Now that we've given our due to the OG Belgian pale ales, we wanted to show a little love to its contemporary cousin—the American pale ale.
Pale ales are the backbone of American craft beer. Long before American IPAs reigned supreme, the American pale ale (APA) reigned as royalty.
Iconic beers such as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, considered crucial to igniting the craft beer revolution within the United States, became like stepping stones to the rise of West Coast IPAs.
Actually derived from the English pale ale (a style we'll cover later this year), the American pale ale differs in quite a few ways. Whereas the English version has a muted hop character dominated by English hop varieties and balanced by a definitive malt backbone, the American style is lighter, cleaner, and less malt-forward. Plus, American versions typically feature American hop and ingredients.
For instance, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale featured Cascade (a little-known hop when Sierra Nevada Founder Ken Grossman first used it in his beer in 1980).
People love American pale ales because they're kind of like the Goldilocks of beers. They're not too hoppy like a West Coast IPA, but they're also not too light like a blonde ale. They're just right, pairing well with almost any food or simply perfect on their own.
Here is a true testament to how much American brewers respect this style: Almost every brewery well known for its IPAs…also has a fantastic APA.
For example, in the list below you'll find incredible American pale ales from breweries such as Hill Farmstead, Tree House Brewing Company, 3 Floyds Brewing, Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, and Half Acre Beer Co.
Untappd's 15 Highest-Rated American Pale Ales of 2022*
Photography courtesy of New Origin Brewing Company
Asheville, North Carolina's legacy largely consists of two things: Pisgah National Forest and beer. Nestled in the western North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has made a name for itself as a craft beer mecca with popular spots such as Burial Beer Co., Zillicoah Beer Co., Hi-Wire Brewing, and more.
In fact, Asheville had been consistently named "Beer City, USA" by popular polls until Grand Rapids, Michigan, eventually dethroned them.
Plus, Asheville made it to the eighth spot on Untappd's list of the "Top Ten Beer Cities of 2021" with 226.4k venue check-ins.
And the reason that Asheville has some of the best breweries is that, reportedly, the water flowing from the mountains of the Pisgah National Forest is ideal for brewing.
Regardless, Asheville has a storied beer history.
The History of Asheville's Beer Scene
Photography courtesy of Highland Brewing
Beginning with retired engineer Oscar Wong, who opened Highland Brewing in 1994, Asheville has played home to some stellar breweries. In fact, many large-scale craft breweries have set up satellite locations in Asheville, including Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and Oskar Blues. Asheville's reputation as a brewery-friendly city has attracted brewers and craft beer drinkers alike for decades.
The conversation about the "best beer city in the U.S." tends to be a controversial one, while many are quick to list storied cities like Grand Rapids, Denver, San Diego, Chicago, and Asheville.
Asheville's history has played a major role in its beer-city status, as did the high-profile acquisition of local favorite Wicked Weed by Anheuser-Busch. But we've been particularly excited by the latest crop of breweries popping up and innovating in Beer City, USA.
With that in mind, here are the nine highest-rated breweries operating in and around Asheville, NC.*
*The list shows the top breweries, based on our weighted average formula, which effectively rates all breweries against each other and gives weight to their beers with higher rating count. A brewery must have at least 1,000 ratings and at least 5 beers in their portfolio to qualify for this list. For more information on our rating system, please view our ratings explainer.
Untappd's 9 Highest-Rated Breweries in Asheville, NC
Photography courtesy of New Origin Brewing Company
1. New Origin Brewing Company - A small 7-BBL brewery that focuses on new-school and experimental beers, New Origin Brewing Company set up shop in Biltmore Village. In the gorgeous industrial taproom you'll find modern, stylish beers like Pickles, a New England-style IPA, alongside more humble classics like Focal Point, a Vienna lager.
2. Burial Beer Co. - There's a case to be made that Burial is one of North Carolina's best breweries, let alone Asheville's.
From the eye-catching can art to the rusted farm equipment adorning the South Slope District taproom's walls, Burial appears to have a spiritual connection with the metalheads at TRVE Brewing Co. in Denver.
Hardcore comparisons aside, Burial excels at nearly every beer style. Their mainstay IPA Surf Wax is a North Carolina classic. And just about every farmhouse ale and lager is gentle, refreshing, and complex in the best way. Not to mention their highly sought-after lineup of stouts.
