Beer alternatives: 5 craft beers for July 4th

Beer To celebrate America’s birthday this year, drink something different… craft-made… truly American. Support the passion behind breweries owned and operated by creatively inspired beer geeks… we need to keep them fired up so we’ll still have cool options like guava, jalapeno and juniper in our alcohol. And you do know that Budweiser is no longer American-owned right? Yet another reason to drink outside the box.

A beer geek, bartender friend of mine (or as he prefers: “Adonis-like libation slinger”), Toby Linzy, offers up the following recommendations for something unique in your glass. If you’d like to visit /challenge/check him out, he works at The Pourhouse in Tampa, Florida.

North Coast Brewing Company ACME IPA
Website
Location: Fort Bragg, California
Style: India Pale Ale
Alcohol content: 6.5%

Brewery description: “Acme IPA is profoundly hoppy, finished with over a pound of fresh whole hops per barrel. The result of this generous hopping is a beer that is deliciously dry and eminently drinkable in spite of its apparent strength.”

“88 points, rated. Highly recommended. Fruity, fresh hoppy aromas…lively on the palate with plenty of flavor that lingers through the finish.” – Beverage Tasting Institute, Chicago

“B+/3.95. Smell: Citrus and mild minty hops in the nose, light esters and pale malt character as well. Taste & Mouthfeel: The semi-aggressive hop character brands a citric piney and almost minty bitter flavour from start to finish. Alcoholic esters are mild yet quite warming. The solid foundation of malt does not build any higher but holds together well. Finishes with a steely grain and raw hop bitterness. This is the typical west coast IPA … love it or hate. I for one love it and will come back to it for sure.” – Jason Alstrom, BeerAdvocate.com

“One of my favorite IPA’s!” – Toby Linzy

Available in Tampa Bay at Total Wine & More

Anderson Valley Brewing Company Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema
Website
Location: Boonville, CA
Style: Cream Ale
Alcohol content: 5.6%

Brewery description: “This copper colored ale is smooth, malty, and lightly sweet, with a delicate hint of spice for that oh-so-drinkable, extra velvety flavor. This is a silky, creamy dream, perfect as a warm weather beer. But why call it Cerveza Crema? Two reasons: One, this beer has become a favorite among many of our Hispanic friends, so it’s named in their honor. Two, it sounds cool, and cool is what you want when its hot. Serve at 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit for the most optimal flavor and enjoyment. To fully enjoy its rich and complex flavor, it should be served between 40° and 45°F”

” B /3.65. Aromas of toasted grain and mild hop mirror the flavor, crisp wheat and bready … very smooth. Suggestions of pears and vanilla come to mind. Quite malty but to big of a body for a summer brew. Very mild hopping though the palate does dry out in the end. A tasty switch from the usual pale summer brews.” – Jason Alstrom, BeerAdvocate.com

“Reminds you of cream soda!” – Toby Linzy

Available in Tampa Bay at Whole Foods Market

Cigar City Brewing Guava Grove Saison
Website
Tampa, Florida – and only available locally right now
Style: Saison/Farmhouse Ale
Alcohol Content: 8%

Brewery description: “A Belgian-style Saison that sees a secondary fermentation with and extended aging on Guava puree. The complex flavors imparted by both the Belgian yeast strain and the Guava are unlike anything you are likely to have encountered. This is an elegant beer that pairs well with white fish, mussels, fresh tropical fruits and earthy cheeses.”

Ratings on BeerAdvocate.com range from A to A+
Ratings on RateBeer.com

“Not always a big fan of the Saison/Farmhouse style but had this one last year during a brewery visit and it was very good. Definitely looking forward to this year’s batch that just released.” – Toby Linzy

Available in Tampa Bay at Cigar City Brewing

Harpoon Brewery Summer Beer
Website
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Style: Kolsch-style Ale
Alcohol Content: 5.0%

Brewery description: “Harpoon Summer Beer is a beer brewed to be enjoyed with summertime activities. It is light, refreshing, and crisp. This beer goes well with a wide variety of foods, including delicate dishes such as salads and seafood.”

“Aroma: Fruity, grassy, and lightly herbal. lemony lime citrus mostly, with some orange peel, apple skin, pear, white grape, reisling, and a crackery malt backing. giving the glass a good swirl unleashes a strong charge of aroma revealing notes of lemon blossom, banana, mango, melon, and very notably, starfruit. a good swirl now and again is for me, the best way to enjoy this beer’s potentially floral and fruity bouquet. Taste: light and still somewhat fruity with mostly lemon and apple and some curacao orange. generically herbal, leaning toward thyme and oregano, with definite grassy character, light somewhat toasty malt sweetness, and boiled barley flavor. finishes dry and chardonnay-like with very mild grassy hop bitterness.” – Hustlesworth on BeerAdvocate.com

“Really cool, sessionable beer that’s crisp and easy to drink when it’s really hot.” - Toby Linzy

Available in Tampa Bay at Total Wine & More

Flying Dog Brewery’s 20th Anniversary Brew: Raging Bitch Belgian-style India Pale Ale
Website
Location: Frederick, Maryland
Style: Belgian IPA
Alcohol Content: 8.3%

Brewery description: “Bitches come in a variety of forms, but there’s never been something as sassy as Flying Dog’s Raging Bitch Belgian IPA. An American IPA augmented with Belgian yeast, our 20th anniversary beer jumps out of the glass and nips at your taste buds with its delicate hop bitterness. At 8.3% ABV, this bitch is dangerously drinkable.”

“B+/ 3.95. The flavor is quite spicy as it first hits my mouth, but there is also quite a bit of fruit character here as well. This is very herbal tasting with a substantial bitterness and lots of big pine like flavors. The American hops contribute expressive flavors of lychee, kumquat and tangelo just underneath the herbal notes. The finish has some peppery alcohol, ginger flavors and phenolic notes that lean more towards turpenes than the typical clove notes. The hops are actually heavy enough that they drown out the fermentation character (I have a feeling that the fermentation character changes the emphasis of the hops here though), and I definitely like this part of this beer.” – Guezedude, BeerAdvocate.com

“Oh come on! We all know one, right? This one begs for something hot — the hotter the better, like hot wings or Jerk or hot Thai/Indian/Jamaican curry.” – Toby Linzy

Available in Tampa Bay at Whole Foods Market