Beer and Wine Weekly Update: August 19, 2015

By Brian Wendt, Beer and Wine Department

Alternatives to Hoppy Beers

Hey folks, I know that a lot of you out there love hoppy beers, and I certainly count myself as a fan of IPA’s, but there are an equal number of beer lovers that visit City Market looking for something not so hoppy.  With the amount of IPA’s, Double IPA’s, and other hop-forward styles out there (especially in Vermont), it’s not surprising that some people are starting to get “hopped out.” Some people just don’t like a ton of hops in their beers.  And that’s OK! We have a wide selection of beers, from both local and out-of-state breweries, so there’s a bit of something for everyone.  Here are some of my favorite not-so-hoppy beer styles as well as recommendations from our current collection:

Scottish-Style Ales – Due to the lack of native-growing hops in Scotland and the expense of importing them, traditionally Scottish-style ales were and continue to be very low in hop bitterness and flavor.  They tend to be very clean, rich, malty beers with sweet caramel and sometimes smoky flavors.  Deep copper to amber red in color, these are easy-drinking malty beers.  Scottish Ales are divided into sub-styles based on their strength (ABV) with the strongest being Scotch Ales or “Wee Heavy.”  I highly recommend Oskar Blues Old Chub, a Scotch Ale available in 6 pack cans.  At 8% ABV this beer pairs well with roast beef and smoked cheeses.

Belgian-Style Ales – I’ve become a big fan of Belgian beers for the same reason I’m a beer lover in general: complexity of flavors.  Belgian beers have so much complexity: they can have sweet, malty, dry, fruity, spicy, floral, herbal, and tart flavors and aromas (even all in the same beer, how crazy is that?!).  Belgian brewers not only brew with the four traditional ingredients in beer (water, malts, hops, and yeast) but they often use a variety of spices, fruit, syrups, and candi sugars as well. There are so many Belgian styles to choose from, but my favorites are Abbey Ales (Dubbel, Tripel, Quadrupel), Belgian Blonde Ales, and Witbier.  I recommend Allagash Dubbel, the Belgian version of a brown ale with rich fruity and spicy characteristics that pairs well with sausages, Ommegang Hennepin, a farmhouse saison with coriander and orange peel that goes well with flatbread pizza, or the classic Duvel, a Golden Strong Ale that like most Belgian beers is highly carbonated and delicious; try it with seafood!

Vienna-Style Lagers – Vienna-style lagers are full-bodied amber lagers that have a soft, slightly toasted and sweet malty character.  Compared to Scottish-style beers, Vienna lagers are much more delicate and crisp in flavor.  We have a great local option from Stowe, Von Trapp Brewing’s Vienna Lager. At 5.2% ABV, this beer gives you more flavor and complexity than your typical lager while staying light and sessionable. If you’re looking for something less traditional, I recommend Brookyln Brewery’s Brooklyn Lager, an American take on the Vienna-style lager.  These beers go great with typical pub food (sandwiches, burgers, etc.) as well as farmhouse cheddar.

Russian Imperial Stouts – Finally, even though it’s still hot and summer outside, nothing beats a great stout at the end of the day. Russian Imperial Stouts, in particular, are one of my favorite dark styles.  Be warned, however, that these beers are extremely strong and can vary in hop character.  Typically, though, hops are used to balance the aggressive amount of malts used (particularly roasted malts).  British versions in particular tend to be more restrained in the use of hops.  So what flavors can you expect from a Russian Imperial Stout? Rich, deep, intense, roasted maltiness with dark fruity notes. My favorite Russian Imperial Stout is North Coast Brewing’s Old Rasputin, available in 4 packs. Black in color, this beer clocks in at 9% ABV and has terrific aromas and flavors.  Old Rasputin goes well with almost any dessert. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed with this beer!

That’s all for this week, cheers!