Burial has gone on to open a second location in Asheville, an outpost in Raleigh, NC, and will be opening a taproom and bottle shop soon in Charlotte, NC (at the time of publication, the bottle shop was open for online orders, but the taproom was not yet open to the public).
3. ZEBULON Artisan Ales - While technically a good twenty-minute drive from downtown Asheville, Zebulon is producing some stellar farmhouse ales and deserves a visit if you're in the area. Although hip and happening, Zebulon actually focuses on the art of Belgian, French farmhouse, and historical beers.
Everything coming out of this warehouse is unfiltered. And with no flagships, Zebulon's beers are often seen once and never again, making this brewery even more of a coveted stop.
Plan accordingly though: At the time of publication, Zebulon's taproom is only open from 1pm-6pm on Friday and Saturday.
4. Brouwerij Cursus Keme - Founded by husband and wife Jeffrey and Jessica Horber in the Biltmore Industrial neighborhood, Brouwerij Cursus Keme is a bit of a mystery. In the sense that you won't find a whole lot of information about the brewery on their website or Instagram. Instead, you need to discover this brewery the good old fashion way—by simply going to the taproom to check them out. Located in an old tractor-trailer repair shop along the Swannanoa River, Cursus Keme is kind of like a beer lover's oasis. Just go, enjoy the live music, grab something from the food trucks that pop up on Wednesdays, and have a great time.
5. Zillicoah Beer Co. - Technically, Zillicoah is located just outside of Asheville in the neighboring Woodfin, but as one of the best craft breweries in the region, we'll let this one slide. The charming riverside brewery produces some of the most enticing yet simple beers we've had in a long time.
With a focus on gentle though complex flavors, Zillicoah specializes in open-fermented lagers and ales, a traditional approach that feels progressive in today's beer industry.
Such as Glow, a sessionable farmhouse ale foeder fermented with a mixed culture for a funky, oaky IPA. Hop Culture loved Glow so much they named the beer one of their "20 Best Beers to Drink in Spring 2020."
Initially, Zillicoah brewed its wort offsite at Asheville's Eurisko Beer Co. (number six on this list) before toting it back to ferment in Zillicoah's barrels. But in 2020, the brewery purchased a full brewhouse to bring the entire brewing process under their roof.
Alongside the exquisite beer, food from resident food truck Taqueria Muñoz slings authentic, delicious tacos. You must grab some during any stop at Zillicoah.
6. Eurisko Beer Company - Launched in 2017 by three high school friends from Charlotte, Eurisko Beer Company set up shop in an old barbershop. The two-story taproom and beer garden is the perfect setting to drink from a very precise taplist, featuring (at the moment) a couple excellent porters and stouts. Plus, a few German-style beers including a pilsner, a helles, and a kellerbier. Along with, of course, the ubiquitous hazy and American IPAs. This is a brewery doing the simple things right.
7. DSSOLVR - One of the slightly newer additions to the Asheville craft beer scene, DSSOLVR has led with exceptional branding and fresh, progressive beers. Take one look at their Instagram feed (which Hop Culture named one of their "20 Best Instagram Accounts of 2020") and you'll see the commitment to both exciting beer and engaging artwork. You'll consistently find labels on the beers both surreal and quirky. In fact, Hop CUlture named DSSOLVR's Thank You For Existing one of their "Best Beer Labels of 2020."
DSSOLVR is a brewery long in the making, with co-founder Vince Tursi cutting his teeth in Boston at breweries like Night Shift and Lord Hobo. Along with co-founder Mike Semenec, Tursi has built a modern brewery that manages to keep a close eye on tradition.
8. Cellarest Beer Project - Winner of the best label in the "Light Lagers & Blonde Ales" category in the NC Craft Brewers Guild's Label Insanity Competition this year (see above), Cellarest Beer Project does way more than just make incredible labels. Although obviously, they do that very well too. A farmhouse-inspired ale and lager brewery, Cellarest Beer Project ferments beer in wooden barrels to capture the complex and innovative flavors of nature.
Consider this brewery in West Asheville one that blends modern-day brewing with old-world techniques. For example, Insight, a farmhouse landbier fermented in an acacia foudre with a base of Riverbend Malt House's lightest Pilsner malt and Cumbelrand corn and conditioned on Inari Tea's 'Four Season Spring' Oolong tea.
