Beers Of Our Lives
Celebrating Octoberfest 2018
We live in a new golden age of beer. Seriously. Look at the inspired can designs on the shelves of every grocery store and corner bodega, and the revitalized neighborhoods popping up around local breweries and craft beer-inspired restaurants.
Or look at the new communities that gather (in person, actually face-to-face) to enjoy a wild, diverse selection of classic and experimental flavors.
In that spirit, we encourage you to responsibly celebrate Octoberfest this year with some of our favorites!
Glow Up Sours by Folksbier
Folksbier has yet to go wrong with any of their Glow Up sour beers. They are the perfect level of tart, with subtle fruit flavors. Plus they have one of the most charming tasting rooms in Brooklyn.
Guava Gose by Collective Arts Brewing
We sampled Guava Gose recently. Pretty darn good. The color is a lovely shade of pink, and it’s on my ever-growing “dangerously easy to drink” beer list. The flavor is lovely: fresh, sweet, and sour, and the guava really comes through.
The brewery is also cool, and Collective Arts showcases limited-edition artwork on their labels from emerging international artists.
Downtown Brown by Lost Coast Brewery
Next time you’re in California, driving down the 101 near Redwoods National Park, stop off at Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka. One of our favorites there is Downtown Brown.
Lost Coast’s signature brown ale is very much an English-style beer (chocolate and caramel malts are actually imported from England). It’s simple, smooth, and delicious!
Head Stash IPA by Liquid Riot Bottling Co.
Hazy and aromatic, Head Stash is an American IPA that makes no bones about the subculture it’s trying to tap into.
However you feel about the stoner associations, this is a delicious beer with a bit of pine and citrus to go with plenty of hops. Despite being bright and intense, it’s also quite drinkable.
Kicking and Screaming by Threes Brewery
When not lamenting the beautiful, short-lived Seeds of Doom collaboration with Other Half Brewery, we enjoy Kicking and Screaming at Three’s outpost in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Malty, hoppy, golden … plus all the other words beer people say … this pilsner is perfect for a late afternoon stop-off with friends.
Black Duck Porter by Greenport Harbor Brewing
It’s that first brisk evening of the season. You want a dark beer, something rich and malty, with a hint of coffee. However, you don’t want to feel like you’ve eaten 5 slices of pie after drinking it.
Black Duck is the answer. “Roasted” is probably the term most commonly applied to this excellent porter, but its flavors contain multitudes. Fun fact: the beer’s name is a nod to a bootlegging vessel that ferried cargo between New England and New York during prohibition.
MO Pale Ale by Maine Beer Company
From King Titus to Woods & Waters, Maine Beer Co. consistently produces top-notch beers in all your favorite styles. The MO pale ale is a mainstay in our household during the summer months. Just enough bite to keep your attention, but super-crisp and refreshing for long afternoons spent at barbeques with friends.
Clearwater Kölsch by Captain Lawrence
This longtime favorite mixes imported German barley and Hudson Valley water to make the perfect backyard/rooftop/patio beverage.
Kölsch used to get a bad rap as boring, but Clearwater helped lead a U.S. resurgence by embracing its minimalist nature. The taste is clean, citrusy … and in the best possible way, uncomplicated.
