Beer memes have become as essential to craft beer as hops to an IPA.
Some of our favorites combine current pop culture references — like Squid Games — with craft beer trends.
This year, our friends at Hop Culture are fully embracing the power of social media with the 2021 Beer Meme Awards presented by Half Time Beverage.
Photography courtesy of Don't Drink Beers
Cool! How Do I Enter?
To enter the Awards, just post your favorite beer meme or one you create to your own Instagram account with the hashtag #beermeme2021.
Hop Culture will be accepting entries for your favorite beer meme or one you've created from 12:00 AM EST on Dec. 1st, 2021, to 11:59 PM EST on Dec. 10th, 2021.
That's it!
What Do I Win??
Other than the obvious bragging rights? A $250 gift card to Half Time.
Somehow the holiday season arrived again in the twinkle of a Christmas light or Hanukkah and Kwanzaa candle. This time of year means a lot of exciting things such as great food, American football, time with family, and of course big beers!
In this week's episode of the Drinking Socially podcast, hosts Harrison Hickok and Jon Dispenza focus on the most important part of the holidays...the beer. And not just one, two, or even three beers. But count 'em – twelve beers.
The 12 Beers of Christmas features a dozen different beers that make up a broad lineup of styles, including (but not limited to): Belgian quad, breakfast brown ale, wee heavy, Imperial stout, and of course, IPAs. Such as Clown Shoes Space Cake IPA, a hoppy, juicy, sneaky-smooth flagship.
There's no need to wait for Christmastime to enjoy this unique holiday mix pack. Grab one now, unlock the 12 Days of Christmas badge, and tune into this week's episode of Drinking Socially.
HOW TO EARN THIS BADGE: Check-in one (1) Clown Shoes Space Cake beer between November 15 and December 14, 2021. Cheers to Space Cake! Did you know this beer is a part of Clown Shoes' 12 Beers of Christmas mix pack featuring twelve different beers to get you in the holiday spirit? Check out Clown Shoes beer finder to find a 12-pack while supplies last!
A few weeks ago we wrote about Untappd's 9 Best American and English Porters of 2021. Those are all great introductions to the style. But it's the holidays. Which means there is no better time of year to take things over the top.
Kicking up the alcohol content, roastiness, and malt character, Imperial porters are hearty beers. No fra-gee-lay beers here, if you get our drift.
Originally brewed as aged, strong, and often hoppier versions of the sweet brown ales in London during the 18th century, Imperial porters today are often characterized by roasted barley and dark malts.
Dried fruits such as raisins and prunes, darker sugars like molasses, and black candies like licorice are all flavors that can often be found in Imperial porters. Sometimes even cocoa and caramel notes complement a rough hop character.
Pouring in a range from dark red to black, Imperial porters are not for the faint of heart. Most top out at anywhere between 7%-12% ABV.
And while Imperial stouts may be a more popular style, don't fall asleep while waiting for Santa on this equally robust and inventive style. We recommend putting on your best fuzzy pink bunny onesie and sipping one of these around the fire.
From a barrel-aged vintage from one of the most popular Swedish breweries in the world to a robust version with chocolate, caramel, and roasted malts from one of the most popular American breweries, here are Untappd's 15 Best Imperial Porters of 2021. **Please note, we are only covering Double / Imperial versions in this list. Stay tuned for more to come on the best of coffee, Baltic, or other versions of porters later down the line.**
Powered by Untappd Data (minimum of 1,000 check-ins)
Don't miss Untappd's new YouTube travel show! Tune in to Next Exit to see all the interesting places, cool people, and cold beer we're drinking in the best beer cities across the country. In the first episode, follow Untappd Creative Director Kenny Gould as he heads to the Steel City, visiting hidden gems like Squirrel Hill's Chengdu Gourmet, East Liberty's Kelly's Bar and Lounge, and the old Pittsburgh Brewing Company facility in Lawrenceville, which once made beer for Jim Koch at Samuel Adams. We also talk to local legends like Caleb Cornell, Todd Zwicker, and Day Bracey.
Here are some of the key benefits you'll enjoy as an Untappd Insider:
Yearly Magnet for Annual Subscribers - Looking to decorate your beer fridge? Every year, we'll release a collectible magnet designed by the biggest names in beer art, available exclusively to Insiders on our annual plan. For 2022, we're working with Dean McKeever, artist for Tree House and Vitamin Sea Brewing and founder of Keever Glass. See his 2022 magnet design below!
