We spoke with Brasserie de Bastogne Head Brewer and Director Philippe Minne about Bastogne Ardenne Saison.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
I decided to create my own Saison with a mixed-fermentation process. Creation and experimentation within new brewing processes are important to me. To cultivate and develop our own wild yeast was an exciting challenge .

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
The dryness and wild aromas of this Ardenne Saison are what I enjoy the most about this beer.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
This is our version of a seasonal beer, we tried to imagine how a historical Saison would taste. In the past, any seasonal beers were wild and based on naturally occurring cultures in farmhouses.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?” 
This would make and excellent desert island beer indeed. The use of Brettanomyces means that Ardenne Saison is a real “bière vivante,” living beer, with an enjoyable and evolving flavor.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Perfectly refreshing beer -- light acidity balanced by wild yeast aromas.

We spoke with Upslope Brewing Co. Head Brewer Sam Scruby about Upslope Brown Ale.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
Our taproom manager spent a lot of time homebrewing back in the early days of Upslope, and he was inspired to brew a hoppier Brown Ale after drinking Dogfish Head's Indian Brown Ale. I believe his first batch had IBU calculation issues, creating "The Bitter Brown Ale" - which was unanimously panned by our brewing and packaging staff at the time. Undeterred, Chad continued to hone in the recipe until it was brought into our core lineup. It's become our most awarded beer -- never give up! 

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
I personally love the different layers of flavor, which become more pronounced when it is paired with food. Coffee, toffee, biscuit, wood, creme brulee and hints of citrus are all present in this beer. It sometimes takes a nibble of cheese or spoonful of chocolate cake to completely appreciate all the flavors.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
While I do love this beer, it occupies a much more seasonal role in my drinking rotation. Maybe a deserted snowy island? 

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Chocolate Coffee Smooth Operator.

We spoke with Upslope Brewing Co. Head Brewer Sam Scruby about Upslope Citra Pale Ale.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
We brewed a GABF Pro-Am beer with homebrewer John Primozic in 2014 that was a Citra Pale Ale/IPA. It was a big hit in the taproom and we made continuous tweaks to the recipe until we settled on the final version - featuring a more approachable ABV and slightly higher hopping rate. We have a very collaborative recipe development process at Upslope, I can't point to one person who wrote the recipe. 

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
The balance between malt and hops. I love that the slightly toasty malt flavor plays so well with the big apricot and grapefruit hop notes imparted by Citra. It creates a perfectly approachable but continuously interesting Pale Ale for me. 

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
Per the Upslope Naming Accords of 2008, we try to name our beers as close to the style category as possible. Simple is beautiful, especially in today's market. 

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Snazzy Apricot Repeater.

We spoke with Belching Beaver Brewmaster Troy Smith about Digital Bath.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
I created this recipe with our Barrel Master Peter Perrecone. Peter and I had been brewing a ton of hazy beers and we found our favorite recipe and hop profile. 

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
My favorite aspect is the drinkability. It is super flavorful, not overly bitter and goes down a little too easy. 

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The name of this beer came from the Deftones. This is our 4th collaboration with the band and it was named after a song off their White Pony album. 

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
It's not but it's definitely close. My desert island beer would be lower ABV, but Digital Bath is 6.5 percent, which makes it great to enjoy in the sun on a hot summer day.

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We spoke with Listermann Brewing Co. Head Brewer Jared Lewinski about Chickow!

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
A previous brewer had created the recipe alongside the owner, Dan Listermann, but, from that point, it has slowly morphed into what it has become today through subsequent brewers.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
To be honest, my favorite aspect of the beer is how it reacts to barrel-aging. If I was able to, I would make every single batch of Chickow! a barrel-aged batch, as I feel that is where it shines best in conjunction with the vanillins, tannins and micro-oxidative characteristics that develop from extended aging on wood.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The name is derived from the iconic movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" from the Ferrari scene. We believe that with every sip, you can get the feeling that Ferris had when he gets in the Ferrari!

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
Personally, no, as I am particularly passionate about sour beer. I would, however, say that it is my dessert (I'm really reaching for the pun here) pairing beer. Try it with peanut butter-heavy ice creams!

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Candied caramelized nuts drizzled with honey, with solid malt backbone.

We spoke with Arches Brewing Brewmaster Jamey Adams about Mexican Empire.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
The two chemists at Arches Brewing (Jeffrey Dake and myself) collaborated over 7 years ago as homebrewers to create this beer.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
The aroma and flavor that comes from using Vienna malt as the base, the balance of malt and bitterness that is only obtainable by using the clean profile of noble hops, and finally the drinkability of this slightly darker-than-amber beer that surprises most first-time drinkers.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
The history of the style itself. When Napoleon III began his conquest of Mexico, which in turn brought about the second “Mexican Empire,” he brought with him Viennese brewers as this style was his favorite style of beer. They in turn taught local brewers how to brew Vienna lagers. Think Negra Modelo​.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
No, but it is great on the beach!

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Deep amber, nutty and bready malt specificity, noble hop subtlety.