Features
Styles Features
The Untimely Demise and Glorious Resurrection of Golden Ale
Back in early days of North American craft brewing, there was one thing you could be pretty much certain of if you were to order a glass of golden ale: It would be boring. Oh sure, there was variety to be found in the thinly defined golden ale category even then. There were, for instance, […]
Culture
Beer Gift Guide
Beer is the ultimate gift. It’s handcrafted, available in more than 100 styles and comes in its own decorative packaging (no wrapping necessary). Best of all, there’s a good chance the recipient will share a glass with you. But there are countless more gifts sure to please the beer lovers in your life. From basic […]
Culture
Bitter-sweet: Brewing for Chinese Palates
Wolfgang Sesser knows all about making beer for the Chinese, who have very different tastes from Westerners. Now brewmaster at Beijing’s Paulaner Bräuhaus, he has also done stints brewing for Paulaner in former Chinese capital Nanjing and for Hofbräuhaus in Shanghai. While the vast majority of Chinese will avoid very bitter beer, there are also […]
Culture
Band of Brewers
Across the country, soldiers, sailors, and pilots continue to return from two, three, or four tours of duty in dangerous combat zones. For those who have been away from home for such long time stretches of time, finding work and a sense of purpose in their communities brings a whole new set of challenges. For […]
Brewing Features
Distilleries Embrace Beer
For the last several years, it has become increasingly popular to age beers in whiskey barrels. The trend has become so popular that in 2011, the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer category at the Great American Beer Festival was the second-most competitive category (the first was American-Style IPA) with 118 entries. But now we’ve come […]
Culture
Oktoberfest in China
Published in the November issue of All About Beer Magazine It was with the master of ceremonies’ final costume change that the revelers were at their most enraptured. Those gathered at Beijing’s Paulaner Bräuhaus—whether German veterans of Oktoberfest or Chinese new to the world’s biggest booze-up—had never seen anything quite like it. The aging entertainer […]
Columns
Visiting the Pub
What Shakeout?
byA decade and a half ago, a prominent national newspaper announced on the front page that the craft beer industry was undergoing a “shakeout.” The immediate reaction to this pronouncement was a lot of backlash with prophecies of the end of craft beer, of the bubble bursting, of doom for beer lovers. Craft beer continues […]
Behind the Bar
Seasons of Change
by John HollBy now we’ve all become accustomed to seasonal creep with our beers. Summer lagers showing up in April; pumpkin ales arriving in August; this year at least one brewery of German heritage released Oktoberfest in July. Like some others, I’ve begun thinking ahead to make sure I stock up on seasonal beers early so I’m […]
It's My Round
A Locavore Addresses the Elephant
by Astrid CookAs I reflect on my journey into craft beer, I feel obligated to address the elephant in the room, the same pachyderm that many of us in the industry delicately tiptoe around in an effort to avoid being hip-deep in a pile of dung. My family has a long—sometimes colorful, sometimes bleak—history of alcoholism that […]
Visiting the Pub
What Shakeout?
byA decade and a half ago, a prominent national newspaper announced on the front page that the craft beer industry was undergoing a “shakeout.” The immediate reaction to this pronouncement was a lot of backlash with prophecies of the end of craft beer, of the bubble bursting, of doom for beer lovers. Craft beer continues […]
Full Pints - In The Brewhouse
Diagnosing the Grumpy Brewer
I just returned from my therapist, and he says I’m fighting a newly discovered discontent known simply as GBA (Grumpy Brewer Affliction). It’s not contagious, but given that I’ve been in the craft brewing business for almost 20 years now, he’s not surprised I caught it. Apparently, I am one of many brewers (young and old) who […]
Departments
Beer Travelers
Cask Ale Destinations
The whole purpose of the American craft brewing revolution was to authenticate once again a beverage that the industrial beer complex had turned into fizzy artifice. Craft beer is beer made real. But that pint of bottled, canned or draft carbonated IPA you’re enjoying or that delectable nitro stout you recently had isn’t Real Ale. […]
Book Reviews
The American Craft Beer Cookbook
