Rahr Malting

IPA

Flying North for the Winter

If there’s anything we’ve learned from National Geographic, it’s that animals migrate south for the winter. But we’re neither geese

Abbey Tripel

Monastic, or abbey, ales are an ancient tradition in Belgium, in much the same manner as wine production was once closely associated with monastic life in ancient France. Currently, very few working monasteries brew beer within the order, but many have licensed the production of beers bearing their abbey name to large commercial brewers. These “abbey ales” can vary enormously in specific character, but most are quite strong in alcohol content, ranging from 6 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) to as high as 10 percent. Generally, abbey ales are labeled as either “dubbel” or “trippel,” though this is not a convention that is slavishly adhered to. The former conventionally denotes a relatively less alcoholic and often darker beer, while the latter can often be lighter or blond in color and have a syrupy, alcoholic mouthfeel that invites sipping, not rapid drinking. The lowest gravity abbey ale in a Belgian brewer’s range will conventionally be referred to as a “singel,” though it is rarely labeled as such.

Collected Wisdom

Our contributors reflect on the quest for rare beer. Act on the opportunity to buy several vintages of a particularly

Misadventures in Labeling

Getting a beer label to market is an intricate dance fraught with more missteps than the brewing of the beer

It’s the Beaches

A beercation is a glorious thing. A plane ticket or a tank full of gas is all you need to

2010 British and North American Ales

I always enjoy the British and American Ale round of the World Beer Championships, because it’s great to see how

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