Maxim Beer Awards: New Kids on the Block
The latest and greatest beers to hit the shelves.
The latest and greatest beers to hit the shelves.
Horizon Red Ale
Summit Brewing Co., St. Paul, MN
Availability: Year-round, 13 states
A deep reddish-amber color and a bready, spicy taste on top of fruity sweetness make this stand out like a redhead in a room full of brunettes.
Harpoon Belgian Pale Ale
Harpoon Brewery, Boston, MA
Availability: Year-round, 26 states
Sweet and citrusy like any good Belgian ale, Harpoon’s latest has a mouthfeel like rainbows and butterfly wings (according to our amazingly tipsy intern, at least).
Samuel Adams
Revolutionary Rye Ale
Boston Beer Co., Boston, MA
Availability: January–April, nationwide
The newest addition to hop-sniffing madman Jim Koch’s brewery, this red-hued ale is brewed with rye, giving it a spiciness that will make you stand and salute.
Silver Moon Bridge Creek Pilsner
Silver Moon Brewing Company, Bend, OR
Availability: Year-round, Oregon
A bright, crisp, easy-drinking pils that’s already won awards. Open one to see why. (Wear goggles!)
Mischief
The Bruery, Placentia, CA
Availability: Limited, 21 states
This mix of American IPA and Belgian strong ale is spiked with extra hops for a jolt of bitter citrus. One taste and you’ll be up to no good in no time.
Sweet Water Sch’wheat
Sweet Water Brewing Company, Atlanta, GA
Availability: Year-round, southeastern states
This very drinkable pale yellow beer has a hint of citrus and hops, perfect for hot, sch’weaty days.
The Abyss 2010 Reserve
Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR
Availability: Limited, 16 states
Bitter chocolate, coffee, and burnt treacle blend into a syrupy-smooth (and hella thick!) black beer. Not for sessions, but a perfect one-off.
Red Trolley Ale
Karl Strauss Brewing Company, San Diego, California
Like Michael Jordan, this medium-bodied beer has won two gold medals–one at the World Beer Cup, one at the Great American Beer Festival. It’s distributed in SoCal, but for more exclusive stuff, check out their monthly on-tap-only releases. Here’s to liquid salvation!
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