Or Peiskos, a milk stout made with chocolate, roast, and dark crystal malts from Riverbend, fermented in cherrywood, and conditioned on vanilla beans and coffee from Cooperative Roasters.
This is a salt-of-the-earth brewery using local ingredients to craft incredible works.
It would be hard to visit Asheville without making a trip to Wicked Weed. The brewery's Funkatorium in the South Slope of Asheville is the East Coast's first taproom dedicated to sour beer. Stop by to explore over a dozen sour beers on tap including Black Angel, a black sour ale aged in bourbon barrels with over one-and-a-half pounds of Michigan Montmorency cherries. Or Saniaca, a gin barrel-aged sour fermented with watermelon and basil. This is truly a Willy Wonka-esque destination for sour beer lovers. No amount of fruits, herbs, or ingredients are off limits.
For those less-whimsical beer lovers, Wicked Weed has a few other locations, including the 50-BBL production brewery and taproom in West Asheville and the original brewpub in downtown Asheville (complete with full restaurant, bottle shop, and dog-friendly patio).
American Craft Beer Week is May 16th-20th, 2022. We're obviously a little biased, but we believe American craft beer is something worth celebrating. So we're going all in for American Craft Beer Week. Are you with us?
This is your opportunity to join us, the Brewers Association, and craft beer drinkers around the country by saluting local beer and local breweries. It's an opportunity to honor the hometown gathering places that give our communities their unique flavor, because here's the glorious truth: A glass of locally made American craft beer just tastes better.
We teamed up with the Brewers Association to invite you to toast the local businesses that ensure our glasses, growlers, and beer fridges remain full.
And yes, there's a badge!
To earn it: Simply check-in any beer from an American independent craft brewery between May 16th and May 22nd, 2022.
So what are you waiting for?
Head over to your local brewpub or taproom and enjoy a pint, or grab a sixer or growler to-go. Here's to American craft beer!
We were so excited to celebrate the fifth annual Columbus Craft Beer Week with central Ohio's beer lovers back in 2019. What started as a handful of niche events evolved into a nine-day juggernaut showcasing craft brews from Columbus and beyond.
As you can imagine, we're even more excited to celebrate the sixth annual Columbus Craft Beer Week with you now in 2022 after the pandemic forced us to cancel the past two years. We'd be lying if we said the hiatus didn't sting a little. It stung a lot, actually.
Last year, more than 70 Ohio breweries made a batch of From the Heart, our first-ever statewide collaboration beer, to help us raise funds during the pandemic. It was such a hit that we're doing it again: From the Heart Volume 2 will be released at breweries all over the state just in time for the start of Columbus Craft Beer Week. Many of them will also have some limited edition From the Heart pint glasses available – two years of Ohio Pint Day promotions have taught us that y'all really love glassware! – so keep your eyes peeled for those.
More than two years since the start of the pandemic, we're starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. That means the return to in-person beer events, in particular, Six One Pour: The Ohio Craft Beer Fest on Saturday, May 14. We moved this event to COSI back in 2019 and will keep it there in 2022 with one big change. We're taking over the whole building this time around, so you can explore the museum exhibits and sip on some standout beers from nearly 60 Ohio breweries. You can still pick up tickets online here or at the door for Six One Pour, join us!
Beyond being a fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, Columbus Craft Beer Week has become one of the best ways for local breweries, bars and restaurants to show off for the community of central Ohio craft beer enthusiasts. More than a dozen local breweries are releasing new beers during the week's events, including some experimental, style-bending collaborations that have to be tasted to be believed.
While the beer is always the biggest draw, Columbus Craft Beer Week will also feature numerous charity events, beer education sessions, food and beer pairings, games and outdoor activities hosted by breweries, bars and restaurants all over the city. There's an immense amount of fun planned for these nine days: you can pick up a print program at any of our participating venues, your favorite Columbus taproom or your neighborhood Giant Eagle store and consult the online event listings at columbusbeerweek.com. Check in at any 3 Columbus Craft Beer Week venues to earn the 2022 CCBW Untappd badge.
Finally, we'd like to thank Giant Eagle for once again sponsoring Columbus Craft Beer Week and sticking with us through the uncertainty of our two-year hiatus. As they have for the previous five incarnations, they'll host a kickoff party at the Grandview Yard Market District on Friday, May 13. Swing by, sip on brews from a dozen local breweries and start Columbus Craft Beer Week with a bang.
