A COVID-19 American Craft Beer Week

American Craft Beer Week (May 11-17) is the annual nationwide celebration of small and independent U.S. craft breweries. Join the celebration and support independent brewery businesses by giving the gift of craft beer through delivery of beer, beer-to-go, gift cards or merchandise, CraftBeer.com


In more joyous times, American Craft Beer Week would entail various celebrations at beer bars, restaurants, and breweries with consumers able to sample a wide array of craft-brewed beer. That was before COVID-19 and the nationwide shutdown that has disabled, not only craft breweries, but also the restaurants and retail outlets which were once strong outlets of the craft beer supply chain.

The Brewers Association (BA) is the membership organization dedicated to promoting and protecting small and independent craft brewers in the United States. The BA defines a craft brewer as small, traditional, and independent -- features which make these establishments particularly vulnerable during this pandemic. Many of these small brewers rely completely on tasting room sales and do not have the distribution arrangements for a wider audience. They are also independent and not partly or wholly owned by large conglomerates that have the cash reserve or financial ties to weather the crisis.

In normal economic times, there is creative destruction within the industry where a certain number of breweries will open and a smaller number closing their doors. However, with challenging profit margins, even in the best of times, many of our favorite breweries may not survive without our focused assistance. CraftBeer.com has published a Nationwide List of To-Go Beer Options by Breweries and for this week (and beyond) are asking consumers for their support. If you are ill or an at-risk individual, you should avoid going out, but consider purchasing a gift card or searching for local breweries providing delivery services. If you are healthy, take advantage of curbside beer service.  With our help craft breweries will ride this, and any future, COVID-19 storms.

Follow: #GiveCraftBeer and #SeekTheSeal



Update:

Brewers Association Reveals the 50 Fastest Growing U.S. Craft Breweries of 2018

The Brewers Association released its second annual list of the 50 fastest growing small and independent craft brewing companies of 2018. "These small and independent craft breweries from 27 states registered a median growth of 163 percent in 2018 and included 13 brewpubs, 35 microbreweries, and two regional craft breweries".

"Even as market competition continues to increase, these small and independent breweries and brewpubs demonstrate there are still growth opportunities across a diverse set of regions and business models," said Bart Watson, chief economist, Brewers Association. And the list is rather representative of all geographic regions.

1. Lake Time Brewery, Clear Lake Iowa
2. Big Oyster Brewery, Lewes Delaware
3. Oak Road Brewery, Summerville South Carolina
4. The Dreamchaser’s Brewery, Waxhaw North Carolina
5. Shattered Oak Brewing, Oregon City Oregon

Methodology: The list presented includes only small and independent breweries. Growth is measured based on production at their own facilities. Breweries must have opened by December 31, 2016, or earlier to be considered. It only includes breweries that reported 2018 production to the Brewers Association’s annual Beer Industry Production Survey; breweries with staff estimates or data from state excise tax reports were not considered. Breweries also needed a validated production figure for 2017, either via the production survey, or state excise tax data.

A comprehensive State of the Industry report will be delivered during the 2019 Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, held from April 8-11 in Denver, Colorado. The association’s full 2018 industry analysis, which shows regional trends and sales by individual breweries, will be published in the May/June issue of The New Brewer, available in May 2019.

1 An American craft brewer is a small and independent brewer. Small: Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales). Beer production is attributed to the rules of alternating proprietorships. Independent: Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member that is not itself a craft brewer. Brewer: Has a TTB Brewer’s Notice and makes beer.

Contact: Abby Cohen (on behalf of the Brewers Association) abby@rosengrouppr.com, 646-695-7044

2019 SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience

This year, the Brewers Association is hosting their annual SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience Friday, May 17th in Washington D.C. -- as usual at the National Building Museum. This week the Beer & Food Menu pairings were released and they look quite delicious - particularly anything with Choptank oysters, Gruyere, or Rabbit Tamale. Looking forward to another great event tasting with old and new friends. from across the United States Cheers.




2ND SHIFT BREWING CO. St. Louis, MO
GRAPEVINES (BRETT BEER: MIXED-CULTURE)
Ricotta Gnocchi | English Peas| Chanterelles
MLÁDEK(STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Rice Pudding | Horchata | Churro

4 NOSES BREWING COMPANY Broomfield, CO
SOMETHING FRENCH (SOUR ALE: FRUITED)
Passionfruit Panna Cotta | Meringue
ZWICKY P (ZWICKEL PILSNER)
Corn Madeleine | Chicken Liver Mousse

ALLAGASH BREWING COMPANY Portland, ME
BARREL & BEAN (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG BEER)
Coffee & Chocolate Whoopie Pie
PICK YOUR OWN (FRUIT BEER: BELGIAN-STYLE)
Corn Madeleine | Chicken Liver Mousse

ATLAS BREW WORKS Washington, D.C.
BLOOD ORANGE GOSE (GOSE: CONTEMPORARY)
Choptank Oysters
NINJA SAUCE (PALE ALE: BELGIAN-STYLE)
Choptank Oysters

BEAR REPUBLIC BREWING CO. Cloverdale, CA
OLD BABA YAGA (STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Coffee Crème Brûlée
SONOMA TART (SOUR ALE: FRUITED AMERICAN-STYLE)
Chocolate Coconut Macaroon

BELL'S BREWERY Galesburg, MI
LARRY'S LATEST FLAMINGO FRUIT FIGHT (FRUIT BEER: WHEAT)
Bahn Mi Meatball | Toast | Herb Salad
THIRD COAST OLD ALE (BARLEY WINE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Pork Rib | Honey & Pecan Glaze

BOSTON BEER COMPANY Boston, MA
BLACK HARBOR STOUT (STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Bread Pudding | Smoked Oyster
MANGO GUAVA IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Chicken Laab | Thai Herbs

BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY Kansas City, MO
RYE ON RYE 6 (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG BEER)
Country Style Terrine | Plum Mustard
SAISON BRETT (SAISON: SPECIALTY)
Boudin Blanc | Crispy Potato | Mustard

BREWDOG BREWING COMPANY Canal Winchester, OH
ELVIS JUICE (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Peanut Butter Toast | Banana Brulee
JET BLACK HEART (STOUT: OATMEAL)
Hand Pie | Braised Beef Bourguignon

THE BREWER'S TABLE Austin, TX
MADE IN THE NIGHTSHADE (FIELD BEER)
Redfish | Creole Fried Green Tomato | Rouille
VOR ORT (LAGER: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Falafel | Chive Yogurt | Harissa

BREWERY OMMEGANG Cooperstown, NY
BRUT IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Lobster Roll
PALE SOUR (SOUR ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Marinated Mussels | Saffron Escabeche

CALDERA BREWING COMPANY Ashland, OR
MOSAIC IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Redfish | Creole Fried Green Tomato | Rouille
MOTHER PUCKER RASPBERRY SOUR (SOUR ALE: FRUITED AMERICAN-STYLE)
Nathan Miller Chocolate

CAPE ANN BREWING COMPANY Gloucester, MA
COME HELLES OR HIGH WATER (HELLES: MUNICH-STYLE)
Malted Chicharron | Fennel Pollen | Whipped Lardo
SPRUCE TIP BIERE DE GARDE (BIERE DE GARDE: FRENCH-STYLE)
Bresaola Cone | Soft Herbs | Fresh Cherries

