American Beer is Awesome

"Nibbles" (nibbles) 11/07/2013 at 09:53 • Filed to: Beerlopnik

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And you should get over it.

Do you know what makes American beer awesome? The sheer amount of choices. We're not held back by any purity laws or anything of that sort, so we have breweries that make anything from a Pale Lager

To a Chili Chocolate Mole

And all points in between. We have beers that are made for wrenching in the hot sun

And beer for those who want to act poor.

Whether you're a fan of ales or shandies, there is something for you to love in this country. We are not all about the adjuncts. Yes, they do have their place such as tailgate parties, beer pong and garages, but they do not tell the whole story of the landscape of American beer.

Jim Koch restarted his family brewery in the 1980s, feeling that the American beer industry had grown stagnant. With store shelves filled to the brim with the likes of Rolling Rock, Pabst, Coors and the like, it was a smörgåsbord of similarity. Armed with recipes from his family archives, he started Samuel Adams and changed the landscape of American beer forever. He could be called the father of craft beer in the late 20th century. Samuel Adams beers can be found nationwide and in over 20 countries. Despite having a multinational presence, the beers still hold that craft flavor and complexity. Their staple, Boston Lager, is a rich and complex beer - one of the best you can find at its price point. They have many seasonal beers as well, most of which are on my top lists of beers to run in and grab. Samuel Adams has also created Utopias, a beer up to 19 years in the making. It sits at 27% ABV, can cost upwards of ten dollars per ounce, and may be the best thing I've ever imbibed.

Jeff Lebesch is another pioneer in American craft brewing. In the late 1980s, this homebrewer spent a good amount of time biking through Europe, getting a good taste of all it has to offer. He returned and started New Belgium Brewery, quite possibly the best large-craft breweries in this country. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, the brewery touts its massive selection of wildly different beers and sustainable brewery systems. As you could probably tell by the pictures in this post, New Belgium is a personal favorite of mine. Their staples include Fat Tire, a ubiquitous Amber Ale based on his tour through Belgium and 1554, a Black Ale crafted from years of research and trial and error based on a recipe found in an ancient Belgian text. New Belgium's beers are now available in 30 states and are breaking ground on another brewery in Asheville, North Carolina.

These are just two examples of American breweries that don't suck. The number of breweries that don't suck vastly outnumber those that do. In Colorado alone, there are more than 140 microbreweries producing over 400 different beers. The Great American Beer Festival is a yearly home to 580 different breweries and 2700 different beers. America is no longer the land of Bud and Coors. It's the land of Sierra Nevada and Stone.

desertdog5051 > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 09:59

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Koch is also a great supporter/lover of Blues music and helps to promote up and coming bands. Hat tip to him.

Mosqvich > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:00

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I literally did not drink beer until I tried the real Budvar. It was revelatory to me. I had tried the big beer companies like Budweiser, etc.. Pure garbage. I won't drink it to this day. However, there are tons of great breweries in the US, some are just simply amazing. Even better than Budvar, by a lot. I love Colorado and Michigan beers particularly.

MooseKnuckles > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:01

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We all know that Busch [Light] is the beer of choice. "Cold as a mountain stream. Smooth as it's name"
And I challenge you to find cooler cans

That's just hunting safety 101

area man > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:05

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Sam Adams is completely underrated. I may be biased as a New Englander, but it's just a great, reliable beer. Their Alpine Spring is my favorite seasonal, although I would probably have a Summer for breakfast if everyone wasn't so judgy in this country about drinking in the morning. That's one thing Europe does right - they know it's OK to have beer with breakfast.

Also, I came here expecting to yell at you for the lead image. Nice bait and switch.

desertdog5051 > Mosqvich 11/07/2013 at 10:07

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Hmmm... Starting to see your bias' :)

PRBot II > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:10

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Magic Hat is awesome.

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area man > Mosqvich 11/07/2013 at 10:10

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I had a similar experience - I thought beer was OK based on the Rolling Rocks and Coors Light Tallboys I'd experienced in high school and college, and then I went to Europe and had a real beer. I imagine it's similar to finding Christianity.

desertdog5051 > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:11

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We have a brew house here named the Fat Squirrel. Story goes that this critter became so obese from eating the by-products of the brewing that was discarded that it could no longer jump/climb up from the inside of the dumpster after eating.