It's great to be back. We'll see you out and about!
Last week, we released our newest Untappd badge. The first in our series of what we're calling "Super Style" badges, the "Super Style IPA - American" badge is available only to Untappd Insiders.
Last year, Untappd released its Top Ten Styles of 2021. Based on this list, we're going to make five more badges on these top styles. Our "Super Style" badges will get a golden Insider makeover. We'll release each one at various points throughout the year.
Here's the catch: You can only unlock these exclusive "Super Style" badges if you're an Untappd Insider!
Wait, What Is an Untappd Insider?
Untappd Insiders is an upgraded version of the free Untappd app, available for both iOS and Android.
Becoming an Untappd Insider means you can unlock exclusive badges, access The Untappd Secret Store (see the exclusive merch up for grabs below), score discounted event tickets, benefit from more precise ratings, enjoy limited ads, and tons more.
Deep inside the hidden forests of Beerland is a special tree that holds a wooden door. And behind this door? The Untappd Secret Store, filled with exclusive goodies and early purchasing access for Untappd Insiders only, is one of the best perks of becoming an Untappd Insider.
For instance, only an Untappd Insider can buy the sweet Owl Shirt above designed by the renowned Dean McKeever, artist for Tree House and Vitamin Sea Brewing and founder of Keever Glass.
Imperial / Double Pastry Stouts combine the best of both worlds.
Take a pastry stout, considered a stout brewed with plenty of sugary ingredients to be intentionally sweet, and bump up the ABV.
These are over-the-top beers in every sense of the word often overloaded with adjuncts to taste like popular candy bars, traditional cakes and pies, even nostalgic cereals.
It wouldn't be uncommon to find Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, maple syrup, coconut truffles, German chocolate cake, and everything in between in these beers.
And with ABVs often rising above nine percent, Imperial / Double Pastry Stouts should be considered decadent treats best shared with others.
Happy indulging!
Untappd's 10 Highest-Rated Imperial / Double Pastry Stouts of 2022
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's our newest Untappd badge available only to Untappd Insiders. The first in our series of what we're calling "Super Style" badges is the "Super Style IPA - American" badge.
Last year, Untappd released its Top Ten Styles of 2021. Based on this list, we're going to make six badges on these top styles. Our "Super Style" badges will get a golden Insider makeover. We'll release each one at various points throughout the year.
As an Untappd Insider, you'll have the exclusive opportunity to earn these "Super Style" badges by checking in that style of beer.
We're starting with the number one style of 2021: The American IPA.
Finishing as number one on this list for an astonishing eleventh year in a row, the American IPA topped every other style with over 7.2 million check-ins in 2021.
This classic, ubiquitous style continues to make its mark in United States history. We think we can safely say that the American IPA has become as iconic as baseball and apple pie.
Here's the catch: You can only unlock it if you're an Untappd Insider!
Untappd Insiders is an upgraded version of the free Untappd app, available for both iOS and Android.
Becoming an Untappd Insider means you can unlock exclusive badges, access The Untappd Secret Store, score discounted event tickets, benefit from more precise ratings, enjoy limited ads, and tons more.
Deep inside the hidden forests of Beerland is a special tree that holds a wooden door. And behind this door? The Untappd Secret Store, filled with exclusive goodies and early purchasing access for Untappd Insiders only, is one of the best perks of becoming an Untappd Insider.
For instance, only an Untappd Insider can buy the sweet Owl Shirt above designed by the renowned Dean McKeever, artist for Tree House and Vitamin Sea Brewing and founder of Keever Glass.
If you're reading this blog it probably means you're a fan of Untappd. In that case listen up because we have big news.
We're kicking off May with a HUGE GIVEAWAY.
We're giving away five FREE ANNUAL UNTAPPD INSIDERS MEMBERSHIPS along with a sweet swag pack for you and a friend.
Wait, What Is an Untappd Insider?
Untappd Insiders is an upgraded version of the free Untappd app, available for both iOS and Android.
Becoming an Untappd Insider means you can unlock exclusive badges, access the Untappd Secret Store, score discounted event tickets, benefit from more precise ratings, enjoy limited ads, and tons more.
We're giving away five free Annual Untappd Insiders memberships. Plus each of the five winners will receive an extra membership for the friend of their choice.
