Features
Gray Market/White Whale
by Brian YaegerCall me BeerMail. It is no secret that beer fanatics in a certain place (Yourtown, USA) in a certain time (right now) long to plant their lips upon a snifter, tulip or chalice of some rarified, vaunted, practically mythical ale. Likewise, it is no wonder that some people will go through the Ahabesque task of... View Article
Collaborators
by Greg KitsockThere was a whiff of xenophobia at the first American Beer Month held July 2000. Gathering for a rally on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a throng of brewers and beer lovers was asked to swear that each would “savor the flavor of American-made beer, responsibly, moderately and exclusively.” That attitude has... View Article
Dual Citizenship
by Greg KitsockCan you identify the imports? It’s not always easy. Let’s start with Kirin Ichiban over a bowl of miso soup and teriyaki chicken. Named after a mythical creature said to bring good luck, Kirin is a German-style lager that originated in Japan in 1888. But the fine print on our bottle reads, “Brewed under the... View Article
Beer Without Borders
by Greg KitsockThe day is coming when the distinction between “import” and “domestic” will be far less important than the distinction between “mass market” and “craft.” Check out the top 25 import brands in terms of case sales, you’ll find that most of the leading brands are pale pilsners. Heck, two brands, Corona and Heineken, account for... View Article
Cask Ale
by Steve HamburgOver the last few years we’ve seen a veritable boom in the number of craft beer establishments around the country, including many that specialize in artisanal foods. And with this growth, we’ve also seen another development: a newfound appreciation of cask-conditioned beer.
A Case of Good Breweries
by Bryan HarrellIn Japan, the beer from these 24 breweries is worth seeking out. The name of the brewery is preceded by the month/year they opened and followed by their location (in parenthesis). 2/95 Echigo Beer Co. (Niigata) 5/95 Otaru Beer (Hokkaido) 6/95 Gotemba Kogen Brewery (Shizuoka) 6/95 Yokohama Beer (Yokohama) 7/95 Doppo Beer (Okayama) 3/96 ... View Article
Craft Brewing in Japan
by Bryan HarrellIt was July of 2000 and Bryan and Sayuri Baird had just finished completing their new Fishmarket Taproom across the street from the port in Numazu, Japan. They had already applied for a brewing license for their startup, Baird Brewing Co. While the taproom offered Hoegaarden White, Guinness and several other beers, the Bairds were... View Article
Columns
A Selected Chronology of Early Craft/Micro Brewers in the United States and Canada
by Fred Eckhardt
Departments
A Random Walk Down Memory Lane
by Paul RuschmannA couple of months ago we decided it was time to give our Beer Traveler passports a hiatus. We’ve had a long and pleasant relationship with All About Beer Magazine, almost seven years now. We’ve loved reporting about our travels and the many wonderful establishments that have opened their doors to us as they shared... View Article
with Hedwig Neven
by Julie JohnsonHow long have you been the head brewer for Duvel? I’ve been with the company for 17 years, and I’ve been the head brewmaster for 10 years now.
The Old Beer of Germany
by K. Florian KlempThough beer styles have evolved relatively recently, all have tangible connections to more ancient brews through ingredients or methods. Brewers were bound by resources and climate on one hand; and regional heritage, pride and individualism on the other. For altbier, the indigenous brew of Düsseldorf, it is a combination of all those factors. Obliged to... View Article
Beer Talk
Dragonfly IPA
by - -Upland Brewing Co. Bloomington, IN Available: IN, KY, WI Upkand Brewing Co. has been brewing beer in Bloomington, Indiana since 1998. The name “Upland” comes from the Norman and Crawford Uplands, the term geologists gave to the area because several glaciers advanced and retreated across Indiana, resulting in a region of rugged, heavily wooded hills... View Article
Dock Street Barley Wine
by - -Dock Street Brewing Co. Philadelphia, PA Available: PA Dock Street Brewing Co. was founded in Philadelphia in 1985, the first microbrewery in the City of Brotherly Love. This barley wine has been aged in Pinot Noir barrels for 10 months, hand-bottled and bottle conditioned. ABV: 10.5 ABW: n/a Color: dark Bitterness: 76 Original gravity: 1101
Wahoo Wheat Beer
