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What Is an Imperial Stout?

The short answer is the term “imperial” is used interchangeably with “double” and “strong” to refer to any style of beer brewed with an extra dose of grains and hops to produce a higher ABV (alcohol by volume). So it’s essentially a stronger stout.

But the long answer is more fun! (more…)

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What Is a Cream Ale?

Cream ale is a style that almost defies definition. For starters, it does not contain cream, and compared to many other styles, it isn’t exceptionally creamy.

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Bottle vs. Canned Beer: Which Is Better?

With summer picnic season in full swing, you may be assigned the most important job: bringing the beer! And with great power, comes great responsibility. Because there will be shelves and shelves of options at the local grocery store. You’ll have to decide on brand, style and even whether it’s in a bottle or a can.

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Beer Flights 101

Whether you’re visiting a new-to-you brewery or sampling an ever-changing tap list from your favorite brewery – ordering a beer flight is the perfect way to get a lay of the land.

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A Brief History of Craft Beer

Making beer goes all the way back to Mesopotamia with an ancient recipe featured in a poem about the Sumerian brewing goddess, Ninkasi. But craft beer has only been around for a few decades; it all started with an ambitious Stanford graduate.  (more…)

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What is a Winter Warmer?

In this case, the name tells the story. It’s a beer that is only brewed in the winter and has a slightly higher ABV to help “keep you warm” during the holiday season.

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What is a Scotch Ale?

Scotch ales are an acquired taste. But if you give them a chance, you just may grow to appreciate their bold toffee flavor with hints of smokiness and boozy ABV. (more…)

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Skunked Beer: What You Need to Know

Enjoying a beer in the sun is a summertime rite of passage. There’s only one thing that could ruin it…getting skunked! While being sprayed by a certain black and white striped animal would certainly not be ideal, we’re talking about when a bottle of beer is exposed to direct sunlight, resulting in a sulfur taste. (more…)

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9 Beer Garnishes Worth Trying

We know what you’re thinking. Beer doesn’t need all the fancy accouterments that cocktails do. It is perfect all on its own. But what if you could make it…more perfect?

When used right, a garnish can complement, enhance or mirror the natural flavors in beer to unlock new levels of flavor. Here are some of our favorites. (more…)

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What Is a Blonde Ale?

For starters, it’s a bit of a catch-all term for various styles of beer. “Blonde ale” generally refers to beer in the cream ale and kölsch realm. It is also used interchangeably with golden ale and summer ale.

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How to Perfectly Pair Beer with Chocolate

Wine may have the stronger reputation, but beer can also pair deliciously with chocolate.

In fact, beer and chocolate have a lot in common. They both undergo significant flavor development from the process of fermentation and both require a delicate balance of bitter and sweet flavors. Plus, the carbonation in beer actually cleanses and awakens the palate, better preparing you for whatever comes next.

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What’s In a Name – Barleywine Edition

In this case, “barleywine” manages to be both a helpful description and a tricky misnomer.

Let’s start with what it gets wrong. Barleywine is not wine. It is a beer made from sugars extracted from grains. So why in the world is it called a wine? Because of its strength and complexity that are similar to that of wine. (more…)

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How Glassware Shape Changes Your Beer

When it comes to beer, we should all be glass half full people – especially if we’re enjoying it from the appropriate glassware. Because this not only improves the overall presentation but can enhance a beer’s color, aroma and taste. (more…)

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The Up and Down History of Gose

Before we can even make a single “here’s how the story gose” joke, the beer is pronounced “goz-uh.” So that won’t exactly work. But it does have a storied history going all the way back to the thirteenth century that is still worth telling today – especially for those who love a good comeback. (more…)

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What is a Belgian Tripel?

In this case, the name is both a helpful and slightly deceptive place to start. It is in fact a style born from the Belgian Trappist brewing tradition, but nothing is exactly tripled in its production. 

Nonetheless, we have to go back to those early days in monastery breweries to better understand how we ended up with a perfectly golden-hued thirst quencher.

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What’s the Difference Between a Porter and a Stout?

What's the Difference Between a Porter and a Stout

While this question may seem straightforward, the answer is as murky as the beers themselves. Because a porter and a stout are only separated by a thin line and sometimes even that becomes blurred. In order to better understand these two subtly different beer styles, it helps to go back to the beginning. (more…)

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