United States Beer Reviews
Although beer existed in the United States from its birth (and before), it wasn’t until Prohibition that the state of beer in America was truly united. Today, the United States is arguably the world’s most important beer market, where brewers enjoy the most freedom to practice and advance their craft. The market is a true melting pot of brewing styles and traditions, and the beer community is as vibrant as it is diverse. While things really got started during and as a result of the Prohibition Era (1919-1933), fermented drinks pre-date the country’s founding in 1776. Hailed as a land of opportunity, huge macrobrewing enterprises like AB InBev and MillerCoors co-exist alongside a growing number of small craft beer companies. A country built by immigrants, America has heavy European brewing influences. The number of influential breweries are too great to number, and the list continues to evolve as independent brewers push innovation in the craft and give the world more and more interesting lagers and ales to explore.
by Michael Larson | Flute Glass, Maibock / Helles Bock, Mug, Pilsner Glass, Sprecher Brewery, United States, Wisconsin |
The first of May is typically not a man’s holiday, but this year I thought I’d celebrate. To help me do so, Sprecher’s Mai Bock arrived in the mail, a part of my April beer-of-the-month club shipment. To date I have sampled to of the Milwaukee brewery’s selections,...
by Team | Great Lakes Brewing Company, Mug, Ohio, Pint Glass, Porter, United States |
Noel: Coffee lovers rejoice…this beer’s for you. Although it’s not really hailed as a coffee flavored beer, Edmund Fitzgerald is a porter, and that’s about all you really need to know. The more porters I have, the more I realize that dark, roasted bitterness is really...
by Michael Larson | Dark Horse Brewing Company, Michigan, Pint Glass, Russian Imperial Stout, Snifter, United States |
I learned something new today. Jet, as in the first part of the commonly known adjective ‘jet-black’ is actually a mineral-ish substance, formed from wood under extreme pressure, resulting in an incredibly deep, dark black material. Dark Horse’s 2009 vesion of Plead...
by Michael Larson | American Pale Ale (APA), Great Lakes Brewing Company, Mug, Ohio, Pint Glass, United States |
Michael: I’m not much of an environmentalist. I’m not saying that the glass bottle I just emptied isn’t going in the recycling bin. I’m not saying I throw candy bar wrappers out my car window or burn tires in my backyard. I’m just saying I’m not very, well, fanatical....
by Tom Smillie | Belgian IPA, California, Goblet, Green Flash Brewing Company, Tulip, United States, Wine Glass |
Upon a recommendation from Lee Williams I decided to pick up a bomber of Le Freak and save it for a special occasion. Surprisingly, that occasion came quickly in the form of an awful day at work. Things have slowed down for the summer making it extremely hard to sit...
by Tom Smillie | Mug, Oregon, Pint Glass, Rogue Ales, Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable Beers, United States |
Glancing over the “new arrivals” section of my local store my eye caught a few Rogue beers. It didn’t take long to pull the trigger, disregarding the beers I came for and making the purchase. One of the bottles that I happened to pick up was the second of a series of...