Quick - get your bar key, can opener, a fingernail or teeth* ready! Why? Because as you probably figured out when you read the title up there, it's National Beer Day!
The Reinheitsgebot, or German Beer Purity Law, is now 501 years old. Precisely 84 years ago in America, the Cullen-Harrison Act, which legalized the sale of beer with an alcohol content of 3.2% by weight, went into effect. This bit of important legislation was also known as the Beer Permit Act and the Permit and Tax Beer Act, presumably because we just can't help but complicate matters when we pass laws in this country. If that isn't cause to pour a beer, what is?
Give the following beers a try today, because as Franklin D. Roosevelt said when he signed the Cullen-Harrison Act on March 22, "I think this would be a good time for a beer." We concur.
Cheers!
Black Tooth Brewing Co. Bomber Mountain Amber Ale: An Irish-style red ale with a complex malt profile of biscuits, caramel and cotton candy. A well rounded and balanced amber with a dry, crisp, finish. (4.6%, 20 IBU)
Dogfish Head SeaQuench Ale: A session sour quencher made with lime peel, black lime and sea salt. It’s a citrusy-tart union of three German styles of beer blissfully brewed into one: a straightforward Kölsch, a salty Gose and a citrusy-tart Berlinerweiss. (4.9%, 10 IBU)
Bootlegger's Brewery Mountain Meadow: Made with sage, chamomile, tarragon, and honey, the wonderful fusion of these ingredients give this blonde ale a smooth, crisp, and refreshing flavor and a sweet floral aroma. (5.5%, 15.7 IBU)
Garage Brewing Co. Marshmallow Stout: Dark stout characteristics with a marshmallow aroma and a sweet finish. (7.1%, 9 IBU)
Lagunitas Brewing Company CitruSinensis Pale: A refreshingly hopped pale-ish ale brewed with Sanguinello Blood Oranges. Enjoy the huge citrus burst! (7.7%, 49 IBU)
Odell Brewing Co. Tree Shaker: An Imperial Peach IPA brewed with Colorado peaches for a subtle sweetness. Familiar citrusy hop notes balanced with sweet local peaches. (8.0%, 48 IBU)
Duvel Tripel Hop Citra: Duvel's brewers don't just add a third hop variety when creating the Tripel Hop, they apply a special process of dry-hopping: extra hop cones are added during later lagering process. Fresh hints of grapefruit and tropical fruit on the palate. (9.5%, 40 IBU)
Lagunitas Brewing Company The Waldos' Special Ale: Herbacious, botanical, dank, and resinous. The dankest and hoppiest beer ever brewed at Lagunitas. (11.9%, 100+ IBU)
*Um, don't use your teeth if you're serving that beer to someone else (you know, like a guest at your bar), you don't want your dentist to judge you, or if you care about their condition.