Who doesn’t love a cold beer after a long day at work? I know I keep my fridge stocked with Blue Moon’s, Heineken’s and Corona’s, but there are tons of other beers to try. They may not sell these at your local corner store, but these will impress your friends if they happen to find these beer gems hidden in your fridge this spring.
The ancient Babylonians were one of the first cultures to brew beer; and they were such maniacs about making brew that they’d drown creators of inferior batches in their own beer. Thankfully the beer world is a little less serial-killery nowadays, but drinking a crappy microbrew can still sorta make you want to Hulk smash someone … or simply dump it out and order another flavor.
There’s no shortage of new flavors to try these days because the selection of specialty ales, lagers, and stouts has never been larger. The volume of beer produced by craft breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs operating in the U.S. increased by 13 percent last year. And to find the perfect springtime beers to taste test, we asked beer guru Gary Monterosso, author of Artisan Beer to give us a few recommendations.
1. Victory Brewing Company’s Prima Pils
This pale Pennsylvania brew has won several awards at beer festivals, including the Grand Champion Pilsner Award at the United States Beer Tasting Championship. So if you decide to go mouth-to-bottle with the champ, expect to taste a well-balanced malty-wheaty hybrid. Says Monterosso, “In my opinion, it’s one of the best beers in the world to try.â€Â If nothing else, you can hold it up and give a Johnny Drama-style “Victory!!!†after you crack one open.
2. Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier
A German-brewed beer with a mild fruity flavor, the Hefe-Weissbier is an unfiltered Bavarian-style Hefeweizen; that means it’ll look cloudy in a glass and might leave you a little surprise when you’re finished. No, it won’t vomit suds on you, but there’s a high chance it’ll leave a bit of sediment. “You’ll get hints of clove, citrus, and some people even say bubblegum,†Monterosso explains. “It’s great to serve them with salads and shrimp and white seafood dishes.â€
3. Magic Hat Vinyl
Once a tiny operation, this Vermont brewery is now cranking out 400 beers a minute, and Vinyl is their spring batch. It’s an amber lager with a bit of spice and fruit in the taste. Its malty and sweet flavor blends well with a plate of paella or a burger. Bonus: It’s got a trippy-looking label. What does that do for you or your BAC levels? Absolutely nothing.
4. Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale
Brewed in Chicago, this straw-colored beer features lots of flavor, a creamy body, and a modest 4.2 percent ABV. The low alcohol content might cause drunken skeeves beer fanboys to scoff, but it tastes delicious; since 2006, the brew has earned three gold medals and a bronze at the Great American Beer Festival.
5. Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest
Made with three varieties of flavorful “southern hemisphere†hops that are flown in from New Zealand and brewed a week after picking, this ale has 6.7 percent ABV, bright orange coloring, and a slightly sweet, peppery, and grapefruity taste. Try it with Thai food, sharp bleu cheese, and seafood or poultry dishes.
6. Abita Beer’s Purple Haze
We’re not fans of many things purple: that obnoxious singing dinosaur, the Minnesota Vikings’ ass-ugly uniforms, or any of Prince’s unitards. But Purple Haze is an exception; this wheat-based beer has raspberry puree added to it after filtration, which gives it its “purple haze†coloring and a fruity taste. The raspberry adds a tart flavor, but it’s not as harsh as that of a sour Jolly Rancher. “It’s not a sweet beer by any stretch,†Monterosso said. Read: Don’t judge it by its label.
7. Dogfish Head Aprihop
This India pale ale is 7 percent ABV and contains what the company calls “irresponsible amounts†of Amarillo hops. Since we’re rebels who throw caution to the wind — and big fans of hoppy beers — Aprihop suits us just fine. You’ll also find apricots and a slight hint of fruit flavor, which will pair well with Mexican food, barbecue, or hummus. If you want some, better hurry — this seasonal ale is only available from March through May.