CAPE MAY BREWING CO. Cape May, NJ
ALWAYS READY (PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Spicy Green Papaya Salad
LADY IN ROOM #10 (SOUR ALE: FRUITED AMERICAN-STYLE)
Curry Squash Samosa

CHELUNA BREWING COMPANY Denver, CO
CHILANGO (CHILI BEER)
Masa Dumplings | Braised Chicken | Avocado
LOW RIDER LAGER AÑEJO (AGED BEER)
Lox | Buckwheat Crepe | Salmon Roe

CHURCH BREW WORKS Pittsburgh, PA
PIOUS MONK DUNKEL (DUNKEL: MUNICH-STYLE)
Beef Tataki | Furikake | Seaweed Salad
THUNDERHOP IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Chicken Satay | Pineapple | Peanuts

CIGAR CITY BREWING Tampa, FL
ACROSS THE ALLEY (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG STOUT)
Chocolate Coconut Macaroon
MARGARITA GOSE (GOSE: LEIPZIG-STYLE)
Masa Dumplings | Braised Chicken | Avocado

COUNTRY BOY BREWING Georgetown, KY
LIVING PROOF: OUD BRUIN (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED SOUR BEER)
Beef Tataki | Furikake | Seaweed Salad
PAPAW'S RED (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG BEER)
Gruyere Gougère | Caramelized Onion

CRANK ARM BREWING CO. Raleigh, NC
VALVE STEM (LAGER: VIENNA-STYLE)
Grilled Lamb | Peas | Mint | Feta | Pea Pesto
WHITEWALL WHEAT (AMERICAN-BELGO-STYLE ALE: PALE)
Cucumber Gazpacho | Cheese Crisp

CRAZY MOUNTAIN BREWERY Denver, CO
HORSESHOES & HAND GRENADES (BITTER: AMERICAN-STYLE EXTRA SPECIAL)
Cabbage Roll | Pheasant | Farro & Currants
LAWYERS, GUNS & MONEY (BARLEY WINE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Hamachi Crudo | Tomatillo | Cilantro

DAREDEVIL BREWING CO. Speedway, IN
FIRST NOEL OAK SMOKED BOCK (RAUCHBIER: BAMBERG-STYLE BOCK)
Pork Belly | Red Eye Glaze | Date Bread
RIP CORD DIPA (INDIA PALE ALE: IMPERIAL)
Falafel | Chive Yogurt | Harissa

DC BRAU Washington, D.C.
SMELLS LIKE FREEDOM (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Malted Chicharron | Fennel Pollen | Whipped Lardo
WAKE UP IN THE FUTURE (STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Pork Belly | Red Eye Glaze | Date Bread

DESCHUTES BREWERY Bend, OR
BLACK MIRROR (BARLEY WINE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Blood Sausage | Eggplant | Golden Raisin
TEMPRANILLO FLANDERS (FLANDERS RED)
Bresaola Cone | Soft Herbs | Fresh Cherries

DOGFISH HEAD CRAFT BREWERY Milton, DE
AMERICAN BEAUTY (PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Rice Pudding | Horchata | Churro
SUPEREIGHT (GOSE: CONTEMPORARY)
Potsticker | Green Onion | Ginger | Lemongrass

DOUBLE NICKEL BREWING COMPANY Pennsauken, NJ
SUPER MEGA DANK 420 KUSH DADDY SUPREME (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Corn Hushpuppy | Pink Peppercorn Aioli
VIENNA LAGER (LAGER: VIENNA-STYLE)
Goat Cheese | Pistachio | Strawberry | White Balsamic

ESCAPE BREWING COMPANY Trinity, FL
FIVE FLAGS (PILSENER: GERMAN-STYLE)
Grilled Lamb | Peas | Mint | Feta | Pea Pesto
GOOFY FOOTED WHEAT ALE (WHEAT BEER WITHOUT YEAST: LIGHT AMERICAN)
Lox | Buckwheat Crepe | Salmon Roe

FERNSON BREWING COMPANY Sioux Falls, SD
CHAMPILS (PILSENER: CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN-STYLE)
Lox | Buckwheat Crepe | Salmon Roe
GALLIVANT (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Hot Chicken | Pickled Cabbage

FIRESTONE WALKER BREWING COMPANY Paso Robles, CA
UNDERCURRANTS (SOUR ALE: FRUITED AMERICAN-STYLE)
Curry Squash Samosa
XXII ANNIVERSARY ALE (BARLEY WINE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Corn Madeleine | Chicken Liver Mousse

FIVE BOROUGHS BREWING CO. Brooklyn, NY
PILSNER (PILSENER: BOHEMIAN-STYLE)
Hamachi Crudo | Tomatillo | Cilantro
TINY JUICY IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: SESSION)
Cheese Crêpe | Cranberry Almond Granola

FLORIDA AVENUE BREWING CO. Tampa, FL
BOAT BEER SEA SESSION ALE (EXPERIMENTAL BEER)
Seaweed & Crab Salad | Kombo | Cucumber
PASSION OF THE HEIGHTS (HERB AND SPICE BEER)
Goat Cheese | Pistachio | Strawberry | White Balsamic

FOOTHILLS BREWING Winston-Salem, NC
JADE IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Tuna Taco | Fried Red Onion | Garlic | Sesame
SEXUAL CHOCOLATE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT (STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Rabbit Tamale | Black Mole

FOUR FATHERS BREWING Valparaiso, IN
BARREL-AGED WHEELHOUSE 2018 (STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Red Hot Beef Sausage | Creamed Corn
JUDO NOT SUMO (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Chicken Laab | Thai Herbs

FREMONT BREWING Seattle, WA
B-BOMB COCONUT EDITION (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG BEER)
`Chocolate Coconut Macaroon
VIRTUE (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED SOUR BEER)
Blue Cheese Cake | Crispy Shallot | Rye

GEARHOUSE BREWING COMPANY Chambersburg, PA
NATHAN MILLER CHOCOLATE PORTER (CHOCOLATE BEER)
Nathan Miller Chocolate
SPIRAL HAM PROJECT VOL. 1: THE BELGIAN QUAD (QUADRUPEL: BELGIAN-STYLE)
Country Style Terrine | Plum Mustard

GNARLY BARLEY BREWINGHammond, LA
DDH JUCIFER IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Hamachi Crudo | Tomatillo | Cilantro
KOROVA MILK PORTER (PORTER: ROBUST)
Endive Panzanella | Sausage Vinaigrette | Rye Crouton

GOODLIFE BREWING CO. Bend, OR
DESCENDER IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Corn Madeleine | Chicken Liver Mousse
SWEET AS PACIFIC ALE (WHEAT BEER WITHOUT YEAST: LIGHT AMERICAN)
Cacio e Pepe Croquette

GREAT LAKES BREWING CO. Cleveland, OH
GREAT LAKES IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Goat Confit | Coriander & Burnt Orange BBQ
HOLY MOSES RASPBERRY (WITBIER: BELGIAN-STYLE)
Bresaola Cone | Soft Herbs | Fresh Cherries

