#Map of PA Breweries

[thebeerthrillers]

Map of Breweries in Pennsylvania

Map of Pennsylvania Breweries Scroll down to view the interactive map of all of the currently active breweries in the State of Pennsylvania. Click on the beer mugs to get locations, names, and other data about each brewery. There is also a list to the left that you can click the name of the brewery and it will bring up their location on the map itself. This is a map of Breweries in Pennsylvania,…

[nonjo]

Snitz Creek Brewery in Hershey, PA: Good, Not Great

I am the vacation planer for the family. I book the rooms, order the tickets, map the routes, and make the rezzes. This week finds us in Hershey, PA; we’re doing Hershey Park, but we’re mostly here for the Foo Fighters show tonight. We drove in yesterday afternoon and are lodged at a pretty decent Best Western on Chocolate Ave. I made a dinner rez for last night at the around-the-corner Snitz…

[nwbeerguide]

Now, in its 25th year, Tröegs Independent Brewing announces the return of Mad Elf.

Press Release

HERSHEY, PA – Tröegs Independent Brewing announces the release of its iconic holiday ale, Mad Elf. Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary as a brewery, Tröegs reaches another milestone with the twentieth annual release of Mad Elf.

Back in the fall of 2002, Tröegs co-founding brothers Chris and John Trogner hatched a plan to brew a big, festive Belgian-style ale with cherries and honey to enjoy over the holidays. Little did they know that the beer would help put their brewery on the map and – two decades later – become a beer that is synonymous with the holiday season.

“Mad Elf captures so many things about the holidays for so many people,” says Chris Trogner. “And not just beer lovers. A lot of people who typically don’t drink beer have a special connection with Mad Elf.”

The essence of this once-a-year holiday ale, along with its ruby red glow, is born from five varieties of tree-ripened cherries. Bing, Lambert, Van, and Royal Ann contribute a bright and juicy sweetness, and Montmorency adds a touch of tartness.

In addition to cherries, Pennsylvania honey is the other key ingredient in Mad Elf. Each year, Tröegs sources 25,000 pounds of local wildflower honey from The Happy Beekeeper in nearby Carlisle, PA.

Whether it’s the beer’s festive nature, nostalgia, decadence, flavors or whimsy, many fans feel Mad Elf captures the holiday season in a glass.

“We like to say that it’s not the holidays until you’ve had your first Mad Elf,” adds John Trogner.

Mad Elf is available in 12-oz. cans and bottles at the brewery and throughout Pennsylvania starting this week, and everywhere else Tröegs beer is sold over the next few weeks. Look for Mad Elf on draft beginning in mid-November.

To learn more about Mad Elf, including its origins and brewing process, please visit the Tröegs blog.

Mad Elf has been a wild ride from the very first batch.

Back in the fall of 2002 — in the days when our founding brothers Chris and John were busy brewing, cleaning, bartending, giving tours on weekends, and in between all that making sales calls up and down central Pennsylvania – they hatched a plan to have a little holiday fun.

They decided to brew a big, bold Belgian-style ale made with cherries and honey. Loads of cherries and loads of honey. They were all in on this beer, but one question came up: They figured they needed about 300 pounds of honey. Just where do you get that much honey?

At that point in their lives, their experience with honey had been limited to those little bears you get at the grocery store. Three hundred pounds, in the words of John, seemed like a “sh*t ton.”

Well, as luck would have it, they found a guy in Carlisle, PA, only 30 miles from the brewery, who calls himself The Happy Beekeeper. The Happy Beekeeper not only keeps bees himself, but he sources from other small Pennsylvania beekeepers. He got the 300 pounds for the very first batch of Mad Elf. And maybe more importantly, Chris and John got an education in honey.

While visiting home-brew shops and beekeepers and researching honey in central Pennsylvania, the brothers realized how much time and effort went into every pound. “It was mesmerizing and astonishing,” says to John.

They also got to taste different honeys: clover honey, wildflower honey, locust honey. And they were able to first-hand discover that the sweet, floral wildflower honey helped brighten the sweet and sour cherries and the Belgian strong ale base.

Of course, our priority is buying the best ingredients in the world. A lot of times that means Germany or England or the Pacific Northwest. But we’re lucky, because sometimes we can find the very best ingredients right here in central Pennsylvania. Today, we still buy all of our honey for Mad Elf from The Happy Beekeeper, and that 300-pound order has increased to 25,000 pounds a year. Happy beekeeper, indeed.

But honey isn’t the only ingredient that makes Mad Elf special. Five varieties of tree-ripened cherries help ring in the celebration. Bing, Lambert, Van, and Royal Ann contribute a bright and juicy sweetness, while Montmorency adds a touch of tartness. The combination of honey and cherries – paired with chocolate malt and a spicy Belgian yeast strain – make Mad Elf taste like the holidays is a glass. We taste: cherries, local honey, chocolate malt and subtle spices.

For many beer drinkers, the holidays don’t truly start until they’ve had their first Mad Elf, and we think Tröegs has a place on every table this season. Use our Brew Finder to snag this holiday icon in 12-oz. bottle and cans everywhere our beer is available. And look for Mad Elf on draft at your favorite tap room, bar or restaurant in mid-November.

[phoenixvillebusinessassocia-blog]

Top Museums In Phoenixville, PA 19460

Phoenixville is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States, 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of French Creek with the Schuylkill River. It is located in the Philadelphia Metro Area. The population is 16,440 as of the 2010 Census. As noted by Forbes, Phoenixville is a former beaten-down mill town with a recent downtown revitalization plan that leads to 10 craft breweries and a distillery. Downtown Phoenixville has more breweries per square foot than anywhere else in America. Phoenixville has several museums to visit. Our top-rated museums are:

Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area: Historical society offering researchers access to local newspapers, genealogical documents & more. It is located at 204 Church St, Phoenixville, PA 19460, United States.

Wharton Esherick Museum: Wharton Esherick Studio, now housing the Wharton Esherick Museum, was the studio of the craftsman-artist Wharton Esherick, in Malvern, Pennsylvania. It is located at 1520, Horse Shoe Trail, Malvern, PA 19355, United States.

American Treasure Tour Museum: The American Treasure Tour is a tourist attraction established in 2010 and opened to the public for guided tours. Visitors travel through a large private collection that encompasses an eclectic variety of smaller collections. It is located at One American Treasure Way, Oaks, PA 19456, United States.

Member Spotlight

Kessler Dental Association 1150 Valley Forge Rd # 101, Phoenixville, PA 19460 

(610) 933-3342

https://kesslerfamilydental.com/   At Kessler Dental Associates, our goal is to provide you with exceptional dentistry in a calm, state-of-the-art, caring environment.

Map Directions:

https://goo.gl/maps/Xm3qS2KHY1VHmDLW7

[abbottstown-pa-life]

History

Abbottstown, Pennsylvania was established in 1753 by John Abbett and is one of the oldest towns in Adams County. The presence of rail services provided by the Eastern Berlin railroad contributed to the town's development, offering drinking and eating establishments by the mid-nineteenth century. This makes the town unlike other regions in the county. Log houses initially made up the town which has since been modernized. To preserve Abbottstown's history, the people living here restored the founder’s house although not to its original form. The town is said to have had a population of 538 in the early 1950s and is known for quality timber which the neighboring towns depend on.

Police searching for missing Abbottstown woman

LEBANON COUNTY, Pa.– Police are searching for a missing Abbottstown woman. Holly Markel, 45, was last seen on September 19 around 6:00 p.m. when she was... Read more here.

Can you imagine the grief that people who lose a loved one go through? In Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, a woman was reported to have gone missing. Holly Markel, 45, was seen leaving her residence in the 100 Block of Woods Road in Abbottstown at around 6:00 p.m. on September 19, 2019. According to her family members, she was still in contact with them at around 10:30 a.m. on September 21, 2020. Police are searching for her and are asking for anyone with information to contact the PA State Police at 717-334-8111. Let's hope she will soon be found and her disappearance cleared up.

Hickory Lane in Abbottstown, PA

Altland House Inn & Suites is one of the oldest running taverns in Pennsylvania dating back to 1750. Located at 1 Center Square, Abbottstown between York and Gettysburg, it features ten guest suites, a casual grill, and an on-site Center Square Brewing brewery. It also has two private meeting rooms which can seat up to 125 guests. Want a more private setting for your occasion? You can rent out the entire inn so you have the place all to yourself! Call them at 717.259.9535 and their events specialist will gladly help you plan your next social or corporate event.

Link to maps

Hickory Ln Penn Township, PA 17331, USA

Head southwest on Hickory Ln toward Beech Ln 0.3 mi

Turn right onto PA-194 N 3.8 mi Enter the traffic circle Destination will be on the right 276 ft

Altland House Catering 1 Center Square #103, Abbottstown, PA 17301, United States

[anahlcq]

📝 Writer

Journaliste depuis 2016, j'écris principalement sur la bière, ses rapports socio-culturels et historiques. 

Journalist since 2016, I write about everything that surrounds French beer, its culture, history and anything related to gender and sexism.

I’m an award-winning beer writer (First Place - Best Brewery Profile, North American Guild of Beer Writers Awards 2023 / Silver Award - Best Newcomer in Beer Communication, British Guild of Beer Writers Awards 2023) and recipient of the 2023 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant. 

🍺 Beer & Drink

L’avenir de la bière se trouve-t-il dans les serveurs de ChatGPT ? | Numerama, 14 octobre 2024

French Hops Waiting To Be Put on the Map | Craftbeer.com, 13 septembre 2024

Reject Waste, Embrace Creativity — Cidrerie du Golfe in Brittany, France | Pellicle, 21 août 2024

Shared Experience: Craft Beer Camaraderie Transcends Borders | Craftbeer.com, 5 août 2024

French Twist: Colorado’s Outer Range Opens Outpost in Alps | Craftbeer.com, 6 juin 2024

France is Not a Beer Country, But it Could Be | Craftbeer.com, 8 mars 2024

« Untappd c’est super, si tu es bien noté » : l’app qui dicte le marché de la bière artisanale en France | Numerama, 8 mars 2024

A Survivor Over Four Centuries — Brasserie Meteor in Hochfelden, Alsace, France | Good Beer Hunting, 5 mars 2024

Echoes from the Past Inside a Pint of German Lager | Final Gravity Issue n°3, 8 janvier 2024

Bosser dans la bière sans se la coller : mission presque (im)possible | Vice Belgium, 6 décembre 2023

Garçon, un Picon! — The Past and Future Success of Amer Bière in French Drinking Culture | Good Beer Hunting, 24 août 2023

The Art of Vinifying Grains — Brasserie Ammonite in Burgundy, France | Good Beer Hunting, 22 février 2023

Et si on mettait de l’eau dans notre vin – littéralement ? | Le Fooding, 5 janvier 2023

Gender and discrimination

French Women Are Paving the Way for More Inclusive Beer Festivals // Crafted for All, 31 octobre 2023

Pas encore — French Women Are Sick of Waiting for Their Beer Revolution | Good Beer Hunting, 20 octobre 2022

Faut-il séparer l’homme du brasseur ? | Le Fooding, 15 avril 2022

Short-form

Read.Look.Drink 270 | Good Beer Hunting, 30 juin 2023

Signifiers 2022 - Amélie Tassin | Good Beer Hunting, décembre 2022

b-Roll n°660 / b-Roll n°670 / b-Roll n°678 | Good Beer Hunting

Podcast

Capsule : Suzy Stern Denison, figure oubliée de la craft US | Bière et Moustache, 6 décembre 2021

[thebeerthrillers]

Map of Dog Friendly Breweries in Pennsylvania

A map of all of the dog friendly breweries in Pennsylvania. (Will try and keep this updated to the best of my ability.) Dog Friendly Breweries Its summer time! (Yay!) And that means its time to take our favorite four legged friends out for a walk, a hike, and a romp at the local (or not so local) brewery. This is a map of all of the Dog Friendly Breweries in Pennsylvania. I will try and keep this…

[johnboothus]

Hop Take: 10 Barrel to Sell Its Headquarters and Possibly Its Soul

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s 10 Barrel Brewing, based in Bend, Ore., is putting its state-of-the-art headquarters on the market. According to a commercial real estate listing, the facility, finished in 2016, is for sale for $19.7 million.