If you believe that beer is food, then you’ll make space on your kitchen bookshelf for John Holl’s new work, The American Craft Beer Cookbook. It’s a collection of more than 150 recipes from craft breweries, brewpubs, brewers and chefs at beer-centric restaurants around the country. The book by Holl (the editor of All About […]
Book Reviews
Britain’s Lost Breweries and Beer
In 1989, the Beer Orders told British brewers they could either keep their breweries or keep their pubs, and far too many breweries decided to preserve their pubs and close their breweries. As a result, such famous breweries as Young’s, Bass, and Morland have closed. In Britain’s Lost Breweries and Beers, Chris Arnot, a former […]
Beyond Beer
Craft Whiskey Barrels Forward
Could the next big thing in beer actually be whiskey? We are not talking about the use of former bourbon barrels for aging beer. That trend is well-established. We mean the real 90-proof variety. Some think that breweries might just propel the craft spirits sector—and whiskey in particular—through the roof. According to the Brewers Association, […]
Stylistically Speaking
India Pale Ale
The familiar tale of IPA is simple enough: Pale, hoppy beer is ingeniously invented by the Brits specifically to weather the voyage east to sate the troops and expatriates in India. In truth, IPA was neither novel nor necessary, but opportunistic marketing of existing 18th-century ale, refined further through good fortune, then widely popularized back […]
A Closer Look
Bringing Depth to South African Beer
by Lucy CorneEvery winter, aptly named brewer Theo de Beer and his team at the Anvil Ale House hand-peel, julienne and sun-dry the skins of a few crates of naartjies in preparation for his seasonal witbier, White Anvil. The naartjie is a South African tangerine, and after five years of weird looks from farmers unused to buyers […]
A Closer Look
Brewing Under Ocupation
by Rebecca CollardHigh in the hills of the West Bank, Palestinians hold one of the world’s most unlikely Oktoberfests. Each year, thousands of Palestinians and foreigners descend on the sleepy village of Taybeh to hoist pints, eat local food and even play a round or two of street hockey. Since 2005, the Taybeh Brewery—named after the village—has […]
Home Brewing
Brewer in the Rye
Rye has become quite the dashing addition to microbrews in recent years. This flavorful, hearty grain is generally cast in a supporting role, but it is emphatic enough to lend a noteworthy performance even in spot duty. Especially common in pale ale and IPA, rye is capable of embellishing many other brews, both top- and […]
Pull Up A Stool
Pull Up A Stool with Brett McCrea
Brett McCrea and Chad Campbell founded 16 Mile Brewery in 2009 in Georgetown, DE, a town in the geographic center of the state said to be 16 miles from anywhere. The brewery is sited in a 120 year-old barn on land owned by McCrea’s family. AAB: This has been a homecoming for both of you. […]
Beer Talk
Beer Talk
Apocalypse Cow
Three Floyds Brewing Co. Munster, IN The three Floyds of the name are brothers Nick and Simon and their father, Mike Floyd, who founded the brewery in 1996. Apocalypse Cow is a double India pale ale made with lactose. ABV: 11 ABW: 8.7 COLOR: 13.5 BITTERNESS: 90 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1086 AVAILABLE: IL, IN
Beer Talk
London Black Cab Stout
Fuller’s Chiswick, London, United Kingdom Imported by Paulaner HP USA. Named in honor of the iconic taxis, London Black Cab Stout is brewed using Imperial, Crystal, chocolate and golden malt and hopped with Golding, Target and Fuggles. ABV: 4.5 ABW: 3.6 COLOR: 40 BITTERNESS: 40 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1046 AVAILABLE: AZ, CA, CO, IA, KY, FL, […]
Beer Talk
Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout
Anderson Valley Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Boonville, CA This stout is aged for three months in Wild Turkey bourbon barrels, thanks to a partnership between the brewery and the Kentucky distillery. ABV: 6.9 ABW: 5.4 COLOR: 33 BITTERNESS: 14 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1061 AVAILABLE: AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, […]
Beer Talk
Pride
Amager Bryghus Copenhagen, Denmark Imported by Shelton Brothers Pride is one of seven beers in Amager’s Sinner Series. It is an imperial stout with a six-hour boil. ABV: 10 ABW: 7.96 COLOR: NA BITTERNESS: 100+ IBU ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1104 AVAILABLE: (In 2014) AK, AL, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, IN, ID, IA, KY, LA, ME, […]
