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Craft beer is now a thing all around the world. But in spite of its emergence, there are also some exceptional long-standing ales and lagers that should NEVER be overlooked.
And here are five iconic beers worth travelling for.
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. It’s carefully 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.
Birra Moretti La Rossa (San Giorgio di Nogaro, Italy)
While regular Birra Moretti is a relatively bland mass-market lager, the brewery which is located northeasten Italy, not that far from Slovenia, 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.
Fullers London Pride (London, England)
One of the most iconic ales in the UK, London Pride is an all-British affair. 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.
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 been for six generations. And the tavern’s Rauchbier is still being tapped directly from the wooden barrel according to old tradition.
Saison Dupont (Leuze-en-Hainaut, Belgium)
Founded in 1950, Brasserie Dupont is located on a working farm which dates back to 1759. And it’s 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.”
