Beer time: It’s 5 p.m. somewhere

Hey, my name is John, but I often go by my Twitter handle TheHopLocal when talking about beer. This is my first blog here, and I wanted to let you know what I’m about. I am a big fan of craft beer. Duh, right? But I am not only interested in the golden nectar that fills my glass at night, but the industry and philosophies of the different players. Having observed craft beer since it really became a viable option, I have gotten to witness it grow up.

Back in the early 90s I worked at an Irish Bar. We weren’t known for out beer selection, but who was then. But I found then I really liked the craft segment.

My go to brews then were Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Sam Adam’s Stock Ale or Boston Lager as an alternate. Both of these were very good, but honestly they weren’t mind-blowingly different than some of the imports. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that American Craft Beer really defined itself. Even then the true signatories of the Declaration of Independent Beers weren’t widely available in my area.

Then in 2003 I was visiting a friend in Silver Spring, MD and we decided to get some beer. We went to a little bodega, and I found something that changed my life. That day I picked up a beer that confused me a little a 750 mL bottle of Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA.

At the time I had no idea what those words meant. I asked myself, “Is it supposed to take me an hour to drink this?”

What I do know is this. For one this was nothing like the 60 Minute IPAs available today. This was worlds better!

I opened that up, and like an angels song hop aroma wafted through the air as I poured some in my glass. After that day I searched and searched for that beer again. Eventually I found it. A lot of it. Along the way I found many other interesting brews that opened my eyes to the new American Style beers.

So that’s the story of my witness to craft beer as an infant. In this blog I will review beer, but I would also like to share my thoughts about the direction of the industry, events upcoming, and events I’ve attended. I will also share my follies with homebrewing and as a proud new owner of a home draft system. Since Spring is upon us, I would like to leave you with some of my favorite Spring Beers. In no particular order

The Bruery Saison de Lente – Take just one look at the label, and it screams Spring. It’s brett funk and fruit esters dominate the nose. And once you get past the thick white head you will be treated with champagne like mouth feel and tastes that are spicy and fruity. A great interpretation of a Belgian Farmhouse Ale.

Stillwater Artisanal Stateside Saison – The flagship of Stillwater Artisanal is not too dissimilar to the Saison from The Bruery, but everything about it is more subtle. Like all of Stillwater’s selections, balance is key. Nothing overwhelms, but a lot can be found if your explore. Very complex, with tropical fruit flavors, grassy hops, and a dry finish that make it a great drink on a beautiful spring day.

Stillwater Artisanal Premium – Another wonderful selection from the gypsy brewer Brian Strumke. This beer is a tongue in cheek homage to hipster beers like Natty Boh and PBR. This takes a grain bill similar to what was used in a classic American light lager, then adds two strains of brettanomyces to give it some funk.

Brasserie de Silly Titje Blanche – If you’re busy looking at ratings on Beer Advocate or RateBeer you aren’t going to see too much nice about this selection. However, this can be a very satisfying beverage. Lots of tropical fruits, a light body, and a clean crispness that I find very satisfying on a warm day.

Dogfish Head Aprihop – Fast becoming a spring classic. Lots of hop nose upfront, followed by the tartness of Apricot, and more hops on the finish. A real IPA brilliantly married to fruit. Doesn’t seem possible, but it is.

Peak Organic Simcoe Spring Ale – Highly sessionable with a low 5.4% ABV, and even better it has gobs of Simcoe hops to give you lots of pine and citrus. As the commercial description accurately states, “Because of the restrained malt profile, the hops really pop, like flora in spring.”

Founders All Day IPA – Pretty new to the Session beer scene is Founders. The name really nails it. It really is an IPA you could drink all day. Weighing in at 4.7% ABV it’s barely stronger than a Bud Light, but it tastes wonderful. All Day IPA is masterfully balanced with just enough maltiness to provide a sweet backboard for showcasing hops. Good luck getting your hands on any. Distribution of this guy is very limited.

Firestone Walker §ucaba – So this doesn’t really fit the bill of the other guys. It just happens to hit the shelves in early spring, and is really on of the best beers out there. This beer is big and slow. A Barley Wine that seems to straddle American and English styles. It has just enough hop character to remind you it comes from the US, but it is paired with so much malty goodness you know there is an Englishman somewhere cheering for this beer. The bourbon and oak characters dominate, but don’t distract from the complexity of this beer. You’ll find chocolate, vanilla, stone fruits, and maybe a little coconut. I really should have just written the whole article on this bad boy.