10 Barrel will remain a tenant in the space for “seven and a half years,” according to Brewbound. But this isn’t about 10 Barrel’s beer. It’s about the future.

In August 2019, AB InBev’s former High End president Felipe Szpigel announced his new venture, Five Drinks Co., a line of ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails. Szpigel’s partners? Jeremy and Chris Cox, co-founders of 10 Barrel Brewing, along with former ZX Ventures executive Roberto Schuback and former Mother executive Gustavo Sousa.

Five Drinks Co.’s offerings are currently contract brewed at 10 Barrel’s Bend facility. Meanwhile, 10 Barrel has also launched its own RTD canned cocktail line, which, according to the brewery website’s “Not Beer” page, “have been selling like hot cakes.”

10 Barrel operates five other brewpubs in West Bend, Ore., Portland, Ore., Denver, Boise, Idaho, and San Diego. So its beer will be fine, for now. But it’s the “Not Beer” we should be paying attention to — the canned cocktails, spritzers, seltzers, and other potential beyond-beer offerings — that can easily be produced at any of AB InBev’s many facilities.

My prediction? Maybe A-B isn’t taking over craft beer. Maybe its plan all along was to turn all the craft beer into spritzy, profitable flavored malt beverages (FMBs).

Pabst Doesn’t Need MillerCoors to Brew Its Beer Anymore (So There!)

On Monday, Pabst Brewing Company announced plans to move production to City Brewing Company by the end of 2024. The announcement comes a year after Pabst settled a heated lawsuit with its current contract brewing partner, MillerCoors.

Pabst will continue brewing at MillerCoors facilities through 2020, but plans to move a majority of production to City Brewery facilities by December 2024. Pabst and City Brewery’s agreement is effective until 2040.

City Brewing Company, also called City Brewery, is a contract production and packaging facility with locations in LaCrosse, Wis., Latrobe, Pa., and Memphis.

Long-term relationships often require work and change, and this seems like a healthy step for Pabst. MillerCoors was a formidable home for Pabst’s brands, but PBR and its siblings like Lone Star, Schlitz, and Old Milwaukee need more stability. City Brewery promises to provide that.

In the end, whatever keeps PBR on the map is a good move.

BA Announces New Board Members, Almost All of Them Women

The Brewers Association announced five elected candidates to its board of directors, effective February 2020. Four of the five are women, and all five will serve a three-year term in the packaging breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms departments.

Representing packaging breweries are Sara Nelson of Fremont Brewing in Seattle and Jason Perkins of Allagash Brewing in Portland, Me.; brewpub representatives are Sean Casey of Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh and Jennifer Talley of 1849 Brewing Co. in Grass Valley, Calif.; and representing taprooms is Melissa Romano of Lake Anne Brew House in Reston, Va.

These elections are noteworthy for the obvious reason: the craft beer industry’s overly male and white representation. Including more women in leadership positions is an excellent step. However, there is always room for improvement, not only in gender inclusivity but in electing more people of color and individuals in other minority groups. I look forward to the BA’s continued advancement in these areas.

The article Hop Take: 10 Barrel to Sell Its Headquarters, and Possibly Its Soul appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/hop-take-10-barrel-selling-soul/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/hop-take-10-barrel-to-sell-its-headquarters-and-possibly-its-soul

[isaiahrippinus]

Hop Take: 10 Barrel to Sell Its Headquarters, and Possibly Its Soul

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s 10 Barrel Brewing, based in Bend, Ore., is putting its state-of-the-art headquarters on the market. According to a commercial real estate listing, the facility, finished in 2016, is for sale for $19.7 million.

10 Barrel will remain a tenant in the space for “seven and a half years,” according to Brewbound. But this isn’t about 10 Barrel’s beer. It’s about the future.

In August 2019, AB InBev’s former High End president Felipe Szpigel announced his new venture, Five Drinks Co., a line of ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails. Szpigel’s partners? Jeremy and Chris Cox, co-founders of 10 Barrel Brewing, along with former ZX Ventures executive Roberto Schuback and former Mother executive Gustavo Sousa.

Five Drinks Co.’s offerings are currently contract brewed at 10 Barrel’s Bend facility. Meanwhile, 10 Barrel has also launched its own RTD canned cocktail line, which, according to the brewery website’s “Not Beer” page, “have been selling like hot cakes.”

10 Barrel operates five other brewpubs in West Bend, Ore., Portland, Ore., Denver, Boise, Idaho, and San Diego. So its beer will be fine, for now. But it’s the “Not Beer” we should be paying attention to — the canned cocktails, spritzers, seltzers, and other potential beyond-beer offerings — that can easily be produced at any of AB InBev’s many facilities.

My prediction? Maybe A-B isn’t taking over craft beer. Maybe its plan all along was to turn all the craft beer into spritzy, profitable flavored malt beverages (FMBs).

Pabst Doesn’t Need MillerCoors to Brew Its Beer Anymore (So There!)

On Monday, Pabst Brewing Company announced plans to move production to City Brewing Company by the end of 2024. The announcement comes a year after Pabst settled a heated lawsuit with its current contract brewing partner, MillerCoors.

Pabst will continue brewing at MillerCoors facilities through 2020, but plans to move a majority of production to City Brewery facilities by December 2024. Pabst and City Brewery’s agreement is effective until 2040.

City Brewing Company, also called City Brewery, is a contract production and packaging facility with locations in LaCrosse, Wis., Latrobe, Pa., and Memphis.

Long-term relationships often require work and change, and this seems like a healthy step for Pabst. MillerCoors was a formidable home for Pabst’s brands, but PBR and its siblings like Lone Star, Schlitz, and Old Milwaukee need more stability. City Brewery promises to provide that.

In the end, whatever keeps PBR on the map is a good move.

BA Announces New Board Members, Almost All of Them Women

The Brewers Association announced five elected candidates to its board of directors, effective February 2020. Four of the five are women, and all five will serve a three-year term in the packaging breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms departments.

Representing packaging breweries are Sara Nelson of Fremont Brewing in Seattle and Jason Perkins of Allagash Brewing in Portland, Me.; brewpub representatives are Sean Casey of Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh and Jennifer Talley of 1849 Brewing Co. in Grass Valley, Calif.; and representing taprooms is Melissa Romano of Lake Anne Brew House in Reston, Va.

These elections are noteworthy for the obvious reason: the craft beer industry’s overly male and white representation. Including more women in leadership positions is an excellent step. However, there is always room for improvement, not only in gender inclusivity but in electing more people of color and individuals in other minority groups. I look forward to the BA’s continued advancement in these areas.

The article Hop Take: 10 Barrel to Sell Its Headquarters, and Possibly Its Soul appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/hop-take-10-barrel-selling-soul/ source https://vinology1.tumblr.com/post/189061239489

[vinology1]

Hop Take: 10 Barrel to Sell Its Headquarters, and Possibly Its Soul

Anheuser-Busch InBev’s 10 Barrel Brewing, based in Bend, Ore., is putting its state-of-the-art headquarters on the market. According to a commercial real estate listing, the facility, finished in 2016, is for sale for $19.7 million.

10 Barrel will remain a tenant in the space for “seven and a half years,” according to Brewbound. But this isn’t about 10 Barrel’s beer. It’s about the future.

In August 2019, AB InBev’s former High End president Felipe Szpigel announced his new venture, Five Drinks Co., a line of ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails. Szpigel’s partners? Jeremy and Chris Cox, co-founders of 10 Barrel Brewing, along with former ZX Ventures executive Roberto Schuback and former Mother executive Gustavo Sousa.

Five Drinks Co.’s offerings are currently contract brewed at 10 Barrel’s Bend facility. Meanwhile, 10 Barrel has also launched its own RTD canned cocktail line, which, according to the brewery website’s “Not Beer” page, “have been selling like hot cakes.”

10 Barrel operates five other brewpubs in West Bend, Ore., Portland, Ore., Denver, Boise, Idaho, and San Diego. So its beer will be fine, for now. But it’s the “Not Beer” we should be paying attention to — the canned cocktails, spritzers, seltzers, and other potential beyond-beer offerings — that can easily be produced at any of AB InBev’s many facilities.

My prediction? Maybe A-B isn’t taking over craft beer. Maybe its plan all along was to turn all the craft beer into spritzy, profitable flavored malt beverages (FMBs).

Pabst Doesn’t Need MillerCoors to Brew Its Beer Anymore (So There!)

On Monday, Pabst Brewing Company announced plans to move production to City Brewing Company by the end of 2024. The announcement comes a year after Pabst settled a heated lawsuit with its current contract brewing partner, MillerCoors.

Pabst will continue brewing at MillerCoors facilities through 2020, but plans to move a majority of production to City Brewery facilities by December 2024. Pabst and City Brewery’s agreement is effective until 2040.

City Brewing Company, also called City Brewery, is a contract production and packaging facility with locations in LaCrosse, Wis., Latrobe, Pa., and Memphis.

Long-term relationships often require work and change, and this seems like a healthy step for Pabst. MillerCoors was a formidable home for Pabst’s brands, but PBR and its siblings like Lone Star, Schlitz, and Old Milwaukee need more stability. City Brewery promises to provide that.

In the end, whatever keeps PBR on the map is a good move.

BA Announces New Board Members, Almost All of Them Women

The Brewers Association announced five elected candidates to its board of directors, effective February 2020. Four of the five are women, and all five will serve a three-year term in the packaging breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms departments.

Representing packaging breweries are Sara Nelson of Fremont Brewing in Seattle and Jason Perkins of Allagash Brewing in Portland, Me.; brewpub representatives are Sean Casey of Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh and Jennifer Talley of 1849 Brewing Co. in Grass Valley, Calif.; and representing taprooms is Melissa Romano of Lake Anne Brew House in Reston, Va.

These elections are noteworthy for the obvious reason: the craft beer industry’s overly male and white representation. Including more women in leadership positions is an excellent step. However, there is always room for improvement, not only in gender inclusivity but in electing more people of color and individuals in other minority groups. I look forward to the BA’s continued advancement in these areas.

