10 Craft Beers That Need to Be Made
Microbrewers Must Cater to the Drinkers Who Bore Easily
As the popularity of craft beers has climbed over the past two decades, the offerings have become increasingly imaginative. Stop by any beer and wine shop and you’ll find ales, porters, lagers and other brews flavored with everything from jalapeno pepper to snickerdoodles.
Beers like this are not for the cost-conscious or risk-averse. Buying a six-pack of Boston cream pie Scotch Ale could either delight you or leave you ruing the $18 you spent.
Science has identified the beer-drinkers most open to a butterscotch IPA or a spearmint stout. Take a recent study at Penn State. Researchers there recruited more than 100 beer participants for a beer-tasting test and personality assessment. The results show that people who relish novel, potent sensations are not only more open to risk-taking compared with those who stick with what they know; they’re also more likely to prefer strong and bitter-tasting beers like pale ales.
Count me among those buccaneers. The older I get, the more originality I need in my beer selections. And I need lots of flavor. Years of drinking IPAs have altered my tastebuds. Lagers and amber ales now taste like water to me. Christmas and summer are my favorite seasons for trying out new brews. Holiday beers spiced with cinnamon or orange peel make me jolly, and lime sours soothe me on hot August nights.
I’m not a brewer myself, but I know I need to see something fresh and original every time I hit the beer and wine shop. So here are some concoctions I’m looking to see from Sam Adams, Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada and the smaller houses. And I’ve already got the descriptions you can print on the cans and bottles.
1. General Tso’s Porter
A delicious brown malt brewed with ginger, garlic, soy sauce and hot chili pepper.
2. Pizza Pilsner
A crisp lager seasoned with mozzarella, tomato and pepperoni. Skip the call to Papa John’s. You’ve got the taste of pizza right in the bottle.
3. Hazy IPA Tandoori
Beautifully hopped and brewed in a clay pot with yogurt and spices.
4. Green Tomato Radler
Hey, the tomato is a fruit, after all.
5. Soy Milk Stout
For the discerning lactose-intolerant drinker.
6. Broccoli Amber
An ale rich in fiber, as well as vitamins and minerals. Great for keeping you regular.
7. Kimchi Lager
Made with real napa kimchi, this beer is fermented in the ground. Be careful, however. If you leave it in the fridge too long, your kitchen will start to smell like garbage.
8. Lime Jello Gose
An extra thick, gelatinous beer that takes you back to school cafeteria lunches and church potlucks. It’s great for slurping or eating with a spoon. If you like jello shots, you’ll love this beer.
9. Haggis Scotch Ale
A savory ale brewed with onion, oatmeal, spices and the internal organs of sheep. Try a pint today.
10. Peeps Golden Ale (Seasonal)
Your favorite Easter treat, now in a bottle.
