Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1470865
SUMMER BEER 101 TEXT BY MARK BAUNEE BEER MAN Stocking the Dedicated Second Fridge 14 | SIGNATURE MONTANA Small breweries are seing up shop in almost every town in Montana, and it is my duty as Signature MT's Beer Man to sample beer from each one. I may not be a professional sommelier, but I sure as heck play one as I travel the state, craing my dra lineup for each season. It's not easy being the "passionate beer lover" that I am, but somebody must do it. I'm going to clear the air on some terminology relevant to the world of beer. I oen get asked, "What is the difference between macro breweries, cra breweries, nano breweries, brewpubs, and farm breweries?" Well, let me sort this out. A macro brewery refers to the big dogs, like Anheuser-Busch, SABMiller, and Heineken International. ey have an annual production of over six million barrels of beer per year. A cra brewery defines itself as small and independent and produces fewer than six million barrels per year. "Independent" means the big dogs mentioned earlier can buy in but only up to 25% ownership. Any more than that bumps it up to a macro brewery. e nano-brewery is the smallest of all. It is not defined by the quantity brewed, but it is commonly referred to as a brewery that produces in batches of three barrels or less. A brewpub sells its own beer and food and brings in beer from other breweries, basically a brewery and a restaurant all in one. Farm breweries make and sell beer from the ingredients grown on their land. A farm brewery is to beer as a vineyard is to wine. Now that we have cleared that up let's move on to some of my seasonal favorites. Spring has been a big tease this year. But no worries, I cleaned up my dark, heavy winter warmers to make room for a lile lighter fare. is season, it's time to up your fridge game. Here's what you need to keep your man cave and your buddies properly in the suds. Session beer: A must-have! Session beers are about drinkability. ey are your all-day drinking, tailgate partying type of beer. e origins date back to World War I, where English factory workers were alloed two drinking periods or "sessions" of four hours each workday. is called for lighter beer in the English sense, so they didn't get too sauced on the job. e ABV is usually no higher than 3 or 4 percent. It's not quite your lawnmower beer, but prey darn close. Kölsch: is warm-weather beer doesn't' sacrifice taste for thirst-quenching power. It is low in alcohol but big in flavor. Kölsch, usually around 4.4 to 5.2 percent ABV, embodies the perfect balance of light maltiness, delicate floral hops, and crisp, subtle fruit. ey pour a crystal clear white or pale gold with a so white head. Pilsner: e patio pleasing Pils. is clean, crisp, and almost spicy flavored beer makes it a perfect choice for warmer weather. Pilsners are great if you want a simple beer with no overly intense flavors or high alcohol content. INTRODUCING WHITE CLAW ® SURF A COLLISION OF FLAVORS FOR A TASTE LIKE NO OTHER BRING THE WAVE Please Drink Responsibly. Hard Seltzer with flavors. All Registered Trademarks, used under license by White Claw Seltzer Works, Chicago, IL, 60661. Full nutrition information maybe found at www.whiteclaw.com GREAT FALLS HELENA HAVRE The Beverage Company