The article Hop Take: 10 Barrel to Sell Its Headquarters, and Possibly Its Soul appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/hop-take-10-barrel-selling-soul/

[ultravagabond21]

A Former Owner of Newsweek Pleads Guilty in a Fraud Scheme

Real Time Lead Gen 150 E 10th St Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 316-4775

https://ift.tt/33foBa7

https://goo.gl/maps/YGcoiFaEN5D2

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-wYIDpCc3a1dNqUv7Mw00w

A Former Owner of Newsweek Pleads Guilty in a Fraud Scheme

A Manhattan investigation had led to charges against Etienne Uzac, who co-owned IBT Media, and another media executive. See Original Article

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

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Entries being accepted for Craft Beer Marketing Awards

There are now over 8,000 breweries in America. More than ever, a good marketing strategy is an important part of a brewery's success. Yes, creating … See Original Article

NCTC Announces Agreement with Techint Labs to Provide Digital Marketing Services for Members

Their plug-and-play marketing program will enable independent cable and broadband providers to grow subscribers through search engine marketing … See Original Article

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The post A Former Owner of Newsweek Pleads Guilty in a Fraud Scheme appeared first on Local SEO Internet Marketing Consultants | Real Time Lead Gen | Digital Marketing Services.

[yookte]

80 Things to Do in and Around Philly

Lounging on the couch and binging on a series is great, but it won’t be beneficial for you and your partner’s relationship if  that’s the majority of your activity spent together. It can be hard to plan a date whether it’s your first or the 30th. Our mind grabbles with wanting something different from the norm, though quickly succumbing to  dinner and a movie often because it’s easy, and the cost is foreseen. Let’s  face it most of us budget for dates and sometimes they can get costly.  

Truth is, dinner and a movie is barely a step above Netflix and take out at home but we’ll admit it gets you out of the house at least.  The movie theaters now have reclining chairs and all that’s missing is your blanket, it’s almost like being at home. This inlies the issue, going to the movies lacks engagement.  The dinner before or after the movie is generally 45-60 mins, surely not enough time for you and your partner to really enjoy each other’s company other than being in their presence, which is always nice but it truly lacks that one on one time that your relationship thirsts for. 

We created the list below with you in mind.  It’s there for you to mix and match, improvise on our suggestions,  and to come up with new ideas. Let us know how you made out and what we should add to the list. 

Escape to your nearest Escape Room. Test your compatibility and problem solving skills with your partner. 

For the cold months starting in November head down to Penns Landing for winterfest for some spiked hot cocoa, ice skating,  and games. Get the feeling as if you are in a lodge in the Poconos.

And in the summer months visit Spruce Street Harbor. 

Ice Skate at Dillworth Park or these other places. 

Who doesn't love live music? Check out Chris’s Jazz Cafe, Warmdaddy’s, Time, Johnny Brenda's,  World Life Cafe, Union Transfer, TLA, The Fillmore, The Met… to name a few.

Visit Wilmington’s Riverfront.  There are great restaurants aligning the waterfront and you can take their  river cruise.

Drive down to Atlantic City, walk the boardwalk, take in any number of shows and have dinner with an ocean view. While you're there try a hand at BlackJack. 

I see you!  Laser Tag anyone? 

Ever think about zipping through the trees like spider man? Tap into your spidey senses. Try Zip-lining in Philly or Bucks County.

Jump, Jump, Jump around at your nearest sky zone!

Have you ever pretended that your Pink or a trapeze artist in the circus?  Well you can fly gracefully through the sky with a little help. Here’s one we found for you Trapeze.

Learn more about science and stuff.  Visit The Franklin Institute,  and while you’re there think about taking in a planetarium show or a movie at their Omniverse Theater.

Have you ever been fascinated watching planes take off? Take in a front row seat, and watch as they land via Fort Mifflin Rd and Hog Island Rd near PHL.  Pack some snacks but be careful NOT to park your cars at the fences. 

Visit Haddonfield NJ, it’s close to Philly and they have a ton of shops and restaurants.

Walk across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge from Philly to Camden or Vice Versa and grab a bite to eat nearby at a local spot. 

Join a mixologist class just make sure you do this on a full stomach! 

Take a walk or bike ride along the Schuylkill River Trail. Pack a lunch and eat at one of the park benches or head up to the cafe by BoatHouse Row or inside the Art Museum(admission fee).  There is one light fare restaurant where you don’t need to pay museum general admission to eat at if you’d like to stay along the trail. 

If your biking or walking through East Falls stop at the Trolley Car diner or In Riva along Kelly Drive and from there head over to Sherman Mills to check out their hidden business gems in a unique industrial space. 

Philly has Free Streets from March to October on the weekend. You are free to ride your bike without vehicular interference along MLK drive. 

Attend a Mediation class with your boo.  Relax, relate, release..... “Google Mediation Near Me".

Try out a new BYOB and don’t forget to bring a great wine.

Visit a Main St in a nearing town, West Chester, Doylestown, Haddonfield, Princeton, etc..... Main St. are always great and historic!  

Get your history on by visiting the Constitution Center and Independence Mall.

Visit The Eastern State Penitentiary .  Once the largest and most expensive public structure ever erected in the United State which opened in 1829. A bit spooky. Enjoy! 

 Visit Phoenixville, an old industrial town turned chic is roughly 40 mins from Philly for a perfect day trip. Take a stroll on Bridge and Main St. 

 Good at golf? It doesn’t matter, we aren't either! Try your hand at virtual golf.  

 So virtual golf not your thing?  What about miniature golf? Or is any golf just not your thing?

 Who doesn’t love an Arcade!? Bring out your inner child enthusiast.  Some ideas are The Barcade or Dave and Busters.  

Bowl! There are a ton of hip bowling alleys in Philly you can find. Try out Harp & Crow for a more intimate setting, perfect for a date night. 

Like to sing? Hit up a Karaoke spot at a local neighborhood bar or head to Chinatown where there are plenty to choose from no matter the night. 

Take in a show at the Kimmell Center , Walnut St Theatre, or any of these theatres. 

For a change of pace try out  Valley Green Inn.  It’s is  a wonderful dining experience nestled in Fairmount Park. 

 Want to get out some aggression, all while having fun?  Try your hand at Axe throwing. 

Dinner and a view from high up?  Four Seasons, R2L, XIX, and Skygarten are some ideas.  

Fancy art? Explore  The Pennsylvania Art Institute, The Barnes  or The Art Museum.  The Art Museum is pay what you wish on Wednesday  and every First Sunday.  

Why not be a Philadelphia tourist for the day? Look into Free Tours by Foot. 

Take a boat ride on the river. Find the right cruise here.

Show’em what ya workin with or your date! Do you like to dance? Try these spots.  

Can’t dance? Take a dance class together and learn or better your skills in Salsa , Hip-Hop or whatever your flavor.

Visit the Philadelphia Zoo. If you could be any wild animal, what would it be?

Venture over to the Adventure Aquarium and visit the penguins and sharks!

Take a Mural Arts self guided tour or guided, whatever your preference.  

Let’s get creative and design your own Art Exhibition Tour  all around the city. Include local universities and colleges like Drexel University, The Art Institute, University of the Arts and Moore College of Art and Design for more exhibition tour ideas. 

So this is a little different, but wouldn’t it be great if you were able to save your dates life in a godforbid life altering event?? The Red Cross offers CPR classes. You can find other first aid classes online and possibly Groupon.  In one day you can become certified. 

Philly is all about our Sports!  Take in a game watching the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, Sixers, Philadelphia Union or Philadelphia Soul play. 

In the Spring it’s about enjoying the scenery.  In the Summer it’s nice to get your feet wet in the fountains.  The Fall is about the many unique festivals, pop up shops, and activities, and in the Winter it’s all about the ice skating rink at Dillworth park. 

Once the tallest building in Philly, but still a favorite One Liberty Observation Deck . Observe the city and all its glory.   

Sketch out your own Brewery Pub Crawl.  Philadelphia is now home to a ton of local breweries. Have fun mapping out your tour! 

Explore our past and gain some light into the future at The Academy of Natural Sciences or The Penn Museum. 

Cigars or Hookah anyone? Ashton Cigar Bar , Smoke , Fishtown Hookah and The Hubble Bubble Lounge Hookah are popular choices.  

Go shopping at a local farmers market, go home and cook a lovely meal together. 

And if you can’t cook or want to learn new techniques take a cooking class together. 

Sip, sip,  we’ve got wineries in the area. In Delaware , West Chester, Montgomery, and Bucks counties as well in New Jersey. Book a tour at one!  

Visit a neighborhood that you haven’t been to or for awhile and grab lunch or dinner, and walk around to take in the sites. Chestnut Hill, University City, Fitler Square, Rittenhouse, Bella Vista, Olde City, Northern Liberties, Manayunk, East Falls,  East Passyunk, the list goes on. 

Visit the Navy Yard from 6am -8pm dine or take a walk along the river or chill out in one of their parks.  

Visit City Hall  atop William Penn once the tallest building in Philadelphia. 

Not everyone can appreciate a beautiful garden; however Long Wood Gardens is sure to impress even the naysayers. 

Cheese Steak anyone!? Hit up some new spots and have your own taste test, take notes, tell your friends who had the best steak out of your food venture that day:).  This works for Tacos as well! 

Everyone seems to fall in love with New Hope, PA, destined for a great date night or day.  

Painting with a twist is not just for parties, go with a date and sip and paint!

Eat your way through Chinatown and step into its many shops. 

Jump, Jump, Jump around at your nearest Sky Zone.

 Spend a day at the pool, indoor or outdoor and take a dip in the Jacuzzi.  If you don’t have access to one book a hotel room. For last minute deals check out hoteltonight.com or bid on Priceline.com.  

 Explore the Japanese House and Garden  located in Fairmount Park from March to October.

Battle it out at paintball! 

For live  dance performances here are some options  Philadelphia Dance , The Performance Garage,  Anne Berger Center , Wilma Theater, and the  Philadelphia Ballet.

Learn about black heritage at The African American Museum. 

Race Go Karts and get competitive with your date. 

Just feel like chillin? Get a couples massage and  top it off with a mani and pedi. 

Game Night! Choose games specific to couples to learn more about your partner, in a creative way. If you wanted to go out and play board games instead,  Philly’s got them! 

Learn about Jewish heritage at The National Museum of American Jewish History.  

Visit Reading Terminal, depending on when you go it’ll be incredibly busy. Rule of thumb is to find out what you want by visiting their site first due to their heavy crowds.  You and your date will want something different, decide, split up and meet in the middle at the dining area. This will cut time and avoid cold food. 

So you’ve had a fantastic dinner and you want a place to go for dessert?  A La Mouse in Chinatown is our favorite but here is a list of others.

Explore your tasting palette and try a Vietnamese, African, Jamaican, Dominican, or Puerto Rican restaurant, anything outside your norm. Go eat! 

Do you love stand up comedy? Take in a comedy show. 

Take a tennis lesson together, there is one near you!

Have you ever wanted to shoot a gun? Do you know how and want to show off your skills to your date? Go to a local shooting range. 

First Fridays in Olde City Philadelphia is a long standing tradition which showcase  Art Exhibitions in local Galleries and Shops, open to everyone from 5pm to 9pm.

Musical talent?  Have you ever wanted to learn the drums or play guitar? Who hasn’t? Philly has got group classes for that!

