Cornelius Pass—built in a barn, using age-old, traditional construction and distillation techniques). There is even a […]
Departments
Navigating Your Way Around the Great American Beer Festival
For beer lovers, attending the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver deserves to be at the tippy top of your bucket list, that check-list of things to do or places to see before you die. In 2012, there were more than 450 breweries pouring nearly 2,500 different beers (from all 84 recognized categories) all […]
Drinking Dutch Courage is Back in Style
Gin has a history that is more twisted than the fancy spiral lemon peels used to adorn many a happy hour martini.
Berliner Weisse
In recent years, there has been a particular fondness for brews with “extreme” qualities. Intense hoppiness, rugged roasted flavors, wild funkiness and alcoholic potency all fit this bill. Sour flavors have most recently become a desired affection. Berliner weisse features a reserved lactic sourness as its keynote, the supplementary fermentation resulting in an effervescent, bone-dry […]
Giving Thanks
Fall always offers a chance to kickstart that homebrewing motor. We can take advantage of the cooler fermentation temperatures and move from heat-slaying brews to something more rich and substantial to pair with invigorating weather and culinary traditions of autumn. Of course, Thanksgiving is the culmination, a grand finale to the harvest and an ushering […]
Pull Up A Stool with Ben Edmunds
All About Beer: With no professional experience and brewing for a brand new brewery in a city renowned for its beer culture, were you intimidated when you first started? Yeah, absolutely. For months I had a huge amount of anxiety. I was confident that I could make good beer, but I wanted to enter the […]
Beer Talk
La Rossa Double Bock
Birra Moretti Udine, Italy Imported by Total Beverage Solution, Mt. Pleasant, SC A double bock beer produced using high-quality malted barley, giving it a rich sweet taste and an intense fragrance, and amber color. Particularly aromatic hops give a characteristic bitter aftertaste and a delicate fragrance. Serve at a temperature between 10 and 12 degrees […]
O for Awesome
8 Wired Brewing Co./Renaissance Brewing Co./Nøgne Ø Marlborough, New Zealand Imported by Shelton Brothers, Belchertown, MA A collaboration between Norway and New Zealand. Loosely based on a mix of our three flagship beers: Stonecutter Scotch Ale, Hopwired IPA and Batch #100. ABV: 9.0 ABW: 7.2 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 75 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A AVAILABLE: CA, CO, […]
Dark Seas Russian Imperial Stout
Mission Brewery San Diego, CA A dark version of a Russian Imperial stout, with a rich and roasty aroma, notes of plum and port and a velvety texture. ABV: 9.8 ABW: 7.84 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: N/A ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A AVAILABLE: AZ, CA, NC, NJ, NY, PA, VA
UFO Pumpkin
Harpoon Brewery Boston, MA Northwestern hops and a blend of spices. The malt combination provides a smooth body and slightly sweet flavor, which balances the earthy notes derived from the pure pumpkin. UFO Pumpkin is unfiltered. ABV: 5.9 ABW: 4.72 COLOR: 18 BITTERNESS: 20 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1059 AVAILABLE: CT, FL, GA, MA, NC, NH, NJ, […]
TriUmphant Abbey Tripel
NoDa Brewing Co. Charlotte, NC This brew utilizes a wide assortment of Belgian malts, with Tettnang and Mittelfruh to balance its sweetness. Fortified with Belgian candi sugar, much of the flavor and aroma is derived from the Trappist yeast. The yeast provides an array of flavors and aromas such as banana, clove, vanilla, pear, pineapple […]
Hommel Bier
Perennial Artisan Ales St. Louis, MO In Belgium, Hommel is the word for Humulus, the plant genus where hops reside. This beer defies tradition by combining North American malts, Pacific Northwest hops and a Belgian yeast strain. The result combines earthy and spicy tones from the yeast with a slight orange note contributed by the […]
India Pale Ale
Meantime Brewing Co. London, UK Imported by Artisanal Imports Inc., Austin, TX Kent Fuggles and Goldings mark this beer as fiercely British. Its noble hop character can be herbal or grassy, with hints of ripe cheese in the nose. This is a sign that you are enjoying a traditional English beer. ABV: 7.5 ABW: 6.0 […]
Oakshire Amber Ale
Oakshire Brewing Co. Eugene, OR Originally homebrewed by Oakshire’s founder, our amber is an outstanding and versatile ale that is traditionally crafted with the highest quality ingredients. It pairs well with a variety of foods or simply as an afternoon pint. ABV: 5.4 ABW: 4.32 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 24 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 12.8 P AVAILABLE: OR, […]
Bourbon Barrel Aged X-1 Imperial Chocolate Rye Porter
DuClaw Brewing Co. Abingdon, MD This medium-full bodied robust porter has the aroma and flavor of roasted malt and cocoa accented by underlying notes of rye and coffee. Real chocolate enhances the flavor profile with a slick, velvety mouthfeel and crisp, bittersweet finish. ABV: 7.7 ABW: 6.16 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 60 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1079 AVAILABLE: […]
Smoked Porter
Brouwerij van Viven Sijsele, Belgium Imported by Specialty Beer Services, Inc., Seattle, WA Brewed with American bittering hops. ABV: 7.0 ABW: 5.6 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: N/A ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A AVAILABLE: CA, DC, IN, KY, NC
Brown Ale
Strike Brewing Co. Los Altos, CA This beer recently took first place in the California State Fair in the American Brown Ale category. Versatile in that it is clean and easy drinking by itself but also has good flavor to match well with food. ABV: 4.8 ABW: 3.8 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 23 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1041 […]
Triple Exultation
Eel River Brewing Co. Fortuna, CA Traditionally, old ales are an English style of dark, rich and sweet ale, typically with flavors of soft currant fruit and blackstrap molasses. While old ales typically have IBUs (bitterness) of 30-65, Eel River Brewing put their own spin on the style by adding extra hops to ramp up […]
Ghost River Golden Ale
Ghost River Brewing Co. Memphis, TN Brewed with the finest two-row malted barley and German variety hops, Ghost River Golden has a mellow, refreshing character accentuated by Memphis’ soft water. Munich and caramel malts give this beer enough sweetness to balance the crisp, dry finish. ABV: 4.0 ABW: 3.2 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: 19 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: […]
Uncommon Brewers Baltic Porter
Uncommon Brewers Santa Cruz, CA This ale features a blend of whole licorice root and star anise to create an uncommon addition to the traditional export porter’s hearty character. ABV: 7.8 ABW: 6.24 COLOR: N/A BITTERNESS: N/A ORIGINAL GRAVITY: N/A AVAILABLE: CA, IL, MA, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA
Bourbon Cru Abbey Quadrupel
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Richmond, VA Brewed like a quad, displays an orange hue with a substantial head and brilliant clarity. Aged in Virginia bourbon barrels. Almond toffee and oaky vanilla aromatics give way to dark cherries, raisins and mature whiskey. Plum flavor is greeted by caramel overtones and an assertive yet rounded body and […]
Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale
Telluride Brewing Co. Telluride, CO An American-style pale ale brewed with a generous amount of German rye malt and an abundance of American hops, our ale embodies an earthy flavor and finishes with a hint of spice and big citrus notes. This powerhouse of an ale excites even the most dormant of taste buds. ABV: […]