Alternative Crafts
Amber Ale
Amber ales can run the gamut from being very aggressively hopped, or bitter, to being more malt-forward, or sweet, or balanced between malt and hop characteristics, Danner says. "Our amber ale is a delicate balance between [the] rich caramel malt that provides a nutty sweetness and German noble hops that provide a crisp, clean bitterness."
India Pale Ale
Originating in Great Britain in the 18th century, American-style India pale ales are typically very hoppy, with notes ranging from piney and resinous to bright tropical fruit flavors and aromas, Danner explains. "IPAs can range in color from light copper to deep auburn," he says. "IPAs are one of the hottest styles out there right now."
Saison
Traditionally brewed on Belgian farmhouses during cooler months, today's saisons tend to be dry, crisp and highly carbonated. Saisons don't have precise style parameters, although they could be spicy, hoppy or have an indescribable characteristic, depending on the brewer's creativity. Boulevard's Saison-Brett, for example, includes a wild yeast strain, which increases the earthy notes. "Beers with wild yeasts are suitable candidates for aging," Danner says, "as the yeast will continue to chew away at any residual sugars left in the beer and the earthy, funky character will intensify."
Tripel
With a history dating back to monastic breweries, modern-day tripels are typically bright golden in color and feature Belgian yeast characteristics, resulting in fruity notes with a crisp hop bite. Danner's version combines tropical fruit aromas with sweetness from the malt and a higher alcohol content of just above 9 percent. "As tripels age, you'll find that the fruity notes fade and give way to [a] more bready or biscuity character from the malt," Danner says.
Porter
Craft beer rookies may shy away from its dark and rich appearance, but with traits that feature roasted or chocolate-like malt qualities, porters can be more friendly than foreboding. Usually, Danner says, the style includes hop bitterness to balance the malty sweetness. His version is characterized as a robust porter that balances loads of chocolate and caramel malt, with American hops providing fruit and floral notes. "Porters are a bit of an under-appreciated style," Danner says.
Hefeweizen
This unfiltered wheat beer tends to be cloudy, easy to drink and a good place for craft novices to start. It's common to squeeze a fresh lemon or orange wedge into the glass, although brewers and craft aficionados prefer not to. Because it does not go through the filtering process, these beers have more vitamins and complexity than their filtered counterparts, says Greg Fretz, owner of The Phoenix Ale Brewery in Phoenix. "It's a very refreshing beer to drink, especially in warmer states."
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