I really thought that March was the month that we would see some warmer weather but instead it’s been a chilly month full of rain and even some snow. But that won’t deter me from making my monthly list of the Best Craft Beer.
And as you will see, it appears that my preferences in beer are telling me that spring is just around the corner.
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Here’s the Best Craft Beer I had last month:
Wisconsin Belgian Red
Brewery: New Glarus Brewing – New Glarus, WI
Style: Fruit Beer
ABV: 4% IBU: N/A
Description
This beer is brewed with whole Montmorency Cherries, Wisconsin Farmed Wheat and Belgian Roasted Barleys, lagered in oak tanks and balanced by Hallertau hops we aged in our brewery one full year. Over a pound of Door County Cherries in every bottle makes this beer uniquely “Wisconsin.” Expect this beer to be ruby red, with a medium body that is highly carbonated and intense with cherry flavor and bouquet.
Why it made the list?
There are some beers that make you question “what is beer, anyway?”. And this is one of those.
The medium body carried the bold yet delicate cherry flavor perfectly. There’s not a touch of hop presence at all and the carbonation gave it a nice, refreshing bite.
It’s more like a sparkling wine than beer – and I mean that as a compliment. This bottle was shared among friends but I could have enjoyed this all day.
Blackberry Mango Slurpy
Brewery: 450 North Brewing – Columbus, IN
Style: Smoothie Style Berliner Weisse
ABV: 4.5% IBU: N/A
Description
Berliner Weisse conditioned on Blackberry and Mango.
Why it made the list?
Hopefully, you aren’t tired of my putting beer from 450 North Brewing on my monthly list of the best craft beer. The second they stop making great beer, I’ll be sure to not include them.
This was the first of what I hope to be a series of beers in this style – Smoothis Style Berliner Weisse.
Craft beer continues to push the limits of what beer is and can be. And one thing that continues to get pushed is the addition of fruit. And that is exactly what Blackberry Mango Slurpy is.
This had a heavy body that resembles fruit pulp more than beer. The tartness was very mild as the fruit sweetness dominated.
It reminded me of the Midwest Fruit Tart Ales that Urban Artifact is known for making.
I do need to mention that there were a few reports of cans of this beer exploding. I don’t know all of the details but it looks like the fruit/sugar in the beer re-fermented causing this. Keeping it cold and drinking it fresh seems to be the recommendation given to prevent this. This is a constant reminder that we need to take care of our beer.
Craft Beer Spotlight: Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
Krieky Bones
Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing – Paso Robles, CA
Style: American Wild Ale
ABV: 6.1% IBU: N/A
Description
What began as a birthday gift took on a life of its own. Proprietor David Walker cornered us one day and requested a sour cherry fermented beer for his 50th birthday. A handful was sold at a release and our customers demanded more. Behold Krieky Bones! This beer begins its life as a Flanders Red inspired beer aged over a year in French oak foeders. Sour Montmorency cherries are added and allowed a secondary fermentation. The aroma is of cherry pie complete with flavors of pie crust, spice and an underlying funk. Vienna malt notes give way to an assertive acidity and a bright carbonation. A santé!
Why it made the list?
I don’t travel often but occasionally my job will send me on a trip. And wherever I go, craft beer is high on my list to try.
Recently, I found myself at a restaurant called The Recess Room in an area just south of Los Angeles. They had amazing food and an even better beer list.
And when I saw Krieky Bones on the list, I knew exactly which beer I’d be ordering first. I don’t get the chance to have Firestone Walker very often and I love cherry flavored beer.
This sour ale didn’t disappoint. It was just as sweet as it was sour and the cherry flavor was the focus. This is the kind of sour beer that I think anyone could enjoy as the sour level was low to moderate.
Hop JuJu
Brewery: Fat Heads Brewery – Cleveland, OH
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 9% IBU: 100
Description
Massive hopping throughout the brew process and a serious dry hopping addition give this Imperial IPA supernatural hop aroma and flavor.
Why it made the list?
There are so many special beer releases that it’s nearly impossible to keep up – so I don’t. Instead, I get what I can and enjoy them.
But that often means I miss out on some great beer. And despite hearing praise year after year, Hop JuJu is a beer that I failed to try until this year. And even this year it took a co-worker giving me a bottle.
I can officially say that I have been missing out by skipping this release. As a longtime fan of double IPAs, this is one of the better ones.
While many IPAs can focus too much on the hops, Hop JuJu is bold yet balanced. There’s a strong hop flavor of pine, resin and tropical flavors. But that is matched by a sweet, malty base that ties it all together.
There’s a lot going on but it works so well that it’s much more approachable than most high ABV Double IPAs.
Learn More About Craft Beer: Craft Beer Cocktails
My list was heavy on the fruit beers this month which leads me to believe that I am more than ready to get to warmer weather. Which I’m convinced has to be coming soon.
But even though the fruit beers were similar, they were also quite different as well. Just goes to show that beer is so diverse that you’d be nearly crazy to say that you can’t find one you like.
As always, you can sound off in the comments below or send me a message.
