Your Next Pint

Take me out to the Craft Brew

Photo courtesy of bonappetit.com

Beer and Baseball complement one another just like hops and malt, or balls and bats. But let's face it, most beer associated with baseball games or in TV commercials is watered down crap.

Fortunately, we are in the midst of a beer revolution, and finding a great craft beer to enjoy while watching your favorite team is not that difficult. So, what better way to ring in the baseball season than to recommend three great game day craft brews to drink up for the race to the pennant.

The Washdown:
- Dales Pale Ale
- Mirror Pond Pale Ale
- Mamas Little Yella Pilsner

Although I tend to lean towards the IPA style beer, I also understand that baseball games can take up to a few hours. Session beer is a must in these situations, thus the recommendations above are great in taste and low in ABV.

Play Malt!

A Pub Crawl in charming Chester, England

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Your Next Pint spent her British family holiday sight seeing, eating Fish 'n Chips & Meat Pies, then washing it all down with pulled Pints and Ciders. One of the many spots visited whilst in Britain was the charming town of Chester, England near Wales.

Upon arriving, the weather was typical – cold, misty, windy, and rainy. So what better way to spend our time than strolling thru the black & white cottage lined streets in search of the next warm pub.

The Washdown:

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1.) The Falcon – Samuel Smith Bitter: mild, not as hoppy or carbonated as in the states 3.8% ABV

One major difference I noticed from US to UK beers is that British ones really don't have as many flavor combinations, more like categories (stout, lager, ale, cider). Being drawn by oak aged barrels, the beers are flatter, frothier, and milder.

The Falcon pub itself was a sight to be seen. The foundation and beams were built in the 1400's and its original archway in the basement was still in tact. John, the bartender, was more than happy to show us below.

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2.) The Bear & Billet – plump juicy 'n crisp Fish 'n Chips, tender 'n tangy Chili, tasted more like Christmas Turkey than traditional Indian Curry

This pub is definitely where the locals go, and has more of an upscale, gastropub vibe. I drank a Lager here, but the purpose was really to come for the food.

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3.) The Watergates – pop in for a crisp Cider or Pilsner, and definitely the Old Crypt architecture dating back to 1180 A.D.

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4.) Old Custom House Inn – the hoppiest of everything I tried yet still mild with a strong alcohol finish Marstons Old Empire India Pale Ale 5.7% ABV

The bartender was friendly as can be, and taught us many things – like how their beer gets drawn from barrels downstairs. Typical English Ale is brewed via open fermentation, so the beer is constantly changing, unlike American carbonated kegs. Because the holes in the beer barrels (for pulling ale up) are exposed, all the enzymes & yeasts that naturally occur change according to the environment and temperature – meaning you could literally drink the same beer at two different pubs, and each one will have different flavor notes based on how they're stored.

All in all, Chester made for a great town of downing pints. And these were just 4 of many more.

For a more civilized experience, enjoy Your Next Bite's review on High Tea at Chester Grosvenor & Spa.

Mama's Little Yella Pilsner

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It travels well, it protects beer from light and Oxygen, it might be the new best thing for the environment, but I still feel cheap drinking beer out of a can – or do I? You may have noticed that many more microbreweries are saying "I Can" and Mama's Little Yella Pils is a vote for the future.

The Washdown:

- grassy nose, good head that pours out with a nice yellow color, Mama's Little Yella Pils (Oskar Blues Brewery in CO) ABV 5.3%

Making it more about the beer and less about the package (like other well-known Rocky Mountain breweries), Oskar Blues Brewing does a great job of delivering a drinkable Pilsner with a robust flavor to back it up.

It's a perfect fit for your next summer camping, boating or golfing trip.

Mammoth Mountain High Country Pilsner

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A storm's brewin' – you know what that means – lots of snow at Mammoth Mountain this President's Day Weekend. So to celebrate those lucky ones who get to take advantage of the fresh powder, let's cheers with Mammoth's High Country Pilsner.

The Washdown:

- creamy, nutty, honey, wheaty with a lemon finish High Country Pilsner (Mammoth Mountain Brewing Co. in Mammoth Lakes, CA) 4.2% ABV

The nose is Malty Citrus, the tongue is like a bowl of Honey sweet Wheaties, and the finish has a bit of Lemon Zest. It's incredibly smooth with little to no head, validating the label's line "crisp and refreshing as a High Sierra Stream."

This beer is brewed with both Organic Pilsner and Vienna Malt hops, then bottle conditioned at elevation 8,000 ft.

It's also got a beautiful honeycomb orange color – try not to replicate it in the snow.

Follow @MammothBeers to keep up on their brew news.