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4 must-try flavored beers

If you’re new to beer, or don’t pay attention to it too much, you might not realize there are adjuncts in some beers. What are adjuncts? Things like other grains, spices, fruits, and sugars that add flavor and character.

Frisson.jpg
Frisson.jpg

Beer.  

Water. Hops. Yeast. Barley. That’s what it’s all about, right?  

Wrong. If you’re new to beer, or don’t pay attention to it too much, you might not realize there are adjuncts in some beers. What are adjuncts? Things like other grains, spices, fruits, and sugars that add flavor and character.  

Some purists deride adjuncts, but the Reinheitsgebot (German purity law pertaining to beer) and ancient views on beer are meant to be broken.  

With that in mind, here are some beers you should try that not only use adjuncts, but do it well. Next time, seek these out instead of your usual clean, crisp pilsner.

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Surly Frisson

When I first had this beer in the taproom before a Minnesota United match, I thought, "OK, that’s good and different." The first round of cans were even more enjoyable. It’s unique, utilizing grapefruit and blackcurrant subtly. The currant provides the best part of the aroma and flavor, with a slightly pithy grapefruit finish that is insanely dry. In a beer world run amok with adjuncts, this one is truly different. If you want another currant-based beer, check out the rosé lager with currants and strawberries from Surly before it disappears.  

August Schell Grain Belt Blu 

This is an odd one, and not something to drink often, but a 12-pack of this lager with blueberry juice is delicious on a hot day. And this beer is purple, which is always fun. The blueberry juice is a little sweet, but a solid malt base keeps things in check. It’s also one to pick up when you’re looking to drink your way through a music fest.

 

Forager Brewing Co. Sherpa’s Survival Kit

 

Coffee is a hard adjunct to use. Too much and you might as well just drink coffee. Too little, and what’s the point? Forager’s Sherpa, though it has gone through multiple, mostly fantastic iterations, currently utilizes a Fiddlehead roast to make the brew. And it’s divine. The base beer is less thick these days, and the coffee not as overpowering. The cocoa base of the roasty stout provides a great backbone for the coffee flavor.  

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Grand Rounds Steam Powered

This golden coffee ale is part of a style of beer that surprised me years ago. When you think coffee, you don’t think of a light-colored beer. But that’s what this is. The light color is fabulously misleading, as the beer provides a solid coffee flavor (beans from Café Steam don’t disappoint). This beer reminds me of a cold milk and coffee drink from Japan I indulge in when visiting Mitsuwa in Chicagoland.  

 

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