American Craft Beer Picks 10 Spring Seasonals That You Need To Check Out

Of all the seasonals brewed today, none are harder to define or have less of an identity than the spring seasonal. Unlike the beers of summer with their lager variations and wheat beers, or the fall and winter seasonal s which get darker, heavier, and stronger as the temperatures drop – it’s hard to put your finger on what exactly makes for a spring seasonal – beyond a brewery releasing it in the spring and calling it that.

As we detailed recently in What the Hell is a Maibock, Europe’s got more of a handle on the spring beer thing. After all, the German Maibock was originally brewed for the region’s spring festivals that took place primarily in May (hence the name). And although some spring styles are associated with events like St. Patrick’s Day and the Lenten holidays, we generally see the trend with spring craft beers as a lightening up of sorts – a slow move from the heavy/darker/winter beers to red ales and the lighter pale ales that eventually transition into summer’s beers.

So on to 10 Spring Seasonals that you might want to check out…

, American Craft Beer Picks 10 Spring Seasonals That You Need To Check OutCherry Blossom Lager, Dominion Brewing (Dover, DE) – Washington, DC’s legendary Cherry Blossom Festival marks spring’s arrival in the Mid-Atlantic and last year, the Dominion Brewing Company created a new tradition to celebrate it with. Blushing pink, effervescent, and tasting lightly of cherry champagne, Cherry Blossom Lager is conditioned on a bed of 300 pounds of Michigan cherries for 48 hours prior to packaging. 

Einbecker Mai-Ur-Bock, Einbecker Brauhaus AG (Einbeck, Germany) – Any list of spring seasonals should probably start with an authentic Maibock. The Maibock style is basically a Helles Lager amped up to bock strength – as strong as traditional bock – but lighter in color and with more hop presence. And this 6.5% ABV brew is not just a great example of the maibock tradition – it’s also a great beer.

Summit MaibockSummit Brewing (St. Paul, MN) – Summit’s popular spring seasonal provides an American craft beer slant to the Maibock style. Brewed with Moravian 37 barley and Czech Saaz hops, Summit Maibock combines a toasted sweetness with a subtle spice and peppery character.

, American Craft Beer Picks 10 Spring Seasonals That You Need To Check OutAprihop, Dogfish Head (Milton, DE) – As its name indicates, Aprihop is a big American IPA (7% ABV) massively hopped and complemented by the addition of apricots. Described as a fruit beer for hopheads, Dogfish Head Aprihop has been brewed every spring since 2004.

Rogue Irish Lager, Rogue Ales (Newport, OR) – We feel strongly that any list of spring seasonals must include a St. Patrick’s Day beer and Rogue Irish Lager is a great craft beer take on a classic style. This 5% ABV Lager is smooth, mellow, and perfect for floating Guinness.

Spring Reign, Ninkasi Brewing Company (Eugene, OR) – Brewed every spring since 2009, Ninkasi Spring Reign Ale is a refreshing, light Pacific Northwest-style Pale Ale with a toasted malt front end that gives way to a bright citrus hop finish.

Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop IPA, Sierra Nevada Brewing (Chico, CA) – Hops are harvested in the fall in the Northern Hemisphere but they’re also grown in New Zealand, where they are harvested in what is our springtime. Sierra Nevada has taken Autumn’s wet-hop tradition and created a new one by shipping in fresh Southern Cross, Pacifica, and Motueka hops from New Zealand within 7 days. Southern Hemisphere Harvest is a Fresh Hop IPA like no other – and it’s only brewed in the spring. 

Imperial Russian Stout, Stone Brewing (Escondido, CA) – With a mid-April release timed up with the IRS tax deadline, Stone gives us ample reason to deduct the contents of one of their finer seasonal creations. Featuring a dark, heavy body and black current, coffee, and anise tones, Stone Imperial Russian Stout should be enough to soothe your tax-filing blues.

, American Craft Beer Picks 10 Spring Seasonals That You Need To Check OutRed Chair NWPA, Deschutes Brewing (Bend, OR) – Call it a Red Ale on steroids or a mellow IPA, Red Chair NWPA is one of the most balanced, hop-forward ales you’ll find today. Once limited to the Pacific Northwest, you should now be able to find Red Chair everywhere Deschutes is sold. Your tongue will thank you.

The Long Thaw White IPA, Harpoon Brewery (Boston, MA) – One of craft beer’s elder statesmen, Harpoon’s beers are sometimes overlooked and their refreshing early-spring seasonal shouldn’t be. The Long Thaw White IPA blends the spiciness of a Belgian Wit and the American hop character of an IPA.

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