GREAT RHYTHM BREWING COMPANY Portsmouth, NH
PERPETUAL GRÜVEN (KOELSCH: GERMAN-STYLE)
Redfish | Creole Fried Green Tomato | Rouille
TROPICAL HAZE (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Potsticker | Green Onion | Ginger | Lemongrass

HARDYWOOD PARK CRAFT BREWERY
Richmond, VA
BUT DOES IT MAKE SENSE
(INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY IMPERIAL OR DOUBLE)
Hot Chicken | Pickled Cabbage
FOOLERY
(STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Duck Prosciutto | Potato | Cherry

HOPEWELL BREWING COMPANY Chicago, IL
PER DIEM (PILSENER: CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN-STYLE)
Goat Confit | Coriander & Burnt Orange BBQ
STONETHROW (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED SOUR BEER: FRUITED)
Blue Cheese Cake | Crispy Shallot | Rye

HOPS & GRAIN BREWING Austin, TX
HAZE COUNTY (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY IMPERIAL OR DOUBLE)
Red Apron Charcuterie
VOLUMES OF FUNK: BERRIES (SOUR ALE: OTHER BELGIAN-STYLE)
Red Apron Charcuterie

IVANHOE PARK BREWING CO. Orlando, FL
SUCK IT, TREBEK (SOUR ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Choptank Oysters
TUPAC SHAPORTER (PORTER: BALTIC-STYLE)
Choptank Oysters

LA CUMBRE BREWING CO. Albuquerque, NM
SIBERIAN SILK (PORTER: BALTIC-STYLE)
Rabbit Tamale | Black Mole
SUN FADE (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Goat Cheese | Pistachio | Strawberry | White Balsamic

LAND-GRANT BREWING COMPANY Columbus, OH
HELIOS (PILSENER: GERMAN-STYLE)
Chicken Laab | Thai Herbs
THIRTEEN.ONE (GOSE: CONTEMPORARY)
Fried Rice Style Grains | Carrot | Cilantro | Black Garlic

LEGAL DRAFT BEER COMPANY Arlington, TX
FREE & CLEAR (GLUTEN-FREE BEER)
Masa Dumplings | Braised Chicken | Avocado
GINNED UP CHARGES (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG BEER)
Tuna Taco | Fried Red Onion | Garlic | Sesame

LIC BEER PROJECT Long Island City, NY
CODED TILES (PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Bahn Mi Meatball | Toast | Herb Salad
HIGHER BURNIN'(INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Shrimp & Grits

LICKINGHOLE CREEK CRAFT BREWERY Goochland, VA
NUGGET ON RYE (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG BEER)
Hand Pie | Braised Beef Bourguignon
REDNECK HIGH SOCIETY (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG BEER)
Malted Chicharron | Fennel Pollen | Whipped Lardo

LISTERMANN BREWING CO. Cincinnati, OH
NUTCASE RASPBERRY JAM (PORTER: PEANUT BUTTER W/ FRUIT)
Cheese Crêpe | Cranberry Almond Granola
TEAM FIONA (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Hot Chicken | Pickled Cabbage

LORD HOBO BREWING COMPANY Woburn, MA
GODMOTHER (STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Potsticker | Green Onion | Ginger | Lemongrass
MUSEUM (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY IMPERIAL OR DOUBLE)
Tuna Taco | Fried Red Onion | Garlic | Sesame

THE LOST ABBEY San Marcos, CA
CITRUS SIN (WILD BEER)
Bresaola Cone | Soft Herbs | Fresh Cherries
ZINNERS AND SAINTS (SOUR ALE: OTHER BELGIAN-STYLE)
Cheese Crêpe | Cranberry Almond Granola

MADTREE BREWING COMPANY Cincinnati, OH
HAPPY AMBER (AMBER/RED ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Red Hot Beef Sausage | Creamed Corn
JOON (KOELSCH: GERMAN-STYLE)
Angel Food Cake | Macerated Berries | Lime Zest

MAINE BEER COMPANY Freeport, ME
WOODS & WATERS (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Marinated Mussels | Saffron Escabeche
ZOE (AMBER/RED ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Red Hot Beef Sausage | Creamed Corn

MONDAY NIGHT BREWING Atlanta, GA
PERVASIVE SPECIES (SOUR ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Grilled Lamb | Peas | Mint | Feta | Pea Shoots
SITUATIONAL ETHICS - MAPLE RUM BARREL AGED (STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Coffee Crème Brûlée

MOTHER ROAD BREWING COMPANY Flagstaff, AZ
DAILY DRIVER LOW OCTANE IPA (SESSION BEER)
Ceviche | Calamari | Chili | Lime
LOST HIGHWAY DOUBLE BLACK IPA (BLACK ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Ricotta Gnocchi | English Peas| Chanterelles

NESHAMINY CREEK BREWING CO. Croydon, PA
MISADVENTURES & MISSTEPS (BELGIAN-STYLE GOLDEN STRONG)
Corn Hushpuppy | Pink Peppercorn Aioli
ZIEGEMEISTER MAIBOCK LAGER (BOCK: TRADITIONAL GERMAN-STYLE)
Red Hot Beef Sausage | Creamed Corn

NEW BELGIUM BREWING COMPANY Fort Collins, CO
MURAL (FRUIT BEER: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Corn Hushpuppy | Pink Peppercorn Aioli
VOODOO RANGER JUCIFER (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Curry Squash Samosa

NEW HOLLAND BREWING CO. Holland, MI
DRAGON'S MILK WHITE (EXPERIMENTAL BEER)
Coffee Crème Brûlée
KOMBUCHA IPA (EXPERIMENTAL BEER)
Beef Tataki | Furikake | Seaweed Salad

NEW REALM BREWING CO. Atlanta, GA
BELGA ROSE (FIELD BEER)
Angel Food Cake | Macerated Berries | Lime Zest
OAXACA CHOCA MEXICAN CHOCOLATE STOUT (CHOCOLATE BEER)
Rice Pudding | Horchata | Churro

NIGHT SHIFT BREWING Chelsea, MA
NITE LITE (LAGER: AMERICAN-STYLE LIGHT)
Shrimp & Grits
WHIRLPOOL (PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Gruyere Gougère | Caramelized Onion

NINKASI BREWING Eugene, OR
BRIGHTBERRY (GOSE: CONTEMPORARY)
Tuna Taco | Fried Red Onion | Garlic | Sesame
HAZY DOMINATION (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Cacio e Pepe Croquette

O.H.S.O. EATERY + NANOBREWERY Phoenix, AZ
89ALE (CALIFORNIA COMMON BEER)
Country Style Terrine | Plum Mustard
PEANUT BRITTLE BLONDE (FIELD BEER)
Chicken Satay | Pineapple | Peanuts

ODELL BREWING COMPANY Fort Collins, CO
MOUNTAIN STANDARD (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Deviled Egg | Arugula | Potato Chip
SIPPIN' PRETTY (GOSE: CONTEMPORARY)
Ceviche | Calamari | Chili | Lime

OLD STOVE BREWING COMPANY Seattle, WA
HOP CONVOY - GUAVA EDITION (PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Ceviche | Calamari | Chili | Lime
SWORDS AND WHISKEY (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG STOUT)
Hand Pie | Braised Beef Bourguignon