And each winner (both you and your friend) will get a dope swag pack that includes:
Well, what are you waiting for? Go get lucky with the ultimate Untappd giveaway.
Or Why Leave Things to Chance?
Think being an Untappd Insider would be pretty dope? Don't leave things to chance. Get your access to exclusive badges, precise ratings, discounted festival tickets, the Untappd Secret Store, and more.
Waypost Schwarz Bier | Photography courtesy of John A. Paradiso
May the schwartz be with you! For those unfamiliar with the iconic Star Wars parody from Mel Brooks called Spaceballs, let us fill you in. It's a hilarious flick featuring Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet (aka Darth Vader) in a helmet ten sizes too big for him; John Candy as Barf, a half-man, half-dog sidekick; and a character called Yogurt, the wisest sage in the galaxy. It's Yogurt that wisely says, "May the Schwartz be with you." Obviously, a parody of "May the Force be with you." Star Wars fans famously mark May 4th as an official holiday: May the 4th Be With You. So it makes complete sense that craft beer fans have morphed that day into our own parody: May the Schwartz Be With You. Instead of celebrating Star Wars (you still can if you want), the craft beer version celebrates schwarzbier.
What?
Schwarzbier! Literally a German word that translates to black lager, schwarzbier is reminiscent of a German-style dunkel, but drier, darker, roastier, and lighter.
It's a style that has a rich history in Germany but only recently started to pop up in the United States.
But if American craft brewers have anything to say about it, schwarzbiers are a style that one should drink not just on May 4th, but any time during the year.
What Exactly Is a Schwarzbier?
Eventide Midnight Hour Schwarzbier | Photography courtesy of Eventide Brewing
As we mentioned, schwarzbier literally translates to black beer.
It's the roasted malts that create that dark color in a schwarzbier. Usually a combination of Pilsner, dark Munich, and roasted barley.
See back in Medieval times, when these beers became popular, brewers used kilned malts often categorized as schwarz (black), braun (brown), or rot (red).
Hence schwarzbiers = black lagers.
Oh and that's the other important quality of this beer: it's a lager, meaning brewers use a bottom-fermenting yeast during fermentation.
This creates a beer that's lighter, crisper, and drier.
Just because this beer is black doesn't mean that it's similar to a stout.
Schwarzbiers Are Dark. But They're NOT Stouts. And Yet They're Delicious
Necromancer Brewing Co. Night Light Schwarzbier | Photography courtesy of Necromancer Brewing Co.
If you remember anything from this article it should be this: Schwarzbiers are dark lagers; they are NOT stouts.
"Some people think that schwarzbiers are the stout of Germany, but I would argue it's not," says Lauren Hughes, head brewer at Necromancer Brewing in Pittsburgh, PA, where recently a plethora of breweries have served up the style. "It's still a lager, so it should still have that really crisp base malt and be something zippy, but with a tiny bit of roast to make you feel like you're drinking a dark beer."
And this is one of the best parts of a schwarzbier.
Whereas stouts can be heavy, schwarzbiers are light.
Whereas imperial stouts can reach upwards of 9% ABV, schwarzbiers typically fall between 5-6% ABV, making them ideal for one or two.
And whereas adjunct stouts can have lots of cloying sweet notes, schwarzbiers are simply malty, roasty, clean, and dry.
They're dark lagers. And that's a good thing.
To put schwarzbiers in the same category as a stout would be like saying Star Wars and Star Trek are the same.
Sure, they're both movies about space, but totally different plots and followers.
Same with schwarzbiers and stouts: They're two completely different styles of beer that share mainly their color in common.
Remember: Schwarzbiers are lagers.
May the Schwartz be With You
In reality, schwarzbiers really have nothing to do with Star Wars. It's just a really dark beer that happens to have a name that matches a funny quote from the Star Wars parody Spaceballs.
We could get deep here and say that its depths take us to galaxies far, far away, but we won't.
We'll just say: Although nowhere near as popular as American IPAs, schwarzbiers deserve a place in the American craft beer iconography.
So go forth on this May 4th and drink one of these top-rated schwarzbiers!
Untappd's 12 Highest-Rated Schwarzbiers to Drink on May 4th, 2022*
*The this list is generated from beers rated between Jan. 1st, 2021, to date.