Like to climb things? Philly’s got it! Visit the largest climbing wall in Philly.

Happy Dating!

[breweriesinpa]

As you know, we have teamed with 20 veteran owned/ operated breweries in Pennsylvania to release this special beer on Memorial Day Weekend. The release is scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd and will be pouring at the breweries below. Please use this useful map to see which brewery near you will be pou... http://bit.ly/2VRX9Pz Breweries in PA

[thebeerthrillers]

Map of Pennsylvania Breweries Owned by Veterans

Map of the Breweries Owned by Veterans in Pennsylvania Veteran’s Day This Saturday is Veteran’s Day – November 11th. In honor of that, and keeping with creating more and more maps for people to be able to find and decide on what breweries to visit, I decided to create a map of the breweries in Pennsylvania owned by a US Veteran. Map of Pennsylvania Breweries Owned by Veterans This Veteran’s…

[johnboothus]

The 50 Best Beers of 2019

At last estimate, there were more than 7,500 breweries operating in the U.S. in 2019. As more breweries open — introducing a never-ending stream of new beers to the marketplace — finding the best is near impossible. Luckily, we’ve spent a lot of time over the last year tasting them.

This, evidently, was the year of saison; our 2019 list concludes with an unprecedented number of Belgian-style farmhouse ales, which signals that yeast may be having its moment. Lower-alcohol, “better-for-you” beers are in the limelight, too, as more craft beer drinkers seek beers that fit healthier lifestyles, or simply want more sessionable options — and more breweries are figuring out how to make these delicious.

On the whole, we as a craft beer drinking society may not be pivoting away from IPA to craft lager just yet (at least, not statistically), but rest assured, plenty of both make the list.

This ranking was determined by members of the VinePair team. Hundreds of selections were considered and narrowed down to 50 with the following criteria: All beers must be available for retail in the U.S. in a can or bottle retail, or otherwise be a seasonal release or part of a rotating series we expect to see back in 2020. Placement is limited to one beer per brewery. The 50 best beers of 2019 ranking focuses on labels released within the year, although this is not a requirement. Selections from last year’s 50 best beers of 2018 were not considered.

Availability has an effect on ranking: In other words, if you have to travel, trade, or sacrifice your firstborn for a 4-ounce pour, recommending it in our top 10 is not helpful to a majority of beer drinkers. Now for the fun part!

These are VinePair’s 50 best beers of 2019.

50. Mother Earth 4Seasons Hazy IPA (With Fremont Brewing)

Nampa, ID ABV: 7.5%

Previously dubbed “The Four Seasons of Mother Earth,” this 4Seasons release debuted in summer 2019 in partnership with Seattle’s Fremont Brewing. The duo used “craft” malt from a farmer-owned co-op in Spokane to further share the local love. On the hop front, this beer showcases African Queen, a fruity, herbal, spicy variety from South Africa, along with Galaxy, Mosaic Cryo, and El Dorado hops. The result? Mango, passion fruit, and orange aromas; a grain-forward, almost savory malt flavor reminiscent of sage; and a fruity, herbal finish. Although a limited release, we look forward to tasting more “seasons.”

49. Lakefront Brewery Hazy Rabbit IPA

Milwaukee, WI ABV: 5.2%

Pouring bright gold and cloudy, a Camembert-esque cheesy aroma kicks off the nose on this hazy IPA, followed by orange, tangerine, passionfruit, and a melon cotton candy note. Low on bitterness, but less sweet than “traditional” hazy/juicy IPAs, it’s bright and balanced with soft carbonation and light malt character due to flaked oats.

48. Anchor Brewing Fog Breaker IPA 

San Francisco, CA ABV: 6.8%

San Francisco stalwart Anchor Brewing’s relatively new Fog Breaker, released in 2018, earned its fair share of loyal drinkers this year. It was especially a hit among classic IPA lovers, who lament the days of IPAs that tasted like pine, weren’t too bitter, and didn’t look like OJ. This IPA has some West Coast bitterness, a hint of fruitiness and a touch of haze (O.K., fog). It’s piney and crisp, and adds Cryo hops to its dry-hopping regimen, along with whole-cone Denali and Cascade.

47. Shiner Ruby Redbird 

Shiner, TX ABV: 4%

Spoetzl Brewery’s Shiner Beer updated its Ruby Redbird lager in 2019 with nutrition facts faux-dive bars will be fawning over: It contains 95 calories, 3.1 grams of carbs, and Texas-grown Ruby Red grapefruit juice. Grapefruit and ginger are present on the nose and palate, making this easy-drinking sipper with a kick perfect for sushi pairing.

46. Cascade Brewing Cuvée du Jongleur

Portland, OR ABV: 9.4%

Toward the tail end of 2018, Cascade re-released this oaky, complex, funky cuvée for the first time since 2008. A decade after its original release, the label did not disappoint: Berry and oak aromas are followed by a creamy mouthfeel and fruity tartness. When nursed in a tulip glass, it opens up nicely as it warms, releasing further fruit aromas such as cherry, plum, and hints of grapefruit and caramel.

45. Goose Island Bourbon County Double Barrel 

Chicago, IL ABV: 18%

In this 2019 variant of Goose Island’s infamous barrel-aged stout series, “double barrel” refers to the stout aging one year in 11-year-old Elijah Craig barrels, then afterward aging another year in (different) 12-year-old Elijah Craig barrels. Fruit, leather, chocolate, and yes, intense bourbon flavors swirl on the palate, with a whiskey-beer-hybrid warmth all the way down. Although this variant is very limited in quantity, several other Bourbon County stouts are out there. Forget the drama, they’re still delicious.

44. Hardywood Park Distorted Perception 

Richmond, VA ABV: 7%

A cornucopia of tropical fruit explodes on the nose of this NEIPA — tangerine, passionfruit, guava. With our eyes closed, we could swear this was actual juice. Mango-flavored bubble tea and tart, juicy smoothie flavors make this a little sweet, but it is lip-smackingly delicious.

43. Separatist Beer Project Spellbook Imperial Stout 

Easton, PA ABV: 13%

Maple syrup and cinnamon additions amplify this imperial stout’s sweet side, while roasted malt’s coffee and dark chocolate notes add bitterness to balance.

42. Wiley Roots Black Bart Monstah 

Greeley, CO ABV: 11%

Inspired by the Spanish-descended fried dough sopapilla (or more specifically, the sopapilla served at Mexican Restaurant Casa Bonita, which has a room named “Black Bart’s Cave”), this dark, velvety imperial stout brings chocolatey, roasty flavors rather than fresh fried dough. Cinnamon, burnt sugar, and honey are added for extra decadence, making this a sweet stout to sip on a cold, boozy afternoon.

41. Garage Brewing Peanut Butter Chocolate Milk Stout 

Temecula, CA ABV: 7.1%

This liquid Reese’s Pieces is rich, but not sticky; chocolatey, but not cloying; and full-bodied, yet feels lighter on the palate than its peanut-butter-chocolate-flavored 7.1 percent ABV might have you think. Our panel unanimously found this pastry stout daringly easy to drink.

40. WeldWerks PB&J Berliner 

Greeley, CO ABV: 4.6%

Considering that it was mostly its juicy IPAs, not wildly flavored kettle sours, that put this Colorado brewery on beercationers’ maps, a peanut butter and jelly-flavored Berliner weiss wasn’t what we expected to love most from WeldWerks this year. Yet, here we are. Berliner weiss and fruit are ancient companions, so perhaps it’s not surprising that strawberry puree would complement grain and tart flavors so well — add peanut powder to the mix, and the combination of flavors is unforgettable.

39. Reuben’s Brews Brettania (Series): Boysenberry and Blackberry

Seattle, WA ABV: 6.3%

Brettanomyces can make or break a beer. In the right hands, as at Reuben’s Brews, it really sings. In this mixed-culture saison aged for six months in oak puncheons, then aged with boysenberries and blackberries for an additional six months, and finally refermented in-bottle, it sings. Brettania: Boysenberry and Blackberry was the first release in Reuben’s Brews’ barrel-aged sour program, and it promptly began winning awards. Brettania: Guava and Brettania: Blackcurrant followed, and we’re anxious to taste what’s next.

38. Bell’s Brewery Official Hazy IPA 

Comstock, MI ABV: 6.4%

Released in March 2019, Bell’s Brewery’s “Official” marked the legendary beer pioneer’s entry into the hazy IPA category. Long celebrated for its Two Hearted IPA, a bracingly bitter, grapefruit-flavored exemplar of the more “old-school” IPAs style, this newcomer stands on its own with tropical fruit and citrus aromas, a palate that’s lighter than the style-defining NEIPAs of the Northeast, and an orange juice kick on the finish.

37. Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss Hazy IPA 

Fort Collins, CO ABV: 7.2%

Can-O-Bliss “Hazy,” part of a rotating IPA series (“Tropical” and “Citrus” are others), serves up OJ, pineapple juice, and a hint of cheesy funk on the nose, followed by a fruity, herbal, spicy potpourri of hop-driven flavors on the palate. (Strata, Cashmere, Enigma, Hallertau Blanc, and Eureka hops are all used in this brew.) It’s surprisingly light in color and body, though, with crisp carbonation to balance its pungent hoppiness.

36. Springdale Beer Pearly Wit 

Framingham, MA ABV: 4.8%

Springdale Beer, of Jack’s Abby, debuted this wispy witbier last year, but in 2019 we started to see it on a lot more tap lists — and rightfully so. It’s the definition of a sessionable wheat beer: pillowy soft, crisp and coriander-flavored, with a hint of tangy citrus to keep things interesting.

35. Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (2019)

Chico, CA and Asheville, NC ABV: 6%

Sierra Nevada’s Oktoberfest got so much love this year, people married it (or at least, got married with it. At Oktoberfest. In Germany.) As for us, we appreciated the 2019 version of this annual classic as a bubbly aperitif. Brewed in collaboration with Germany’s Bitburger Brewery, it combines the smooth flavors of Caramel, Munich, and Pilsner malt with a bitter punch, perhaps from Bitburger’s Siegelhopfen — that’s German for “sealed hops,” or the brewer’s “secret” hop blend.

34. Equilibrium Moon of Vega

Middleton, NY ABV: 8.7%

Brewed in collaboration with Florida’s J. Wakefield Brewing, this double IPA is made with more than copious amounts of Citra, Galaxy, and Mosaic hops, vanilla, and lactose (milk sugar), pouring creamy and sweet, aroma-dosed with mango, and just a hint tart on the finish. It’s the ridiculousness of a milkshake IPA in an obscenely delicious package.

33. Pure Project Rain

San Diego, CA ABV: 5.3%

Unfiltered, yet clear and golden as a summer sky, topped with a fluffy white cloud of foam, Rain is a subtle eruption: pilsner malt’s telltale biscuity aroma is amplified by its single-malt, organic producer; lemongrass follows, from Hallertau Mittelfruh hops’ herbal, citrus nudge. German ingredients and an American craft brewer’s hand make this bitter little pilsner exactly what to look for at the end of — or start of — a long day.