PALE FIRE BREWING CO. Harrisonburg, VA
RED MOLLY IRISH RED ALE (RED ALE: IRISH-STYLE)
Gruyere Gougère | Caramelized Onion
SALAD DAYS AMERICAN SAISON (AMERICAN-BELGO-STYLE ALE: PALE)
Marinated Mussels | Saffron Escabeche

PERENNIAL ARTISAN ALES St. Louis, MO
ABRAXAS (STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE IMPERIAL)
Curry Squash Samosa
LA COSECHA (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED SOUR BEER: FRUITED)
Potsticker | Green Onion | Ginger | Lemongrass

PORT CITY BREWING CO. Alexandria, VA
FRANCONIAN KELLERBIER (LAGER: UNFILTERED GERMAN-STYLE)
Corn Hushpuppy | Pink Peppercorn Aioli
RIVERSHED ALE (PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Smoked Scallop Risotto Cake | Crab Salad

THE RARE BARREL Berkeley, CA
ACROSS THE SEA (SOUR ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Ceviche | Calamari | Chili | Lime
WISE GUISE (SOUR ALE: FRUITED AMERICAN-STYLE)
Short Rib Grilled Cheese

RIGHT PROPER BREWING COMPANY Washington, D.C.
RAVAGED BY WOLVES (BRETT BEER: MIXED-CULTURE)
Fried Rice Style Grains | Carrot | Cilantro | Black Garlic
SCENICRUISER (BRETT BEER: MIXED-CULTURE)
Short Rib Grilled Cheese

RIVER DOG BREWING CO. Ridgeland, SC
LOWCOUNTRY AMBROSIA (HONEY BEER)
Pretzel Roll | Fennel & Apple Sausage
MIDNIGHT MARSH (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG BEER)
Chicken Satay | Pineapple | Peanuts

ROADHOUSE BREWING CO. Jackson, WY
RASPBERRY BERET (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED SOUR BEER: FRUITED)
Cheese Crêpe | Cranberry Almond Granola
THE WALRUS (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY IMPERIAL OR DOUBLE)
Bovine & Swine Sausage

ROGUE ALES & SPIRITS Newport, OR
BATSQUATCH HAZY IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Passionfruit Panna Cotta | Meringue
DEAD GUY ALE (BOCK: TRADITIONAL GERMAN-STYLE)
Bahn Mi Meatball | Toast | Herb Salad

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN BREWING Santa Cruz, CA
ADMIRAL SMASH (PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Falafel | Chive Yogurt | Harissa
MADAME GREY (STOUT: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Short Rib Grilled Cheese

SARANAC BREWERY/FX MATT BREWING COMPANY Utica, NY
GREEN THUMB DOUBLE IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: IMPERIAL)
Goat Confit | Coriander & Burnt Orange BBQ
SARANAC IPA 100 (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Dirty Rice | Chicken Skin | Celery Salad

SAUCY BREW WORKS Cleveland, OH
B.F. HEFE (HEFEWEIZEN: SOUTH GERMAN-STYLE)
Banana Cream Pie
LOVE YOU, BYE (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Corn Madeleine | Chicken Liver Mousse

SECOND CHANCE BEER COMPANY San Diego, CA
MULLIGAN IRISH-STYLE RED ALE (RED ALE: IRISH-STYLE)
Gruyere Gougère | Caramelized Onion
THE BARREL EXPERIENCE JOURNEY 2 - COCONUT MACAROON (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED STRONG STOUT)
Chocolate Coconut Macaroon

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Chico, CA
HAZY LITTLE THING IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Crab Cake | Mango | Jalapeno
SIERRAVEZA (LAGER: LATIN AMERICAN)
Rabbit Tamale | Black Mole

SOCIETE BREWING COMPANY San Diego, CA
THE HEIRESS (PILSENER: BOHEMIAN-STYLE)
Pretzel Roll | Fennel & Apple Sausage
THE PUPIL (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Hot Raclette | Fingerling Potato

SPENCER BREWERY Spencer, MA
MONKS' RESERVE ALE (QUADRUPEL: BELGIAN-STYLE)
Country Style Terrine | Plum Mustard
PEACH SAISON (SAISON: SPECIALTY)
Chicken Laab | Thai Herbs

SQUATTERS CRAFT BEERS Salt Lake City, UT
SQUATTERS HELL'S KEEP (BELGIAN- AND FRENCH-STYLE ALE OTHER)
Marinated Mussels | Saffron Escabeche
SQUATTERS TROPICAL HOP RISING (INDIA PALE ALE: IMPERIAL)
Blue Cheese Cake | Crispy Shallot | Rye

SUGAR CREEK BREWING CO. Charlotte, NC
DARK REFLECTION (ABBEY ALE: OTHER BELGIAN-STYLE)
Coffee Crème Brûlée
SUGAR CREEK WHITE ALE (WITBIER: BELGIAN-STYLE)
Goat Confit | Coriander & Burnt Orange BBQ

SWITCHBACK BREWING COMPANY Burlington, VT
BISOU (SMOKED SAISON)
Deviled Egg | Arugula | Potato Chip
SMOKE 40 (SMOKED IPA)
Dry-Aged Rib Eye | Mushroom Crust | Shallot

TAMPA BAY BREWING COMPANY Tampa, FL
REEF DONKEY APA (PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Deviled Egg | Arugula | Potato Chip
TWISTED STRAWBERRY FEST (FRUIT BEER: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Goat Cheese | Pistachio | Strawberry | White Balsamic

THREE WEAVERS BREWING CO. Inglewood, CA
KNOTTY (INDIA PALE ALE: IMPERIAL)
Red Apron Charcuterie
SEAFARER (KOELSCH: GERMAN-STYLE)
Red Apron Charcuterie

TWO ROADS BREWING COMPANY Stratford, CT
BRETT NOIR (BRETT BEER)
Passionfruit Panna Cotta | Meringue
LIL' JUICY (INDIA PALE ALE: JUICY OR HAZY)
Ceviche | Calamari | Chili | Lime

UNION CRAFT BREWING Baltimore, MD
DIVINE (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Shrimp & Grits
OLDER PRO BLACK CURRANT (SOUR ALE: FRUITED AMERICAN-STYLE)
Blue Cheese Cake | Crispy Shallot | Rye

UPLAND BREWING COMPANY Bloomington, IN
CHAMPAGNE VELVET (LAGER: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Cucumber Gazpacho | Cheese Crisp
RASPBERRY (SOUR ALE: FRUITED AMERICAN-STYLE)
Country Style Terrine | Plum Mustard

VISTA BREWING Driftwood, TX
SEEKING SAKURA - WINE BARREL AGED CHERRY BRETT ALE (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED SOUR BEER: FRUITED)
Bresaola Cone | Soft Herbs | Fresh Cherries
VELO DE FLOR (LAMBIC: BELGIAN-STYLE)
Pork Belly | Red Eye Glaze | Date Bread

