The Post Howdy Beer

Well, hello there, Howdy! Despite calling yourself “The All-American Pilsener,” you’re not like all the industrial American pale lagers I’ve come across. Oh, sure, you slide down the throat just as easily. And you are equally quaffable and crisp. But here’s what makes Howdy stand out: The malt—softly bready with a grainy sweetness. And the hops are definitely more present—slightly grassy with some herbal notes and a touch of spice—shining brightly and lingering just long enough to encourage me to take more sips. This is the kind of beer you want to join you all summer long.

Lisa Morrison has been writing about beer for nearly 20 years. She also owns Belmont Station, a well-known bottle shop and taproom in Portland, Oregon.

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As the beer pours from the cool retro-designed can (does this come as a cowboy shirt?), the white foam rises and holds steady like a boss. The beer is clear gold, if not quite bright. The aroma is soft and grainy, with some floral notes phoning it in from a distance. The bitterness is moderate and a bit brassy, as if perhaps the local water carried some minerals in tow. A quick snap and it’s gone, leaving just a little bitterness hanging. A fine beer for when that’s just what you want, and it surely has more flavor than you’ll see from industrial counterparts. Chili dog? Sure … I love chili dogs.

Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of The Brooklyn Brewery, the editor-in-chief of The Oxford Companion to Beer, the author of The Brewmaster's Table and the veteran host of more than 900 beer dinners in 15 countries.

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