+Top Microbrews 2011

Posted on by Emily in Food & Drink

+Top Microbrews 2011

Summer 2011 is officially here which means it’s time to discuss some of the top microbrews of the season. As a self-proclaimed ‘beer geek’ who has had many years of experience in the craft beer industry, I’m excited to share some of my favorite beers with you.

Let me preface this next section by saying that all the top microbrews on my list are delicious and reasonably priced. Microbrews are typically more expensive than lagers produced at big name macrobreweries like Coors or PBR. Don’t shy away from trying some of these delicious beers for just this reason, however. I have some suggestions on how to enjoy craft beer on a budget at the end.

+Top Microbrews 2011

Here is a list of some of my favorite beers. I’ve tried to pick interesting styles suitable for hot summer months.

Troegs Nugget Nectar

I love this hoppy red ale. It has a wonderful, flavorful malty backbone with a crisp hoppy finish. Absolutely delicious. If you’re like me and don’t like your beer’s body to be too light nor too heavy, this amber beer will definitely appeal to you. You also must love bitter beer as it jam packed with Nugget, Simcoe, Tomahawk, Palisade and Warrior hops. Nugget Nectar is not in season right now, but keep your eyes open in the future as it is such an amazing beer!

Dogfishhead Festina Peche

Anyone who is looking to really delve into the world of craft beer should consider Dogfishhead as the perfect gateway brewery. Their beer is consistently delicious as they continue to push the envelope in their style and flavor combinations. Festina Peche is a Berliner Weisse style beer. Berliner Weisse is a sour wheat beer that originates from (you guessed it) Berlin, Germany. It has that puckery-tart flavor that is well balanced with the fresh peach juice they add into the mix. On a hot summer day it is absolutely delicious.

Greenflash West Coast IPA

IPA is the acronym used for an Indian Pale Ale style beer. It is an extremely hoppy (bitter) beer that hails from the days of when the English were colonizing India. Hops are one of the four main ingredients of beer. They look like little green flowers and are added to the beer to give it flavor and to keep it fresher longer. The English had to hop up their beer when they were shipping it over to India to ensure that it wouldn’t spoil on the journey, and so the style was born. I love IPAs and have tried dozens different ones, however nothing quite compares to the rich, creamy, refreshing Greenflash West Coast IPA.

Long Trail Blackberry Wheat

Wheat beers are typically drank in the summertime and so I added Long Trail’s Blackberry Wheat to the mix because it is light and fruity– great for hot weather. It’s not a typical wheat beer, which normally aren’t quite as light, but it is definitely refreshing.

Ommegang Hennepin

Ommegang is a microbrewery out of Cooperstown, New York that makes some great American adaptations of Belgian beer styles. Hennepin is by far one of my favorite beers as it is a great saison style beer. A saison is a farmhouse beer brewed at high temperatures throughout the summer to be drunk in autumn. It has a smooth, medium body and fruity, spicy, slightly sour flavors. Absolutely wonderful.

+top microbrews 2011

As I mentioned before, I’ve had many years experience in the craft beer industry. I worked at a microbrewery in Vermont for several years before moving out of the state. Missing the world of beer, I taught myself how to homebrew before taking on a part time job in SoHo New York City at a craft beer store.

Sadly, my beer days are now behind me. However, I still have a breadth of knowledge that I’m always eager to share. As a writer for Frugal Zeitgeist I thought it would be appropriate to share some strategies for enjoying microbrews on a budget. Below are some ways I’ve been able to enjoy great beer and save money.

Visit Your Local Brewery

The microbrew scene is booming in America and the chances of there being a brewery near by you is increasingly in likelihood by the year. Do an internet search to see where the closest microbrewery is to your house, grab a buddy and a designated driver and check it out. Breweries often give out free samples of their beers. If you don’t have a brewery near by, you might be close to a great brewpub– many restaurants are brewing their own beer within the premises and are worth exploring.

Growlers

A growler is a 32-64 oz. jug which you purchase from anywhere from$2 to 30 dollars (some are quite ornate) and fill with beer. The brilliant thing about growlers is that you only have to buy them once, clean them, and refill them. Most growler bars give great prices on filling growlers with delicious craft beer.

Throw a Microbrew Party

Microbrews are typically pretty rich, so you don’t need too many. If you throw a party where everyone brings a different six pack then you’ll all get to try a little bit of many different kinds.

Homebrewing

Homebrewing is primarily an expensive hobby that can become economic with practice and all of the equipment paid off. The most expensive part of homebrewing is the equipment, the cleansers and bottles. Malt is cheap and hops and yeast are affordable. Once you master the art you will be saving money. Just keep in mind that when you start out it is kind of an expensive endeavor.

Thanks for reading +Top Microbrews 2011. Please feel free to suggest your favorite microbrews for the list!

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