BarryDanger > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:14

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I admire Jim Koch for his pioneering efforts but I just can't take people seriously when they tell me they are 'beer snobs' and then buy Sam Adams Octoberfest to prove it...

Have some delicious Hamms.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:15

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Everyone should visit Scottsville, Virginia and the James River Brewing Company to sample their impressive selection of excellent craft brews.

In particular their "Green-Eyed Lady" which is the single most impressive beer I've ever tasted. Light, but still complex with get this- a Pistachio finish.

It's simply amazing.

Cajun Ginger > Mosqvich 11/07/2013 at 10:26

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One of my favorite trips is to drive into Michigan for a weekend and then brewpub hop. Then stop in Indiana on the way home at a few more.

gometz > area man 11/07/2013 at 10:35

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To me Sam Adam's is reliable but boring. Their more experimental beers aren't that good either. Their regular beers are good enough to be a staple, but it never makes me think "wow, I need to go out and buy this!"

gometz > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:49

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Well you are right to some points. American beer gets to be a lot more creative than it does in other countries. Why? Because In Germany, UK and even Belgium, they have their established beers that they like and don't really care about new stuff as much. Here in the US brewers constantly come out with new beers, with slight variations or new hops to be had. Slowly you can see a change in the brews of Europe, they are beginning to come around to the idea of experimentation.

Now the big problem is of course dominance by the big beer corporations, but then again, a lot of people seem to like it for whatever reason. They are used to it and see no reason to go further.

Personally I love beer, but have zero interest in a pumpkin beer, blackberry wheat (Sam Adam's cherry wheat is one of the worst beers I have ever tasted), and shit like that (oh and steam beer is just terrible). I generally stick to beers that would be legal under purity laws*. Sure some of the Imperials I have probably have some sugar added, but please keep rosemary out of my beer.

*The German Purity law is no longer a law anyways. Even when it started it was a guideline more than a law. Think about it: Bavaria is the home of Hefeweizens. The rule originally allowed for beer to be made from wheat if there was more than the bakers could use. Look around Germany and you will quickly notice hefeweizen, roggenbier, kolsch, altbier, Berline weisse, gose, and even some Baltic porter styles that would not be allowed.

Nibbles > Cajun Ginger 11/07/2013 at 10:53

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I do love Founders. I'd like to go there someday

Team6.1 > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:54

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I love PBR, it's my go to beverage of choice, which apparently means i know nothing. That being said, I'll mix it up with the best of the microbrews. Michigan had some amazing choices (sucked to leave). I do enjoy Stone (if you every have the chance to get cask double bastard...I just hope you don't have to drive). I love double bachs, Wasatch is a solid home soip choice (Although Celebrator is still my favorite). If you can find DogFishHead 120 min IPA BUY IT. Usually about $10 a 12oz bottle around here but its easily worth the price, just rare. Plus every Microbrewery/tour I've been to has been awesome. Great culture and great people in the craft beer world.

Nibbles > gometz 11/07/2013 at 10:55

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I think that's the point they're trying to get to. They want to be as widespread as MolsonCoors and AB, but offer a beer that is still better and more flavorful. I completely agree, I don't get my panties in a twist about Sam Adams beers (except Utopias) but, when in a pinch and looking for a quick grab 'n' go, I'll usually default to Sam Adams. Or nearly anything New Belgium :)

Nibbles > MooseKnuckles 11/07/2013 at 10:56

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Bussschhhhhhhhhh

Nibbles > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 11/07/2013 at 10:57

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It's on my list of breweries I have to attend some time in the near future!

tromoly > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 10:59

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Drink local (25 miles from my house):

Drink little further out local (from Chicago):

And drink sort of local to my school but only 'cause it doesn't go far enough north to reach home (from St. Louis):

Nibbles > Team6.1 11/07/2013 at 11:00

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I drink PBR. It is a staple in my fridge. Cheap, drinkable, you can slam a can before it gets warm, and you rarely get drunk. To me, it's the perfect wrenching beer.

