Endless Beers -

by snebbu

The Brews of Summer: 100 Beers to Enjoy in the Heat

For those of you complaining about pumpkin beer and Oktoberfest releases coming too early, I bring you this masterpiece. Now you have 100 beers to choose from while you bask in the last month of summer. As per the top ten list, I defined a summer brew as: Wheats, Saisons, Wits, Pilsners, Pale Ales, IPAs, and fruity beers. Of course this list is NOT exhaustive. You should know that you will be able to go to any microbrewery near you and enjoy a summer seasonal. And I included microbreweries that may not distribute as well….road trip, anyone?

I leave you with this: “And I can tell you my love for beer will still be strong after the beers of summer have gone.”

You’re welcome.

Missed one? Let us know what you would include!

All 100 Ways — 1,500 recipes and counting! — found here.

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.

in Drinks / Lists / Top 10 Lists 0 comments

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.

in Drinks / Holiday 0 comments

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

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