For beer lovers across the country, today marks the beginning of one of the most important weeks of the year: American Craft Beer Week. Organized by the Brewers Association, the week celebrates America’s 1,500 (and growing!) small and independent craft breweries. Julia Herz, the Brewers Association Craft Beer Program Director, stated, “American Craft Beer Week has become a cherished tradition, making this annual celebration a great chance to toast craft brewers and to celebrate the advanced beer culture here in the United States."
Indeed, even the federal government celebrates American Craft Beer Week. This year, the U.S. Congress introduced H.R. 1297 (“Resolution: Supporting the goals and ideals of American Craft Beer Week”) to recognize the enormous contributions craft brewers provide to the economy and culture of our country, and to encourage Americans to support and enjoy craft beer in its many forms.
This week, we will be highlighting a different American craft beer each day. You are encouraged to sign the Declaration of Beer Independence, head out to the nearest liquor store, and drink along as we explore some of the great beers our national brewers are producing.
Today, our featured beer is Harpoon Brewing Company’s UFO White. We recently featured this beer as a pairing option for Fairfield County Food Examiner Jim Cooper’s Wiener Schnitzel recipe, so this is a great opportunity to cook up this tasty dish and enjoy a cold glass of UFO White at the same time.
UFO White is brewed in the style of a Belgian Witbier (BJCP Category 16A). Witbiers are typically brewed using 50% unmalted wheat and 50% of pale barley malt such as German Pils. UFO White is a thirst-quenching summer beer, brewed with the traditional adjuncts of orange peel and coriander. The beer is somewhat sweet but not cloying, with the orange peel cutting the creaminess of the wheat and the spices lending a nice balance. As with most wheat beers, the hop presence is just enough to keep the beer balanced – the hop flavor is barely noticeable, leaving room for the spices and citrus notes to shine through.
The beer is unfiltered (hence the name UFO, for “UnFiltered Offering”) and has a cloudy, hazy appearance from yeast left in suspension. UFO White clocks in at 12° Plato (4.8% alcohol by volume) and 10 IBUs (International Bitterness Units, a method of measuring hop bitterness). This beer pairs well with any dishes where citrus is featured, including shellfish, seafood, and soft cheeses. You can find this beer at most local liquor stores, including World of Beverages (295 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851 – 203-847-5180), Al’s Warehouse (570 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851 – 203-847-3276), and Elmer’s All the Best Wines (650 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06902 – 203-847-9777). Pick some up and give it a try – then leave us a comment below and tell us if you enjoyed it!
Local happenings during American Craft Beer Week:
- Willimantic Brewing Company - 967 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226 -- 860-423-6777
Willimantic will be tapping their Dry Hopped 2010 Cask Barleywine on Wednesday, May 19th at 7:00 PM. Also, they will be brewing a batch of their Working Man's Wheat in honor of American Craft Beer Week.
Want to be notified when a new article is posted? Click the "Subscribe" button at the top of the page or follow us on Twitter!
Comments