Access to Insider-Only Merch in Our Secret Store (US only… Europe coming soon!) - Ready for some exclusive Untappd merchandise? We created a secret store that's only accessible to Insiders. Become an Untappd Insider and get early access to all of our holiday merch, including some awesome new glassware. (Note: You'll be able to access the secret store 24 hours after signing up -- keep an eye on your email for details).
Exclusive Badges - Trying to collect them all? Make all of your friends jealous when you unlock this special edition badge, only available to Untappd Insiders! Receive a new badge each year you're an Insider. And hey, we may even release some super-secret badges just for you.
Other features include early access to festival tickets, limited ads, and more! Check out a full list of features here.
You can join on a monthly basis or annual plan. But remember, only our Annual Untappd Insiders receive the collectible magnet.
Have a Question?
Visit our Untappd Insiders FAQ page that covers everything including: Where's My Magnet? Where's My 2022 Insider's Badge? What's the Difference Between Supporters and Insiders?And more. You can also email [email protected] with any further questions.
As we sink a little further into our holiday jogging pants and scooch our chairs a bit closer to the fire we promise that we're going to be talking about the holidays for at least the next four weeks.
And this week's Drinking Socially podcast episode is no different! Hosts Harrison Hickok and Jon Dispenza make what's old new again as they drink Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig Ale and unlock the Old Is New badge.
First, what exactly is an old ale? Great question. According to the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) an old ale is an ale of moderate to fairly significant alcoholic strength that is bigger than standard beers, but usually not as strong or rich as barleywine. These beers are also often tilted towards a maltier balance. "It should be a warming beer of the type that is best drunk in half pints by a warm fire on a cold winter's night," writes Michael Jackson, the famed craft beer critic and writer.
Like alcoholic holiday cookies or the beer version of a hot toddy, old ales are a complex beer style worthy of any winter night.
HOW TO EARN THIS BADGE: As with all good styles and trends, old always becomes new again at some point. With a history like the Old Ale, it's no wonder it's reclaiming popularity! That's 5 different beers with the style of Old Ale. Check-in 5 different beers with the style of "Old Ale"
A few weeks ago we wrote about Untappd's 6 Highest-Rate Belgian Quads of 2021. With its signature rich, malty flavor, medium bitterness, and impressive ABV, the Belgian quad is a beer which has stood the test of time. But it's not the only beer style that makes Belgium one of the best beer-making countries in the world. Belgian singels, dubbels, and tripels are equally as revered.
Historically, tripels gained notoriety under the Belgian Trappist beer tradition, dating back to the sixth century in Europe when monks brewed beers as a way to create potable water and generate income from the monastery and local community. Today, only beers brewed by monks at official abbeys designated by the International Trappist Association can be considered Trappist. Secular breweries that brew singels, dubbels, tripels, or quads often used the term "abbey-style" to respectfully reflect this tradition.
Common lore says that monks marked their beer barrels with Xs to signify strength – three Xs meant an abbey's tripel and typically the monastery's strongest beer.
How strong?
Considered a strong golden ale, tripels typically clock in around 9% ABV or even higher, making them perfect for the colder winter months. A simple grain profile provides the backbone for more complexity thanks to Belgian yeast. Typical tasting notes for Belgian or abbey-style tripels include layers of orange, citrus, and banana married with spiced or floral hops.
Fair warning: These beers tend to go down smoothly despite their robust alcohol concentration. Share one of Untappd's 12 Highest-Rated Belgian Tripels of 2021 with friends and family at the Thanksgiving dinner table or while playing games around the fire.
Powered by Untappd Data (minimum of 1,000 check-ins)
Don't miss Untappd's new YouTube travel show! Tune in to Next Exit to see all the interesting places, cool people, and cold beer we're drinking in the best beer cities across the country. In the first episode, follow Untappd Creative Director Kenny Gould as he heads to the Steel City, visiting hidden gems like Squirrel Hill's Chengdu Gourmet, East Liberty's Kelly's Bar and Lounge, and the old Pittsburgh Brewing Company facility in Lawrenceville, which once made beer for Jim Koch at Samuel Adams. We also talk to local legends like Caleb Cornell, Todd Zwicker, and Day Bracey.
