When it comes to American sour ales, Upland Brewing in Bloomington is at the head of the class. Upland Brewing Darken Sour Ale is a standout amongst their line of sours and is a take on a Flanders Brown Ale. Spices were added to the brew to provide a more complex flavor and it was then aged in oak barrels. Packaged in these 500ml bottles, it's tart, but approachable with a dry, spicy finish.
The calendar might say that summer is over, but the temperatures in many parts of the country still disagrees. So as summer winds down, pretend it's mid-July with Taft's Ale House Culebra Cut. Culebra Cut is a American brown ale brewed with toasted coconut and provides a taste that brings a taste of the islands with each and every sip. Packaged in these great cans complete with William Howard Taft — the 27th President of the United States — on each one. It's worthy of your time, regardless of the season.
While the market moves towards fruit-forward IPAs, the fine brewers at Wicked Weed in Asheville, North Carolina and Creature Comforts in Athens, Georgia want to remind you that the hops themselves are all you really need. The collaborative effort is called Juiceless IPA, and while it gives off a tropical, fruity aroma and taste, there was no fruit harmed in the making of this beer. The biggest, most aromatic hops are used to create this IPA, and it all comes packaged in 16.9 oz bottles.
In an effort to squeeze the last drops out of summer, Upslope Brewing is bringing back their popular Blood Orange Saison for the second year in a row. The original concept for the beer was born out of a collaboration with Hops & Pie in Denver, and it was so well received as a limited release in 2015 that Upslope decided to brew it again. Citrus forward but balanced by the addition of pink peppercorns, it's a hoppy saison that is a great choice to wind down summer with.
Summer might be winding down, but for people that love hoppy beer, a fresh, cold, IPA is a year-round obsession. Add Wise Blood IPA from Wild Heaven in Georgia to your list of late-summer sippers. It's a tropical fruit forward IPA with a clean finish that is one of several tasty, hoppy brews to come out of Georgia in the past couple of years. It measures 6.2% ABV and comes in 12oz cans with a great neon lettered design.
With a storied history like Stone Brewing, you almost always have something new to celebrate. But with the release of Stone Citracado Double IPA, the Escondido based brewery marks the 20th Anniversary of making big, bold, hoppy beers. This double IPA pays homage to Stone's flagship brewery located on Citracado Parkway. The name also references the Citra hops and avocado flower honey used in the making of the beer. A fitting hoppy birthday present from one of the best breweries in the country.
For a summer wheat beer that really stands out, look no further than Modern Times in San Diego, California, where it's pretty much summer year-round. Modern Times Fortunate Islands Beer is a citra-hopped wheat beer that is refreshing and easy to drink, and now, they've released this special version of Fortunate Islands for summer with the inclusion of Grapefruit Zest. To create the special release, Modern Times hand-peeled loads of grapefruits and added the oily skin to the beer. The results are a easy to drink option that has an aroma dominated by grapefruit. It's a great choice for drinkers who like citrusy beer, but have a low tolerance for IPAs. A summer sipper that won't be around long.
A classic look meets modern comfort with the Gitman Vintage Made in USA Center Hi. It starts with the timeless Center Hi sneaker silhouette from PF Flyers which is outfitted with locally sourced, 100% American made, 'seed to sew' cotton denim to create a standout shoe. Premium pig skin lining, vertically ribbed toe guards, and lightweight injection molded footbeds complete each pair, while more subtle features like a green embroidered top eyelet, chalk colored eyelets, and nylon green heel tape with zig zag stitching show the attention to detail that help set both brands apart. PF Flyers and denim — two American icons in one attractive, comfortable package.
Presented by PF Flyers.
The infusion of fruit into IPAs is the latest trend to hit the craft beer world, and while trends can be annoying, it's hard to argue with beers like Ballast Point Watermelon Dorado. The double IPA is dry hopped to create plenty of hop bite along with the familiar summer flavor of watermelon. And Watermelon Dorado steps onto the summer scene at no less than 10% ABV, ensuring a big, bold flavor that packs a wallop.
Even during the summer months there are some darker beers that fit in well with cookouts and beach trips. Maui Brewing Coconut Hiwa Porter is one of those, made with hand-toasted coconut and hints of mocha. It's an easy choice year-round, and is even easier to choose with this newly unveiled can design. A flavorful porter that might be as close as you get to the Hawaiian Islands this summer.
