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Radeberger Zwickelbier
Traditional lager brewers determine when a batch of beer is ready to be packaged by tasting it straight from the tank using a tap called a zwickel. Unfiltered and unpasteurized, this is lagerbier in its truest form. As such, the zwickel beer style captures the unpolished and rustic charm of lager as it once was, before the advent of modern brewing practices that sacrifice flavor and aroma in favor of extended shelf life and clarity. Thankfully, interest in zwickel lager is on the rise, both in Germany and here in the U.S. Cracking a can of Radeberger Zwickelbier is like tasting their award-winning pilsner straight from the brew tank. Full-flavored yet light in body, it’s a softer and more rounded expression, that still delivers enough herbaceous hop character to ensure a refreshingly crisp finish.
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Here in the Midwest, we love a good wheat beer, especially in the summertime. Wheat beer comes in many shapes and sizes - some hoppy, some fruited, some spiced, and some sour. Our favorites showcase the soft, rounded character of wheat, yet at the same time, remain refreshingly crisp. Firestone Walker’s Cali Squeeze Blood Orange does just that. It’s available year-round, but its bright and tangy finish makes it a staple at our summer get-togethers. |
Firestone Walker Cali Squeeze Blood OrangePouring coral pink in color, the nose here is big and juicy, showcasing the vibrant aroma of fresh blood orange. Light in body, it’s soft upon the palate, beginning with a hint of sweetness that’s quickly followed by a tangy burst of blood orange. The finish is refreshingly crisp, with lingering notes of raspberry and ruby red grapefruit. Even if you think you don’t like fruit beers, Cali Squeeze might change your mind. |
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The Blake family knows a thing or two about apples. They’ve been growing them in Armada Michigan since 1946, and they’ve been making hard cider out of them for over a decade. El Chavo is one of our favorite offerings from Blake’s. Enjoy straight from the can, or for a quick and easy cocktail, try it over ice with a splash of tequila or mezcal. |
Blake's El ChavoSweet plus heat is a classic combination, and finding a beverage that artfully incorporates some spiciness is a beautiful thing. El Chavo is a semi sweet cider that’s accented with mango and habanero. The peppers are grown on the Blake family farm, and while they add some heat, it’s a lovely subtle burn that makes itself known without being overbearing. El Chavo pairs marvelously with Mexican cuisine, especially fish tacos. |
Locally brewed beer often steals the spotlight, but lest we forget, there remains a world of wonderful flavors out there, just waiting to be explored. Throughout much of the world, brewing can be a fiercely regional affair, with different counties, states, provinces, and even villages proudly touting their unique takes on classic styles. Be it locally grown hops or barley, centuries old brewing techniques, mineral rich waters, or native yeasts – many factors play into the unique tastes and terroirs that make up the world of beer. Join us as we take our tastebuds on a trip. This week we’re headed to Tadcaster, to taste an iconic English pub ale.
Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale
Amidst increasing consolidation of global beer brands, it’s refreshing to see a small independent brewery remaining fiercely committed to old fashioned craftsmanship. The Samuel Smith Brewery in Tadcaster England still sources water from a well that was sunk when the brewery first opened its doors in 1758. They’ve pitched the same yeast for over a century, and they still ferment in large open air stone fermenters known as Yorkshire Squares. Their Nut Brown Ale pours mahogany in color and is topped with cream colored foam. On the nose it’s fruity and nutty, offering notes of clove, dried fig, and demerara syrup. Creamy upon the palate, flavors of rum soaked raisins and marmalade glide softly across the tongue. The refreshingly dry finish begins with a rush of molasses, followed by notes of chocolate and allspice. Brown ales remain a woefully underappreciated beer style - give this world-class example a taste and see what you’ve been missing!
Fonio is an ancient grain that’s been grown in West Africa for over five millennia. It thrives in environments where other grains struggle, flourishing without the use of pesticides, fertilizers, or irrigation. It’s been called the “Seed of the Universe” and Dogfish Head uses it in their new collaborative brew with the Grateful Dead. Citrus Daydream is a deliciously crisp lager brewed with fonio and rice. It features Contessa and Lemondrop hops and is finished with lime, lemon peel, and a touch of lemongrass. Available year-round, it’s especially refreshing when walking in the sunshine of a warm summer day.