It's that time of year to feel the holiday cheer… with
Dogfish Head IPAs! This holiday season we're giving you IPA lovers a chance to
win some Dogfish holiday gear by enjoying & checking in to your favorite
Dogfish Head IPAs.
Our IPA's for the Holidays campaign includes a
multi-level badge and sweepstakes promotion that opens the chance to win some
vintage style holiday wearables. Use Untappd to check-in to Dogfish Head IPAs
anywhere in the US throughout the holiday season and accumulate all 3 holiday
badges:
LEVEL
1 BADGE: Cheers
to Dogfish IPAs for the Holidays! Your 1st check-in to any Dogfish IPA
gets you this badge and serves you the holiday sweepstakes promotion.
LEVEL 2 BADGE: Dogfish Head Looks Good on You. Your 3rd check-in to a Dogfish
IPA gets you this second badge and unlocks our holiday sweepstakes, earning you
an entry to win a Dogfish Head holiday prize pack including a pair of beanies,
scarves, and sweater koozies.
LEVEL 3 BADGE: It's Getting
Lit. Your 5th check-in to a Dogfish IPA gets you this badge plus a
BONUS entry to our holiday sweeps.
Wondering which IPA you want to try first? From 90 Minute
IPA, the first Imperial IPA in Craft, to Hazy-O!, the first nationally distributed
Hazy IPA to be brewed with Oat Milk, Dogfish Head has you covered for any
hop-forward offering you want to try. Check out all our offerings here and use the Fish Finder see where you
can find Dogfish Head near you.
If you agree, join us to celebrate Small Brewery Sunday on November 28th, 2021. Inside, outside, or curbside…let's support the indie craft breweries that are making another crazy year just a little bit better — one delicious craft beer at a time.
Small Brewery Sunday is a day for celebrating local flavor, local connections, and local pride. Our neighborhood taprooms and brewpubs can't do it alone. They need us to step up and order a pint, fill a growler, stock the fridge, grab beer and food to go, gift a gift card, and bag some sweet brewery merch. It's the least we can do for these businesses that add so much flavor to our communities.
Remember – there are many ways to support your local brewery! Are you making a list and checking it twice? With the holidays coming up, why not give the gift of beer – whether gift cards, to go beer, or cool brewery merch. No worries about supply chain or delivery. A six pack is a gift that is available!
Plus, by unlocking this badge you're showing your support for America's small and independent craft breweries.
HOW TO UNLOCK THIS BADGE: Check-in any beer from a Brewery part of the Brewers Association (a list of participating breweries can be found here)between November 1, 2021 - November 30, 2021 to receive the Small Brewery Sunday (2021) Badge.
2021 has been another tough year – but one thing hasn't changed. Our love of beer, and our love of community. Supporting Small Brewery Sunday is a great way to show some love.
Do you want to unlock exclusive badges? Access a secret Untappd store? Receive a collectible magnet designed by Tree House artist Keever? You can have all this and more by joining the Untappd Insiders program annual plan. Act now, as prices increase after November 30th!
What does it mean to be an Untappd Insider?
Becoming an Untappd Insider upgrades you to a more premier version of the Untappd app. For less than the cost of a craft beer per month, you can join today to get exclusive badges, better statistics, access to Untappd's secret merch store, and so much more. You can also gift a subscription to a friend!
Untappd Insiders Program Benefits
Here are some of the key benefits you'll enjoy as an Untappd Insider:
Yearly Magnet for Annual Subscribers - Looking to decorate your beer fridge? Every year, we'll release a collectible magnet designed by the biggest names in beer art. For 2022, we're working with Dean McKeever, artist for Tree House and Vitamin Sea Brewing and founder of Keever Glass.
Access to Insider-Only Merch in Our Secret Store (US only… Europe coming soon!) - Ready for some exclusive Untappd merchandise? We created a secret store that's only accessible to Insiders. Become an Untappd Insider and get early access RIGHT NOW to all of our holiday merch including some exclusive new glassware. (Note: You'll be able to access the secret store 24 hours after signing up -- keep an eye on your email for information about access).
Exclusive Badges - Trying to collect them all? Make all of your friends jealous when you unlock this special edition badge, only available to Untappd Insiders! Receive a new badge each year you're an insider. And hey, we may even release some super-secret badges just for you.
More Detailed Rating Scale - Is that beer you're drinking not quite a 5? Get more granular with your beer ratings! Enable the option to start rating your beers on a 0.1 rating scale, allowing you to rate a 4.9 versus a five.
