Special Beers for the 4th: Lager, Gose, Double IPA, and Pliny!
NorCal Beer Buyer Mike Pires, who’s been known to crush a Tavel or two.
Summer is finally upon us and the 4th of July is right around the corner. BBQs, vacations, quality time with family and friends, and fireworks are all summer activities that many will be enjoying in the next few weeks. We have plenty of wonderful options here at K&L to make this time of year extra special. Here are a few beers I wanted to showcase this 4th of July that I think everyone would enjoy.
Hanabi Lager Co.
K&L just picked Hanabi’s beers, and they could not have come at a better time. Hanabi is a lager brewing project based out of the Napa Valley that has been starting to get a lot of attention. These beers are made by winemakers that are driven to produce grain-forward lagers by focusing on using single-grain varieties in their beers, as opposed to hop-forward or malt-forward beers. Not only are these beers delicious, they all have labels inspired by fireworks displays. A wonderful treat to enjoy this 4th of July.
Hanabi Lager Co. "Hana" Pilsner-Style Lager, California (500ml) $14.99 This Pilsner-Style Lager is Hanabi’s flagship beer and features an heirloom grain variety named Haná. This varietal was used in the world’s first Pilsner, and is sourced from Norfolk, England. Straw gold in color with notes of fresh whole grain bread, nori, and dried spearmint.
Hanabi Lager Co. "Elwha Spelt" Pilsner-Style Lager, California (500ml.)- $17.99 From the producers: “This beer showcases Elwha, a variety of spelt grown in Washington State’s Horse Heaven Hills. Spelt is an ancient descendant of primitive wheat. This crop of Elwha was grown on the Moon Family Farm with no-till practices, minimal inputs, and irrigated exclusively with rainwater. Brewed as a Pilsner-style lager, Elwha Spelt brings bright and cheerful aromas of lemongrass, cardamom, and mint that transitions into a pleasing limestone minerality.”
Other Recommendations:
Russian River Brewing Co. "Pliny the Elder" Double IPA, California (510ml)- $5.99 This legendary beer needs no introduction. The perfect beer to enjoy on the 4th and all summer long.
Fieldwork Brewing Co. "Ancient Mariner" Cerveza Gose Sour, California (16 oz.can) $5.99 A refreshing citrus and saline forward sour that is perfect for beating the heat. From the producer: “Ancient Mariner is our chance to have fun with two things we love deeply, the Gose style of beer from Leipzig, Germany, and traditional flavors and ingredients from Baja California. The bright lime saturated nose jumps out of the glass to taunt you to take your first sip. To stay true to our love of the Lagers from south of the border we ferment the traditionally Ale powered Gose with a clean and crisp Lager yeast. This heavily salted Gose pops on your taste buds with the salinity working as a megaphone for this absolutely crushable Lime Gose, making up for the salted rim we refuse to provide. A large dose of maize not only helps make this beer as dry as possible, but pairs with our house pilsner malt to create a grain profile similar to a white corn tortilla. Ancient Mariner may have been dreamt up while fishing off the coast of Mexico, but at 4.6% it can be crushed wherever its Captain sees fit.”