| icrobrew boom of the 1990’s sparked a deep | | | | Three Floyds delicious summer seasonal is brewed |
| appreciation for hand crafted premium beers. After | | | | with Amarillo hops and is an American wheat beer |
| the hundreds of fist fights over whether a light beer | | | | with a crisp citrus finish. Perfect for kicking off the |
| tasted great or was less filling we have grown to | | | | summer! |
| appreciate beer in its various forms and flavors. 2008 | | | | Month: June |
| promises to be another year marked by brews that | | | | Beer: Saison Dupont |
| define the seasons. Here is your guide the top beers | | | | Brewery: Brasserie Dupont |
| of 2008 and the seasons in which they are best | | | | Coppery blond, the finest aromas and a strong |
| enjoyed. Cheers! | | | | bitterness transform this beer into a thirst-quencher |
| Month: January | | | | with no equal. Since June has no major holidays to |
| Beer: Alaskan Smoked Porter | | | | celebrate, make this month a 30 day holiday |
| Brewery: Alaska Brewing Company | | | | dedicated to gorging yourself with this masterpiece. |
| The dark, robust body and pronounced smoky flavor | | | | Month: July |
| of this limited edition beer make it an adventuresome | | | | Beer: Spotted Cow |
| taste experience. Alaskan Smoked porter is produced | | | | Brewery: New Glarus Brewing Company |
| in limited “vintages” each year and | | | | Cask conditioned ale has been the popular choice |
| unlike most beers, may be aged in the bottle much | | | | among brews since long before prohibition. New |
| like fine wine. | | | | Glarus continues this pioneer spirit with their |
| Month: February | | | | Wisconsin farmhouse ale. Brewed with flaked barley |
| Beer: Rochefort 8 | | | | and the finest Wisconsin malts. Expect this ale to be |
| Brewery: Brasserie de Rochefort (Abbaye de | | | | fun, fruity and satisfying. |
| Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy) | | | | Month: August |
| Despite its 9.2 Alcohol Per Volume, this beer is as | | | | Beer: Trappist Westvleteren Abt 12 |
| smooth and flavorful as any Belgian beer. With little | | | | Brewery: Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus |
| carbonation and a hint of fig and honey this is a | | | | This beer sells for close to $600 a case ($25 a |
| perfect beer to warm you up on a winter night. | | | | bottle) so if you can find it, and afford it, you will be |
| Month: March | | | | in store for a real treat. Westy 12 is the least |
| Beer: Lagunitas Pils | | | | outputted style by this brewery and it is shipped in |
| Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company | | | | small batches all around the world. The flavor is of |
| Straight from their website: In The beginning, there | | | | deep malt combined with bitter chocolate and hops |
| were ales. As far as anyone knows, the first beers | | | | which runs velvety across the palate. |
| made were ‘top-fermented’, which is | | | | Month: September |
| longhand for ‘Ale’. Sometime long | | | | Beer: Dogfish Head Ninety Minute IPA |
| before the 1860’s, beers became popular | | | | Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery |
| that were made in Northern Europe with a bottom | | | | A big beer with a great malt backbone that stands |
| fermenting yeast strain that liked the colder | | | | up to the extreme hopping rate. A four pk will set |
| temperatures. Because they had to spend weeks | | | | you back around $11, a more reasonable choice for |
| aging before they tasted their best, they were | | | | the pocketbook than the Westy 12. This beer is a |
| known as ‘Lager’ beer. Lager is the | | | | perfect choice to begin prepping your palate for the |
| German word for ’storage’. Since | | | | fall and winter brews. |
| they had to sit a while, they took up more time and | | | | Month: October |
| space and as such were harder and more expensive | | | | Beer: Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest |
| to make. Where ales are meaty, lagers are sinewy. | | | | Brewery: The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company |
| Where ales are street, lagers are ‘haute | | | | Leinie’s Okoberfest probably isn’t the |
| couture’. Where an ale might hit you over the | | | | best Oktoberfest beer on the planet but I love it. |
| head and take your wallet, lagers donate to charity | | | | And during a time of year when I drink a lot of beer, |
| and adopt stray cats. While an ale might steal your | | | | it’s easy on my wallet. Leinie’s has |
| car or try to date your daughter and keep her out all | | | | been producing their version of Oktoberfest since |
| night for who-knows-what purpose, a well bred lager | | | | 2001. It is brewed with Munich, Caramel, and Pale |
| would offer to clean your house while you’re | | | | malts along with Hallertan, Tettnang, Perle, and |
| on vacation and leave fresh scones and coffee for | | | | Cluster hops. This beer is an inexpensive treat. |
| you when you return. Now, don’t get us | | | | Month: November |
| wrong, ales can be a lot of fun to hang out with | | | | Beer: Expedition Stout |
| when you’re in the right mood, and if you | | | | Brewery: Bell’s Brewery Inc. |
| have bail money on you. But what’s wrong | | | | A dark heavy beer with a taste of toasted malt, |
| with livin’ uptown from time to time, on a | | | | licorice, and chocolate, Expedition Stout is a perfect |
| nice street, where the doormen all wear those little | | | | beverage to keep you cozy when the winter turns |
| uniforms, the air smells of flowers, and lagers rule the | | | | colder |
| Earth. Cheers! | | | | Month: December |
| Month: April | | | | Beer: La Fin Du Monde |
| Beer: Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale | | | | Brewery: Unibroue Microbrewery |
| Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Company | | | | French for “The End Of The World,” |
| Unparalleled in character and uniquely fermented in | | | | this triple fermented beer is a perfect way to end |
| our patented Firestone Union oak barrel brewing | | | | your year. It is 9% APV, it’s heavy, and |
| system, our flagship Double Barrel Ale boasts a | | | | it’s delicious. Tart ales like this one have been |
| distinctive complexity and richness. English and | | | | produced by European monks for centuries. |
| Slovenian hops contribute a clean, balanced texture | | | | However, La Fin Du Monde is produced in Chambly, |
| and a fragrant, spicy bouquet. | | | | Quebec which means that American and Canadian |
| Month: May | | | | consumers benefit since the beer they buy on store |
| Beer: Gumballhead | | | | shelves is fresh unlike many direct European imports. |
| Brewery: Three Floyds Brewing Company | | | | |