Personalized Statistics - Learn more about your habits with in-depth analytics. Easily see activity trends, your favorite locations, your top beer styles, and much more.
Other features include early access to festival tickets, limited ads, and more! Check out a full list of features here.
It's getting colder. It's getting darker. And the haze of summer is slowly setting behind us. But not all is lost as we head into the dark, dark months of winter. The colder weather makes hot coffee taste better or gives you an excuse to wear that scarf your mom knit you. Plus, for the next few months you have a reason to cozy up inside by the fire and drink one of those beers you've been sitting on for the last couple of months.
Here in the Untappd winter wonderland, we're pretty excited to crack open those winter beers such as juniper-flavored pales, snowy barleywines, and fresh hop celebration ales (if you get our...snow drift).
On this episode of the Drinking Socially podcast, hosts Harrison Hickok and Jon Dispenza are drinking in a winter wonderland as they unlock the "Winter Wonderland" badge. To officially kick off the cold season, they're popping a celebratory ale — Sierra Nevada's Celebration Fresh Hop IPA. Wonderfully robust and rich, Celebration Ale is brewed especially for the holidays. Dry hopped with hand-selected Cascade and Centennial hops from the Pacific Northwest, this festival traditional ale is a present anyone would want to unwrap.
HOW TO EARN THIS BADGE: It's cold outside — warm up with winter beers. Check-in beers with a "winter theme," meaning they have winter in the title or style. Other words that count include: "Christmas," "snow," "santa," "holiday," and..... "celebration!" You can even unlock this badge with beers that use words embracing the winter theme in other languages, including: "sneig" - the Polish word for snow; "balwan" - the Polish word for snowman; and "choink" - the Polish word for Christmas tree.
It's getting colder. It's getting darker. And the haze of summer is slowly setting behind us. But not all is lost as we head into the dark, dark months of winter. The colder weather makes hot coffee taste better or gives you an excuse to wear that scarf your mom knit you last year. Plus, for the next few months you have a reason to cozy up inside by the fire and drink one of those beers you've been sitting on for the last couple of months.
Here in the Untappd winter wonderland, we're pretty excited to crack open those winter beers such as juniper-flavored pales, snowy barleywines, and fresh hop celebration ales (if you get our...snow drift).
Sometimes called Christmas ales or winter warmers, winter ales aren't technically a beer style, per se, but essentially beers that celebrate the season. Consider winter ales a brewing tradition.
Often in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in Northern Europe, brewers would make a particularly strong dark ale that would warm people against the chill of the coldest months of the year.
Going even further, brewers might add spices like ginger or nutmeg to play into the festive holiday spirit.
Historically, these winterish beers have fallen under two categories: spiced Wassail (a dark, malty traditional English drink that can be a hot, spiced cider, wine, mead, or beer) or strong English ale.
In the early 1900s, the original Burton ale made by the brewers of Burton-on-Trent was often considered one of the most popular hopped winter beers of the time. While the popularity of darker ales started to die out in the 1960s, the growing American craft beer movement in the United States in the mid-1970s helped revive the tradition. Starting with Anchor Brewing's now-influential Christmas Ale, which was first brewed in 1975.
Overall today, you'll find that this beer category can be pretty murky. You might find some winter ales to be dark and malty. Others are fresh and hoppy. Some perhaps are barrel aged. And even more could include holiday ingredients like maple syrup, molasses, plums, raisins, and more.
Regardless of the exact definition, one thing remains the same: These winter beers are meant to be unwrapped and enjoyed like the first present given on Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or Christmas or just during your White Elephant party.
Treat these beers like...well, treats. Drinks that are meant to be a celebration during some of the darkest, coldest, toughest days of the year.
Go ahead, indulge this holiday season. From a modern American barrel-aged cinnamon bomb to a straight-up Belgian classic, here are Untappd's 9 highest-rated Winter Ales of 2021.
Powered by Untappd Data (minimum of 1,000 check-ins)
Don't miss Untappd's new YouTube travel show! Tune in to Next Exitto see all the interesting places, cool people, and cold beer we're drinking in the best beer cities across the country. In the first episode, follow Untappd Creative Director Kenny Gould as he heads to the Steel City, visiting hidden gems like Squirrel Hill's Chengdu Gourmet, East Liberty's Kelly's Bar and Lounge, and the old Pittsburgh Brewing Company facility in Lawrenceville, which once made beer for Jim Koch at Samuel Adams. We also talk to local legends like Caleb Cornell, Todd Zwicker, and Day Bracey.