Cajun Ginger > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 11:01

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You can hit founders, bells, new holland, and dark horse all in one day! I recomend taking along a pregnant friend. They make the best designated drivers.

Then down in Indiana there's shoreline and three Floyd's.

Nibbles > tromoly 11/07/2013 at 11:02

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I had a Schlafly pale ale on my road trip to Florida. I liked it! Not quite as good as Dale's, but good hop note and not overpowering.

gometz > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 11:21

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I'd take NB before SA myself. Also I have not had the chance to try Utopias, but Infinium was not very good.

Nibbles > gometz 11/07/2013 at 11:23

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There was a time when I would choose NB as well. Living in such close proximity to the brewery though I got burned out on most of their brews for a while

That all changed when they released Shift. Good lord do I love that stuff

ColoradoTaco > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 11:26

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Just once I'd like to win the GABF lottery, tickets sell out faster every year. This year three days sold out in less than 15 minutes. I'm kind of a snob now, I'll drink CL/Bud when it's free but I haven't bought anything but craft for quite a while now. there's just so many to try

area man > gometz 11/07/2013 at 11:31

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Well, that's the beauty. It's not going to knock your socks off, but it's usually only priced $1-2 higher than Bud and Coors (and sometimes it's the same). The jump in quality there is worth that extra cost. But again, biased New Englander.

Nibbles > ColoradoTaco 11/07/2013 at 11:31

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The easiest way to get into the GABF, it seems, is to enter as a brewer. I'm not going to be able to do that this go round, but I'm shooting for 2015.

gometz > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 11:37

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My favorite part about shift is that it comes in a can, so I can take it to the river or the complex pool (no glass allowed in either place). Great beer.

Overall I would say I have been on a Deschutes binge in the last year. The store near my work has a surprisingly good beer selection (used to live here, very small town in rural Texas). I found Hop Trip, loved it, found out all of Austin was sold out within 3 days, went back to Lake Jackson and bought 2 cases.

CKeffer > Team6.1 11/07/2013 at 11:56

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Honestly I think the 90min IPA is much better than the 120min. I've tried all 3 of them the 60, 90, and 120, and while the 120 is interesting, I found it had a very cloyingly sweet aftertaste. It also settled in my gut like a rock....and I like heavy beers, so I was not expecting that. The 60 min is ok, but I find the hops in it to be a bit harsh and unrefined. So, for me it's the 90 min that really shines. The hops are smooth and flavorful giving the beer wonderful pine and citrus notes, without being harsh, and it has a great clean finish to it that leave almost a slight taste of grapefruit on the tongue.

Team6.1 > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 12:03

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Wrenching beer. Exactly. If I'm hot, dirty, under a car, might knock it over or spill it or whatever else that's what I'm drinking.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 12:42

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I live 20 minutes away from Troegs, and less than 40 from Lancaster Brewing comapany, Spring House, Iron Hill, and a few others, along with several brewpubs that don't sell anywhere else. Beer, baby. It's good.

911e46z06 > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 13:23

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Good post. I live in San Diego, the craft brew capitol of the world. It's insane. I drink a lot of beer. Like a lot. And it still just isn't possible to keep up with all the new stuff coming out. It's kind of like heaven, except the pure volume makes it impossible to remember which beers you like and which you don't, so you have to try them over and over again. Which is also kind of like heaven.

The one issue I have is with Pales and IPAs. It's pretty common here for bars to have 15 beers on tap and 10 or more be IPAs. Local breweries will produce 5 beers consisting of (ie) Pale Ale, IPA, Double IPA, Brown IPA, and something else. I'll go to a tasting thing at a bar and they'll serve 5 IPAs/pales. Seems crazy to me. Branch out, craft brewers.

Mike_Smith > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 13:28

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True statement in the title; wrong picture at the top of the article. Bud Light is the reason everyone else in the world thinks American beer sucks dingleberries.

Sam Adams, Anchor, Dogfish Head, Stone, Ommegang, etc. - yes. Bud Light - noooo.

Nibbles > 911e46z06 11/07/2013 at 13:41

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I feel the same way about IPAs. I'm hop ing that they are a fad that will die out.

