Darks & Lights: 10 Local Brews We Recommend
Maybe you’re not a hophead — or maybe you’re just curious as to what variety will best suit your taste. Here are 10 beer styles to try (beyond the now-omnipresent IPA) and a locally brewed example of each.
Photos by Cory MOrton
Winter Warmer
Spoonwood Barley Storm
Winter Warmers are dark ales with a malt-forward flavor and an assertive alcohol presence. Hop flavor and aroma generally are limited to background notes which serve to balance the stronger malt flavors.
Spoonwood’s Barley Storm marries the maltiness of a winter warmer with the strength and slight sweetness of Belgian strong ale. Best when served at 50 degrees Fahrenheit and given a short rest to allow the initial alcohol-forwardness to mellow. spoonwoodbrewing.com
Imperial Red Ale
Brew Gentlemen Business Casual
American red ales typically are a balanced, malty style of brew, with a bit of toastiness and fruitiness in the mix. It’s acceptable to have a highlighted but not dominant hop profile.
At 8.4 percent ABV, Brew Gentlemen Business Casual is a bit boozier than a typical red ale (hence the “imperial” on the label), but it’s still easy to drink. brewgentlemen.com
American Stout
East End Blackstrap Stout
American stouts are inspired by classic British Isles stouts (dark, malty, lower- to mid-range ABV) but are allowed a wider range of hoppiness and can include additional flavoring additives.
East End Brewing Company adds blackstrap molasses and brown sugar to the brew mix of Blackstrap Stout, creating a dark, slightly sweet brew with notes of coffee.
eastendbrewing.com
Russian Imperial Stout
Hop Farm Kulak
Russian Imperial stouts are revved-up versions of classic stouts — maltier, more roasted and significantly boozier than their traditional cousins. Hop profile varies, and carbonation is generally low.
Hop Farm Kulak is a Russian Imperial that’s aged for one year in pinot noir barrels. The beer is a complex mix of malt, fruit and soft oak notes. At 8.5 percent ABV, it’s on the lower end of the scale for a Russian Imperial. hopfarmbrewingco.com
Belgian Ale
Roundabout Brewing Vandervelde
Belgian ales tradionally are strong, flavorful beers. There are a variety of styles-within-a-style in the classification; brews can range from fruity, complex dubbels to funky, sour lambics.
Vandervelde is a bright, drinkable winter saison with notes of pine and citrus from the addition of juniper berries. It’s a refreshing brew that’s perfect for a sunny afternoon.
roundaboutbeer.com
American Wild Ale
Draai Laag CRU
Wild ales are brewed via spontaneous fermentation — instead of introducing commercial yeast during brewing, these distinctive brews ferment by exposure to environments with naturally occurring yeast or bacteria (hence the “wild” in the title). The results are tart, dry and flavorful.
CRU is one of Draai Laag’s less-boozy offerings at 7.4 percent ABV (still fairly boozy for a beer). That makes it a good introduction to wild ales for the novice. Drink slowly and savor this crisp, pleasantly sour beer. draailaag.com
Kolsch
Grist House Kolsch on the Run
Kolsch is a title akin to champagne — purists will insist it applies only to beers from Cologne, Germany. Still, many American breweries are aping the style, which tastes similar to (although lighter than) a pale ale, often with fruity notes.
Pilsner fans will find Grist House’s Kolsch on the Run to be an ideal introduction to the style, with all of the drinkability of a good pilsner but plenty of malt-forward flavor.
gristhouse.com
Pilsner
Penn Kaiser Pils
If you want a perfect beer to drink at a ballgame, find a pilsner. The refreshing variety with Czech roots often is highly carbonated and eminently drinkable — with much more flavor than a run-of-the-mill light beer.
While the popular Penn Pilsner is very close to this variety, it’s actually considered a Vienna lager. For the real thing, opt for the brewery’s Kaiser Pils, a slightly hoppier pilsner that tastes even better on a hot day. pennbrew.com
Wheat
Full Pint White Lightning
Brewed in whole or in part with wheat in the place of hops, wheat beers often are a favorite among those without a taste for the hoppy stuff. Many will have hints of orange and coriander.
Full Pint’s White Lightning gets its distinctive flavor from the rarely used spice grains of paradise. Citrusy without being overly sweet, it’s a beer that invites a second (or third) round. fullpintbrewing.com
Fruit-Flavored
Rivertowne Hala Kahiki
There’s no one description for fruit-flavored beers because they can occupy pretty much any variety. Frequent targets include ales and wheat beers, though a good bottle shop will offer brews of nearly any style imbued with a sweet flavor.
Rivertowne’s pineapple ale, Hala Kahiki, is a somewhat more genuine attempt than many; pineapples are introduced during the brewing process, rather than used to flavor a finished product. This crisp beer almost has the sweetness of a soda without feeling sugary or overpowering. myrivertowne.com
