The quest of beer-lovers leaves virtually no cellar undisturbed. That pursuit is often about the novel inspired by the venerable, with the current curiosity in sour, aged beers motivated in great part by Flanders red and brown beers. These brews are an alliance of ordinary top-fermentation, supplemented by unconventional organisms, finely sculpted by aging and... View Article
Brutopia Au Chocolat Stout This Montreal brewpub turns out a rich creamy chocolate stout that has a dark brown color with a nice tan head. The beer has a slight cocoa nose and the flavor delivers a nice roasted base with a non-sugary chocolate flavor. Flying Fish Exit 13 Chocolate Stout This brew from New... View Article
Trend spotting when it comes to beer is not as easy as it sounds. With nearly 1,800 breweries in the U.S. (up from 42 when I reached legal drinking age in 1978) and countless imported brands, beer companies are constantly engaged in “look at me” marketing.
A business associate once told me that the world is pretty much segregated by what it drinks. He opined that there are wine drinkers and there are beer drinkers, never bothering to account for those who might enjoy whiskey, gin or vodka, let alone teetotalers.
Cascade The Vine ’08: This ale changes slightly with each vintage. The Portland brewery starts with a Northwest-style sour ale base that is a blend of soured Triple, Blonde Quad and Golden ales that have been refermented with the fresh pressed juice of Niagara grapes. The beer pours a slightly hazy dark gold with a... View Article
If one were asked to name the definitive American craft beer style, they would pick pale ale. Ask a Brit the same question, and their retort would be bitter, dispensed from a cask.
It’s a sleepy Sunday lunchtime in Dobrany, a small town a few kilometres southwest of Pilsen. This is Bohemian beer country, deeply embedded in the lager lands of central Europe. Pivovar Modra Hvezda is a small brewery based in a comfortable hotel opposite the town square. A copper-faced brew-kit stands on show in the bar,... View Article
Bison Organic Honey Basil Ale This beer pours an amber-orange color with a thin white head. The aroma is slightly malty with a hint of the honey. The basil emerges in the flavor profile. It is a background note that comes forward, then reverses itself. This is a smooth drinker. Dogfish Head Sah’tea The brewery... View Article
No region is more known for its beer than Bavaria. With summery weissbier and pilsner, autumnal Märzen and bocks for winter and spring, Bavaria has a brew for every season. But it’s the golden lager known as Munich helles that serves as the most popular and common beer.