32. Brouwerij West Picnic Lightning

San Pedro, CA ABV: 6.8%

Picnic Lightning proves West Coast breweries can do New England-style IPAs well — and even add their own touch. Lemongrass, grapefruit, and a hint of tropical fruit blend on the nose as well as on the palate, creating a slightly sweet, herbal-citrus mix with a bitter kick. Along with malted barley, this beer uses oats and raw spelt, allowing a soft mouthfeel. Juicy, earthy, and memorable, this one is on tap at the brewery at press time — nab yourself a pour if you happen to be in L.A.

31. West Kill Kaaterskill IPA

West Kill, N.Y. ABV: 6%

Teetering on the edge of dialed-in juicy IPA and new-American pale ale, this farm-brewed New beer from New York’s Catskill Mountain region is modern and rustic at once. Modern, with its dry-hopping regimen of Azaaca, Columbus, Mosaic, and Citra hops. Rustic, in that it’s crafted on a farm in the mountains. Though not as available as other IPAs on this list, this beer is worth the hike. Mountain or specialty beer shop, a word to the wise: a 4-pack is never enough.

30. Avery Bon-Bon Cerise

Boulder, CO ABV: 14.6%

Stout lovers won’t know what’s coming until sipping this bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout aged with cherries, cacao nibs, and vanilla beans. Sounds like standard fare for a barrel-aged pastry stout, but it’s anything but: Yes, it’s boozy and laced with bourbon-barrel character, but what stood out to our tasters was its powdered chocolate note and cooked fruit flavor, akin to cherry pie. Like the dessert, Bon Bon Cerise has layers to enjoy.

29. Left Hand Raspberry Milk Stout 

Longmont, CO ABV: 5.7%

Launched in 2019, this sister to Left Hand’s category-defining milk stout has raspberry on the nose and palate, balanced with roasty notes and a touch of sweetness. Bitter chocolate and cherry on the finish wrap it all up in a smooth, dessert-friendly (or dessert-replacing) package.

28. Monday Night Ante Meridiem Blend No. 1 (2018)

Atlanta, GA ABV: 13.5%

Several Monday Night beers were considered for this list, but its “imperial brown ale” — fair enough, it’s 13.5 percent ABV, aged in locally sourced bourbon barrels, and dosed with locally roasted coffee, Ugandan vanilla beans, and maple syrup — is a testament to the Atlanta brewery’s relentless experimentation. Firstly, it brings the noise for brown ale (even if it’s hyperbolizing the usually subtly roasty style). In a similar conundrum, It smells like vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup, and tastes creamy and sweet. But warm bourbon and coffee bean prevent it from becoming cloying. The body has excellent texture, rich but drinkable, with just enough carbonation to give a crisp edge, lifting it safely out of the barrel-aged-syrup-beer danger zone. No single part overpowers another, making this a rare treat. (It’s available seasonally on draft and in 500-milliliter bottles in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.)

27. Lamplighter Major Tom 

Boston, MA ABV: 6.8%

This space-themed, true New England-Style IPA brewed by Boston’s Lamplighter, a brewery, coffee purveyor and soon-to-be-distillery, is, like its maker, bold. Floating in this tin can* are Australian Galaxy hops, imparting tropical-fruit juicy flavors, but also a bitter bite hiding in the haze. *The can is aluminum.

26. Saint Archer Mexican Lager

San Diego, CA ABV: 4.8%

Saint Archer Brewery debuted its Mexican-style lager in March 2019, and it rose up our ranks for its many juxtapositions: sweet and herbal; cooked corn tortilla and fresh herbs; and, philosophically, a San Diego-brewed, Mexican-style beer owned by the very North American MillerCoors. Maybe it’s not that crazy. You would, however, be crazy to pass this up if you’re a fan of Mexican lagers like we are. Pair with chicken enchiladas, tortilla chips with salsa verde, or a lime wedge.

25. Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild NA IPA

Stratford, CT ABV: < 0.5%

This isn’t the first time we’re praising Athletic Brewing’s flagship IPA, but it is the first time a non-alcoholic beer has made it to the top 50 beers of the year list. This says a lot, not only about the quality of this particular brew — which is made with all-organic grains, and five hop varieties from the Northwest U.S. — but it speaks to the market’s move (if inching, even) toward no- and low-ABV, as well as lower-calorie (this one’s 70), options. This beer is flavorful and balanced, featuring an herbal, citrus kick over a mild malt backbone. It became a regular purchase for some panelists over the course of the year. We’ve bought out in the wild on several semi-sober occasions. For us, this one isn’t about abstaining, it’s about sustaining — through the day and night with friends, can in hand.

24. J. Wakefield 24th Street Brown Ale

Miami, FL ABV: 6.5%

Don’t let this beer’s street-smart exterior dark, murky interior fool you. On the inside, from the first sip, it’s sweet chocolate malt balls, smooth toffee flavor, and roasty, dialed-back bitterness (think cold-brewed coffee compared to burnt iced coffee). 24th Street Brown Ale is named for the brewery’s Miami address, and with the recent remodeling of that taproom, we felt it was owed another look and a new appreciation in 2019.

23. Coronado Set West

Coronado, CA ABV: 7%

This West Coast IPA from California stalwart Coronado Brewing dials back the style’s bitterness with biscuity, freshly baked bread and fresh-squeezed orange juice on the nose. It’s dry on the palate, with a bitterness that lingers just the right amount, allowing the beer to be refreshing, rather than weigh down the palate. A hallmark West Coast IPA.

22. Two Roads Area Two Table Terroir 

Stratford, CT ABV: 3.7%

Connecticut-grown malts, hops, and yeast so local it was captured in the brewery’s own hop yard put the “terroir” in Table Terroir, a food-pairing companion and conversation starter that’s as fascinating as it is tasty. Delicate and complex, with fruity and spicy notes, it’s one we wish we could find more often — but, like this beer’s ingredients, you’ll have to go to the brewery for that.

21. Gueuzerie Tilquin Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin à L’Ancienne

Rebecq, Belgium ABV: 8.2%

“Finesse” comes to mind when attempting to describe this spontaneously-fermented lambic, which gets its fruit not from the traditional cherries (kriek) or raspberries (framboise), but from Pinot Noir grapes (260 grams of Pinot Noir grapes per liter of lambic, according to Gueuzerie Tilquin). The first version of this lambic, made to mark the 10th anniversary of legendary Belgian beer bar Moeder Lambic, used hand-harvested grapes from Valentin Zusslin Estate’s biodynamic Bollenberg vineyard. This new version uses organic grapes from a family farm in Steinseltz, France.

20. Cerebral Forbidden Idol: Mai Tai (Tiki Sour IPA Series) 

Denver, CO ABV: 7%

Kicking off the year with a tiki sour IPA series is a bold move. For Cerebral Brewing, which we already love for its show-stopping IPAs and interesting forays into categories like wood-aged lager, Forbidden Idol’s pineapple, lime, and passionfruit-flavored tiki cocktail-inspired release was an awakening. Our panel agreed this one actually tasted like a Mai Tai, proving that tiki cocktails can translate into IPA forms — and that sour IPAs, at their best, beautifully emulate cocktails. We were hooked from the start, but Cerebral Brewing has released this beer in Mai Tai, Singapore Sling, Castaway, Zombie and Painkiller versions. (And, by the way, Mai Tais are better than you think.)

19. Finback Rolling in Clouds

Queens, NY ABV: 7.1%

When we think of an ideal juicy, hazy IPA, this is it. It’s not too sweet, not too boozy, and has a smooth mouthfeel. Fruity without being super sweet and gooey, it’s just right.

18. Tired Hands Shambolic 

Ardmore, PA ABV: 6.5%

Shambolic, a saison brewed with malted spelt and raw wheat, rested in oak foudres, and dry-hopped with what is likely a lavish amount of Nelson Sauvin and Simcoe hops, is a lot to take in. Tropical fruit, lemony citrus, and floral notes create an intense perfume and palate, while fermentation with Tired Hands’ house saison yeast (and maybe microflora from the foudres) adds a tart, citric kick on the finish.

17. Grimm Artisanal Ales Awoogah IPA

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 6.4%

At this point, seeing an IPA below 7 percent ABV is a godsend. Fruity and floral aromas give way to a soft palate, with spicy hop character and a hint of tangerine tartness coming from a combination of Columbus, Galaxy, Hallertau Blanc, and Simcoe hops. It’s refreshing and balanced, with certain parts pleasantly exaggerated — citrus zest, for example — without going even a molecule too far. Truly hazy and juicy, without being too bitter or sweet, this is a perfect IPA.

16. pFriem Family Brewers Pilsner

Hood River, OR ABV: 4.9%

Available in cans starting in 2019, this crystal-clear, golden pilsner is reminiscent of springtime. A fresh floral aroma, soft carbonation, and suite of unusual herbal hops varietals like Perle and Saphir make this both palate cleanser and a center-stage sipper. Whether thoughtfully or thoughtlessly, enjoy this on a porch, in a backyard, at a barbecue, or basically anywhere, anytime.

15. The Referend Bier Blendery Le Mur (2018)

Pennington/Hopewell Township, N.J. ABV: 6%

“Blackberry spontaneously fermented golden ale” is a mouthful of a beer description, but it only begins to scratch the surface of how this exquisite vintage is made. Released in July 2019, Le Mur is a blend of one- and two-year-old beer, the younger re-fermented with southern New Jersey blackberries in French oak, and the older with northern New Jersey blackberries in stainless steel. It pours a dusty garnet with a fluffy ruby head. Tart cherry, raspberry, and blackberry aromas are pungent from first whiff. Up close, nose to glass, it’s all citrus — fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, acidic orange, and a hint of lemon and lime. A brioche scent wafts in, creating a tart berry-pie aroma. The palate is tart, concentrated fruit, sharp but balanced with jammy berry flavors — it is not puckeringly sour like so many unoaked, kettle-soured beers tend to be. Oak puncheons, and perhaps more so, time, have softened its edges. Depth, complexity, and excitement.

14. Perennial Artisan Ales Prism: Mosaic

St. Louis, MO ABV: 5.5%

Showcasing the multi-faceted, New-World Mosaic hop in a classic saison would be a terrible idea if you were anyone but Perennial. But saisons and farmhouse-style ales are among this small St. Louis brewery’s specialty, and this particular release in its “Prism” series did the best job at convincing us the result can be delicious. Maybe it’s the magic of Mosaic meeting a saison yeast strain, but this saison is better than the sum of its parts.

13. Holy Mountain Witchfinder

Seattle, WA ABV: 6.1% ABV

Golden, frothy, and skunky (in a good way), this pungently-scented saison is all earthy funk on the nose, followed by floral and citrus flavors and a lingering pithy finish. It’s one of many excellent saisons from this Seattle brewery, and solidifies our suspicion that we’ll grab a bottle any time we see one — if the beer budget allows.

12. Threes Brewing The Dictator Is The People

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 6%

Pungent, peppery spice, and tart apricot aromas are a precursor to this oak-aged saison’s delectable journey. Lightly fruity, dry, Champagne-sparkling, it’s a saison worth celebrating with — or celebrating, period. Next in rotation of mixed-culture, oak-aged wheat beers is Bad Faith.