WALLACE BREWING COMPANY Wallace, ID
1910 BLACK LAGER (SCHWARZBIER: GERMAN-STYLE)
Rabbit Tamale | Black Mole
HUCKLEBERRY SHANDY (FRUIT BEER: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Ricotta Gnocchi | English Peas| Chanterelles

WALLENPAUPACK BREWING COMPANY Hawley, PA
HAWLEY HEFEWEIZEN (HEFEWEIZEN: SOUTH GERMAN-STYLE)
Pork Belly | Red Eye Glaze | Date Bread
PACK & BRASS (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Short Rib Grilled Cheese

WEST SIXTH BREWING Lexington, KY
PENNYRILE PALE ALE (PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Hot Chicken | Pickled Cabbage
SIXFOLD VI: WILD SOUR WITH BLACKBERRIES (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED SOUR BEER: FRUITED)
Angel Food Cake | Macerated Berries | Lime Zest

WINCHESTER BREW WORKS Winchester, VA
BIG RUN BRUT IPA (INDIA PALE ALE: AMERICAN-STYLE)
Cacio e Pepe Croquette
COFFEE CANOE LOVE (COFFEE BEER)
Pretzel Roll | Fennel & Apple Sausage

WOODEN ROBOT BREWERY Charlotte, NC
JARRAHDALE PUMPKIN SAISON (SAISON: SPECIALTY)
Curry Squash Samosa
THICKET AS THIEVES (WOOD- AND BARREL-AGED SOUR BEER: FRUITED)
Angel Food Cake | Macerated Berries | Lime Zest

Finally, a Trip to Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

This month I finally was able to visit the holy grail of east coast brewing, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.  In my opinion, this brewery isn't lionized because of its iconic brands such as the 90 Minute series but because co-founder Sam Calagione freed us from the Reinheitsgebot. Before Dogfish Head opened in 1995, almost all American beers adhered to the key features of this German law -- brewing with just malted barley, yeast, hops, and water. Calagione blew this stagnation out of the water by not only creating non-conformist beers but also becoming a mini-archeologist and brewing craft beverages enjoyed by ancient cultures. Think of excellent and provoking beers such as Midus Touch, Chateau Jiahu, or Theobroma. Then there is his innovation combining wine must and beer as with Noble Rot and Siracusa Nera. Or think of the special oak treatments such as the Palo Santo Marron. Thus, for those who love any of the funky, sour, or just crazy beers brewed by the thousands of craft breweries today, Dogfish Head was the pioneer.

The brewery is located in Milton Delaware, far from Sam's New England heritage and Dogfish Head, Maine in which the brewery is named. Instead, Delaware is the home state of co-founder and current VP Mariah Calagione -- Sam's wife. The brewery first opened in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware as a brewpub which is still operating today as Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats. After those early days the brewery's growth mandated a relocation to a larger facility in Milton, which has continued to expand as demand dictates.

Visitors to Dogfish Head first notice how the facility is massive, with fermenting tanks erected through ceilings and the long, long warehouse. Most are probably unaware of the equally large packaging facility located a football field behind the brewery.  Dogfish Head is easily the largest brewery I've ever seen outside a stop in Golden, Colorado. In fact, their experimental R&D unit alone is larger than most craft breweries. According to the Brewers Association, in 2017 Dogfish Head produced 276,243 barrels of beer. In comparison neighboring Crooked Hammock Brewing released 1,300 barrels and Burley Oak Brewing Company in Berlin, Maryland 2,800 barrels.  Yet Dogfish Head is still only the 12th largest independent craft brewery as defined by the Brewers Association.

In contrast to the brewing size, the tasting room is rather small - more comparable to a routine craft brewery. Obviously then, off season is the most opportune time to visit as I heard horror stories of long summer queues.  And there is no shortage of beers available as they pour close to two dozen beers as samples, pints, crowlers, or growlers. Where else can you find the 120 Minute IPA, Bourbon Barrel-Aged Palo Santo Marron, Pennsylvania Tuxedo, Viniferous IPA, or Wood-Aged Bitches Brew all in one spot. They even pour beers that have graduated from their R&D system but are not intended for wider distribution.

The tasting room is also where visitors schedule tours - and Dogfish Head offers several varieties. The shortest is the Quick Sip a 25 minute free tour that includes four free samples of beer. The hour long Off-Centered tour is most recommended where for $10 participants receive four samples and stops at " our 200-barrel brewhouse, Off-Centered Center and even our new R&D system where you’ll have a chance to sample one of our experimental brews and we finish the tour out at our packaging facility where we show you have everything is kegged, canned and bottled".  Of notable interest is the original brewing equipment (a bucket and electronic football game) used by Calagione to develop the 90 Minutes series. And on our tour we sampled an excellent IPA that most likely won't even make it into the tasting room. And for visitors who really plan ahead look for the limited Grain To Glass, Randall Jr., and Distillery tours with access to normally off-limit parts of the brewery. And yes the distillery official relocated from the Rehoboth Beach brewpub to a larger pasture in Milton.

For those heading to the Maryland or Delaware beaches, visiting Dogfish Head takes just a slight adjustment from your route.  For those brewery tourists, visit nearby Lewes and Rehoboth Beach to broaden your craft beverage trip. And as always, theCompass Craft Beverage Finder will guide you there.

Highlights of the 2018 SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience

The 2018 SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience hosted by the Brewer's Association and held at D.C.'s National Building Museum presented consumers with over 180 craft beers in a multitude of styles. The breweries represented the entire
American industry from two Hawaiian breweries to the continent from New Mexico and Arizona, through Oklahoma to Vermont and Maine. Despite being heavy in IPA's, sours, and barrel aged beers, some of these breweries  poured palate cleansing lagers such as Hawaii's Kohola Brewery and their mineral driven Lokahi Pilsner. Likewise, cheers to more German Pilseners from Maine's Boothbay Craft Brewery Block of Time and Seattle's Cloudburst Brewing Happy Little Clouds. There were also a plethora of pale ales like Maryland's RAR Brewing's Slip Ons, Tampa Bay Brewing's Reef Donkey, and Night Shift Brewing's Whirlpool. Fifteen years ago these pales ales were the heaviest beers around but are  and now competing with IPAs for attention.

Sour beers were once again SAVOR's rising trend, (I'd estimate that at least a quarter of the offerings) with traditional Gose joined by experimental brews, fruited beers, and wood aged sours. Brewery Ommegang's Faith & Fortitude was mentioned in a previous post as well as the SAVOR collaboration beer Brett de Vinum. However, my favorite of the evening
 were the Arizona Wilderness Brewing Sonoran Prince (Fruited wood-aged sour) and Lexington Kentucky's West Sixth Brewing Sixfold X: Flanders Red (wood-aged sour). The former is an extraordinarily delicious sour ale fermented in French oak with local Florida Prince peaches and inoculated with various cultures. Evidently the native yeast on the peach skins add more layers. The West Sixth Flanders is a red sour ale that packs tremendous flavors (think tart cherry and back in the barnyard) using just malted barley, hops, water, yeast and 18 months aging in oak barrels. Honorable mentions go to Vermont's Four Quarters Brewing Fleur de Lis American Sour, The Lost Abbey's Veritas, Denver's Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project Sour Rosé, Dogfish Head's Mixed Media (ale brewed with grape must). I see a wine theme there.

