AnitaBeer

Image via Wikipedia

Brewed on every continent around the world and enjoyed in every nation, beer can quench every type of thirst and go down as easily as spring water to thick, heady concoctions that resemble that of the thickest oatmeal.

Just as the gourmet blends have conquered a large portion of the coffee business, handcrafted brews continue to keep a firm hold on the most serious of beer drinkers.  There are hundreds of thousands of brews out there, which are sure to please everyone.

When it comes to the gourmet types of microbrews, there are some things to keep in mind.  If you are new to microbrews and gourmet types, you’ll find the tips below to be very beneficial.

Start light

When you go to a pub or just out to drink, you should start off light with a basic lager, pilsner, or wheat beer.  After that, you can work your way towards the full flavored beers, such as porters and Oktoberfest beers.  These can be very potent, especially for those who don’t really drink that much.

Starting light is also good for your overall tolerance, as drinking light will prepare you for the more potent drinks.  This way, you can enjoy plenty of microbrews without having to worry about stopping too early.

Brewpubs
The ideal way to try new types of beer is to pay a visit to a local brewpub.  Many of these small brewery/restaurants will offer samplers, which feature small glasses with four to five of their most popular beers.

This way, you can experience a variety of beer tastes without having to spend a lot of money. Once you have tried a couple of the beers, you’ll know what to order.

Dark beers
If you are a casual beer drinker or can handle your alcohol tolerance, you shouldn’t be afraid in the least to try dark beers.  The dark color doesn’t mean that the beer is heavier or contains more calories, it simply means that the malt in the beer is roasted longer or roasted to a  darker color than others.

Small business
Small businesses and small businessmen are yet another reason to get into microbrewed beer other than the taste.  Local microbrew producers brew their beers in small batches, so you’ll be helping to keep the business afloat, rather than supporting the large giants of the industry.

When you know that your money is going to help the little people, you’ll normally find the brew to go down much smoother.  Small microbreweries need all the help they can get to continue brewing, which is reason enough to support them.  You’ll get a great beer for your money – and you’ll be supporting those that actually need your help.

Image by supafly via Flickr

The Alaskan Brewing Company is the oldest operatingbrewery in Alaska, with their amber beer being their most popular brand.  They produce two other brands as well, pale ale and Alaskan Frontier Amber.  If you enjoy fresh amber beer,  Alaskan brewing is what you want.

As you may already know, brewing beer in Alaska is very hard to do.  The coastal community of Juneau doesn’t have road connections to the lower 48 states, so everything arrives and leaves by water or air,with weather always having the final say.

In 1986, the Alaskan brewing company became the 67th brewery to operate in the United States and the only one to operate in Alaska.  Since that time, the brewery has received more than 30 major medals and awards, including the best beer in the nation award during the 1988 Great American Beer Festival.

The popularity of their beers has led to a great deal of effort to keep up with the demand from consumers.  They also hold the unofficial record for the production on a 10 barrel brewing system, which produces an amazing 42 batches a week.
The Alaskan Brewery offers several different stylesof brew as well, which are listed below:

1.  Amber – This is the company’s flagship  beer, based on a turn of the century recipe that was used to quench the thirst of the miners during the Gold Rush era.  It provides a smooth, malty, rich taste that goes well with meals – or friends.

2.  Pale – Pale is fresh, crisp, and inviting.  Alaskan Pale is great with crab, pawns, and salads.  The floral aroma of the hops is derived from dry hopping the tanks during the entire fermentation process.

3.  Stout – The oatmeal style beer of stout doesn’t have the harshness of other stouts.  Great with chocolate and hearty meals,  stout is also ideal to enjoy while walking in the snow.

4.  ESB – If you like hops, the infusion of hops in this  will amaze your nose while the refreshing cascade will provide a wonderful crispness to both the flavor and the finish.  This beer is great with spicy food, wild game, and other wintery food.

5.  Smoked porter – Very exclusive, Alaskan smoked porter has a world class reputation for its excellence.  Brewed in the fall, this beer is ideal for storing in the cellar for later enjoyment.

6.  Winter ale – This tender brew of spruce trees has been used for brewing in Alaska since the late 1700s.

TapHunter lets you search for your favorite craft beer on tap in San Diego, Philadelphia, Seattle, Vancouver, and the Denver/Boulder area.  The listings cover breweries, brew pubs, and bars, and they are continuously updating these lists. If you are searching for your favorite craft beer, I highly recommend this site.

Search for Craft Beers on Tap – San Diego – Tap Hunter.

The Lost Abbey is a brewery in San Marcos, California, and has one of the most interesting websites that I’ve seen in a long time. Their tagline is:  Inspired Beers for Saints and Sinners alike. The beers are modeled after the Trappist and Monastic beers, and include Lost and Found Abbey Ale, Devotion, and Judgment Day.  In addition, they have a line of seasonal beers and non–denominational ales. Click on the link, “Our Crusade” to find out more about the brewers themselves.

I knew about the Chosen People, but a Chosen Beer? Schmaltz Brewing Company (yes, that is their real name) has an entire line of  He’Brew Chosen Beers.  The beers have great names: Jewbelation – Bar Mitzvah; R.I.P.A. on Rye; Genesis Ale; and Messiah Bold.  There is a an online store where you can buy  shirts and other swag, and a list of where you can buy the beer. L’Chaim!