by - -Ballast Point Brewing Co. San Diego, CA Available: CA, AZ, PA, HI Wahoo was one of the first beers brewed when Ballast Point opened back in 1996. It is spiced with orange peel, coriander and curacao. ABV: 4.1 ABW: 3.3 Color: 4 Bitterness: 12 Original gravity: 1041
LA-31 Bière Pâle
by - -Bayou Teche Brewing Arnaudville, LA Available: LA LA-31 Bière Pâle is crafted with imported Belgian malts and American hops and yeast. The beer is crafted to compliment traditional LA cuisine such as red beans and rice, jambalaya, sauce piquant, shrimp Creole, chicken and sausage gumbo, hot boudin, boiled crawfish, fried seafood platters, crawfish bisque and... View Article
Samuel Adams Noble Pils
by - -Boston Beer Co. Boston, MA Available: Nationwide Since 2005 the brewers at Samuel Adams have been offering drinkers a voice in choosing one of the new beers they will introduce in the coming year. This year voters in the 5th annual Samuel Adams Beer Lover’s Choice contest were decisive in choosing Samuel Adams Noble Pils,... View Article
Up The Creek Extreme IPA
by - -Thomas Creek Brewery Greenville, SC Available: SC, NC, GA, TN, VA Up The Creek Extreme IPA is mashed in at a low temperature to increase the amount of fermentable sugars while reducing residual sweetness. Along with a triple dry-hop, this creates a hoppy behemoth of a beer with its alcohol well hidden. ABV: 12.5 ABW:... View Article
Organic Real Ale
by - -Laverstoke Park Farm Overton, Hampshire, UK Imported by: C2 Imports Los Angeles, CA Available: CA, NY, FL, IL, PA, TX, NJ, MA, MI, VA Laverstoke Park Farm is a 2,500 acre organic farm in Hampshire owned by former Formula 1 World Champion, Jody Scheckter. Beers have been awarded 2 gold stars 2 years in a... View Article
Demolition 1800 Ale
by - -Goose Island Beer Co. Chicago, IL Available: ND, SD, NE, KS, AR, MO, IA, MN, WI, IL, IN, MI, OH, KY, NY, DC, MD, MA Brewed to honor the brave souls who kept the brewpub open in the early 90’s while wrecking balls tore down the surrounding mall. Dry and smooth, with a grassy, citrus... View Article
Flashback Brown
by - -Boulder Beer Co. Boulder, CO Available: AZ, AL, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MI, MN, NE, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY Originally brewed to commemorate the milestone 30th Anniversary of Boulder Beer Co., Flashback India Brown Ale earned... View Article
Vinyl
by - -Magic Hat Brewing Co. Burlington, VT Available: AL, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV Vinyl lager is a beer with a deep amber hue, sweet malt taste and a slight... View Article
Sheep Head Ale
by - -Brau Brothers Brewing Co. Lucan, MN Available: MN, SD, ND, IA, WI Brau Brothers Brewing Co is a small, family owned, independent brewery in a town of 220 people in southwest MN. They grow eleven varieties of hops in their own three-acre hopyard just outside the brewery front door. They also grow 3 acres of... View Article
Stawski Premium Lager
by - -Stawski, Poland Stawski Imports Chicago, IL Available: AZ, CA, FL, IL, KY, MD, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA Poland has a long brewing history that is closely tied to the great lager traditions in the Czech Republic and Germany. Today, over 70 breweries operate in Poland: a few large companies are associated with international... View Article
Hop Mountain Pale Ale
by - -Old Dominion Brewing Co. Dover, DE Available: MD, DE, DC, VA & PA Hop Mountain Pale Ale is a rich, red ale made in American Pale Ale style. It is brewed with four different styles of American hops and dry hopped with two of those. The brew won the United States Beer Tasting Championship, “Grand... View Article
Amber Lager
by - -Karl Strauss Brewing Co. San Diego, CA Available: CA Born and raised in his father’s brewery, Karl spent his life making beer. His work was inspired by a simple truth: life was meant to be enjoyed, preferably with good friends and good beer. ABV: 4.2 ABW: 3.5 Color: 15 Bitterness: 16 Original gravity: 1048
Railyard Ale
by - -Wynkoop Brewing Co. Denver, CO Available: CO The Wynkoop Brewing Company is one of Colorado’s oldest brew pubs. It was founded in 1988 is housed in the glorious J. S. Brown Mercantile Building. ABV: 5.2 ABW: 4.1 Color: light amber Bitterness: 18 Original gravity: 1051
Lucky 7 Porter
by - -Evolution Craft Brewing Co. Delmar, DE Available: DC, DE, MD In April 2009, founders and brothers Tom & John Knorr opened a boutique production brewery in Delaware, Evolution Craft Brewing Company. They were intrigued with the artistry in beer and decided that brewing their own beer would be a great new venture. OR “Lucky 7”... View Article