Dogfish Head Grateful Dead Citrus Daydream Lager
Sparkling golden in the glass, the nose here is floral and citrusy, with hints of lemongrass, lilac, and pear. Medium in body, it delivers a rounded bready malt character with a touch of honeyed sweetness, accented by a bright burst of citrus and a hint of green tea. The finish is refreshingly crisp, with the mix of Lemondrop and Contessa hops providing a hint of citrusy herbaceousness that melds seamlessly with the lemongrass, lime, and lemon peel. Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione continues to prove that adjuncts, when used thoughtfully, can result in brews on par with exceptional culinary achievement.
When we think about our favorite IPAs from Half Acre, it’s a long list, but each summer we’re always super stoked for the return of Vallejo. This West Coast style IPA puts us on a beach in Cali, staring out at the waves. Vallejo’s made with a mix of hops, but it’s Nelson Sauvin from New Zealand that steals the show.
Half Acre Vallejo
The nose here is dank and tropical, delivering aromas of pineapple, gooseberry, and honeydew melon. A soft and creamy wave of tropical hop flavors rushes across the tongue, leaving the palate awash with notes of strawberry, guava, and kiwi. The fruit forward finish offers a refreshing burst of bitterness, with lingering hints of watermelon, carambola, and juniper.
Hopslam, it’s the infamous DIPA from Bell’s - massive in stature, yet dangerously easy to drink. This latest riff on the classic forgoes the addition of honey and switches up the hop bill, with Citra and Nectaron imparting a mix of citrusy, tropical, and stone fruit flavors. The result is a leaner brew with brighter aromatics and a fruit forward finish. Fans of the original don’t fret; it’s not going anywhere. OG Hopslam returns in January of 2027.
Bell's Citrus Hopslam
Pouring golden in color and topped with white foam, aromas of kiwi, lemon, and passion fruit rise from the glass. Medium in body, a wave of fruity hop flavors splashes over the tongue, with pronounced pineapple, tangerine, and honeydew melon. The finish is big and spirited, delivering lasting notes of watermelon, grapefruit, and nectarine.
It’s hard to overstate the quality of the beers produced at San Diego’s AleSmith Brewing Company. From its humble beginnings as a 15 barrel brewhouse, they’ve grown to become one of the most respected and awarded breweries in U.S., taking home no less than 21 medals from the Great American Beer Festival! This week we welcome back a fan favorite, re-brewed in celebration of AleSmith’s 31st Anniversary. The Belgian classic Duvel is so revered and respected, that it birthed a whole new stylistic category of beer – the Belgian Golden Strong Ale. Horny Devil is AleSmith’s take on this iconic Belgian style. Duvel is the Flemish word for devil, and this spicy American homage is a deviously delicious brew.
AleSmith Horny Devil
Sparkling golden in the glass, aromas of coriander, lemon peel, and banana bread float atop a crown of white foam. Plush upon the palate, it blankets the tongue with honeyed malt character, accented by notes of nutmeg and navel orange. The finish is refreshingly bright and delicately spiced, with citrusy coriander giving way to hints of allspice and peppercorn. This impeccably balanced masterpiece makes a wonderful accompaniment to a wide variety of dishes, but is a must try alongside triple cream brie, Thai coconut curry, and Bananas Foster.
Hopewell’s latest lager was designed with food pairing potential in mind. Enjoying beer alongside great food is a time-honored tradition at the “pojangmacha” Korean street food market. Unlike many Asian style lagers that are made with rice, Pocha is an all-malt brew, resulting in a richer and more rounded mouthfeel and finish. It’s impeccably balanced and refreshingly crisp, making it an excellent complement to a wide variety of dishes. It offers an herbaceous hop cut that freshens up the palate alongside richer Korean dishes like beef Bulgogi and fried chicken sauced with gochujang.
Hopewell Pocha Korean Lager
Pouring deep golden in color, a floral hop aroma floats above the foam, topped by a touch of minerality. Medium in body, its bready malt character is accented by a hint of honey, resulting in a soft and rounded mouthfeel. The finish is refreshingly bright and herbaceous, accented by notes of lemon peel and a wisp of allspice. Another impressive addition to Hopewell’s growing lineup of lagers.
