Our Favorite Craft Beers of the Month

Craft beer fans await each month, hoping to find the tastiest new craft brews. Our top picks this month are:

Hazy Little Thing IPA – Fruity flavor, with a smooth end.
Allagash White – Belgian-style wheat beer, with a zesty taste and a light finish.
Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA – Juicy beer, citrusy aroma and tropical flavor.
Firestone Walker 805 – Light and crisp beer, with a balanced flavor and hints of honey.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA – Intense beer, hoppy & citrusy flavor and a strong finish.

These craft beers will dazzle your taste buds!

Introduction to Craft Beers

At the start of the 2020s, craft beers are more popular than ever. They have amazing flavor, smell and depth. Craft beers add variety to any get-together, dinner or night with pals. Let's explore our favorite brews of the month!

What makes craft beers different from other beers?

Craft beer is special. It's brewed differently, with different ingredients, for unique flavors. Unlike big-brand beers, craft beer is made in small batches. Craft brewers focus on quality and creativity. They use exotic hops, fruits and spices to make complex flavors that suit many tastes. The brewing process is hands-on and monitored to make sure each beer is consistent. Therefore, craft beer has an artisanal flavor.

This month, our favorite craft beers are:

Stone Brewing Tangerine Express IPA – Refreshing.
Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout – Rich and chocolatey.
Ballast Point Habanero Sculpin IPA – Zesty and spicy.

The history of craft beers

Craft beer has a history that stretches back for centuries and began in different places. It started off as artisanal brewing, focusing on flavor and techniques.

In the 1970s in the USA, craft beer took off. Brewers used new ingredients and hops, as well as barrel-aging. This meant they could make small-batch beers with awesome flavors. Craft beer is still growing today, with new brewers and flavors appearing all the time.

This month, try a Marzen Oktoberfest-style beer – malty and rich. Or perhaps a hoppy, citrusy American IPA? Or a smooth and creamy chocolate stout? Yum!

Why do we love craft beers?

Craft beer has become super popular among beer lovers recently, and for a great reason. Craft brewers are passionate about making special, top-notch beers using traditional brewing methods and high-quality ingredients. This results in a broad range of tastes and styles.

Our favorite craft beers this month:

Anchor Brewing Steam Beer – Crisp and malty, with a subtle hop bitterness and a cool history from the 1800s.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA – Intense hoppiness, citrusy scent, and a clear malt backbone.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – Hoppy, refreshing, notes of pine and citrus.
Bell's Two Hearted Ale – Named after the Two Hearted River in Michigan. Balanced flavor of malts and hops, with a floral aroma.

These craft beer options are great for those who enjoy the art of brewing and love trying new flavors.

How We Choose Our Favorite Craft Beers

Each month, we've been sampling craft beers to find the best for our readers. We look for beers that have a distinct flavor and aroma. Plus, we take into account the ingredients, brewing process, and the brewer's creativity. Excited to share our top craft beers with you!

Flavor profiling and style matching

Flavor profiling & style matching are important when it comes to choosing your favorite craft beer. Each beer has its own unique taste & aroma profile.

To understand a beer's complexity & appreciate its nuances, you need to identify its dominant flavor notes, bitterness, acidity & aroma. This is called flavor profiling.

Style matching is about finding the right broad category of beer, like IPA, Stout, Pilsner, or Amber Ale. This determines the flavor profile, aroma, bitterness, & alcohol content.

By combining these techniques, you can create a personalized selection of craft beers that suit your taste buds. Pro Tip – Try different flavors & styles to expand your palate & find new favorites!

Ingredient assessment and quality control

Quality control is key when it comes to picking the best ingredients for beer. Testing and evaluating raw materials is ingredient assessment. Factors like grain's quality, ripeness, hops maturity, and yeast purity are considered. This way, brewers make sure their beer meets the expectations of customers. Quality control helps brewers keep customers loyal and satisfied.

Our favorite craft beers of the month also have these quality control measures and stand out as premium products.

Brewery sustainability and ethics

Sustainability and ethics are important when selecting craft beers. How can breweries promote these two concepts?

