• Skip to main content

Yak Max

A Midwesterner’s Guide to Spring’s Best Beers

by yak max

Once the Midwest is released from winter’s icy grasp, spring’s trepid arrival sees the beginning of barbecue season. With rising temperatures and charred food comes a growing thirst. But where do the Midwest’s hearty folk turn for the perfect pairing of hops and barley to couple with the promise of spring?

To find an answer, I turned to the good folks at Weiland’s Market, centrally located in Ohio, The Heart of it All. With their steadfast guidance, I navigated refrigerated cases lined with colorful bottles and inviting labels to find spring’s top five beers. After a grueling afternoon of research, my thirst slaked, I share my findings below.

Ground Break
Ithaca Beer Co, Ithaca, NY

$2.69/single
Unknown Alcohol by Volume

Ground Break was among my favorites to sample. Being one of three saisons – a pale ale – meant it should be heavily carbonated and have a citrusy aftertaste. This particular offering had a comparatively mild flavor and was the lightest of the saisons. Ground Break poured into a beautiful, heady foam, that remained long after the final swallow.

Verdict: This beer would be perfect on the patio, on its own.

Swing Session Saison
Victory, Downington, PA
$1.99/single
4.5% Alcohol by Volume

This Belgian-style saison was slightly darker than the Ground Break. I found it to have a light, smooth flavor, but a strong aftertaste of lingering citrus and spice. After several earnest gulps, I found the aftertaste became overpowering.

Verdict: Too strong for me — a beer for beer aficionados.

Smitten Golden Rye Ale
Bell’s Brewery, Comstock, MI
$1.99/ single
6% Alcohol by Volume

The darkest of the three saisons, the Swing Session had a beautiful golden color. As the others, it also had an inviting, citrusy aroma. The flavor was light, but also a complex combination of citrus, rye, and “earthy overtones.” As with the Swing Session, the aftertaste quickly became strong, but not overpowering.

Verdict: Too complex for my unrefined palette — another beer for aficionados.

Night Cat
Hoppy Dark Wheat Beer
Two Brothers, Warrenville, IL
$2.29/single
5.8% Alcohol by Volume

In a unique purple can — easily the most attractively of the bunch — Night Cat was the darkest of the sampled beers – and it is pretty dark. When poured, it built to an attractive, foamy head. Night Cat, like most of the others, boasted citrusy notes. Although a dark beer, it had a surprisingly mild, malty taste. Though heavy, it had little aftertaste.

Verdict: It’s pretty good.

Shiner Ruby Redbird
Spoetzel Brewery, Shiner TX
$1.89/ single
4.8% Alcohol by Volume

This golden-colored, heavily carbonated beer is technically a summer beer, but the folks as Weiland’s assured me it was still one of spring’s best sellers. Overall, Ruby Redbird had a refreshing, tangy taste, a combination of the added grapefruit juice and ginger, reminiscent of shandy-style beers brewed in Chippewa Falls.

Verdict: It’s really, really good! Enjoy outside in warm weather!

Related

  • Salute Spring With These Five Great Spring Beers
  • Spring Has Arrived and so Have the Top Five Spring Beers
  • 5 Best Spring Beers for Springtime Fun
  • Best Beers for Spring
  • The Best Beers for Spring 2014
  • The Five Best Beers to Drink in the Spring
Previous Post: « Top 10 Video Games That Are Based on the Best Movies of All Time
Next Post: Seven Times Nine Equals Finger-Shaped Footballs: How to Make Math Class Fun for Grade Schoolers »

© 2021 Yak Max · Contact · Privacy