Art History Brewing stands by the credo - Foam Follows Function. From British style pub ales to Old World lagers, their impeccably crafted brews celebrate time-honored global beer traditions. Their flagship lager is Bauhaus, a Northern German style pilsner. The Northern German approach to pilsner puts noble hop character at the forefront. Crafted with German pilsner malt and German grown Tettnang hops, Bauhaus delivers the assertive hop character that many modern German examples shy away from. A historically accurate homage to art in liquid form.
Art History Bauhaus
Pouring pale golden in color and sparkling in the glass, delicate floral hop aromas float above a crown of bright white foam. Medium-light in body, it races across the palate, with German pilsner malt imparting a crackery malt finesse. Tettnang hops are the star of the show here, imparting notes of woodsy juniper and spicy black peppercorn. The finish is invigoratingly bold and crisp, delivering bright herbal bitterness. A perfect palate cleanser, Bauhaus pairs wonderfully with richer fare like smoked salmon, beef short ribs, and bratwurst.
Kolsch is the beer of Koln, and a growing number of American craft breweries celebrate this classic German style. Kolsch is perfectly suited for summer, something Goose Island realized decades ago. For many Chicagoans, Goose Island Summertime was their introduction to the style, and it remains a treasured seasonal brew. Kolsch is unique in that it’s initially fermented as an ale, then conditioned cold like a lager. As a result, you get the best of both worlds - fruity ale aromatics and flavors, followed by the crisp finish of a lager.
Sierra Nevada Summerfest
Pouring golden in color and topped with bright white foam, aromas of apple and pear float from the glass. Medium in body and soft across the palate, bready malt sweetness is offset by a touch of tangy nectarine and lemony citrus. The finish is balanced and crisp, with Hallertau and Saaz providing a hint of herbaceous hop flavor.
Have you heard the news? This time it’s good. Cigar City’s super juicy homage to everyone’s favorite ne’er-do-well is now available in 12 packs! That’s some serious savings, and we’ve up and done you one better and put it one sale. Just make sure to pace yourself, this 9%er is dangerously downable and you don’t want to make the papers.
Cigar City Florida Man
Hopped with Azacca, Citra, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavaria, this juicy Double IPA is a force to be reckoned with. The nose is bright and tropical, offering notes of peach, kiwi, and mandarin orange. Medium in body, a complex mix of fruit flavors washes over the tongue, with papaya and honeydew melon leading the charge. Canadian honey malt adds a touch of sweetness to the big, spirited finish, with lasting notes of pineapple, mango, and cantaloupe. Like its namesake, this is one you’ll want to tell your friends about.
That’s right, My Cousin Binny is back! For this edition we sat down with our friends at Maplewood and turned our sights to across the pond to craft a French-style Pilsner. For the hop bill we combined the classic French hop Strisselspalt with Alsatian grown Fuggle hops. A true testament to the influence of terroir, this iconic English hop varietal takes on a unique character when grown in Alsace, imparting lovely floral and spicy notes. For the malt bill we incorporated Sugar Creek’s French Pilsner malt. It’s a mixture of two different barleys with French parentage, both grown and malted at Sugar Creek Malt Co. in Boone Country Indiana. We hope you share some of this refreshing pilsner with friends over good food and conversation. You can read more about this collab in the Binny’s Blog. Raise a glass with us this Fourth of July as a salute to the French, who aided America in achieving independence. Vive la Liberté!
Maplewood My Cousin Binny Vol. 5 French Pilsner collaboration with Binny's
Sparkling golden in color, the nose here is fresh and floral, with a bright streak of minerality. Medium in body, the Sugar Creek French pilsner malt imparts a rounded and bready malt character with a subtle touch of honey. The invigorating finish is spicy and herbaceous, with lingering notes of thyme, lemon peel, cinnamon, and mint. This food friendly pilsner is a perfect match alongside the charcuterie tray. A must try alongside rich blue cheese and the Alsatian classic Tarte Flambée.
