As if the countless American IPA iterations were not enough to satiate a hophead’s palate, a new one—dubbed Cold IPA—lingers bitterly on the horizon. And no, Reddit, it’s not just a marketing ploy.

“Clunky” doesn’t readily come to mind as a beer descriptor, but that ungainly word may be the reason the world has yet another IPA in its clutches. It’s how the brewmaster of Wayfinder Beer, Kevin Davey, feels about International Pale Lagers (IPL)—specifically, that lager yeast strains fermented at cooler temperatures emit flavors and aromas that don’t jibe with loads of American hops.… Read the rest “Is Cold IPA Really a New Beer Style (and Does that Even Matter)?”

The Brewers Association and CraftBeer.com are proud to support content that fosters a more diverse and inclusive craft beer community. This post was selected by the North American Guild of Beer Writers as part of its Diversity in Beer Writing Grant series. It receives additional support through a grant from the Brewers Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and Allagash Brewing Company.

The Los Angeles County Brewers Guild counts 95 breweries around greater Los Angeles. Seventy-two of them opened in 2015 or after, most notably in neighborhoods and parts of L.A.… Read the rest “Ube Yams and Dragon Tales: Finding Diversity in a New Generation of L.A. Breweries”

The practice of drinking green beer on St. Patrick’s Day is steeped in a conundrum of traditions. You may or may not find that this St. Patrick’s Day tradition is an American appropriation, but it sure does make for a festive occasion!

Dr. Thomas Curtin, a coroner’s physician and eye surgeon, reportedly coined the pigmented idea at a St. Paddy’s Day party at a Bronx social club in 1914.

If you believe in fairies, well, this could take more than a few shamrocks for illustration. Irish lore suggests wearing green as protective armor in case of a rare leprechaun sighting.… Read the rest “Donning, Downing, and Drowning the Shamrock: A Sordid Tale of Green Beer”

The Brewers Association and CraftBeer.com are proud to support content that fosters a more diverse and inclusive craft beer community. This post was selected by the North American Guild of Beer Writers as part of its Diversity in Beer Writing Grant series. It receives additional support through a grant from the Brewers Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and Allagash Brewing Company.

To get to know a city’s beer scene, it’s important to know more than what’s in your glass. You also need to know the history. Walking to breweries lets you appreciate aspects of a city you may not notice buzzing by in a car, so I traveled to Grand Rapids, Mich.… Read the rest “A Walk through History and Race in Beer City USA”

In a way, purchasing the Black Elks’ building was like coming home for Ken Carson. The building sits in a part of Albuquerque, N.M., he describes as “the ’hood.” Carson once lived here before moving to the more affluent Northeast Heights in the 1960s, where he attended high school with only three other Black students. It’s as though he is “reverse gentrifying” the neighborhood by coming back to open a second location of his Nexus Brewery.

Carson sees his return as a victory. He grew up there, along with all of his Albuquerque friends.… Read the rest “Soul Food and Cream Ale in Albuquerque”

Breweries are finding creative ways to keep patios open in the heart of winter

Winter usually signals the end of patio season, but for numerous breweries—even those in places where the temperature routinely plummets below freezing—that season is now year-round. While the pandemic pushed some breweries to get creative to keep guests safe, others already had plans in the works to appeal to hearty beer drinkers who enjoy the outdoors.

Regardless of the reason, keeping patios open in winter has become a wise business strategy. These four breweries are giving beer lovers a space to drink outdoors when the mercury dips.… Read the rest “Pints & Patios: The New Winter Pairing”

While the pandemic and its related challenges have lingered, there are some hopeful signs for beer enthusiasts and travelers in 2022. The Craft Brewers Conference is currently scheduled for an in-person event in Minneapolis in May, and the Great American Beer Festival is poised to celebrate its 40th anniversary October 6–8 in Denver. As states reopen at different intervals and welcome tourists back, a few can’t-miss opportunities for beer travelers have become possible again. Here’s a top 10 list of coveted beers that mirror the spirit and history of their local community, and are best enjoyed near the breweries that crafted them.… Read the rest “10 Beers Best Enjoyed at the Source”

Visiting a new brewery is a joyous experience. There is an exciting sense of anticipation in getting to try a new beer style or flavor. As an architect, I am particularly drawn to breweries that provide a front row seat to the brewing operation from the taproom. I find it an immersive experience when there is a strong physical or visual connection between the two.

There are some excellent examples you can visit throughout the country. The following list is not exhaustive but illustrates a few breweries and brewpubs that have sought to celebrate the brewing process through their architectural design.… Read the rest “Form & Function: Brewery Visits with an Architect”