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by snebbu

Summer Brews Gone Wild! Top 10 Summer Beers

This list was difficult to compile. There are now so many summer beers to choose from, and they are all so different. I took a lot of serious time tasting these beers, tasting more beers, and tasting more beers. I categorized the following styles as Summer Beers: Wheat, Saison, Wit, Pilsner, Pale Ales, IPAs. Is the list exhaustive? Hell no. Can I guarantee that no matter what beer you try from this list, you will enjoy. Hell yes. Here it is:

10. Voo Doo Brewing “Some Say that Cucumbers Taste Better Pickled”

ABV: 4.7%

While strolling the walk of the Selinsgrove “Hops, Vines, and Wines” Festival, I came upon a sign that simply said “Some say cucumber is better pickled—try our beer.” Clearly that was going to be the first one I tried. I didn’t know what to expect—how can cucumber flavor really come through malts and hops? Somehow, it did. It wasn’t too strong, but you could definitely taste the refreshing cucumber flavor. I’m still trying to figure out how to get it sent to me. This is a great brew to have at one of your kick-ass barbecues and suddenly break out the cucumber beer for all your friends. Refreshing.

9. Curious Traveler Summer Shandy

ABV: 4.4%

First, there are the main-stream shandies that we are all familiar with. Then there is this. Curious Traveler Shandy comes in several flavors but I think the original lemon is the best. The beer has a crisp lemonade flavor that does not take over the beer. It is well balanced and includes the essential flavors of a lemonade AND a beer. Kick one back on the porch.

8. 21st Amendment “Hell or High Watermelon” Wheat

ABV: 4.9%

For those who enjoy a sweet wheat beer in the heat of summer—this is it. Put away the wine cooler and drink like an adult with 21st Amendment’s signature wheat. Watermelon comes through right away and carries itself throughout. The wheat beer flavor is there—sweet and complementing the watermelon in an odd but tasty way. If you like sweet beers, try this out. Plus the artwork on all 21st Amendment cans is just pretty damn awesome.

by snebbu

The Perfect Pour with Rappapour

Need another reason to drink craft beer? How about humor? I mean, it isn’t a main reason, but this is still pretty damn funny. Flying Dog Brewery enlightens all with how to pour the “pourfect” glass without contaminating the beer. After all, you wouldn’t want to leave the bar with Hepatitis A, B, or C would you? PS: watch out for those bodily discharges.

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by snebbu

Happy IPA Day! + Coconut

Yes, we have National Tequila Day, National Cheesecake Day—whatever you want. Thanks to the world of Hallmark making up expensive holidays for men, anyone can make up a holiday. But for this one, I embrace. Social media is everything, so it shouldn’t surprise you that two twitter fiends (Ashley Routson (@TheBeerWench) and Ryan Ross (@RyanARoss) decided to create international IPA day. So what are you going to do on this glorious occasion? Put down the Bud Light Lime and open your mind to the endless world of IPAs.

What’s a good choice to start with? How about the Stone Collaboration R & R Coconut IPA? Yes—coconut. The whole purpose of IPA day is to embrace craft brewing, so why not drink a craft brew that was also brewed with homebrewers? At 2013’s Stone Homebrew Competition, Robert Masterson and Ryan Reschan’s coconut IPA made it to the final tasting, where a panel made up of Stone CEO & Co-founder Greg Koch, President & Co-founder Steve Wagner, Brewmaster Mitch Steele, Craft Beer Ambassador “Dr.” Bill Sysak and several Stone brewers chose their brew as the best. A homebrewer’s dream: brew large batch with some cool dudes. Win.

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by snebbu

Pumpkin Beer? In July?

That’s right. I’ve noticed some complaints about seeing pumpkin beer out so early. As your consumer reporter (and fellow beer lover) I decided to go to the source: Weyerbacher Brewing.

Weyerbacher is known for their Imperial Pumpkin Ale, so why not just go to the brewery and investigate? I wanted to see (a) how they brew the stuff and (b) why they release it so early. I found the answers to those questions and oh so much more. Let’s go.

in Drinks / Food Travel 2 comments

by snebbu

Attack of the Clones!

Every so often, homebrewers have that moment when they taste some great suds and begin scripting a recipe that they hope will produce the same results as the craft beer being enjoyed. So begins the search for a clone recipe. Sometimes third party clone recipes are available, and if you’re lucky, a brewery may release a recipe. After all, many brewmasters and craft beer CEO’s started as homebrewers. Now, the next wave: Flying Dog Brewery is releasing their own clone kits – STOVETOPPERS.

These kits include EVERY ingredient needed to brew an all-grain batch of beer (even the yeast!) All-Grain: you create the extract from the malt and then add all of the other ingredients that you would to an extract brew or extract/specialty grains brew (all grain = do it like the pros do).

Flying Dog Brewmaster Matt Brophy explains “Homebrewers spread the gospel of craft beer through their craft and ours, so I think breweries have a responsibility to foster and inspire the homebrewing community.” Agreed.

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by snebbu

It’s All a Matter of Principle…or Quarters

CATASTROPHE. WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. MADNESS! That’s right folks…I’ve been challenged yet again by the man. It’s almost as if I’m looking for him…Anyway, I made a decision based on principle last night to fight the man while out to dinner with some friends. However, the decision sparked a high level of discussion. Which is why I pose these two questions to you:

(a) is 50 cents too much for Ranch dressing at a restaurant? and

(b) is saying “does that make sense” to a waitress demeaning?

Here’s the evidence (from the only side—the RIGHT side). May it please the court of public opinion…

Myself and four other co-workers/friends appear at a well-known brew-pub in our area for a hand-crafted meal and hand-crafted beers. I order a “Smokey BBQ Chicken” wrap. The food comes in a timely manner as we’re enjoying our craft brews and everything looks great. I take a bite into my wrap and it is tasty. And a little spicy, which was expected, but spicier than I thought. I decided to ask for a small cup of ranch dressing to balance out the spice (about 2 oz. is what the table determined was served to me).

in Rants & Raves / Restaurants 5 comments

by snebbu

Endless Beers: Anchor Brewing Zymaster No. 4

The Anchor Brewing Zymaster series. A select series of brews crafted by Anchor’s brewmasters with unique flavor combinations and fresh, intriguing ingredients. Of course, Zymaster isn’t a real word, unless you live in Anchor Brewing’s world. Whether or not you have heard the word before, just the opportunity to try a special “series brew” from the Anchor Brewing company is intriguing in and of itself.

That’s just information about the series. The No. 4 is deemed as the “Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale.” The brew is a belgian ale brewed with Saison yeast, wheats, barleys, and the special Yerba Santa (meaning “Holy Herb”) from Fort Ross on the San Francisco cost. This brew literally comes straight from the farm. On to the tasting.

in Drinks 2 comments