11. Transmitter Brewing S9 

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 5.8%

After moving from a very small space in Queens to one of Brooklyn’s biggest commercial centers, Transmitter released S9, a saison that rivals its smaller-scale days, and, dare we say, its Belgian inspirations. This iteration is pale and can be perceived as light on the palate, but it has hidden complexities: earthy, fruity notes derived from yeast and hops complement cereal grain flavors, with lively carbonation and bitterness hitting at the finish.

10. Trillium Crown and Crate

Boston, MA ABV: 8.6%

Massachusetts hives provide the nectar for this double IPA with raw wildflower honey, which, along with lactose, give the beer its ultra-creamy mouthfeel, and supple, smoothie-sweet decadence. Named for the queen bee (the “crown”) and the milk crate her worker bees use to create their hive, its abundance of tropical fruit flavors invoke the plenitudes of spring, royalty, and indulgence.

9. Harpoon Rec League

Boston, MA and Windsor, VT ABV: 3.8%

Is there anything more exciting than a 3.8-percent-ABV hoppy beer? It’d be hard to convince us while sipping Rec League. Harpoon is officially back in the game with this refreshing, light-bodied, lightly bitter and light-everything low-ABV refresher. Hints of pineapple and tropical fruit on the nose, and clementine and tangerine on the palate, yet dry as a bone, it’s a standout of the year.

8. Lagunitas Daytime Ale

Petaluma, CA ABV: 4%

Whether you’re into the low-alcohol, low-calorie phase of your beer-drinking career or not, it’s important to know that brewing a beer that’s light and tastes good is no easy feat. As the can perhaps suggests, Daytime Ale nails it. It’s citrusy and herbal, light and flavorful, and barbecue-friendly in every way. Coors Light chicks and hazebros can unite over this hoppy yet thirst-quenching summer sipper.

7. Sixpoint Citrus Jammer

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 4%

We tasted every Jammer variety time and time again this summer, and while our favoritism fluctuated between the original and tropical fruit flavors, we ultimately landed on Citrus Jammer. It has the salty, spicy gose flavor we’re looking for, but is slightly subdued (compared to American goses that overdo it). Added to that are candied orange aromas, Sprite-like lemon-lime, and a lingering, lemony tang, and we found its bright and bitter finish was more refreshing than the original. Soft coriander on the finish.

6. New Belgium Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza (With Primus Cervecería)

Fort Collins, CO; Asheville, NC; and Mexico City, Mexico ABV: 4%

Mural Agua Fresca got its start via test batches brewed by New Belgium and Primus at the Mexico City cerveceria. In 2019, the agua-fresca-inspired ale is available in all 50 U.S. states (and, coming soon, more flavors). It’s refreshing all around — Mural gets its red-pink color and tart essence from hibiscus, its thirst-quenching flavor from watermelon, zippy refreshment from lime, and a touch of sweetness from agave. Get out there and try this “cerveza” before it’s rebranded as spiked seltzer.

5. Funkwerks Passion Fruit Provincial (Series)

Fort Collins, CO ABV: 4.2%

If sour ales can be sessionable, Funkwerks is one of the few breweries that can accomplish it — and lucky for us, the Colorado farmhouse-style brand added New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky, Chicagoland, and, finally, Kansas to its distribution network this year. Passion Fruit Provincial is a memorable bottled ecosystem of passionfruit’s interaction with soft malt and saison yeast. Tart, tropical, and refreshing, it’s one that has us looking out for more “Provincial” variants — raspberry, “rhuberry” (strawberry and rhubarb), and pineapple guava are among them.

4. Rodenbach Classic 

Rosalare, Belgium ABV: 5.2%

Nationally available as of 2019, Rodenbach Classic in cans — cans! —is what brought this classic brand to the top of our list this year. Rodenbach, a nearly-200-year-old Belgian brewery that defines the Flemish red beer style, launched its Rodenbach Classic label statewide in the U.S. in cans. The sleek, elegant take on a tallboy puts one of the best beers of all time in a pedestrian package, signaling that centuries-old tradition and the mastery of foeder-aging (courtesy living legend Rudi Ghequire), actually can be enjoyed anytime. No longer do we have to hoard our Rodenbach for Christmas dinner… unless it’s a vintage. As for the classic, it’s a blend of young and aged beer, the latter part of the blend aged for two years in giant oak foeders. It’s fruity and tart, pairs perfectly with rich foods, and is surprisingly sessionable on its own, too. Also in 2019, Rodenbach announced its first-ever beer collaboration with American craft beer pioneer Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

3. SweetWater 420 Chocolope Stout

Atlanta, GA ABV: 6.4%

Chocolate stouts have been brewed many times over, but none have tasted like this. SweetWater’s 420 Strain, a series of cannabis-inspired beers, can be gimmicky, but this one wowed us every time we reached for it. It’s brewed with three types of roasted malt (Pale Chocolate, Chocolate, and Roasted Barley), a pair of herbal hops (Bravo, Willamette), and what the brewery refers to as “strain-specific terpenes and natural hemp-type flavors” — the latter being the “X”-factor. It’s insanely aromatic, like a sticky nug of weed, but roasty, too, and somehow, actual chocolate completes the package (Dutch chocolate, naturally). Insert weed joke here.

2. Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale 

Tampa, FL ABV: 5.5%

Guayabera pours frothy, fruity, and intensely aromatic. Using only Citra hops, known for their citrusy profile of grapefruit and tropical fruit, this American pale ale is juicy and refreshing, balancing citrusy bitterness, soft, bready malt character, and endlessly quaffable aroma. It also makes a great shower beer.

1. Allagash River Trip

Portland, ME ABV: 4.8 %

2019 was all about easy-drinking refreshment, and Allagash nails it with River Trip — most importantly, the pioneering brewery does so without sacrificing its style. While craft brewers clamor to diversify with light lagers and hard seltzers, this Belgian-style session ale is easy-drinking with an edge. Spiced with coriander like a traditional Belgian witbier, and fermented with Allagash’s house yeast, it adds bright, bitter, grassy notes to its table beer base. Yes, Allagash excels at beautifully executed mixed-fermentation sour beers, but it was River Trip we kept coming back to this year, again and again.

The article The 50 Best Beers of 2019 appeared first on VinePair.

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The 50 Best Beers of 2019

At last estimate, there were more than 7,500 breweries operating in the U.S. in 2019. As more breweries open — introducing a never-ending stream of new beers to the marketplace — finding the best is near impossible. Luckily, we’ve spent a lot of time over the last year tasting them.

This, evidently, was the year of saison; our 2019 list concludes with an unprecedented number of Belgian-style farmhouse ales, which signals that yeast may be having its moment. Lower-alcohol, “better-for-you” beers are in the limelight, too, as more craft beer drinkers seek beers that fit healthier lifestyles, or simply want more sessionable options — and more breweries are figuring out how to make these delicious.

On the whole, we as a craft beer drinking society may not be pivoting away from IPA to craft lager just yet (at least, not statistically), but rest assured, plenty of both make the list.

This ranking was determined by members of the VinePair team. Hundreds of selections were considered and narrowed down to 50 with the following criteria: All beers must be available for retail in the U.S. in a can or bottle retail, or otherwise be a seasonal release or part of a rotating series we expect to see back in 2020. Placement is limited to one beer per brewery. The 50 best beers of 2019 ranking focuses on labels released within the year, although this is not a requirement. Selections from last year’s 50 best beers of 2018 were not considered.

Availability has an effect on ranking: In other words, if you have to travel, trade, or sacrifice your firstborn for a 4-ounce pour, recommending it in our top 10 is not helpful to a majority of beer drinkers. Now for the fun part!

These are VinePair’s 50 best beers of 2019.

50. Mother Earth 4Seasons Hazy IPA (With Fremont Brewing)

Nampa, ID ABV: 7.5%

Previously dubbed “The Four Seasons of Mother Earth,” this 4Seasons release debuted in summer 2019 in partnership with Seattle’s Fremont Brewing. The duo used “craft” malt from a farmer-owned co-op in Spokane to further share the local love. On the hop front, this beer showcases African Queen, a fruity, herbal, spicy variety from South Africa, along with Galaxy, Mosaic Cryo, and El Dorado hops. The result? Mango, passion fruit, and orange aromas; a grain-forward, almost savory malt flavor reminiscent of sage; and a fruity, herbal finish. Although a limited release, we look forward to tasting more “seasons.”

49. Lakefront Brewery Hazy Rabbit IPA

Milwaukee, WI ABV: 5.2%

Pouring bright gold and cloudy, a Camembert-esque cheesy aroma kicks off the nose on this hazy IPA, followed by orange, tangerine, passionfruit, and a melon cotton candy note. Low on bitterness, but less sweet than “traditional” hazy/juicy IPAs, it’s bright and balanced with soft carbonation and light malt character due to flaked oats.

48. Anchor Brewing Fog Breaker IPA 

San Francisco, CA ABV: 6.8%

San Francisco stalwart Anchor Brewing’s relatively new Fog Breaker, released in 2018, earned its fair share of loyal drinkers this year. It was especially a hit among classic IPA lovers, who lament the days of IPAs that tasted like pine, weren’t too bitter, and didn’t look like OJ. This IPA has some West Coast bitterness, a hint of fruitiness and a touch of haze (O.K., fog). It’s piney and crisp, and adds Cryo hops to its dry-hopping regimen, along with whole-cone Denali and Cascade.

47. Shiner Ruby Redbird 

Shiner, TX ABV: 4%

Spoetzl Brewery’s Shiner Beer updated its Ruby Redbird lager in 2019 with nutrition facts faux-dive bars will be fawning over: It contains 95 calories, 3.1 grams of carbs, and Texas-grown Ruby Red grapefruit juice. Grapefruit and ginger are present on the nose and palate, making this easy-drinking sipper with a kick perfect for sushi pairing.

46. Cascade Brewing Cuvée du Jongleur

Portland, OR ABV: 9.4%

Toward the tail end of 2018, Cascade re-released this oaky, complex, funky cuvée for the first time since 2008. A decade after its original release, the label did not disappoint: Berry and oak aromas are followed by a creamy mouthfeel and fruity tartness. When nursed in a tulip glass, it opens up nicely as it warms, releasing further fruit aromas such as cherry, plum, and hints of grapefruit and caramel.

45. Goose Island Bourbon County Double Barrel 

Chicago, IL ABV: 18%

In this 2019 variant of Goose Island’s infamous barrel-aged stout series, “double barrel” refers to the stout aging one year in 11-year-old Elijah Craig barrels, then afterward aging another year in (different) 12-year-old Elijah Craig barrels. Fruit, leather, chocolate, and yes, intense bourbon flavors swirl on the palate, with a whiskey-beer-hybrid warmth all the way down. Although this variant is very limited in quantity, several other Bourbon County stouts are out there. Forget the drama, they’re still delicious.

44. Hardywood Park Distorted Perception 

Richmond, VA ABV: 7%

A cornucopia of tropical fruit explodes on the nose of this NEIPA — tangerine, passionfruit, guava. With our eyes closed, we could swear this was actual juice. Mango-flavored bubble tea and tart, juicy smoothie flavors make this a little sweet, but it is lip-smackingly delicious.

43. Separatist Beer Project Spellbook Imperial Stout 

Easton, PA ABV: 13%

Maple syrup and cinnamon additions amplify this imperial stout’s sweet side, while roasted malt’s coffee and dark chocolate notes add bitterness to balance.