Firstly, they can use renewable energy, conserve water and manage waste effectively.
Secondly, they can source raw materials ethically, promote diversity in the workplace and give back to their local communities.
Thirdly, they can follow fair labor practices, use high quality ingredients and avoid any harmful additives or chemicals in the brewing process.

By picking breweries which prioritize sustainability and ethics, we can support responsible practices whilst still enjoying our favorite beers.

Pro Tip: Look for a commitment to sustainability and ethics on the website or packaging.

Our Top Five Craft Beers of the Month

This month, we sipped some crazy-unique craft beers! We wanted to spread the joy, so here is our top five list. For the lager-lovers, ale-aficionados, and complex-beer-fans, we've got something special! Read on for more info on our favorite craft beers of the month.

Beer 1 – Name, Brewery, and Style

Our top 5 favorite craft beers of the month are unique!

Pliny the Elder, from Russian River Brewing Co., is a Double IPA. Citrus and pine flavors, with a complex malt backbone.
Allagash White, from Allagash Brewing Co., is a Belgian Witbier. Brewed with coriander and orange peel. It has a spicy and fruity character.
Space Dust IPA, from Elysian Brewing Co., is a Single IPA. Hazy and juicy, its notes include tropical fruit, pine, and citrus. Finishes dry.
Dragon's Milk, from New Holland Brewing Co., is a Barrel-Aged Stout. Rich and velvety, with flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and bourbon.
Brut IPA, from Social Kitchen & Brewery, is an effervescent and bone-dry IPA. Brewed with champagne yeast, it has fruity and floral aromas and flavors.

Beer 2 – Name, Brewery, and Style

These are the 5 craft beers of the moment!

Two Hearted Ale from Bell's Brewery – American IPA
Fat Tire from New Belgium Brewing Company – Amber Ale
Dragon's Milk from New Holland Brewing Company – Barrel-Aged Stout
All Day IPA from Founders Brewing Co. – Session IPA
La Fin Du Monde from Unibroue – Tripel

These are chosen for their flavor, fame and uniqueness.

So, if you like hoppy and bitter or sweet and malty, there's something for you! Invite your mates, grab some chairs, and crack open a cold one!

Beer 3 – Name, Brewery, and Style

These five craft beers are the top of the month!

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s “Hazy Little Thing” – a Hazy IPA.
Stone Brewing's “Bourbon Barrel Aged Arrogant Bastard” – an American Strong Ale.
North Coast Brewing Co.'s “Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout” – a Russian Imperial Stout.
Rogue Ales' “Dead Guy Ale” – a Maibock/Helles Bock.
New Holland Brewing's “Dragon's Milk” – an American Imperial/Double Stout.

Unique brewing styles and flavors from each brewery. Love hoppy IPAs or dark, rich stouts? There's something for you! Raise your glass and enjoy these delicious brews!

Beer 4 – Name, Brewery, and Style

It's time to check out our five favorite craft beers this month!

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s Hazy Little Thing – Hazy IPA
Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.'s Pseudo Sue – Pale Ale
Founders Brewing Co.'s KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) – Imperial Stout
Boulevard Brewing Co.'s Space Camper Cosmic IPA – IPA
Westbrook Brewing Co.'s Mexican Cake – Imperial Stout

These craft beers bring a variety of styles and flavors. From the hoppy Hazy Little Thing to the rich and complex KBS. Hopheads, stout lovers, and everyone in between will love these beers!

Beer 5 – Name, Brewery, and Style

Our top five craft beers of the month are unique! Check them out:

Hazy Little Thing by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – IPA. It's hazy and juicy, with a citrusy taste and refreshing finish.
Juicy Haze by New Belgium Brewing Company – IPA. Enjoy tropical fruit aroma and a smooth finish.
Two Hearted Ale by Bell's Brewery – IPA. It's a classic with a perfect balance of malty sweetness and hoppy flavor.
Dale's Pale Ale by Oskar Blues Brewery – American Pale Ale. It's hoppy, fruity, and crisp.
Fat Tire Belgian White by New Belgium Brewing Company – Belgian-Style Wheat. Get a hazy appearance, spicy aroma, and citrusy taste.

