American Craft Beer Fest: Our 6-Pack Picks
With over 100 brewers pouring over 500 craft beers, there's no way you can try them all! We also know, however, that once you get in that room at the Boston World Trade Center and see all those taps the best laid plans can go to hell. With that in mind, we're going to give you our recommendation for our favorite 6-pack of beers that will be at American Craft Beer Fest. These are the six we're most excited about...the rest are up to you!
Bear Republic Nor'Cal Pale Ale
At 4.8%, this American Pale Ale has more depth of flavor than many IPA's twice its size! An assumed large dose of late hops gives it a great hoppy flavor and aroma that is matched by few craft beers, and the dry finish means you can drink it over and over again. Thanks to the lower alcohol, you'll be able to drink a few more samples than if you stuck to the Double IPA's and Imperial Stouts that have been all the rage in craft beer lately.
Boulevard Brewing Company Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
OK, so we'll admit that we've never had this brew. But we love Saisons! And, from what we've heard, this is one of the best of it's kind brewed in the United States. At 8% abv it's no all-day-drinking beer, but we say you should try this out for sure!
Cisco Brewers, Inc. Pechish Woods
Again, this is one we haven't tried before. But it's a sour, wild ale with peach added. How could this be bad? Plus, it retails for right around $18 per 750ml bottle, so this is a great chance to check it out before plopping down that kind of investment. We've heard good things, and other sour peach ales have been good so we're feeling positive about it until we taste otherwise.
Mayflower Brewing Company Summer Rye
If you don't live in Massachusetts you don't have access to this self-distributed craft brewery. Their Summer Rye, a Belgian-style hoppy rye beer, was one of the first widely available session beers in Massachusetts and, at 3.8% abv, it's got the crispness you crave on a summer day and the flavor to stand up to the type of brews that get all the hype from those that don't know better.
Notch Session Brewing - Everything
This is perhaps Massachusetts' best kept secret...and at the rate Chris Lohring, owner and head brewer, is going it won't be a secret for long. Everything they brew is under 4.5% abv but is brewed superbly and full of flavor. For now only the Pils and Ale are bottled, but this summer he'll release the Saison (a cask of this, dry-hopped with hops grown by Drink Craft Beer's Jeff Wharton is tentatively scheduled to be at our 5th Birthday Party New England Tap Takeover at Stoddard's Food & Ale) which we're particularly excited about. That said, the Pils is a truly amazing interpretation of the unfiltered Czech Pilsner style. Keep coming back to this booth. You can because of the low alcohol by volume, but you'll want to because of how good it is!
Peak Organic Weiss Principal
Weiss Principal is this organic brewery's imperial version of a hoppy hefeweizen. It's far more drinkable than the 8% would suggest, but not so overly-hopped that you miss the defining characteristics of the yeast. We love Peak, and we think you should too!
Bonus Breweries
We realized that choosing only one 6-pack may have been a bit limiting, as there are just too many great brewers showing up at this event. Like we said, we know the best laid plans can go to hell fairly quickly, so here to breweries you need to check out without any specific beer recommendation...especially if you're not from New England:
Sixpoint Craft Ales
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Clown Shoes Beer Company (Massachusetts one-off brand that has grown into a real local phenomenon...they're expanding their markets every day. Know who they are before they hit your town)
Sebago Brewing Company
Lawson's Finest Liquids
Prodigal Brewing Company (Near-legendary former brewer for Thomas Hooker, his newest project focuses on German-style lagers)
Duck-Rabbit Brewery (Dark beer specialists)
The Tap & Haverhill Brewery (If you're from the area, beg John to brew the Berliner Weiss)
And there are just too many more...If we missed you, we're truly sorry but we'd have to list literally a half to two-thirds of the breweries here if we had to list all the "not to be missed" beer companies. There are great things happening in craft beer right now, so just come to the fest and enjoy the ride. It's going to be tough to make too many bad choices. And, at 2oz per pour, it's fine if not every choice is perfect.
We'll be at the Saturday 1pm session wearing our Drink Craft Beer shirts. Feel free to say, "hello." We look forward to meeting some of you. Cheers!
