Each year, Men's Journal puts out this list and doesn't post it online. Women's publications don't publish this sort of important information, but luckily I stole the pages from my (step)dad's magazine to share with whomever passes by this page.
Prost!/Cheers!
"American beer has finally hit its golden age. Take a break from imports and raise a pint to these homegrown classics."
If you drink... Sierra Nevada Pale Ale,
you'll love... Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale
New Hampshire's Smuttynose is a gentler pale ale that has plenty in common with its English cousins. A milder dose of hops makes it less aggressively bitter than other American varieties you're used to, but it's still full and flavorful.
You should also try...
Full Sail Pale Ale: Portland's windsurfing-mad neighbor Hood River is the birthplace for this Northwest classic, with its biscuity malt backbone and delicate grapefruit finish.
Stone IPA: Moving up the intensity ladder, we come to Stone IPA, a perfect specimen of the aggro So Cal India pale ale - but instead of having a too-bitter bite, this one is actually pleasant to drink.
If you drink... Guinness,
you'll love... Deschutes Black Butte Porter
Today, stout and porter styles range from mild purist English versions to American riffs that spin off in wild directions. Take Black Butte, in which tangy Northwest hops balance cocoa, coffee, and toffee notes from a blend of roasted malts.
You should also try...
Alesmith Speedway Stout: This San Diego-brewed, coffee-infused elixir is near perfect: a smoky, roasty, caffeinated - literally, with real joe - revelation that seems to linger forever.
Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortel: While not American, Montreal's Peche Mortel is so good (and nearby), we had to include it. It's one of the smoothest, richest stouts we've ever tasted.
If you drink... Blue Moon,
you'll love... Ommegang Witte
Ommegang Witte is brewed in Cooperstown, New York, under the supervision of Duvel Moortgat brewery in Belgium, which produces the noble golden ale Duvel - except almost everything Ommegang makes is better than Duvel, including this venerated classic.
You should also try...
Ramstein Blonde: Head brewer Greg Zaccardi imports everything from Bavaria, the ancestral home of hefeweizen, giving it an appealingly tart spiceness found in the real McCoys.
Penn Weizen: A perfect emulation of authentic German styles, Penn Weizen has all the spicy aromas of banana and clove that you would expect from a traditional Bavarian weiss.
If you drink... Samuel Adams Boston Lager,
you'll love... Southampton Altbier
Southampton is renowned for its array of beer styles. Its Altbier (a German style with a flavor that falls somewhere between an ale and a lager) is a delicious analogue to Boston Lager, with a caramel color and creamy malt character.
You should also try...
Lakefront Organic ESB: One of the few beers in the world made with 100 percent certified organic ingredients, this ESB (extra special bitter, a British style) is perfectly balanced.
Elysian The Wise ESB: Often ESBs suffer from a fruitlike sweetness. Not so with the Wise. It's drier, and its layering of mellow spiciness makes it perfect for fall's cool nights.
If you drink... Pilsner Urquell,
you'll love... Stoudt's Pils
This clean, golden Pennsylvania beer achieves exactly what a pilsner is meant to: It packs enough taste to keep you interested for the long haul, with a mild, thirst-quenching flavor that encourages you to drink it all night long - ideal between bites of fiery Thai food.
You should also try...
Trumer Pils: Trumer has all the integrity of a European pilsner with the added benefit that you won't get screwed by the brutal euro-dollar exchange rate.
Two Brothers Dog Days Dortmunder-Style Lager: This meaty Dortmunder-style lager is a deep, brassy-colored brew with a little more malty heft and alcoholic kick.
What to order when you're on the road:
Southeast
Abita Restoration
Abita, the quintessential Dixie craft brewery, launched this pale ale to raise money for New Orleans's post-Katrina reconstruction. And it's perfect for the swampy environment - a full-bodied brew that goes light on the malt and hops for hot-weather refreshment.
Northwest
Bridgeport IPA
The PNW is hophead heaven. Portland earned the nickname "Beervana" for its 30 breweries, and Bridgeport was the first and is often regarded as the best. Thanks to its citrusy IPA that goes great with the brewpub's deservedly famous spicy pizza, that's not likely to change anytime soon.
Southwest
Boont Amber Ale
Like its people, California's beer scene runs to extremes: from mild and sociable up north to aggressive and boozy in So Cal. Nor Cal's Boont Amber is a smooth, unpasteurized ale with a lively kick in a glowing garnet color that's as attractive as the copper kettles it's brewed in.
Northeast
Victory Prima Pils
From Philly to Maine, excellent craft beer is flowing. The clean-finishing, grainy goodness of this golden, rocky-headed beer from Pennsylvania makes it ideal on draft, preferably poured into extra-large pitchers and shared among friends. As Sierra is to pales, Prima is to pilsners.
Rockies
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale
The rough-and-tumble saloon vibe of the Rockies is still there, but next to the lit-up plastic taps these days are genre-bending micros. Oskar Blues made a splash as the first American craft brewery to can its own beer. Dale's is still great on tap, with a classic pale ale's bite and tang.
Midwest
Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Thankfully, there's a craft brew renaissance going on throughout the Midwest. Michigan's Bell's Brewery has long had a cult following, and its vast selection of world-class ales is now available in most beer-forward bars. This is a potent but exceedingly drinkable IPA.
No comments:
Post a Comment