A wise man once said to me that if you drink an overly-hopped beer, they are usually trying to cover something up.

Nibbles > Mike_Smith 11/07/2013 at 13:42

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911e46z06 > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 14:07

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I like that. I view hops in my beer the same way as I view spiciness in my food. It's great when it's in balance with everything. But when it gets excessive and dominates everything else, it becomes a problem. I like garlic on a lot of the food I eat, but I wouldn't enjoy eating a handful of minced garlic.

That said, craft IPAs as a whole are getting less hoppy. I had two from Cold Bore yesterday that weren't even as hoppy as your typical Golden Ale. So that's good. But even so, a bit of variety would be nice. There are so many interesting things to do with Ales, Porters, and wheat beers that it seems crazy for everyone to devote so much effort to the Pales. And I feel like nobody has even tried to get creative with Lagers. Ballast Point does a really good one, but there's nothing really unique about it besides it being delicious. It's especially frustrating to me because I home brew, and I can do pretty much anything I want with an IPA. But it takes serious equipment to do a proper Lager, so I have to rely on the big boys.

Nibbles > 911e46z06 11/07/2013 at 14:14

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If you want to try a lager with a little twist, and you can get your hands on it, try New Belgium's Shift Pale Lager (pictured in the article). It is superb, and has become my beer of choice for most occasions. It's crisp and refreshing with an initial hit of hops and a slightly sweet, caramel malty finish.

Some have taken to cloning this beer, which I intend to attempt as well.

911e46z06 > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 14:44

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Yeah, I've had it. It's good. Somewhat similar to Ballast Point's actually.

I don't know why, but I only like New Belgium's stuff out of the keg. It just isn't as good out of the bottle, more than like the normal draft vs. bottle difference. It's weird, nobody else seems to have this problem. But around here there's so much local beer taking up keg space that it's rare to find anything but Blue Moon and Fat Tire on tap.

Mosqvich > Cajun Ginger 11/07/2013 at 16:36

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Bam! That's it!

Cajun Ginger > Mosqvich 11/07/2013 at 16:41

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That was kbs on tap baby! At the last kbs release day.

Svend > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 17:06

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This is the tipple I'm supping right now and the only tipple I need in my life.

Nibbles > Svend 11/07/2013 at 17:08

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I have no idea what you just said.

Svend > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 17:20

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This is the alcoholic drink I'm drinking right now and the only alcoholic drink I need in my life. Sorry, British-isms.

Nibbles > Svend 11/07/2013 at 17:21

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Thanks to The Google I was able to figure it out, and I had a good idea to start off with, I just needed to give someone some shit :)

Svend > Nibbles 11/07/2013 at 17:25

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No worries fella. I'll get back to my tipple. :)

It's a "Porch-uh" > 911e46z06 11/12/2013 at 17:59

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Hey, me too! Well, sort of...Escondido... about 5 minutes from Stone. 10 minutes from Lost Abbey/Port Brewing. I can't keep track of all the breweries opening up down here. Seems like a new one every week.

911e46z06 > It's a "Porch-uh" 11/12/2013 at 22:17

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Indeed. Good problem to have. East County is blowing up now too. All kinds of good new stuff.

It's a "Porch-uh" > 911e46z06 11/13/2013 at 19:02

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I'm inferring from your handle, that you're a 911 owner. Are you a PCA member? I'm the SD Region webmaster.

911e46z06 > It's a "Porch-uh" 11/13/2013 at 23:41

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I'm not, but I probably should be. I heard you guys do cars and coffee every now and then, I was thinking about heading up that way in the near future.

It's a "Porch-uh" > 911e46z06 11/14/2013 at 11:29

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Last Saturday of every month we do it with the weekly CBad Cars meet, but we also do a Krispy Kreme and Cars down in Claremont Mesa once in a while. I'm usually there in my blue e39 M5 with my kids since my Porsche is no longer suited for the street.

911e46z06 > It's a "Porch-uh" 11/14/2013 at 23:47

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Yeah, I'll definitely try to get by in the near future. Since you're bringing your bimmer, I may as well bring my M3. I love the 911, but my legs are a bit long for it.