If you’ve mastered which fork to use at dinner (if so, sit by me and remind me at the next fancy holiday meal!), then the next thing you can cross off your list is knowing which glass to use for your favorite kind of beer. Get a head start on your research by watching this video, then put your new expertise to work — National Beer Day is around the corner on Thursday, April 7.
Thirsty yet? Here are a few of our favorite beers that are popular in Whole Foods Market stores around the U.S. They are listed by where they are produced, so they may not be available in your part of the country. Consider this your cheat sheet for what to drink during your summer travels!
Asheville, NC
Wicked Weed Brewing opens in a new tab, Pernicious
Pernicious is Wicked Weed Brewing’s flagship India Pale Ale. This massively dry-hopped ale has minimum malt complexity and a combination of juicy, tropical fruit-forward hops with heavy resinous American hops. It won a silver medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival. 7.3% ABV.
Athens, GA
Creature Comforts opens in a new tab, Tropicalia
Balanced, soft and juicy, this American IPA features a ripe passion fruit and citrus hop aroma that lead to a full, fruit-forward hop flavor, which ends with subtle bitterness. 6.5% ABV.
Hood River, OR
Session, opens in a new tab Mashup
Outdoor lovers and fun havers in the Pacific Northwest are grabbing up Session beers this spring as the weather starts to clear. The low alcohol content in session beers lends them for enjoyment throughout the day. With Mashup you get four different Sessions in one box, including Session Wheat (Hefeweizen), Session IPA, Session Cream (a golden ale); and the original crisp, clean Session lager.
Houston, TX
Karbach Brewing Co., opens in a new tab seasonal and limited release beers
Karbach brews beer in the German-style and offers a great variety of beers. Their special and limited releases are huge hits that have a cult following. The crew at Karbach is incredibly involved in the community, which has helped them gain unwavering fans.
Little Rock, AR
Lost Forty Brewing opens in a new tab
Lost Forty Brewing is a microbrewery deeply rooted in Arkansas. Their saying is “Honor the craft, love the land, and drink to the future.”
Munster, IN
3 Floyds Brewing Company, opens in a new tabAlpha King
American pale ales are trending across the midwest right now. This beer is a bold yet balanced American pale ale with slight caramel sweetness and aggressive citrus hoppiness. 6.66% ABV.
Newburgh, NY
Newburgh Brewing Company opens in a new tab, Cream Ale
Newburgh’s Cream Ale is malty — but light in body — with a crisp, clean taste. The beer is reminiscent of a lager, but brewed like an ale. Many New Yorkers like drinking this beer because the style is nostalgic of beers past. It’s like drinking a little piece of their history. Oh, and it’s delicious! 4.2% ABV.
New Orleans, LA
NOLA Brewing Company opens in a new tab
Beer is their passion at NOLA Brewing. They make great beer that is inspired by the city they live in and that lives up to their own high standards.
San Diego, CA
Ballast Point Brewing Company, opens in a new tabSculpin IPA
Fans of fruit forward and fruit-infused beer will love Ballast Point's popular flagship Sculpin. Expect hints of apricot, peach, mango and lemon flavors. 7% ABV. Also keep your eyes open for their other IPAs including Pineapple Sculpin, Watermelon Dorado (a Double IPA with watermelon), Mango Even Keel (a Session IPA with mango), Grapefruit Sculpin (an IPA with grapefruit), and Habanero Sculpin (an IPA with habanero peppers).
San Francisco, CA
A unique interpretation of the witbier style, Park blends pale wheat with Citra hops to create an intensely aromatic beer. Bière de garde yeast heightens flavors of grapefruit, lemon rind and fresh grass, while providing a tart and dry finish to this refreshing style. Park’s pale sunshine color and clean flavor make this the perfect beer to enjoy on a picnic blanket or around the campfire. 4.7 ABV.
Tulsa, OK
Prairie Artisan Ales opens in a new tab
This company was started by two brothers that wanted to make awesome, high quality beer. They have years of experience and just have fun making their products, and their labels definitely show that. Their goal is to show people what is possible when you start with “step one.”
Which local beers do you love? Share your recommendations in the comments below.