Space Cake Double IPA is the hoppy, juicy, sneaky-smooth flagship offering from Clown Shoes Beer. It is also one of the twelve (!) beers featured in the 12 Beers of Christmas Mix Pack!
The 12 Beers of Christmas features a dozen different beers that make up a broad lineup of styles, including (but not limited to): Belgian Quad, Breakfast Brown Ale, Wee Heavy, Imperial Stout, and of course – IPAs.
There's no need to wait for Christmas-time to enjoy this unique holiday mix pack, it's available now.
Anyone who drinks a Space Cake is now not only enjoying a delectable Double IPA, they have now officially tasted 1/12 of the 12 Beers of Christmas.
HOW TO EARN THIS BADGE: Check-in to one (1) Space Cake from Clown Shoes Beer between November 15, 2021 and December 14, 2021 to receive the '12 Beers of Christmas' Badge.
What started as a curious mistake resulted in an all-new-beer-style Lagunitas liked to call 'Irresponsible'. And now, it's received a fancy upgrade…
Lagunitas Unrefined Shugga' is a Sweet Release just in time for your slide into Winter. A Strong Ale full of organic Colombian whole cane sugar, also known as Panela sugar, giving it a warm and delightfully rich mouthfeel that's dangerously slammable.
It's a wholly unrefined experience that deserves an especially Unrefined Untappd badge, so find some near you with the Lagunitas beer finder and see what this foolery, bunkum and bafflegab is all about… How unrefined!
How to earn this badge:
Check-in Lagunitas Unrefined Sugga' 2021 November 12th - December 12th, 2021, and you'll unlock the exclusive Lagunitas Unrefined Sugga' badge!
ICYMI: Last week, Untappd launched Next Exit, a new beer travel show that showcases the best bars, breweries, and restaurants in cities across the world. In the premier, Untappd Creative Director Kenny Gould takes viewers on a trip to a couple of hidden gem food and drink destinations in his hometown: Pittsburgh, PA.
But Kenny's opinion isn't the only one that matters (sorry, Kenny)! To celebrate the launch of our first episode, our friends at Hop Culture tapped a Pittsburgh beer expert to share his favorite places to drink in the 'Burgh.
With that in mind, here are 5 awesome places to drink in Pittsburgh:
You can read more about the picks (along with some other choices for a day of food and drink the Steel City) here.
Watch the premier of Next Exit and drop us a note in the comments about where Kenny should visit next. Who knows -- you could see your hometown in the next episode!
In recognition of Veterans Day 2021 on Nov. 11th, 2021, let's toast to all those around the world who have served both past and present. We thank you and appreciate your service.
Those like BeerAdvocate Founder Todd Alström, who during the end of the Cold War and Gulf War in the late 1980s and early 1990s served in the United States Air Force within the Security Forces as a GLCM Ranger under the 501st Tactical Missile Wing at RAF Greenham Common in Newbury, England.
When he wasn't guarding BGM-109G Gryphons (ground launched cruise missiles equipped with W84 thermonuclear warheads) or establishing launch sites at undisclosed locations to protect the west from ballistic nuclear strikes from the Soviet Union (aka "camping"), Alström was discovering beer and unknowingly building the foundation for BeerAdvocate.
Airman Todd Alström, circa 1989, GLCM Ranger field training in a top secret location somewhere in the woods of England. Photo courtesy of Todd Alström.
"If I didn't enlist, there'd be no BeerAdvocate today," says Alström. "Back then, it seemed like every block had a pub. Sometimes more. [It's at these] "beer schools" where I'd learn about British beer and pub culture. Visiting thousands of times ingrained a deep respect for beer that not only remains today, but inspired me to homebrew, write my first beer review, create a community platform for beer geeks, travel the world, host over seventy beer festivals, go to brewing school, publish a monthly print beer magazine for over a decade, and meet some amazing people along the way."
To show support, BeerAdvocate will be donating five Extreme Beer Boxes to veterans in the community. You can find all the information on this giveaway here.
Additionally, be sure to check-in any one (1) of your favorite beers this Veterans Day on November 11, 2021, to unlock this year's "Veterans Day (2021)" badge.
Toast
