It’s July and the long weekend is now just two days away! That is, if you’re working at all this week.
And on your trips to your favorite grocery store you’ve probably noticed big, patriotic displays by Budweiser or Miller or one of the other big beer brands and you thought, hey, I’m going to want to have a cold one this weekend, I should pick up a pack.
Well, you should enjoy some brews this weekend, but there’s no reason to settle for mediocre beer just because they draped a flag in aisle nine!
Craft beer is more popular now than it ever has been since the end of prohibition. An average of 17 craft breweries open up every day in the U.S. and, for the first time ever, craft beer broke double digits in its market share.
So don’t settle for that same old watered-down drool you usually do. In fact, neither Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser et al., Corona, Stella Artois, Busch et al., Goose Island, Elysian, Natural et al., Michelob, O’Doul’s, Rolling Rock, Shock Top, among others) nor MillerCoors (Miller High Life, Miller Lite, Miller Genuine Draft, Coors, Coors Light, Leinenkugel, Crispin Hard Cider, Blue Moon, Pabst Blue Ribbon, among others) are even American-owned any longer. Do what your forefathers did and strive for something better! And to help you out, here are the 5 most patriotic beers you can enjoy this 4th of July!
Liberty Ale
Anchor Brewing
San Francisco, CA
One of the better-known craft breweries in the country, Anchor Brewing’s roots go all the way back to the gold rush of 1849. Their Steam Beer is so good it is actually the definition of its own beer style. But even better for celebrating America’s birthday is their Liberty Ale. Full of Cascade hoppy goodness, it’s an American IPA that’s changed very little since it was first brewed in 1975. And, as an added bonus, if you’re taking your Independence Day celebration on the road or outdoors, you’ll be pleased to know that Liberty Ale also comes in cans!
George Washington’s Tavern Porter
Yards Brewing Company
Philadelphia, PA
George Washington. The military leader of the revolution. Our nation’s first president. It doesn’t get more American than him. And the man loved his quality beer! In fact, he had his own brewing operation at his home, Mt. Vernon. Well, the Yards Brewing Company has brewed up a porter inspired by Washington’s own recipe! The deep, rich porter is highlighted by the addition of molasses. Helping give the beer its hefty 7.0% ABV, the robust sweetness is also evident in its flavor. The Yards Brewing Company actually have a terrific lineup of beers inspired by America’s founding fathers, but there’s just something special about the brew Mr. Washington himself preferred.
Brew Free! Or Die IPA
21st Amendment Brewery
San Francisco, CA
The 21st Amendment, in case you didn’t know, repealed the 18th Amendment which brought about Prohibition in the United States. And, naturally, any brewery that names itself after such an important piece of legislation needs to be on this list! For a patriotic beer, it’s really hard to go wrong with any of 21st Amendment’s offerings, but if you have to go with one, go with this their flagship IPA. Using three kinds of hops leading to a nice, hoppy punch of 70 IBU’s, our only gripe here is the use of some Imported Munich malt in the grist bill. But we’ll let it slide!
American Amber Ale
Rogue Ales & Spirits
Newport, OR
Rogue’s story is the American dream. Starting off with a brewpub in Ashland, Oregon, Rogue’s rise in fame and acclaim hasn’t stopped. Today, they have their hand in beer, liquor, soda, and cider. But their beers continue to be their mainstay. And with 41 commercially-available offerings, they’re well on their way to having a beer for every state in the union (and every occasion imaginable). For this occasion, though, you need not look any further than their American Amber Ale. Incorporating their own patented malts, hops, and yeast, Rogue claims their American Amber is what freedom tastes like. And, frankly, I’m not one to disagree.
American Beauty
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Milton, DE
Picking a favorite brewery is sort of like picking your favorite movie. How am I supposed to pick just one with so many fantastic options out there? But, if you put a bottle to my head, I guess I would have to say the fine folks at Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Founded by a homebrewer who decided he wanted to do that sort of thing for a living, Dogfish Head today is one of the largest craft breweries in the country. But it wasn’t until October of 2013 that they finally put out a beer worthy of this list. Enter American Beauty. Inspired by the Grateful Dead, American Beauty is called an ‘Imperial Pale Ale’, though I think that’s just a different way of calling it an India Pale Ale if not an Imperial IPA. This one is a little bit harder to find, but it’s well worth the journey!
