1. Craft beer comes in cans, too.
Yes, canned beer isn’t just for hipsters and frat stars. Take Dale’s Pale Ale, for example, brewed at Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons, Colorado. Available at UCB and other area beer distributors, this American-style pale ale packs a nice punch of malt and hops with a citrus presence as well. And at 6.5% ABV, you’ll be enjoying yourself after only a few cans. It’s pretty drinkable too, so if you’re an IPA hater don’t expect to be turned off by the hops. Embrace the bitter!
So, why the can? Besides the fact that the rugged beer drinkers out in Colorado like the can better (lighter and easier to carry in the mountains, we presume), cans actually keep all light out, preventing the beer from getting skunked quickly. The can is also better than the bottle for sipping; you don’t get the unwanted foam that comes from agitation in the bottle neck. Many craft brewers have stuck to the glass bottle merely for image, but Dale’s isn’t the only microbrew packaged in a can. Pennsylvania’s own Sly Fox offers some brews in a crushable can.
2. When pouring beer into a glass, a foamy head is usually good.
Beer should be enjoyed out of a glass. And unless you’re tapping a keg of natty, a foamy head is the sign of a well-poured beer. Local brewers Dock Street advise you not to tilt the glass, but pour straight and from a distance. This allows the yeast and aromas to mix up and gets a bit of the carbonation out for a smoother (and less burp inducing) drink. We found that the straight, high pour yields a bit too much foam, so it’s not a bad idea to start the glass a little tilted and then finish at a 90 degree angle. Also, swipe a little oil from your face on a finger and have it ready to stop the head from overflowing. An ideal head should be about 1-1.5 inches.
3. Buy local, store it cold, drink it warmer
Local and craft brews taste significantly better (and are much fresher) than the mass-produced lagers of the Anheuser-Busch variety. It’s going to cost you a little more, but nice beer isn’t hard to come by. Allegro and UCB sell a wide variety, like Victory and Yard’s, and watering holes such as White Dog, City Tap House and Local 44 keep quality craft beer on tap. For an even more authentic experience, check out Dock Street, Triumph or Nodding Head, breweries that also serve great food. Pairing food with beer is way easier and less pretentious than pairing it with wine.
And remember this: store beer colder to preserve its freshness, but let it warm up a bit to bring the flavor out. Usually, the higher the alcohol content, the higher the storage temperature.
