My Favorite Nebraska Beers of 2013

I probably sound like a broken record, but the fact remains true: Nebraska is growing and expanding in the craft beer world. The craft beer scene throughout the state is expanding almost daily it seems, with discussions of new brewery openings becoming a regular topic between craft beer lovers in the state. It’s fantastic – it pretty much makes my heart sing with joy! (Hey, if I can’t get cheesy around the holidays, then when can I?)

I thought this would be an easy assignment, thinking of my three favorite beers from Nebraska for the year. I thought to myself, “hey, thanks for an early Christmas present, Tom!” But boy was I wrong.

My number one was an easy choice, though, but from there? This took some serious thought and wrestling around with my choices. In the end, I went with my number one beer from the brewery I frequent the most, a delicious beer from a not-quite-open-yet brewery, and a beer to keep me cozy in the winter from an old favorite brewery.

 

Belgian Pale Ale – Zipline Brewing Company

Far and away my favorite beer from my region was the Belgian Pale Ale from Zipline Brewing Company. They literally had me at first smell.

After Zipline opened in early January, I built up a good relationship with the brewers and owners. When Tom, an owner, learned that I loved Belgian-style beers, he took me back to their brewhouse and said “smell this” – and the rest was history for me.

Zipline’s Belgian Pale Ale finishes seriously smooth, with a delicious flavor of citrusy hops with a slightly fruity and peppery taste in the middle. To me, it is very well-balanced and light enough to drink more than one, but with a flavor that keeps me coming back for more. In fact, I have been trying to persuade them to make this a year-round offering; however, it is just an early spring seasonal in the brewery right now. Wish me luck with this next year!

 

Rhumble Seat – Ploughshare Brewing Company

Technically, Ploughshare Brewing is not open yet, but the brewer and owner, Matt Stinchfield, has been all over the craft beer scene in Nebraska for a few years now. This year, he brought a delightfully unique beer to the Great Nebraska Beer Fest in August called Rhumble Seat, which is a rhubarb Belgian-style witbier. That’s right – rhubarb. Not strawberry or cherry rhubarb, just rhubarb.

Listening to Matt talk about this beer was fascinating – I just wish I hadn’t already had a few samples in the 100-degree heat at the beer fest so I could remember all of his enthusiasm! When a local grower approached him about using his rhubarb, initially Matt was hesitant, but in the end decided to try and do something a little different.

The rhubarb was steeped in, and leaves a natural and very subtle tart flavor to the beer. I like this beer as a refreshing summer beer to drink when the heat and humidity are beating down, and the fact that there was no added sweetness from a fruit, to me, makes this beer all the more refreshing. I can’t wait until Ploughshare finally gets its doors open and brewing equipment bubbling, because I think they have incredible things in store for Nebraska craft beer lovers.

 

Sexy Betty – Nebraska Brewing Company

I had the pleasure of drinking Sexy Betty, an Inception Series offering from Nebraska Brewing Company, both on tap and out of the bottle this year (which, at least in Lincoln, is relatively rare). I know they distribute this in bottles, but having it on tap is like a dream. A cognac barrel-aged dream.

My favorite part of this beer is the hint of cognac that comes from the barrel – they are 50-year-old French cognac barrels – so the alcohol taste is not so overwhelming that it knocks me flat on my ass. Since this beer is a Russian Imperial Stout, it is nice and roasty, with hints of chocolate and subtle fruity flavors as well. This is a pretty thick and dark beer, and at 10% ABV, should probably be a sipper or at least slow drinker. I think that makes it the perfect beer to warm me up after an intensely cold and windy Nebraska winter day.