Beer Talk
Blackhorn American Black Lager
Bolero Snort Brewery Ridgefield Park, NJ Bolero Snort Brewery opened in January, and Blackhorn American Black Lager is one of its two initial year-round offerings. It is brewed with two-row, Crystal, chocolate and de-bittered black malts and hopped with Warrior, Centennial and Zythos. ABV: 6.5 ABW: 5.2 COLOR: 30 BITTERNESS: 70 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1065 AVAILABLE: […]
Beer Talk
Lebanese Pale Ale
961 Beer Mazreat Yachoua, Lebanon Imported by St. Killian Importing 961 Beer is the only microbrewery in the Arab World. Inspired by Lebanese spice markets and based on an English IPA, Lebanese Pale Ale is brewed with za’atar (wild thyme), sumac, chamomile, sage, anise and mint. ABV: 6.3 ABW: 5 COLOR: 11.4 BITTERNESS: 35 ORIGINAL […]
Beer Talk
Descender IPA
Good Life Brewing Co. Bend, OR Now available in cans (only in Oregon), Descender IPA is brewed with Cascade, Centennial, Galaxy and Chinook hops. ABV: 7 ABW: 5.5 COLOR: 7.5 BITTERNESS: 70 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1068 AVAILABLE: ID, OR, WA
Beer Talk
Moa Breakfast
Moa Brewing Co. Marlborough, New Zealand Imported by St. Killian Importing, Everett, MA Moa Breakfast is a European-style beer brewed with a blend of premium wheat malt and a variety of floral hops. It is a two-time silver medal winner at the Asia Beer Awards. ABV: 5.5 ABW: 4.4 COLOR: 4 BITTERNESS: 17 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: […]
Beer Talk
McEwan’s Scotch Ale
Wells & Young’s Brewing Co. Bedford, United Kingdom Imported by Belukus Marketing, College Station, TX Wells & Young’s Brewery has resurrected this iconic beer using the original recipe. Nicknamed the “Red Top,” this traditional “wee heavy” was first brewed by William McEwan in Edinburgh in 1856. ABV: 8 ABW: 6.4 COLOR: 37 BITTERNESS: 23 OG: […]
Beer Talk
La Socarrada
Xátiva, Valencia, Spain Imported by Sublime Imports, Dallas, TX At the turn of the 18th century, the town of Xátiva was razed to the ground and kept aflame for eight days by King Felipe V. However, the survivors thrived, rebuilding Xátiva, and to this day are referred to as the “socarrats” (burned). La Socarrada is […]
Beer Talk
Biere Joi
Bayou Teche Brewing Arnaudville, LA After fermentation, this ale is racked into Jack Daniel’s barrels and spiked with French roasted coffee from Mello Joy. After four months, the selected barrels were racked onto and aged on locally grown organic Chile d’arbols from Pimmo’s Peppers and cacao nibs. ABV: 7.5 ABW: 6 COLOR: 25 BITTERNESS: 15 […]
Beer Talk
Anchor California Lager
Anchor Brewing San Francisco Anchor California Lager is the brewery’s recreation of the first genuine lager brewed in the Golden State. It is brewed with two-row barley and Cluster hops and is kräusened and lagered in Anchor’s cellars. ABV: 4.9 ABW: 3.9 COLOR: 6 BITTERNESS: 32 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1050 AVAILABLE: AR, CA, CO, GA, IL, […]
Beer Talk
Sticke It To The Man
O’Fallon Brewery O’Fallon, MO Sticke Alt beers were originally brewed in Düsseldorf, where “sticke” is local vernacular for “secret” —breweries traditionally do not reveal the recipe for these beers. Sticke It To The Man has five types of malt, with classic German hops. ABV: 7.5 ABW: 5.97 COLOR: NA BITTERNESS: 40 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: NA AVAILABLE: […]
Beer Talk
Bikini Blonde Lager
Maui Brewing Co. Lahaina, HI A filtered Munich helles lager brewed with floral hops and pilsner and Munich malts, Bikini Blonde Lager is one of four flagship beers from Maui Brewing Co. ABV: 4.5 ABW: 3.58 COLOR: 7 BITTERNESS: 18 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1048 AVAILABLE: AZ, CA, CO, Denmark, England, HI, ID, Japan, MD, NV, OR, […]
Beer Talk
Hoptologist
Knee Deep Brewing Co. Lincoln, CA Hoptologist is a double India pale ale brewed with a blend of malts from Canada, Germany, Chile and the United States, and hopped with Cascade, Citra, Columbus, Magnum and Hersbrucker hops. ABV: 9 ABW: 7.2 COLOR: 6.7 BITTERNESS: 102 ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1079 AVAILABLE: AZ, CA, NV
Beer Talk
Rippa
Green Jack Brewery Suffolk, UK Imported by Vanberg & DeWulf Named Supreme Champion Winter Beer of the UK by CAMRA in 2007, Rippa is brewed with pale ale malt, caramalt, maize, wheat and sugar. UK Challenger hops lend a black pepper spice aroma, and Slovenian Celeia hops add bitterness. ABV: 8.5 ABW: 6.8 COLOR: NA […]