To amp up the simplicity of their great IPA Lunch, Maine Beer Company added Dinner to the menu of refreshing, hoppy beers. Dinner is a double IPA, dry hopped twice with over six pounds of hops per barrel. It gives off an aroma that brings to mind a tropical fruit smoothie and does a great job balancing sweetness and a mild hop bitterness on your palate. It weighs in at 8.2% ABV, and promises to not only enhance your dinner, but any meal or occasion you decide to open one with.
The latest trend to take off in the craft beer world is fruit infused IPAs. And if there's a craft brewery qualified to take a stab at it, it's Dogfish Head. Their take is called Flesh & Blood IPA, brewed with real lemon flesh and blood orange juice. Dogfish Head has experimented with fruit and citrus since 1996 — when they released Aprihop, an IPA brewed with Apricots. Flesh & Blood will be available across the country just in time for July 4th weekend, so make sure it finds a place in your cooler as you celebrate our nation's independence.
We already trust the folks at Stone when it comes to all things hoppy. And now, with Stone Mocha IPA, they've mingled their hop-perfection with rich mocha flavors. And while adding coffee and chocolate to your IPA might not sound like something you'd reach for, Stone has managed to blend and balance those flavors together to form a delicious beer. We aren't sure how they did it, but one thing is obvious, Stone has another great beer on their hands that is blurring the lines of beer style classifications.
When you load up a cooler and head to the pool this summer, the folks at Bell's Brewing have a brand new beer that could be as essential as suncreen and flip flops. Bell's Poolside Ale is a Belgian-inspired Wheat Ale that promises to stay light and refreshing while bringing some great summer flavors to the experience as well. You'll get some clove notes and some slight tartness from the 100% Montmorency tart cherries that were grown in Bell's home state of Michigan. A great new choice from a respected brewer, it's primed to fill your koozy all summer long.
An award winning IPA for years, it's easy to brag about this great IPA — especially when it's brewed so close to our home. Columbus Brewing Bodhi IPA might seem simple enough, brewed with a blend of hops that are highlighted by one of the most aromatic — Citra. But there's nothing simple about its taste, as it manages to define what so many brewers have trouble with — consistency. It might not wreck your palate or smell like a fresh cut grapefruit, but it will be one of your new favorite IPAs, if it isn't already.
One of the best IPAs you can get your hands on this summer doesn't come from California or the current hotbed of hops on the East Coast. Tropicalia from Creature Comforts comes from Athens, Georgia, and it has an aroma and flavor that is worth your time and attention. The smell is the first thing that jumps out, full of tropical fruit and sunshine. And the taste cinches the deal, with plenty of balanced flavors that make sure you know it's an IPA — but without the bite that would stop you from reaching for another can.
If you love IPAs then you probably love Sixpoint Resin. And if you love Resin, then the latest hop-forward release from the Brooklyn based brewery should be right up your alley. Sixpoint Puff is an unfiltered version of Resin with an extra dose of dry hops that help turn it into it's very own puffy, hop cloud. It's the closest thing to drinking an IPA straight from the tanks and is hitting store shelves this month.
The introduction of pure yeast to beer brewers in 1833 by Carlsberg changed the landscape of brewing as we know it today. And now, thanks to the discovery of a 133-year-old bottle found in their cellars, Carlsberg has re-created that landmark beer, dubbed Carlsberg Father of Lager Beer. Up until pure yeast was introduced to brewers, beer of consistent quality was non-existant, so all beer brewers today owe the Carlsberg team a debt of gratitude. Father of Lager Beer was created using yeast extracted from the 1833 bottle and is your chance to get a taste of beer history.
It might not feel like summer yet, but it will before you know it. And stocking the right summer beer should top your list of summer prep. Mandarina from Almanac Beer Co. is a brand new release, and it will be available in these great looking, ready-for-summer cans. Mandarina somehow manages to pair hops with tart citrus flavors — resulting in a crisp, warm weather beverage that's refreshing and flavorful at the same time. And since it's canned, it's even easier to transport to the beach or any other outdoor drinking venue as the temperatures climb.
The craft beer movement has reached the point where nearly every imaginable flavor and style of beer is accessible to pretty much everyone. But sometimes you don't need a grapefruit saison to quench your thirst — you just want a beer. That's exactly what House Beer provides. This premium lager is brewed with noble hops and crystal malts, making it flavorful, smooth, and at 4.8% ABV, perfect for session drinking on a lazy summer day. Available in 12 oz. cans or bottles or in 16 oz. tallboys.