Pro Tip: Research the brewery before buying. Look into their location, brewing process, and philosophy to get a better understanding of the beer's flavor & quality.

Honorable Mentions

Many craft beers are out there, but a few stand out this month. We've got dark ales, IPAs, stouts and more! Let's discover why these highly-rated brews deserve honorable mentions.

Beer 6 – Name, Brewery, and Style

Beer 6: Terrestrial Brewing Company's Island Hopper, New England IPA.

A hazy and juicy IPA. Packed with tropical flavors – passion fruit, mango, and citrus. Derived from a blend of Galaxy, Mosaic, and Citra hops. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Moderate bitterness. Sweetness of the fruit flavors. Refreshing and drinkable. Perfect for hot summer days.

Honorable Mention: Platform Beer Company's Downtown Lights, American Pale Ale.

Light and refreshing. Citrusy and piney hop profile. Balanced by the sweetness of the malts. Clean and crisp finish. Perfect session beer. Great introduction for beer drinkers who want to try hoppy beers without overwhelming their palate.

Beer 7 – Name, Brewery, and Style

Discover seven amazing craft beers! Here's what's included:

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has a Bourbon Barrel Aged Narwhal Imperial Stout.
Allagash Brewing Company has Little Brett.
The Juice Is Loose Hazy IPA from Noble Ale Works.
Rogue Ales & Spirits offers Hazelnut Brown Nectar.
Green Bench Brewing Co. serves Hopsynth.
Founders Brewing Co. has Coffee Cream Ale.
New Belgium Brewing Company has Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA.

These craft beers make for a special drinking experience. From the bold Bourbon Barrel Aged Narwhal to the smooth Hazelnut Brown Nectar, everyone will find something to enjoy.

Beer 8 – Name, Brewery, and Style

8 craft beers you must try! Here they are, along with the brewery and style:

Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale – Boulevard Brewing Co. – Farmhouse Ale
Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA – New Belgium Brewing Co. – Imperial IPA
Hopslam Ale – Bell's Brewery – Double IPA
Apricot Wheat – Ithaca Beer Co. – Fruit Wheat
All Day IPA – Founders Brewing Co. – Session IPA
Two Hearted Ale – Bell's Brewery – American IPA
Sculpin IPA – Ballast Point Brewing Co. – IPA
Moose Drool Brown Ale – Big Sky Brewing Co. – Brown Ale

These choices are perfect for craft beer fans who want to try something new.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Craft beer fans are always on the lookout for fresh and thrilling brews. Our favorite craft beers of the month are sure to be a hit. From hoppy IPAs to malty stouts and crisp wheats, they all boast unique flavors.

Besides, they all share an adherence to quality craftsmanship and invention.

At the end of the day, craft beer is all about experimenting, creativity and pushing the envelope of what beer can be. So, whether you're a connoisseur or just starting in the beer world, there's always something new to explore.

Pro Tip: When trying out new craft beers, take note of the brewery and any ingredients or brewing processes that stand out. This can help you find new favorite breweries and narrow down the styles and flavors you prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are Craft Beers?

Craft beers are beers that are brewed by independent and small-scale breweries, focusing on innovation, quality, and distinctive flavors.

2. How are Craft Beers different from regular beers?

Craft beers are made using traditional brewing techniques, higher quality ingredients, and unique flavors to create a distinct beverage. Regular beers are usually mass-produced and have a standardized taste.

3. What makes a Beer the favorite of the Month?

A beer can be chosen as the favorite of the month based on its uniqueness, taste, and complexity. The beer must be recognized as a popular choice among craft beer enthusiasts for that particular month.

4. What are some popular Craft Beers available?

Some popular craft beers include IPAs, porters, stouts, lagers, and sour beers. Popular brands include Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, Goose Island, and Dogfish Head.

5. How can I find a local Brewery?

You can search online for local breweries in your area or download a beer-finding app to help you find a nearby craft beer spot.

6. How can I enhance my Craft Beer Tasting Experience?

You can enhance your craft beer tasting experience by considering the beer's aroma, appearance, taste, and mouthfeel. You can also try pairing your craft beer with appropriate foods to bring out the robust flavors of the beer.