Grimm Artisanal Ales Lithos Schwarzbier | Photography courtesy of Grimm Artisanal Ales
Brewing a beer is not necessarily a hard task. Okay, it can be pretty complicated at times because you'll need to maintain consistent temperatures and keep all of your equipment extremely clean. But overall, brewing may be more accessible than you think. Over the last few decades, homebrewing has become a serious hobby and passion for many.
In fact, there are 1.1 million homebrewers in the U.S. alone, according to the American Homebrewers Association (AHA).
Gasp!
Plus, many of our favorite professional brewers and brewery owners started their brewing careers as homebrew hobbyists.
So you can too.
On Saturday, May 7th, 2022, we celebrate National Homebrew Day.
What a perfect time to bust out your brewing chops.
At the very least, you can check-in Untappd's newest "National Homebrew Day 2022" badge just by drinking a beer categorized as "home-brewed."
Try out your Great Aunt Sally's newest saison, give your daughter's chocolate coffee stout a sip, or hangout with your buddies in the backyard comparing recipes.
However you spend National Homebrew Day, just make sure that you recognize this magical combination of art and science, hobby and profession, that creates something we all love….beer!
How to earn: Just check-in any beer categorized as home-brewed.
Here's to another year of homebrewers taking their hobby to the next level.
The Charlotte Independent Brewers Alliance (CIBA) is proud to bring a new tradition to the Charlotte region: CLT Brewed Week, May 6-15. The homegrown breweries founded in Charlotte and the surrounding area have made extra special arrangements to celebrate and appreciate its legion of longtime and new-to-town craft beer fans. Now, as a collective alliance, you're getting a full week of programming including one-off beers, collaboration releases (even a day of brewery fitness) and an anchor event not to be missed!
CLT Brewed Week is a CELEBRATION OF BEERS BREWED HERE with events and experiences to be enjoyed in the taprooms and establishments that support local craft beer.
"There are a lot of great CIBA breweries producing a lot of great beer," says David Gonzalez, Director of Brewing Operations and Head Brewer at Lost Worlds Brewing Company in Cornelius, NC. "With the smooth notes of dark chocolate and slight roast, we are honored to be able to showcase our Vasa Baltic Porter at the CLT Rare Beer Fest. A treat for all attendees!"
Another treat will be from Legion Brewing, who will also be pouring something very special at the festival.
"Our barrel aged Court Shoes beer demonstrates the spirit of collaboration and innovation in our craft," says head brewer at Legion Brewing. "Our red ale rested in barrels formerly holding Path to the Darkside Whiskey, a spirit Legion had a hand in making with our friends at Great Wagon Road."
Don't miss your chance to try these rare beers during CLT Rare Beer Fest!
Beer has the power to create change. Since May officially marks ALS Awareness month, we thought it would be the perfect time to release our new badge in collaboration with the Ales for ALS™ program.
For the past two years we've teamed up with Ales for ALS™, an incredible initiative pushing for groundbreaking research to find a cure for ALS. How? Well, by drinking beer of course!
If you're not familiar with Ales for ALS™, over the past seven years, breweries from around the world such as RAM Restaurants & Brewery, Bell's Brewery, and Founders Brewing Co, among many more have joined the program, fighting to #EndALS by crafting great beers.
Participating Ales for ALS™ brewers receive a unique hop blend, created and donated annually by Loftus Ranches and YCH Hops. With the exclusive hop blend, which is provided to participating brewers at no cost, they can each craft and sell their own unique Ales for ALS™ brew.
For every pint of the Ales for ALS™ brew sold, participating brewers donate $1 to support research at the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). The funds raised are immediately invested into the lab at ALS TDI, where their science team continues to discover and develop potential treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
And while ALS can be devastating on those it effects and the family around them, Ales for ALS™ is proof that hops, beer, a little ingenuity, and a lot of elbow grease can help change the course of a degenerative disease. And hopefully, eventually, even lead to cures.
HOW TO EARN THIS BADGE: This special Ales for ALS™ badge can be earned by checking in any beer from one of these participating breweries between May 1st, 2021 - May 31st, 2022.
Buying (and drinking) one of these beers will donate directly to research to find a cure for ALS.
We know spring just bloomed, but c'mon, this season really just signifies that summer is on the horizon. And we all know summer reigns as the season supreme. Three long months full of splashing around in the ocean, cannonballing into the pool, building sand castles on the beach, biking through our national parks, running through the flower-filled meadows, grilling on the deck, and day-drinking with all of our friends.