42. Wiley Roots Black Bart Monstah 

Greeley, CO ABV: 11%

Inspired by the Spanish-descended fried dough sopapilla (or more specifically, the sopapilla served at Mexican Restaurant Casa Bonita, which has a room named “Black Bart’s Cave”), this dark, velvety imperial stout brings chocolatey, roasty flavors rather than fresh fried dough. Cinnamon, burnt sugar, and honey are added for extra decadence, making this a sweet stout to sip on a cold, boozy afternoon.

41. Garage Brewing Peanut Butter Chocolate Milk Stout 

Temecula, CA ABV: 7.1%

This liquid Reese’s Pieces is rich, but not sticky; chocolatey, but not cloying; and full-bodied, yet feels lighter on the palate than its peanut-butter-chocolate-flavored 7.1 percent ABV might have you think. Our panel unanimously found this pastry stout daringly easy to drink.

40. WeldWerks PB&J Berliner 

Greeley, CO ABV: 4.6%

Considering that it was mostly its juicy IPAs, not wildly flavored kettle sours, that put this Colorado brewery on beercationers’ maps, a peanut butter and jelly-flavored Berliner weiss wasn’t what we expected to love most from WeldWerks this year. Yet, here we are. Berliner weiss and fruit are ancient companions, so perhaps it’s not surprising that strawberry puree would complement grain and tart flavors so well — add peanut powder to the mix, and the combination of flavors is unforgettable.

39. Reuben’s Brews Brettania (Series): Boysenberry and Blackberry

Seattle, WA ABV: 6.3%

Brettanomyces can make or break a beer. In the right hands, as at Reuben’s Brews, it really sings. In this mixed-culture saison aged for six months in oak puncheons, then aged with boysenberries and blackberries for an additional six months, and finally refermented in-bottle, it sings. Brettania: Boysenberry and Blackberry was the first release in Reuben’s Brews’ barrel-aged sour program, and it promptly began winning awards. Brettania: Guava and Brettania: Blackcurrant followed, and we’re anxious to taste what’s next.

38. Bell’s Brewery Official Hazy IPA 

Comstock, MI ABV: 6.4%

Released in March 2019, Bell’s Brewery’s “Official” marked the legendary beer pioneer’s entry into the hazy IPA category. Long celebrated for its Two Hearted IPA, a bracingly bitter, grapefruit-flavored exemplar of the more “old-school” IPAs style, this newcomer stands on its own with tropical fruit and citrus aromas, a palate that’s lighter than the style-defining NEIPAs of the Northeast, and an orange juice kick on the finish.

37. Oskar Blues Can-O-Bliss Hazy IPA 

Fort Collins, CO ABV: 7.2%

Can-O-Bliss “Hazy,” part of a rotating IPA series (“Tropical” and “Citrus” are others), serves up OJ, pineapple juice, and a hint of cheesy funk on the nose, followed by a fruity, herbal, spicy potpourri of hop-driven flavors on the palate. (Strata, Cashmere, Enigma, Hallertau Blanc, and Eureka hops are all used in this brew.) It’s surprisingly light in color and body, though, with crisp carbonation to balance its pungent hoppiness.

36. Springdale Beer Pearly Wit 

Framingham, MA ABV: 4.8%

Springdale Beer, of Jack’s Abby, debuted this wispy witbier last year, but in 2019 we started to see it on a lot more tap lists — and rightfully so. It’s the definition of a sessionable wheat beer: pillowy soft, crisp and coriander-flavored, with a hint of tangy citrus to keep things interesting.

35. Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (2019)

Chico, CA and Asheville, NC ABV: 6%

Sierra Nevada’s Oktoberfest got so much love this year, people married it (or at least, got married with it. At Oktoberfest. In Germany.) As for us, we appreciated the 2019 version of this annual classic as a bubbly aperitif. Brewed in collaboration with Germany’s Bitburger Brewery, it combines the smooth flavors of Caramel, Munich, and Pilsner malt with a bitter punch, perhaps from Bitburger’s Siegelhopfen — that’s German for “sealed hops,” or the brewer’s “secret” hop blend.

34. Equilibrium Moon of Vega

Middleton, NY ABV: 8.7%

Brewed in collaboration with Florida’s J. Wakefield Brewing, this double IPA is made with more than copious amounts of Citra, Galaxy, and Mosaic hops, vanilla, and lactose (milk sugar), pouring creamy and sweet, aroma-dosed with mango, and just a hint tart on the finish. It’s the ridiculousness of a milkshake IPA in an obscenely delicious package.

33. Pure Project Rain

San Diego, CA ABV: 5.3%

Unfiltered, yet clear and golden as a summer sky, topped with a fluffy white cloud of foam, Rain is a subtle eruption: pilsner malt’s telltale biscuity aroma is amplified by its single-malt, organic producer; lemongrass follows, from Hallertau Mittelfruh hops’ herbal, citrus nudge. German ingredients and an American craft brewer’s hand make this bitter little pilsner exactly what to look for at the end of — or start of — a long day.

32. Brouwerij West Picnic Lightning

San Pedro, CA ABV: 6.8%

Picnic Lightning proves West Coast breweries can do New England-style IPAs well — and even add their own touch. Lemongrass, grapefruit, and a hint of tropical fruit blend on the nose as well as on the palate, creating a slightly sweet, herbal-citrus mix with a bitter kick. Along with malted barley, this beer uses oats and raw spelt, allowing a soft mouthfeel. Juicy, earthy, and memorable, this one is on tap at the brewery at press time — nab yourself a pour if you happen to be in L.A.

31. West Kill Kaaterskill IPA

West Kill, N.Y. ABV: 6%

Teetering on the edge of dialed-in juicy IPA and new-American pale ale, this farm-brewed New beer from New York’s Catskill Mountain region is modern and rustic at once. Modern, with its dry-hopping regimen of Azaaca, Columbus, Mosaic, and Citra hops. Rustic, in that it’s crafted on a farm in the mountains. Though not as available as other IPAs on this list, this beer is worth the hike. Mountain or specialty beer shop, a word to the wise: a 4-pack is never enough.

30. Avery Bon-Bon Cerise

Boulder, CO ABV: 14.6%

Stout lovers won’t know what’s coming until sipping this bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout aged with cherries, cacao nibs, and vanilla beans. Sounds like standard fare for a barrel-aged pastry stout, but it’s anything but: Yes, it’s boozy and laced with bourbon-barrel character, but what stood out to our tasters was its powdered chocolate note and cooked fruit flavor, akin to cherry pie. Like the dessert, Bon Bon Cerise has layers to enjoy.

29. Left Hand Raspberry Milk Stout 

Longmont, CO ABV: 5.7%

Launched in 2019, this sister to Left Hand’s category-defining milk stout has raspberry on the nose and palate, balanced with roasty notes and a touch of sweetness. Bitter chocolate and cherry on the finish wrap it all up in a smooth, dessert-friendly (or dessert-replacing) package.

28. Monday Night Ante Meridiem Blend No. 1 (2018)

Atlanta, GA ABV: 13.5%

Several Monday Night beers were considered for this list, but its “imperial brown ale” — fair enough, it’s 13.5 percent ABV, aged in locally sourced bourbon barrels, and dosed with locally roasted coffee, Ugandan vanilla beans, and maple syrup — is a testament to the Atlanta brewery’s relentless experimentation. Firstly, it brings the noise for brown ale (even if it’s hyperbolizing the usually subtly roasty style). In a similar conundrum, It smells like vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup, and tastes creamy and sweet. But warm bourbon and coffee bean prevent it from becoming cloying. The body has excellent texture, rich but drinkable, with just enough carbonation to give a crisp edge, lifting it safely out of the barrel-aged-syrup-beer danger zone. No single part overpowers another, making this a rare treat. (It’s available seasonally on draft and in 500-milliliter bottles in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.)

27. Lamplighter Major Tom 

Boston, MA ABV: 6.8%

This space-themed, true New England-Style IPA brewed by Boston’s Lamplighter, a brewery, coffee purveyor and soon-to-be-distillery, is, like its maker, bold. Floating in this tin can* are Australian Galaxy hops, imparting tropical-fruit juicy flavors, but also a bitter bite hiding in the haze. *The can is aluminum.

26. Saint Archer Mexican Lager

San Diego, CA ABV: 4.8%

Saint Archer Brewery debuted its Mexican-style lager in March 2019, and it rose up our ranks for its many juxtapositions: sweet and herbal; cooked corn tortilla and fresh herbs; and, philosophically, a San Diego-brewed, Mexican-style beer owned by the very North American MillerCoors. Maybe it’s not that crazy. You would, however, be crazy to pass this up if you’re a fan of Mexican lagers like we are. Pair with chicken enchiladas, tortilla chips with salsa verde, or a lime wedge.

25. Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild NA IPA

Stratford, CT ABV: < 0.5%

This isn’t the first time we’re praising Athletic Brewing’s flagship IPA, but it is the first time a non-alcoholic beer has made it to the top 50 beers of the year list. This says a lot, not only about the quality of this particular brew — which is made with all-organic grains, and five hop varieties from the Northwest U.S. — but it speaks to the market’s move (if inching, even) toward no- and low-ABV, as well as lower-calorie (this one’s 70), options. This beer is flavorful and balanced, featuring an herbal, citrus kick over a mild malt backbone. It became a regular purchase for some panelists over the course of the year. We’ve bought out in the wild on several semi-sober occasions. For us, this one isn’t about abstaining, it’s about sustaining — through the day and night with friends, can in hand.

24. J. Wakefield 24th Street Brown Ale

Miami, FL ABV: 6.5%

Don’t let this beer’s street-smart exterior dark, murky interior fool you. On the inside, from the first sip, it’s sweet chocolate malt balls, smooth toffee flavor, and roasty, dialed-back bitterness (think cold-brewed coffee compared to burnt iced coffee). 24th Street Brown Ale is named for the brewery’s Miami address, and with the recent remodeling of that taproom, we felt it was owed another look and a new appreciation in 2019.

23. Coronado Set West

Coronado, CA ABV: 7%

This West Coast IPA from California stalwart Coronado Brewing dials back the style’s bitterness with biscuity, freshly baked bread and fresh-squeezed orange juice on the nose. It’s dry on the palate, with a bitterness that lingers just the right amount, allowing the beer to be refreshing, rather than weigh down the palate. A hallmark West Coast IPA.

22. Two Roads Area Two Table Terroir 

Stratford, CT ABV: 3.7%

Connecticut-grown malts, hops, and yeast so local it was captured in the brewery’s own hop yard put the “terroir” in Table Terroir, a food-pairing companion and conversation starter that’s as fascinating as it is tasty. Delicate and complex, with fruity and spicy notes, it’s one we wish we could find more often — but, like this beer’s ingredients, you’ll have to go to the brewery for that.

21. Gueuzerie Tilquin Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin à L’Ancienne

Rebecq, Belgium ABV: 8.2%

“Finesse” comes to mind when attempting to describe this spontaneously-fermented lambic, which gets its fruit not from the traditional cherries (kriek) or raspberries (framboise), but from Pinot Noir grapes (260 grams of Pinot Noir grapes per liter of lambic, according to Gueuzerie Tilquin). The first version of this lambic, made to mark the 10th anniversary of legendary Belgian beer bar Moeder Lambic, used hand-harvested grapes from Valentin Zusslin Estate’s biodynamic Bollenberg vineyard. This new version uses organic grapes from a family farm in Steinseltz, France.

