The beer revolution in the USA is real, and it’s beautiful. Naysayers can chalk this up into a fad. Traditionalists can scoff as they sip their can of watered-down mash. Both, finally, are only depriving themselves of what has turned into a ferocious revival of beer in the usa. In the truest of American style, they took the best styles of beer in the rest of the world and made them better.
The conventional lager-style American beer was originally brewed from necessity. As prohibition was being slowly repealed, a loophole created by the Volstead Act permitted for alcoholic drinks which were deemed to be non-intoxicating to be generated. Soon after the complete repeal of prohibition, America entered World War II and the demand for beer dropped. Given the conditions, the beer would need to meet two criteria: It ought to be easily mass-produced, and constructed of cheap ingredients. Americans, being the creatures of habit that all of us are, became accustomed to the beer and literally nothing changed for another 40 years.
What is now called craft beer really has roots in the 1980’s in America. It’s popularity was limited to cult followings for the most part, with a couple of breweries breaking with national accessibility. The growth remained slow, as the big American”macrobreweries” continued to dominate the market. Areas on the West Coast and Denver became famous among the beer community as the meccas for craft beer, but their visibility from a nationwide standpoint remained minimal. The past decade has witnessed an explosion in the amount of and the prevalence of craft breweries throughout the nation. According to the National Brewers Association, craft beer saw a 17.9% increase overall in 2013, even though it still lays claim to only 8 percent of the entire beer market. 2013 saw the launching of over 400 new breweries across america, and the smart money is on 2014 exceeding that amount. Competition in the usa has always bread creation, and the beer industry is the same. When you haven’t found a beer that appeals to your mind, you’re simply not trying. Let’s take a close look at a few of the key styles, including some of my personal favorites in each category.
A beer made by British retailers with enough hops (and alcohol content) to endure the long trip to British-controlled India.
The signature sour flavor of the English Design IPA persists in the American IPA, but with it comes the inclusion of hop varieties which make an remarkable spectrum of aromas and tastes. The American IPA traditionally has an orange color, and an unmistakable odor of fruit and floral. There are a number of variations of this American IPA, but the most common (and in my view yummy ) is often known as a West Coast IPA, tracing back to its origins in the Pacific Northwest and California. Contrary to the frequent assumption, a sour beer is probably not a bad thing. The best IPA’s find a way to include enough hops to make the terrific aroma and taste that beer drinkers have come to enjoy, with a balanced finish that leaves you savoring every sip.
Like coffee, Inda Pale Ales are definitely an acquired taste. If the jumps are too overwhelming, I would suggest starting out with a Pale Ale. Pale Ales provide a flavor that is similar, with a lesser IBU, and a tend to be less of a jolt to the system.
The Stout. The stout typically stays true to its title. It originated as a term for a particularly powerful porter, but has since morphed into it’s own type of beer. Full-bodied, flavorful and satisfying. These are typically enjoyed while the air is a little colder, but do not be afraid to keep a few in the refrigerator year round.
Stouts generally provide a malty taste, often described as”roasty”, with regard to the java notes which are common. In actuality, many breweries have begun partnering with neighborhood coffee shops to create coffee stouts that incorporate more of that taste. Stouts are full-bodied sufficient to incorporate chocolate and milky tastes without coming off as a sweet beverage.
Ambers tend to get a smooth finish, with a caramel and malty taste. The intricacy of these allows for the inclusion of multiple tastes, without significantly changing the last product. I’d consider Amber beers to be a”moderate” beer, falling right in the middle of the beer spectrum, and so a excellent selection for craft beer beginners.
The hops also tend to push up the alcohol content, especially with the reds reds, which makes these a wonderful cool weather beer.
Belgians: The Belgian beers have a very distinct taste, but offer a fantastic variety of finishes. It’s difficult to pinpoint the group of tastes that embody a Belgium beer, but if you’ve ever had one, you can realize it almost immediately. There’s a propensity to brand them as wheat beers and they’re generally expected to be served with an orange. But to tag all Belgian beers as simply a beer that includes citrus could be a disservice and downright wrong. We’ll concentrate on the less publicized types…
The Beligan Dubbel, AKA abbey ale, will be darker, higher in alcohol content and less sour than the normal Belgium beer. A fantastic abbey is difficult to beat.
The Saison’s are lighter, fruitier and frequently provide a little bit of spice.