Barrels were also prevalent through aging darker beers in used spirits vessels. I use spirits since bourbon wasn't the only option. Colorado's Cheluna Brewing Company ages their Benito's Imperial Stout in Mezcal barrels from Oaxaca, Mexico. Hints of agave envelope the sweet and toasty toffee malt. Long lines lead to another unique pour with Vermont's Lawson's Finest Liquids Fayston Maple Imperial Stout aged in Canadian Whiskey barrels. This powerful beer is
 brewed with organic pale malt and nearly two gallons of local  maple syrup in each barrel. In addition Central Waters Brewing, from Wisconsin poured an excellent Bourbon Barrel Stout as did Colorado's Joyride Brewing with their Bourbon Barrel Aged Dr. Friese's Breakfast Stout. Yet the highlight came from Oklahoma City and COOP Ale Works. The Sooner State may be behind the national beer trend, but COOP poured two remarkable strong beers: 2017 Territorial Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged Wild Wheat Wine Honey Ale and 2017 Cask-It Series Rye Barrel Aged DNR. The later is made from both malted and unmalted wheat, local alfalfa honey, and fermented wild yeast before resting in old bourbon barrels. The former has even more flavor as the rye imparts spicy characters into the Belgium Dark Strong Ale. Sadly, you have to get to Oklahoma City to enjoy these two.


There were obviously many other quality beers not reviewed and which I didn't even get a chance to imbibe. Fortunately the Brewer's Association provides this opportunity to sample such a wide range of styles from such a divers geographic region. Cheers.

SAVORing Ten Years of Craft Beer

This year the Brewers Association celebrated ten years of presenting SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience. And has we all know the craft beer landscape has changed dramatically during those years. According to the Brewers Association at year end 2007 there were 1,449 operating breweries in the United States with 1,406 being craft breweries and accounting for $5.74 billion in sales. Ten years later at the end of 2016 the total number of breweries escalated to 5,301 in which 5,234 were craft and $23.5 billion in sales. And as we know, that number increased during 2017 with multiple craft breweries opening weekly. This growth was no doubted fueled by legislative changes at the national and state levels; using Virginia as an example, the number of craft breweries skyrocketed when the state finally allowed breweries to serve beer in pints without having to also serve food.

The 2017 event featured 172 craft beers from 86 craft breweries as opposed to the 2008 event which hosted 48 breweries pouring 96 craft beers.  The inaugural event was was most likely concentrated with Pale Ales, English Porters, and a few West Coast IPAs, but over the next ten years transitioned to heavier IPAs, barrel programs, and sours. Whereas the latest event was heavy on the IPAs and sours, session styles re-surged with low ABV Pilseners, Kölsch, and Gose. Now I will come off as a hypocrite because I spent half the night targeting the sours and barrel aged beers, with both Crux Fermentation Project (Sour Golden Ale & Better Off Red) and D9 Brewing Company (Defying Gravity Series, 1st Edition - Cape Canaveral & Wild Things Series, 1st Edition - Pearedox ) each proving my favorite beers of the evening.  And the Union Craft Brewing Older Pro with Blueberry (Fruited Wood-Aged Sour Beer) and the Schlafly Bottleworks Gooseberry Gose were excellent.

Yet I was excited that more breweries were pouring traditional ales and lagers that I feel as a beer culture we are losing focus. Seattle's Reuben's Brews poured a traditional Gose, no extra flavors, just lactobacillus, salt, and coriander. It was fantastic. Did you know that Stevens Point Brewery is the nation's 5th oldest brewery? They've been brewing continuously for 160 years, specifically their flagship Point Special Lager.  They also produce the Point S.P.A. (Session Pale Ale) which is my new bicycle beer if I can find it. Summit Brewing Company out of St. Paul, MN has been brewing since 1986 making them the 30th oldest brewery. They were pouring their flagship Summit Extra Pale Ale as well as the Summit Keller Pils. The later is nails the style, with North Dakota two-row Moravian 37 barley and Saaz hops from the Czech Republic. An awesome Bohemian Pilsener. Complementing that on the German Pilsener side was the Half Acre Beer Company Pony Pilsener. 

Sadly, during my four hours at the event, I seemed to only have tasted through one third of the beers as well as missed the entire upper level of oysters and cheese.  Yet, SAVOR was still a remarkable event I I look forward to popping open the collaboration beer: SAVOR X, a Baltic porter brewed with hops and cocoa husks, courtesy of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and New Belgium Brewing Company. Cheers.

#SAVOR2016's Top Fifteen Beers That Blew Me Away

I attended SAVOR 2016 on Friday June 3rd and this Brewers Association sponsored event was splendid.  76 breweries poured two beers each and represented a mix of styles from IPAs, Stouts, Porters, Saisons, and sours. Many sours in fact and that's how I started off the evening. Out of the two dozen or so, there were a few that clearly stood out above the noise. Same for the many excellent barrel aged stouts and porters.  And in both categories top honors goes to Crux Fermentation Project. One caveat, I didn't sample many IPAs - just ran out of time trying to sample 152 beers. Cheers.

1. Crux Fermentation Project [Banished] Bretted Farmhouse 
2. D9 Brewing Company Systema Naturae Sour Ale fermented with wild lactobacillus & yeast, naturally conditioned.
3. Crux Fermentation Project [Banished] Tough Love Barrel Aged Imperial Stout banished to used bourbon barrels
4. The Lost Abbey Track #8  Barrel Aged Quad Judgement Day aged 9 months in new bourbon barrels and spiked with cinnamon sticks and dried chili peppers
5. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout combines hefty amounts of various dark malts with 98 IBUs of hops
6. Urban Chestnut Brewing Company Schnickelfritz Weissbier
7. Center of the Universe Brewing Company IV Quadrupel aged in red wine barrels
8. Southern Tier Brewing Company Salted Caramel Imperial Stout based on a milt stout with Himalayan sea salt and caramelized sugar
9. Right Proper Brewing Company Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne Berliner Weisse brewed with Meyer lemon zest, elderberries, and dry hopped with Sauvin
10. New Belgium Brewing Company Tart Lychee Sour Ale barrel aged with lychee puree and cinnamon sticks
11. Perennial Artisanal Ales Savant Blanc Sour Ale Barrel Aged Belgium Blond Ale (aged in Chardonnay barrels) with Chardonnel wine grapes
12. Deschutes Brewery The Abyss Rye Barrel Aged Imperial Stout brewed with black strap molasses, licorice, cherry bark, augmented with vanilla, then aged 12 months in rye whiskey barrels.
13. Strange Craft Beer Company Cherry Kriek Lambic with loads of cherries
14. Bell's Brewery Bourbon Barrel Aged Expedition Stout
15. Lewis and Clark Brewing Company  Prickly Pear Pale Ale

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)

• Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Bourbon Barrel Raspberry Stout with Vanilla Beans
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Seaquenchale Kolsch/Gose/Berliner Weisse Hybrid
• Perennial Artisanal Ales 17 Imperial Stout
• Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
• Lewis and Clark Brewing Company  Miners Gold Hefeweizen
• The Lost Abbey Ad Idem Sour Ale
• Uinta Brewing 23rd Birthday Suit Sour Ale
• Service Brewing Company Old Guard Biere de Garde
• Confluence Brewing Company Stavropol Imperial Stout
• Uncommon Brewers Steamers Lane California Common
• The Spencer Brewery Spencer Trappist Ale
• The Spencer Brewery Spencer Imperial Stout
• Allagash Brewing Company Sixteen Counties Strong Ale
• Stone Brewing Scout Wit
• Insight Brewing Hell Chicken Pale Ale
• Black Tooth Brewing Company 1314 Bourbon Very Strong Ale
• Short's Brewing Company Melt My Brain Golden Ale
• FATE Brewing Company Laimas Kolsch
• Bear Republic Brewery Tartare Sour Ale
• Brewery Ommegang Gnomegang Blonde Ale
• Hoppy Brewing Company Total Eclipse Black Ale Porter
• 4 Noses Brewing Company Vier Neuzen Barrel Aged Tripel
• Troegs Brewing Wild Elf Fruit Beer
• Stickmen Brewery Paddle Board Pale Ale
• Odell Brewing Company Friek Fruit Lambic
• Roadhouse Brewing Company Saison En Regalia
• Newburyport Brewing CompanyDas Kolsch
• Roadhouse Brewing Company Sacred Brett Sour Ale
• Port City Brewing Company COLOSSAL V Old Ale
• Port City Brewing Company Downright Pilsner
• Saranac Brewery Brett Saison
• Worthy Brewing Company Coeur De La Peche Saison
• Center of the Universe Brewing Company Monkey's Uncle Tripel
• Parish Brewing Company Blackalicious Stout
• Parish Brewing Company Ghost in the Machine Double IPA
• Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams) Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru Belgium Ale
• Saugatuck Brewing Company Neapolitan Mile Stout

2016 SAVOR Preview - IPAs, Sours, Stouts, Saisons, and Porters

It's officially SAVOR week as the annual American craft beer and food experience occurs Friday and Saturday nights June 3rd and 4th. The event is sponsored by the Brewers Association and consists of 76 breweries pouring two beers each. The breweries represent 28 states and Washington DC,  70% were not at least year's event, and 50% have never poured at SAVOR before. This year Wyoming seems to have an over supply with Black Tooth Brewing Co., Melvin Brewing, and Roadhouse Brewing Company representing the Cowboy State. Melvin was the GABF 15 Small Brewpub of the Year so check them out. Along with a sample of beer there is a food pairing developed by Chef Adam Dulye, executive chef at the Brewers Association and Chef Kyle Mendenhall, BA chef consultant and executive chef at  Bolder Colorado's The Kitchen. 

As usual there is a plethora of beer styles and IPAs dominate the tasting again with 33 versions ranging from low abv sessions to high octane imperials. In tune with the sour beer trend there are about two dozen sour or tart beers with a vast majority binging Sour/Wild/Brett but including four Gose and three Berliner Weisse beers (The Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Seaquenchale is included in both the Gose and Berliner Weisse totals). The latter two styles are my sweet spot right now so I've listed these beers below. I'm also a Porter fan and there will be ten versions with a few sweeter Baltic styles, a smoked from Quest Brewing Company, the Flying Dog Brewery barrel aged Notorious B.A.G., and several Imperial Porters - see Stone Brewing Co. Encore: 6th Anniversary Porter. Similarly there will be 16 Stouts from a silky smooth milk stout like the Saugatuck Brewing Co. Neapolitan to several heavy imperial and barrel aged versions. Saisons as well as a few other Belgium inspired Dubbel, Tripel, and Quad ales are also well represented. See Virginia's Center of the Universe Brewing Co.and their IV Barrel-Aged Quad & Monkey's Uncle Tripel and Florida's Marker 48 Brewing Diepolder Dubbel & Meet The Heat Saison. And finally, I've listed a few notable and interesting brews that I plan to checkout. Cheers.

Notable and Interesting
Lewis and Clark Brewing Company - Helena, MT: Prickly Pear Pale Ale
Great Raft Brewing - Shreveport, LA: Oceans Between Us Brett IPA
Service Brewing Company - Savannah, GA: Old Guard Biere de Garde.
Urban Chestnut Brewing Company - St. Louis, MO: Schnickelfritz Weissbier
Black Tooth Brewing Co. - Sheridan, WY: '1314' Strong Ale
Adroit Theory Brewing - Purcellville, VA: Ortolan Bunting Strong Ale
Melvin Brewing - Alpine, WY: Chchch-cherry bomb

Gose
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - Milton, DE: Seaquenchale - Kolsch/Gose/Berliner Weisse Hybrid
Flying Dog Brewery - Frederick, MD: GoseFace Killah
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Chico, CA: Otra Vez
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown, PA: Kirsch Gose

Berliner Weisse
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - Milton, DE: Seaquenchale - Kolsch/Gose/Berliner Weisse Hybrid
Right Proper Brewing Company - Washington, DC: Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne
Bear Republic Brewing Co. - Cloverdale, CA: Tartare

#SAVOR 2015 - Long Live the Sours

At next year's SAVOR event I need to attend both evenings as I determined one night is not enough time to visit with all the breweries - particularly if you attend a salon. This year it seems that I only had time for about half the beer selections for a variety of reasons.

First, I spent an hour in the Grape and Grain salon hearing Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Dan Kopman of Schlafly Brewery describe their respective brewery's ventures combining fermented grain with grape must. I was particularly attracted to Schlafly's two versions of Lazy Ballerina, both made from a barley and wheat mash plus Chambourcin grape must from Chandler Hill Vineyards. The difference between the two was that the grape must in the bottled version (which was the one poured to the SAVOR participants)  was inoculated with Saison yeast whereas the second was fermented with wild yeast and bacteria - which the brewery determined was 2 types of Brettanomyces and one type of Lactobacillus. They've retained these cultures for future fermentations. That's a wise decision, since that version of the Lazy Ballerina was fantastic - funky with a little cream. On the Dogfish Head side, Sam poured samples of their 61 (the 60 Minute plus 20% Syrah) and Chateau Jiahu - a fermented beverage made from orange blossom honey, muscat grape juice, barley malt and hawthorn fruit based on pottery residue found in Jiahu China. Both of these are tasty in their own right.

The second reason I missed many of the breweries is that I was determined to sample all the sour and fruit beers presented. There were close to twenty ranging from Kreiks to Gose to Wild Sours. And straight up,  Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, IN) poured two of my favorites; the VinoSynth Red and the Dantalion. The first is a red and white collaboration with Oliver Winery a blend of 50% Sour Reserve and 50% Malefactor Flanders-style Red Ale aged on Catawba grapes. The jamminess of the Catawba was balanced with the acids of the red ale to create a fine funky beer.  The Dantalion is based on the Flanders Oud Bruin (Brown) beer style where the brewery's base lampic is aged in white oak barrels for at least eight months. There's plenty going on in this beer with multiple spices, chocolate, and rye characters mingle throughout. Well done.