Summer calls for beers that sustain us through these long sun-filled hours. Light, sessionable ones that we can comfortably enjoy two, three, or even four of throughout the day without sacrificing flavor.
Sierra Nevada's new summer seasonal, a session hazy IPA called Summer Break, does exactly that.
Bursting with juiciness, but only hitting 4.6% ABV, the beer made such a splash when it first hit shelves last summer that it's back in 2022.
Now it is more flavorful and more balanced than ever.
With Summer Break, Sierra Nevada is yelling C-A-N-N-O-N-B-A-L-L at the top of their lungs.
And we're one hundred percent ready to jump in with them.
In this week's special episode of Drinking Socially, hosts Harrison Hickok and Kyle Roderick chat with Sierra Nevada's Innovation Brewmaster Scott Jennings about how Sierra Nevada has developed such a full and hop-forward IPA that fans crave all summer long!
And don't miss out on the Sierra Nevada Summer Break IPA badge. To earn this badge: Check-in one (1) Summer Break from Sierra Nevada between April 3rd, 2022, and May 18th, 2022.
On April 23rd, 2022, we celebrate Saison Day by sipping our favorite saisons.
Actually the French word for "season," saison is an ale born in the farmhouses of Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium.
Historically, saisons are low in alcohol, light in body, and high in carbonation. Oftentimes, saisons are seen as these pastoral almost romantic beers, delicate to drink with a light tartness and dry finish.
It's a distinct yeast strain (or sometimes even naturally occuring microflora and fauna) that gives saisons a unique fruity, spicy ester taste and helps provide that characteristic thirst-quenching dryness.
Take one sip of a saison and you'll immediately want to take another.
And that was the whole idea. Back in the day, folks brewed saisons for farmers to drink during the hot summer months. Hence the low ABV.
Of course, most recently, craft brewers have produced incredible interpretations of the style. Including those with higher ABVs, hoppier profiles, and more complex and funky bodies.
While Saison Dupont has been the hallmark of the saison style, you can find excellent versions from revered breweries including Hill Farmstead, Side Project, Jester King, Equilibrium, and Brewery Ommegang, among many, many others.
No matter if you're drinking a traditional saison to quench your thirst during the warmer months or a fresh, new interpretation, don't sleep on these sensational saisons.
Untappd's 17 Highest-Rated Saisons to Drink on Saison Day on April 17th*
*The this list is generated from beers rated between Jan. 1st, 2021, to date.
This past March, we ran the ultimate beer competition for the second year in a row. Untappd Brewery Madness pitted sixty-four of our most checked-in breweries of 2022 against each other in a head-to-head battle of the beers. Call it bracketology, Untappd style. Who cut down the nets? Tree House Brewing Company in Charlton, MA. Let's celebrate their victory as Untappd's 2022 Untappd Brewery Madness Champion.
Once we had our list of 64, we seeded them based on popularity. Put simply, the most checked-in breweries got the top seeds. Then, we matched seeds in a head-to-head, single-elimination tournament based on check-ins received during periods that coincided with the March Madness basketball games.
Last year, we discovered how much you all loved Other Half when they became the inaugural winners.
This year, the competition returned with many more close calls (in the very first round, Great Notion Brewing edged out The Veil Brewing Co. by only seventy check-ins). And high-flying triumphs. For instance, when Equilibrium Brewery slayed Anheuser-Busch in the final eight.
But perhaps we saved the best battle for last. On April 4th, former champion Other Half Brewing Co. went head-to-head against Tree House Brewing Company. Two huge heavy hitters in the industry both known for their incredible American, hazy, and double IPAs.
After a hard-fought contest, Tree House Brewing Company emerged as the new Brewery Madness 2022 champion!
As promised, the winning brewery will receive a free badge. From April 15, 2022, to May 15, 2022, check-in any beer from Tree House Brewing Company to support Untappd's new Brewery Madness champion and earn the Tree House Brewery Madness Champion 2022 badge.
Cut down that net, Tree House. You earned it!
HOW TO EARN THIS BADGE
Check-in any beer from Tree House Brewing Company between April 15, 2022 - May 15, 2022 to earn the Brewery Madness Champion (2022) badge.
Toast
