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August 2nd is International Beer Day and we’re celebrating the day with eight iconic “international” beers that are well worth your time.
Pilsner Urquell (Plzen, Czech Republic)
In 1842, Plzeň, brewer Josef Groll introduced the world’s first golden ‘pilsner’ lager, and changed beer forever. His invention soon became the most popular style of beer on the planet.
Today Pilsner Urquell is produced in the same brewery, using the same recipe that’s been in place for 175 years. Brewed with attention to traditional methods, like triple decoction and parallel brewing in wooden lagering barrels. And although this defining 4.4% ABV lager is internationally available it pairs even better Eastern European cathedrals and outdoor cafes.
Guinness 0 (Dublin, Ireland)
Non-Alcoholic beers have come a long way since your uncle used to order an O’Doul’s. And Guinness has introduced its own non-alcoholic take on its classic dry stout that does not disappoint. Amazingly close stylistically to Guinness Draught in all aspects except buzz, Guinness 0 boasts its beautifully smooth taste, perfectly balanced flavor, and unique dark color, topped off with an uber-creamy head.
(Courtesy Guinness)
To create Guinness 0 the St James’s Gate brewers, start by brewing Guinness exactly as they always have, using the same natural ingredients; water, barley, hops, and yeast; before gently removing the alcohol through a cold filtration method. The cold filtration process allows the alcohol to be filtered out without presenting thermal stress to the beer, protecting the integrity of its taste and character. The brewers then blend and balance the flavors to ensure the distinctive flavor profile and taste characteristics of Guinness
Birra Moretti La Rossa (San Giorgio di Nogaro, Italy)
While regular Birra Moretti is a relatively bland mass-market lager, the north eastern brewery not that far from Slovenia also makes a Doppelbock that is one of the best in Europe. “Traditional beer styles are often closely identified by cities and the Doppelbock’s (double bock) roots lie in the North German city of Einbeck, which makes it all the more interesting that this Italian brewery has such command of the style.
Moretti La Rossa is a malt-forward 7.2% ABV Amber Lager with intense aromatics, rich toasty, dark fruit notes and a bight hoppy finish that surprises.
(Courtesy Paulaner)
Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen (Munich, Germany)
Brewed with uncompromising standards that strictly adhere to the Reinheitsgebot, using only 4 ingredients (water, hops, yeast and malt), this is the Oktoberfest original. Brimming with rich malt flavor and lingering toffee tones, Paulaner has been brewing this 5.8% ABV classic for almost 400 years.
Fullers London Pride (London, England)
One of the most iconic ales in the UK, London Pride is an all-British affair that unites a nation of beer drinkers. It’s brewed with entirely home-grown hop varieties – Target for bittering and Northdown, Challenger and Goldings for aroma – but the soul of the beer is unquestionably in the malt.
Brewed to 4.1% ABV this tawny-colored English Bitter showcase sweet raisin, biscuit and dried-fruit notes from the Crystal malt balanced with fresh, piney herbs emanate from the hops. Rich, smooth and elegant on the palate, it draws to a clean, satisfying finish with beautifully balanced bitterness.
(Courtesy Tsingtao)
Tsingtao 0.0 (China)
Founded in 1903 by German colonists who brought their brewing instincts to Asia, Tsingtao is China’s second largest brewery which also accounts for half of China’s national beer exports. And last year they introduced a new non-alcoholic variation which has made its way to the states.
With only 63 calories and layers of flavors, Tsingtao 0.0 offers a buzz-free drinking experience that’s incredibly true to the original, the #1 Chinese imported beer in the US.
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier (Bamberg, Germany)
Located in the middle of the old part of Bamberg, directly beneath the towering medieval cathedral, stands the historic Schlenkerla brewery, home to one of beer’s rarest styles, the Rauchbier.
Rauchbier is arguably as much of a description as it is a style. In German, it translates quite simply to ‘Smoke beer’ and its smokiness is what makes Schlenkerla Rauchbier so compelling.
First mentioned as “House of the blue lion” in 1405, the Schlenkerla brewery is run by the Trum family as it has for six generations. And the tavern’s Rauchbier is still being tapped directly from the wooden barrel according to old tradition.
Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont (Leuze-en-Hainaut, Belgium)
Founded in 1950, it is on a working farm which dates back almost 200 years, Saison Dupont is a 4-star, world classic example of the Belgian Saison style.
Zesty, blond in color with a big rocky head, Saison Dupont is dry and refreshing 6.5% ABV Farmhouse Belgian Ale… a beer the renowned beer writer Michael Jackson called “a down-to-earth classic of the style.”
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And while we’re at it, August 1 was “National IPA Day” and you might also want to celebrate that as well…