20. Cerebral Forbidden Idol: Mai Tai (Tiki Sour IPA Series) 

Denver, CO ABV: 7%

Kicking off the year with a tiki sour IPA series is a bold move. For Cerebral Brewing, which we already love for its show-stopping IPAs and interesting forays into categories like wood-aged lager, Forbidden Idol’s pineapple, lime, and passionfruit-flavored tiki cocktail-inspired release was an awakening. Our panel agreed this one actually tasted like a Mai Tai, proving that tiki cocktails can translate into IPA forms — and that sour IPAs, at their best, beautifully emulate cocktails. We were hooked from the start, but Cerebral Brewing has released this beer in Mai Tai, Singapore Sling, Castaway, Zombie and Painkiller versions. (And, by the way, Mai Tais are better than you think.)

19. Finback Rolling in Clouds

Queens, NY ABV: 7.1%

When we think of an ideal juicy, hazy IPA, this is it. It’s not too sweet, not too boozy, and has a smooth mouthfeel. Fruity without being super sweet and gooey, it’s just right.

18. Tired Hands Shambolic 

Ardmore, PA ABV: 6.5%

Shambolic, a saison brewed with malted spelt and raw wheat, rested in oak foudres, and dry-hopped with what is likely a lavish amount of Nelson Sauvin and Simcoe hops, is a lot to take in. Tropical fruit, lemony citrus, and floral notes create an intense perfume and palate, while fermentation with Tired Hands’ house saison yeast (and maybe microflora from the foudres) adds a tart, citric kick on the finish.

17. Grimm Artisanal Ales Awoogah IPA

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 6.4%

At this point, seeing an IPA below 7 percent ABV is a godsend. Fruity and floral aromas give way to a soft palate, with spicy hop character and a hint of tangerine tartness coming from a combination of Columbus, Galaxy, Hallertau Blanc, and Simcoe hops. It’s refreshing and balanced, with certain parts pleasantly exaggerated — citrus zest, for example — without going even a molecule too far. Truly hazy and juicy, without being too bitter or sweet, this is a perfect IPA.

16. pFriem Family Brewers Pilsner

Hood River, OR ABV: 4.9%

Available in cans starting in 2019, this crystal-clear, golden pilsner is reminiscent of springtime. A fresh floral aroma, soft carbonation, and suite of unusual herbal hops varietals like Perle and Saphir make this both palate cleanser and a center-stage sipper. Whether thoughtfully or thoughtlessly, enjoy this on a porch, in a backyard, at a barbecue, or basically anywhere, anytime.

15. The Referend Bier Blendery Le Mur (2018)

Pennington/Hopewell Township, N.J. ABV: 6%

“Blackberry spontaneously fermented golden ale” is a mouthful of a beer description, but it only begins to scratch the surface of how this exquisite vintage is made. Released in July 2019, Le Mur is a blend of one- and two-year-old beer, the younger re-fermented with southern New Jersey blackberries in French oak, and the older with northern New Jersey blackberries in stainless steel. It pours a dusty garnet with a fluffy ruby head. Tart cherry, raspberry, and blackberry aromas are pungent from first whiff. Up close, nose to glass, it’s all citrus — fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, acidic orange, and a hint of lemon and lime. A brioche scent wafts in, creating a tart berry-pie aroma. The palate is tart, concentrated fruit, sharp but balanced with jammy berry flavors — it is not puckeringly sour like so many unoaked, kettle-soured beers tend to be. Oak puncheons, and perhaps more so, time, have softened its edges. Depth, complexity, and excitement.

14. Perennial Artisan Ales Prism: Mosaic

St. Louis, MO ABV: 5.5%

Showcasing the multi-faceted, New-World Mosaic hop in a classic saison would be a terrible idea if you were anyone but Perennial. But saisons and farmhouse-style ales are among this small St. Louis brewery’s specialty, and this particular release in its “Prism” series did the best job at convincing us the result can be delicious. Maybe it’s the magic of Mosaic meeting a saison yeast strain, but this saison is better than the sum of its parts.

13. Holy Mountain Witchfinder

Seattle, WA ABV: 6.1% ABV

Golden, frothy, and skunky (in a good way), this pungently-scented saison is all earthy funk on the nose, followed by floral and citrus flavors and a lingering pithy finish. It’s one of many excellent saisons from this Seattle brewery, and solidifies our suspicion that we’ll grab a bottle any time we see one — if the beer budget allows.

12. Threes Brewing The Dictator Is The People

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 6%

Pungent, peppery spice, and tart apricot aromas are a precursor to this oak-aged saison’s delectable journey. Lightly fruity, dry, Champagne-sparkling, it’s a saison worth celebrating with — or celebrating, period. Next in rotation of mixed-culture, oak-aged wheat beers is Bad Faith.

11. Transmitter Brewing S9 

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 5.8%

After moving from a very small space in Queens to one of Brooklyn’s biggest commercial centers, Transmitter released S9, a saison that rivals its smaller-scale days, and, dare we say, its Belgian inspirations. This iteration is pale and can be perceived as light on the palate, but it has hidden complexities: earthy, fruity notes derived from yeast and hops complement cereal grain flavors, with lively carbonation and bitterness hitting at the finish.

10. Trillium Crown and Crate

Boston, MA ABV: 8.6%

Massachusetts hives provide the nectar for this double IPA with raw wildflower honey, which, along with lactose, give the beer its ultra-creamy mouthfeel, and supple, smoothie-sweet decadence. Named for the queen bee (the “crown”) and the milk crate her worker bees use to create their hive, its abundance of tropical fruit flavors invoke the plenitudes of spring, royalty, and indulgence.

9. Harpoon Rec League

Boston, MA and Windsor, VT ABV: 3.8%

Is there anything more exciting than a 3.8-percent-ABV hoppy beer? It’d be hard to convince us while sipping Rec League. Harpoon is officially back in the game with this refreshing, light-bodied, lightly bitter and light-everything low-ABV refresher. Hints of pineapple and tropical fruit on the nose, and clementine and tangerine on the palate, yet dry as a bone, it’s a standout of the year.

8. Lagunitas Daytime Ale

Petaluma, CA ABV: 4%

Whether you’re into the low-alcohol, low-calorie phase of your beer-drinking career or not, it’s important to know that brewing a beer that’s light and tastes good is no easy feat. As the can perhaps suggests, Daytime Ale nails it. It’s citrusy and herbal, light and flavorful, and barbecue-friendly in every way. Coors Light chicks and hazebros can unite over this hoppy yet thirst-quenching summer sipper.

7. Sixpoint Citrus Jammer

Brooklyn, N.Y. ABV: 4%

We tasted every Jammer variety time and time again this summer, and while our favoritism fluctuated between the original and tropical fruit flavors, we ultimately landed on Citrus Jammer. It has the salty, spicy gose flavor we’re looking for, but is slightly subdued (compared to American goses that overdo it). Added to that are candied orange aromas, Sprite-like lemon-lime, and a lingering, lemony tang, and we found its bright and bitter finish was more refreshing than the original. Soft coriander on the finish.

6. New Belgium Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza (With Primus Cervecería)

Fort Collins, CO; Asheville, NC; and Mexico City, Mexico ABV: 4%

Mural Agua Fresca got its start via test batches brewed by New Belgium and Primus at the Mexico City cerveceria. In 2019, the agua-fresca-inspired ale is available in all 50 U.S. states (and, coming soon, more flavors). It’s refreshing all around — Mural gets its red-pink color and tart essence from hibiscus, its thirst-quenching flavor from watermelon, zippy refreshment from lime, and a touch of sweetness from agave. Get out there and try this “cerveza” before it’s rebranded as spiked seltzer.

5. Funkwerks Passion Fruit Provincial (Series)

Fort Collins, CO ABV: 4.2%

If sour ales can be sessionable, Funkwerks is one of the few breweries that can accomplish it — and lucky for us, the Colorado farmhouse-style brand added New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky, Chicagoland, and, finally, Kansas to its distribution network this year. Passion Fruit Provincial is a memorable bottled ecosystem of passionfruit’s interaction with soft malt and saison yeast. Tart, tropical, and refreshing, it’s one that has us looking out for more “Provincial” variants — raspberry, “rhuberry” (strawberry and rhubarb), and pineapple guava are among them.

4. Rodenbach Classic 

Rosalare, Belgium ABV: 5.2%

Nationally available as of 2019, Rodenbach Classic in cans — cans! —is what brought this classic brand to the top of our list this year. Rodenbach, a nearly-200-year-old Belgian brewery that defines the Flemish red beer style, launched its Rodenbach Classic label statewide in the U.S. in cans. The sleek, elegant take on a tallboy puts one of the best beers of all time in a pedestrian package, signaling that centuries-old tradition and the mastery of foeder-aging (courtesy living legend Rudi Ghequire), actually can be enjoyed anytime. No longer do we have to hoard our Rodenbach for Christmas dinner… unless it’s a vintage. As for the classic, it’s a blend of young and aged beer, the latter part of the blend aged for two years in giant oak foeders. It’s fruity and tart, pairs perfectly with rich foods, and is surprisingly sessionable on its own, too. Also in 2019, Rodenbach announced its first-ever beer collaboration with American craft beer pioneer Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

3. SweetWater 420 Chocolope Stout

Atlanta, GA ABV: 6.4%

Chocolate stouts have been brewed many times over, but none have tasted like this. SweetWater’s 420 Strain, a series of cannabis-inspired beers, can be gimmicky, but this one wowed us every time we reached for it. It’s brewed with three types of roasted malt (Pale Chocolate, Chocolate, and Roasted Barley), a pair of herbal hops (Bravo, Willamette), and what the brewery refers to as “strain-specific terpenes and natural hemp-type flavors” — the latter being the “X”-factor. It’s insanely aromatic, like a sticky nug of weed, but roasty, too, and somehow, actual chocolate completes the package (Dutch chocolate, naturally). Insert weed joke here.

2. Cigar City Guayabera Citra Pale Ale 

Tampa, FL ABV: 5.5%

Guayabera pours frothy, fruity, and intensely aromatic. Using only Citra hops, known for their citrusy profile of grapefruit and tropical fruit, this American pale ale is juicy and refreshing, balancing citrusy bitterness, soft, bready malt character, and endlessly quaffable aroma. It also makes a great shower beer.

1. Allagash River Trip

Portland, ME ABV: 4.8 %

2019 was all about easy-drinking refreshment, and Allagash nails it with River Trip — most importantly, the pioneering brewery does so without sacrificing its style. While craft brewers clamor to diversify with light lagers and hard seltzers, this Belgian-style session ale is easy-drinking with an edge. Spiced with coriander like a traditional Belgian witbier, and fermented with Allagash’s house yeast, it adds bright, bitter, grassy notes to its table beer base. Yes, Allagash excels at beautifully executed mixed-fermentation sour beers, but it was River Trip we kept coming back to this year, again and again.

The article The 50 Best Beers of 2019 appeared first on VinePair.

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