The “modern” American craft beer scene started in the 1970’s and 1980’s with the legalization of homebrewing by President Jimmy Carter and the start of some iconic breweries still functioning to this day. And with the 250th anniversary of the United States being this year, it poses the question: what are true American craft beer legends? If craft beer had a Mt. Rushmore, who would be featured? There are so many classics of the craft beer genre but four beers stood out as being instrumental in changing the landscape of craft beer. These beers are still in production so you can try them for yourselves and see if you agree.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
When it debuted in 1980, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale punched above its weight class. It featured distinct Pacific Northwest Cascade hops, which gave the beer an orange rind and pine aroma/flavor. Sierra Nevada pale ale fundamentally changed the entire beer world forever, showcasing American hops in a unique and drinkable but balanced way that had never been done before. Almost every American hoppy beer style can trace its roots to this beer.
Allagash White
Allagash White is one of those beers that defines a beer style even though this style is very much not American. Brewed in Maine since 1995, Allagash White is a witbier, a beer style originally from Belgium. The beer is made with wheat, coriander, Curaçao orange peel and a zippy and vibrant strain of ale yeast that creates a good amount of phenols (clove/pepper) and esters (pear). Allagash White is considered one of the gold standards of witbier, winning countless awards and being a beer industry favorite. It’s one of those beers that when you see it on at a bar, you instantly order it.
Alaskan Smoked Porter
A unique beer and a first of its kind, Alaskan Smoked Porter has been brewed since 1988 and uses smoked alder wood, making it one of the first smoked beers of brewed in the United States. It is the most awarded beer at the Great American Beer Festival (according to Alaskan’s website) and one of the first beers in the U.S. that displayed a vintage date printed on each bottle. This shows that some beer styles could be aged like a fine wine. The beer is released in limited batches every fall in certain U.S. markets. If you see it, buy it and drink one bottle now and hold the others to see how the beer changes over time.
Russian River Pliny The Elder
The double IPA is a relatively new beer style, invented by Brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo in the mid-1990’s in California. In 1999, when he was the Brewmaster at Korbel Champagne Cellars owned Russian River Brewing Co. (a brewery he now owns with his wife Natalie), Cilurzo started brewing Pliny the Elder, an 8% ABV golden colored double IPA. It’s the beer that launched an entire era of bracingly hoppy, higher alcohol beers. Constantly tweaking the recipe, the current iteration of Pliny the Elder has Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra, Tangier, Nectaron, and CTZ hops for a citrus, pine and stone fruit aroma/flavor. Still sold in its classic 500 mL bottle, Pliny the Elder is a staple of California beer culture and is known globally as fundamentally changing beer for the better.
Cheers to classic American beers and remember to enjoy beers responsibly with people who you truly care about.