Already one of the leaders in the Imperial Stout game, The Bruery are back with yet another big beer that also happens to be for a good cause. The Bruery Share This Coffee Stout is the first in a series that will spotlight a worthy charity with each sale. This 11.9% ABV stout uses freshly-roasted coffee from the Phillippines and for every bottle produced, Free Wheelchair Mission in the Phillippines will receive one dollar. The cause makes it worthwhile by itself, but a coffee-infused imperial stout from The Bruery only makes it more enticing.
At this point, you're probably familiar with the Enjoy By line of IPAs that Stone Brewing has on the market. After all, they're fresh, hoppy, and the style that Stone does best. Stone Enjoy By 5.30.16 Tangerine IPA is the latest addition to the series, brewed using pureed tangerines that were added to create the same great taste you'd expect from a Stone IPA — with some tangerine zip. Brewed to drink right away, or at least before the date suggests, it's another fine example of Stone's hoppy greatness.
That new IPA you can't get enough of that seems different than your tried and true favorites might be packed with Mosaic hops. A Pale Mosaic from Hops & Grain in Austin, Texas is a great example, starting with a German Pale Ale base along with Vienna malts. They then employ Oregon grown hops, followed by dry-hopping with the vibrant hop variety known as Mosaic. The outcome is a crisp, clean IPA with plenty of citrus that is only eclipsed by the subtle, clean packaging.
It's finally time to comfortably drink beer outside again. And with this change comes a shift in preference for many. Deschutes Hope Slice IPA not only pairs well with the outdoors, but brings a light, sessionable vibe to the table as well. Brewed with Meyer Lemons, it's a crisp, light IPA with a subtle citrus flavor that only weighs in at 4.5% ABV — ensuring your next outdoor drinking session lasts long enough to soak up the sunny afternoon.
Almost every brewery has a coffee infused beer in their lineup. But no-one does coffee in beer better than Founders Brewing. Sumatra Mountain Brown Ale is the latest to be bottled and joins the already stacked Founders lineup. It's an Imperial Brown Ale made using caramel, flaked barley, and chocolate malt. Add in the rich, Sumatra coffee and you've got a 9% ABV beer that's the third release in Founders specialty lineup for 2016.
Beer and baseball have always gone hand in hand. And now, with the release of Anchor Orange Splash Lager, they are linked at the hip even more. The first ever MLB craft beer collaboration, Orange Splash Lager tips its cap to the hometown San Francisco Giants. It's a refreshing citrus forward lager that is perfect to tip back as you root on the Giants, or your favorite team as the baseball season gets underway.
Just when you think the best IPAs on the market are set in stone, something comes along and shakes everything up. Julius IPA from Tree House Brewing in Massachusetts isn't brand new, but it's gaining momentum and new devotees every day. With 1.6 Oz per gallon of American hops, this IPA is about as citrus-loaded as you'll find. It's almost as if the beer is infused with orange juice. Add to that notes of passionfruit and mango and you're on a hoppy, tropical trip that you won't want to end.
The latest addition to the year-round lineup for Hopworks Urban Brewery is a love letter to the Pacific Northwest. Hopworks Gear Up IPA is a Northwest-Style IPA brewed with organic malted barley from Oregon, naturally filtered water from the Bull Run Watershed, and local hops from Oregon and Washington. Even the label pays tribute to the local area, featured abstract Pacific Northwest landscapes along with the gear required to get outdoors and enjoy a new adventure. Gear Up is also the first 12 oz. six pack can for Hopworks, and hits store shelves in April.
When some breweries open their doors, they can barely see past the first week. In the case of Taft's Ale House in Cincinnati's Over The Rhine, they were planning for their first anniversary before they opened shop. Taft's Ale House Old Wooden Tooth Beer is a Russian Imperial Stout that has been aging in bourbon barrels for the past year. It was then bottled in these beautiful 500ml bottles that come with a custom branded wooden box with a neck flag and label that are custom printed with 9 colors including a metallic copper ink on a cherry veneer label. If the beer itself is anywhere near as appealing as the packaging, you might need to make plans to be in attendance in Cincinnati for the release — which is slated for Opening Day.
New Belgium Brewing is 25 years old this year, and so is their flagship beer, Fat Tire. The New Belgium Fat Tire Riff Pack celebrates the iconic craft trailblazer, with 5 breweries collaborating with New Belgium to create new versions of Fat Tire. Included is Fat Funk Ale from Allagash Brewing, Fat Wild Ale from Avery Brewing, Fat Sour Apple Ale from Hopworks Urban Brewing, Fat Hoppy Ale from Firestone Walker, and Fat Pale Ale from Rhinegeist Brewing. Two of each beer, along with two original Fat Tire bottles, will be boxed together with a release happening this summer.