There were several other sours worth noting. The NOLA Brewing Lowerline is part of the brewery's Funk series. This beer was inoculated with a lactos bacteria providing a tart and very creamy flavor. There's not a lot of complexity here, but the beer is very pleasant. Locally based Mad Fox Brewing Company was pouring their Oaked Diabolik which was rich and creamy with a wine like texture. Boulder's FATE Brewing Company offered a popular Barrel-Aged Uror Gose, which was aged 10 weeks in used Arta tequila barrels. The agava flavors blend seamlessly into the tart and salty brew. Nashville's Yazoo Brewing Company Embrace the Funk Series Deux Rouges is their Flanders ale, fermenting with wild yeasts and souring bacteria, aged in used Merlot barrels. This process imparts some spiciness into the sour and mellows the finish nicely. Milwaukee's Brenner Brewing Company Maiden Opus was quite solid (as was their Bacon Bomb Rauchbier).  And Austin's Hops and Grain Brewing Volumes of Funk: Sour PorterCulture is a mash bill close to their Baltic porter recipe and then aged in barrels full of brett and lactos. Pretty tasty.

Two final beers to note are the Strange Craft Beer Company Cherry Kriek and the Schlafly Brewery Apricot Berliner Weisse. The Schlafy beer was bright, acidic, with subtle apricots which I could quaff all day. The Kriek is a World Cup Gold Award Winner and showcases a slightly tart and sweet flavor profile. Probably can't drink more than a couple, but it's an interesting beer to sample. 

Getting back to missing out sampling all the beers is that that many breweries ran out of supplies way too quickly. Funky Buddha Brewery was done an hour into the event; Country Boy Brewing not long afterwards. And there were many other early exists. That was the major disappointment of the evening; I know many of the offerings were limited productions but the Brewers Association may need to require breweries to pour a beer with more inventory. Otherwise,  SAVOR was another extraordinary craft beer tasting. Cheers. 

What to Expect at #SAVOR 2015: #Beer Styles

Hopefully everyone who plans to attend SAVOR this weekend has already previewed the beer selections. If you're not familiar with the event, it is beer paradise organized by the Brewer's Association and featuring over 70 craft breweries from across the United States - each pouring two beers. Once again, the event is being held at The National Building Museum in Washington DC.

In the past the breweries have focused on the public's thirst for IPAs and dark beers nad this year is no exception with about 36 versions of an IPA plus 24 Stouts and Porters. However, I find more appealing the almost 30 offerings of Belgium styled ales as well as 17 sours.  Here are the beers and breweries I plan to concentrate on during the evening starting with the FATE Brewing Company - Boulder, CO; Barrel-Aged Uror Gose.

The Unique

• Brenner Brewing Company - Milwaukee, WI; Bacon Bomb - Rauchbier (smoked beer)
• Right Proper Brewing Company - Washington, DC; The Lubitsch Touch - Grätzer (a Polish-Prussian style smoked wheat
• Rogue Ales - Newport, OR; Marionberry Braggot

Sours

• Allagash Brewing Company - Portland, ME; Mattina Rossa - Sour/Wild Ale
• Brenner Brewing Company - Milwaukee, WI; Maiden Opus - Sour/Wild Ale
• Brooklyn Brewery - Brooklyn, NY; Brooklyn "K is for Kriek" - Sour/Wild Ale
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - Milton, DE; Raison Brett'ra - Sour/Wild Ale
• Drake's Brewing Company - San Leandro, CA; O'Bretta - Flanders-Style Red Sour Ale
• FATE Brewing Company - Boulder, CO; Barrel-Aged Uror Gose
• Finback Brewery - Glendale, NY; Starchild - Sour/Wild Ale
• Hops & Grain Brewery - Austin, TX; Volumes of Funk: Sour PorterCulture - Sour/Wild Ale
• Mad Fox Brewing Company - Falls Church, VA; Oaked Diabolik - Sour/Wild Ale
• MobCraft Beer - Madison, WI; Dubbel Czech Votre Échangeur De Chaleur - Sour/Wild Ale
• New Belgium Brewing Company - Fort Collins, CO; La Folie - Sour/Wild Ale
• NOLA Brewing Company - New Orleans, LA; Lowerline - Sour/Wild Ale
• Schlafly Beer - St. Louis, MO; Apricot Berliner Weisse 
• Shmaltz Brewing Company - Clifton Park, NY; Funky Jewbelation 2015 - Sour/Wild Ale
• Strange Craft Beer Company - Denver, CO; Cherry Kriek - Fruit Beer
• Upland Brewing Company - Bloomington, IN; VinoSynth Red - Sour/Wild Ale
• Yazoo Brewing Company - Nashville, TN; Yazoo Embrace the Funk Series - Deux Rouges - Sour/Wild Ale

Belgium Styled Ales

• Allagash Brewing Company - Portland, ME: Speciale Blonde - Belgian-Style Ale
• Aspen Brewing Company - Aspen, CO; Belgian Farmhouse Saison
• BearWaters Brewing Company - Waynesville, NC; Sunburst Saison
• Boulevard Brewing Company - Kansas City, MO; Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale - Saison
• Brooklyn Brewery - Brooklyn, NY; Brooklyn Sorachi Ace - American-Belgo Style Ale
• Deschutes Brewery - Bend, OR; Zarabanda - Saison
• Ethereal Brewing - Lexington, KY; Anomaly Saison
• F.X. Matt Brewing Co. - Utica, NY; Saranac Sultana Quad - Quadrupel
• Flying Fish Brewing Company - Somerdale, NJ; Exit 4 - Tripel
• Flying Fish Brewing Company - Somerdale, NJ; Abbey Dubbel - Belgian-Style Ale
• Fremont Brewing Company - Seattle, WA; Rye Saison
• Hardywood Park Craft Brewery - Richmond, VA; Peach Tripel - Brewed with Virginia Peaches
• Intuition Ale Works - Jacksonville, FL; Devil in the Details - Belgian-Style Ale
• Lost Highway Brewing Company - Denver, CO; Grave Robber Fraud Quad - Quadrupel
• Lost Highway Brewing Company - Denver, CO; Golden Ghost - Belgian-Style Ale
• Port City Brewing Company - Alexandria, VA; Colossal Four - Quadrupel
• Right Proper Brewing Company - Washington, DC; Songlines - Farmhouse Ale
• Samuel Adams - Boston, MA; Samuel Adams Kosmic Mother Funk - Belgian-Style Ale
• Schlafly Beer - St. Louis, MO; Lazy Ballerina - Saison
• Societe Brewing Company - San Diego, CA; The Widow - Belgian-Style Ale
• SweetWater Brewing Company - Atlanta, GA; 18th Anniversary Belgian Tripel 
• The Brewer's Art - Baltimore, MD; Sangreale - Saison
• The Brewer's Art - Baltimore, MD; Choptank'd - Saison
• Troegs Brewing Company - Hershey, PA; LaGrave - Belgian-Style Ale
• Troegs Brewing Company - Hershey, PA; Jovial - Belgian-Style Ale
• Uinta Brewing Company - Salt Lake City, UT; Birthday Suit - Belgian-Style Ale
• Urban Family Brewing Company - Seattle, WA; Citron Noir - Farmhouse Ale
• Urban Family Brewing Company - Seattle, WA; Rustic Road - Rye Farmhouse
• URBN St. Brewing Co. - El Cajon, CA; URBN St. Saison