If you think this July 4th you’re being a hardcore American by drinking Budweiser, you should know that a Belgian/Brazilian company bought the brewer in 2008. To take our patriotism up a notch, we asked our friends at Hop City Craft Beer and Wine to recommend five excellent summer brews made in the USA. You can find these options and about 1,600 others at their shop in West Midtown Atlanta.
Peak Organic Summer Session Ale (Portland, ME)
Like most summer beers, this is lightweight and easy. However, the hop structure on this USDA-certified organic has a bright burst of Amarillo hops on the finish to compliment the understated wheat/citrus body.
Southern Tier Hopsun (Lakewood, NY)
This filtered wheat beer is the lovechild of the classic German hefeweizen and the pilsner. It’s dry and crisp with a hint of banana and citrus and pairs perfectly with spicy foods.
Red Brick Summer (Atlanta, GA):
This classic hefeweizen was reformulated this year resulting in a beer that’s chewy, thick and lemony. An unfiltered wheat with copious amounts of bitter lemon and orange, it pairs well with salads and lemon chicken.
Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian IPA (Frederick, MD):
You can’t have a summer beer list without one IPA. This one combines the hop profile of an American IPA with the yeast DNA of a Belgian Tripel. The result is a big dose of banana up front with a smack of citrus hops on the finish. This beer will appeal to the classic fan as well as Belgian-lovers alike.
Rogue Somer Honey Ale (Newport, OR):
An interesting barley/wheat hybrid, this beer is long on sweetness without losing its light-drinking summer body. It’s moderately hazy in the glass with lots of ripe orange flavor to balance out the floral aroma and honey. Start your evening with this beer on the back porch before dinner.
At some point this summer, the humidity and the strong sun will need to be balanced out. Our recommendation: find a hammock in the afternoon shade and mix up one of these refreshing cocktails.
The St-Germain
Our go-to summer drink this year is made with the light, relatively new French liqueur St-Germain. Its unique qualities originate from elderflowers which are handpicked by bohemian farmers in the Alps only a few days a year. Fill a glass with ice. Add two parts brut champagne, one and a half parts St-Germain, then two parts club soda and stir gently. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Caipirinha
If you can’t make it to Copacabana beach, this Brazilian creation isn’t a bad second option. Crush a fresh lime and one teaspoon of sugar in the bottom of a glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice and pour in cachaça. The most popular alcohol in Brazil, cachaça is distilled from sugarcane. It’s similar to rum, but don’t make the mistake of substituting it for the real thing.
Traditional Pimms
Since it’s creation in the 1840s, the British have put down nearly as much Pimms in the summer months as the traditional cup of tea. Mix one part Pimms No 1 and three parts chilled lemonade with fresh mint, orange, cucumber and strawberry.
Bourbon Smash
A cousin of the Southern Mint Julep, the smash takes its name from the crushing of fruit in the drink. Muddle mint, a few raspberries and two slices lemon in the bottom of a glass with a splash of simple syrup. Add crushed ice and mix in a few ounces of Black Maple Hill bourbon.
Mai Tai
The legend goes that in 1944 Victor Bergeron (Trader Vic) came up with this drink for two Tahitian customers visiting his California restaurant. Most of today’s versions are sweeter than his original concoction, so an authentic Mai Tai should balance the sweet and sharp flavors. Shake one part light rum, one part dark rum, half part Curacao, a splash of simple syrup, lime juice, and orgeat syrup with ice. Garnish with mint and pineapple.
The art of discovery is sometimes as simple as linking up with the right expert to show you the way. In the quest for the best whiskey, others can make the introduction, but in the end, you and your taste buds are the only judge that matters. To find the ultimate bottle, The Whisky Explorers Club will deliver unique whiskeys to you from around the world without any preconceived notions as to what you’re drinking.
Six times a year each member receives four tasting bottles of fine whiskeys. Each sample will arrive in generically-packaged bottles, with no cost, brand or age identity (you can go to their website to find out what you’re drinking). You’ll be introduced to a variety of limited production whiskeys and receive discounts on additional purchases. There’s also an opportunity to share and compare experiences with other club members. Only 200 new members are allowed each quarter. Membership fees for each level are $120, $185 and $250 a year.
Most of us don’t drink wine out of bulky water glasses, and those that do, shouldn’t, so why would you subject beer to a similar fate? Instead, opt for a set of glasses that will complement your brew. Spiegelau, a maker of fine stemware, offers such specially crafted pieces for pilsner, wheat and lager lovers. You can view all the options on the Spiegelau website or go straight for a purchase here.
Spherical Ice Trays. Image courtesy of MoMAstore.org
Japanese mixologists have recently created an art out of hard-carving ice into 2-inch spheres to perfectly chill drinks. The thinking is that the single ice ball has a lower surface area to volume ration than multiple ice cubes. This means that the heat from your hand doesn’t melt the ice as quickly, thus preventing a watered down drink, which is especially important with a fine Scotch. Several companies have jumped in the market offering a way to have the round ice ball at home:
- The MoMA Store has the most affordable option in a $16 ice tray.
- A U.K. company, Drinksology, sells the premium ice ball maker but it will cost you about $780. It’s worth at least watching the process on their website.
- Another option is to order a bag of 5 purified spheres delivered to you for $40 from Glace Luxury Ice Co..
