Must-have craft beers for July 4th celebrations

Don’t water down your fireworks. These summer selections can be the life of the party.

The odds are pretty good you’re going to have a beer this weekend.

The Fourth of July is the biggest beer holiday of the year, according to Nielsen. Last year, consumers spent $825.8 million on ales, lagers and other sudsy beverages as they celebrated America’s independence – just under $300 million more than they do for the Super Bowl and $95 million more than Memorial Day.

So it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise when you see all sorts of specials on Bud Light, Miller Light and Coors Light at your local grocery and package stores – or the heavy ad campaigns by the macro beer companies. And those pushes make plenty of sense. Given that July 4 celebrations are often day-long affairs, there’s a good case to be made for lighter, low alcohol beers.

Fortunately, craft brewers have become more cognizant of that – and there are some terrific options available. In fact, since July 4 is a holiday where even non-beer drinkers tend to pick one up at some point, this can be the perfect time to introduce people to craft options.

One way to do that is at a beer festival. There are, somewhat surprisingly, a couple of notable gatherings that occur this weekend. The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta will host Red, White & Brew, with more than 50 beers to sample (followed by a fireworks viewing on the roof of the Aquarium’s parking deck). And Portland’s Craft Beer Festival will be in full gear, with 45 brewers taking part in the three-day event.

But let’s be honest. Most of us will spend the day with friends and family, not too many steps away from the grill – and likely with a pool or ocean within sight as well. If that’s your plan and you’re looking for something different to put in the cooler this year, here are a few suggestions – based around what you might be doing at the time. As you sip by the pool or on the beach.

Via: Fortune

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WHILE RED STATES DROWN, WHITE HOUSE RELEASES BEER RECIPE

This week, the media solemnly suggested that, with a tropical storm bearing down on the Gulf Coast, the RNC should considering canceling their convention. It would be in poor tasted, they scolded, to continue with political speeches and celebrations while New Orleans was threatened with another devastating storm. Today, as the storm moves north and residents of the Gulf Coast begin to clean up, over 500,000 people are without power and thousands remain in shelters. In other news today, the White House released its own beer recipe.

From the White House:

Inspired by home brewers from across the country, last year President Obama bought a home brewing kit for the kitchen. After the few first drafts we landed on some great recipes that came from a local brew shop. We received some tips from a couple of home brewers who work in the White House who helped us amend it and make it our own. To be honest, we were surprised that the beer turned out so well since none of us had brewed beer before.

As far as we know the White House Honey Brown Ale is the first alcohol brewed or distilled on the White House grounds. George Washington brewed beer and distilled whiskey at Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson made wine but there's no evidence that any beer has been brewed in the White House. (Although we do know there was some drinking during prohibition…)

Since our first batch of White House Honey Brown Ale, we've added the Honey Porter and have gone even further to add a Honey Blonde this past summer. Like many home brewers who add secret ingredients to make their beer unique, all of our brews have honey that we tapped from the first ever bee-hive on the South Lawn. The honey gives the beer a rich aroma and a nice finish but it doesn't sweeten it.

Via: Breitbart

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