Early Summer 2024, Issue 72

The issue kicks off with an intriguing opinion piece from longtime contributor Jim Dykstra, who ponders the fallout of Monster Beverage Corp.’s purchase of famed craft beer conglomerate CANarchy last year. “Monster Brewing” was recently named a top ten “craft brewery” in the U.S. by the Brewers Association, which doesn’t sit right with our writer.

Cooling off from that incendiary story is our Beer Recommendations for Early Summer 2024, which feature a bevy of easy-drinkers ranging from fruit beers to lagers. These famed summer sippers are sure to be the perfect accompaniment to the early days of summertime.

Following that is a fun story about Asheville, North Carolina, which stands out as the best beer city in the South. Featuring a plethora of top-rated breweries and myriad beer festivals and events, Asheville has something for everyone, as long as that something you’re looking for is beer-related!

Heading further north, that story leads into a detailed brewery tour of one of the most important and popular breweries in Massachusetts: Charlton, MA’s Tree House Brewing Co. As a brewery that’s been on the forefront of the hazy IPA movement, Tree House continues to innovate across its five locations – including a cider house in Connecticut.

Then, it’s time for an updated treatise on How to Take Beer on a Plane. While it might sound like a bad idea right off the bat, packing beer in your checked luggage is actually a safe and secure way to take beer home with you after a long trip. I’ve personally done it multiple times with no issue; just make sure you’ve got plenty of padding and a plastic bag or two!

Farmhouse ale is an unusual style – and technically an “unofficial” one per the BJCP – and our Farmhouse Ale story explores its origins, characteristics, food pairings, flavors and much, much more. Definitely check out this story if you’ve ever been intrigued by the catch-all “farmhouse ale” term.

Our final story is an educational piece about the Kölsch style, which is the perfect beer style for late spring and early summer. Smooth, flavorful and begging for quick quaffs, make sure to keep this style in your fridge for yard work or just hanging out with friends and family.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

From the Editor

Industry News

FEATURES

Opinion: Craft Beer Is In Monster Trouble
Jim Dykstra opines on the state of the beer industry vis-a-vis Monster's acquisition of famed craft beer conglomerate CANarchy.

Beer Recommendations Early Summer 2024: What We're Drinking Now
Late spring and early summer are terrific seasons for beer, and these recommendations are among the best in our fridges at the moment.

TRAVEL

Asheville, North Carolina Breweries: Exploring the South's Best Beer City
Perhaps the best beer city in the South, this exploration of Asheville, North Carolina is sure to have you hankering for a visit to the "Land of the Sky."

Tree House Brewing: Touring Charlton, Massachusetts’s Craft Beer Scene
Building a tree house never sounded so fun. Dive into the story of one of New England's craft beer crown jewels with this Tree House Brewing brewery tour.

How To Take Beer On A Plane
Traveling with beer on an airplane can be a confusing affair. This story will demystify this activity and hopefully remove any concerns you might have about packing beer in your checked luggage.

ADVERTISERS INDEX

EDUCATION

Farmhouse Ale: The Distinctively Tart and Earthy Beer Style
A far-reaching term that encompasses a variety of beer styles, this story explains exactly what a farmhouse ale entails.

Kölsch: Cologne, Germany's Easy-Drinking and Versatile Beer Style
This excursion into the world of clean and delicious top-fermenting lagers will hopefully answer any questions you've had about this thirst-quenching beer style.

REVIEWS

Official Review
Single-blind reviews from our panel of experts. Featuring Mutation Brewing 99Xperiment, 21st Amendment Lager and many more!

Brewer Q & A
Brewers share secrets of their highest-scoring beers.