Keggd. Blog

India Pale Ales, or IPAs, are becoming some of the most popular craft beers in the world. They are literally starting to take over the craft beer revolution.

Think of the beers or breweries you hear about most. Alchemist Heady Topper, Russian River Pliny the Elder, Tree House Brewing Company Julius, Hill Farmstead Abner. They are all some of the most sought-after beers in the world, and they're all IPAs or DIPAs.

In fact, nine out of the top twenty beers of all time on Beer Advocate's list are IPAs. And now, the big name / mainstream breweries are starting to make their own IPAs. Look at Sam Adams, they come out with an IPA mix pack every year now.

Brewing beer is a science. There are many different ways to do it, depending on the style of beer. But there are six basic steps that you need to follow in the beer brewing process.

I have taken a somewhat complex method of brewing and broken it down in a very simple six step process. The goal of this blog is to get you to understand what each of the six steps does to the ingredients involved in the beer brewing process and how it gets each ingredient closer to creating the world’s most delicious beverage, beer.

When you hear someone mention Vermont, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Ben & Jerry’s? Maple syrup? Cheese? Maybe the Vermont Teddy Bear?

For me, it’s beer. Recently, some of the best craft beers have come out of Vermont. When I say these beers “come out of Vermont” I’m being a little misleading. The only way to get these beers out of Vermont is to go there and get them. I highly recommend planning a trip to Vermont ASAP to try some of the delicious beers they have to offer. Before you go, don't forget to learn how to taste beers like the experts. Click the link at the end of this blog to download the free guide on the basics of beer tasting.

Most people don’t think too much into pouring their beer. But, it can really affect the taste of the beer. The different notes that the brewer wants you to taste can really be activated during the pour.

First, you need to start with glassware. You’ll need to pick the right glass for the beer you’re drinking. For a breakdown of exactly what glass should be used with each style of beer, check out this blog.

Next, here are the steps for the pour:

Let me start this blog off by saying I don’t recommend making a beertail with a good, rare craft beer. Enjoy that beer as-is. Use other big market beers for these recipes.

So, what exactly is a beertail? Well for one, it’s pretty obviously a beer cocktail. Yes, beer can be used as an ingredient in a cocktail. That is just one of the many fun facts about beer.

You’ve probably had a beertail at one point or another. Ever heard of a Beergarita? It’s simply just a margarita with a beer in it. That’s probably one of the most simple beertail recipes out there.

Beertails get way more complicated / delicious than that. Here are two of my absolute favorite recipes. But, next time you’re out at a bar, ask the bartender if he has any signature beertails he can make for you. This is how I’ve discovered a few of my absolute favorite drinks. Also, for some more amazing drink recipes, check out The Beeroness. Beer as an ingredient isn't just restricted to cocktails, you can make some amazing dishes, as well.