Thirsty Thursday

Ok, so I have been called a Beer Snob. I guess I can think of worst things to be called.

Here are my top 5 picks.

5. Hoegaarden, 4.9% vol

What better place to start than with an original ‘witbier’,Hoegaarden? Don’t be fooled by its cloudy appearance, the Hoegaarden is sweet tasting, and smooth. Its subtle flavours consist of a toned down spice and pepper taste that is perfectly accompanied by a slightly malty sweetness. It’s a lovely light beer sure to satisfy a worked-up thirst but not someone looking for a rugged brew.

4.

Shock Top Belgian White

Introduced:

Introduced: Originally as seasonal beer Spring Heat Spiced Wheat in 2006, year-round as Shock Top in 2007

Beer Style:

Belgian-style wheat ale

Description:

As an unfiltered Belgian-style wheat ale, this beer is naturally cloudy with a light golden color.

Ingredients:

Brewed with orange, lemon and lime peels and coriander.

Food Pairings:

Shock Top Belgian White pairs well with fresh salads, chicken dishes and Asian cuisine.

Glassware Suggestions:

The beer is best enjoyed in a tall, wide-mouthed glass. To serve the brew perfectly, follow these pouring guidelines. Pour the brew down the side of the glass until about one-half inch of brew is left in the bottle. Lay the bottle on its side and roll it gently back and forth, mixing the remaining yeast that has settled at the bottom. Pour the rest of the brew, producing a nice, thick collar oF foam.

Awards:

North American Beer Awards (NABA) – Belgian Wit (White) category - 2006 Gold (entered as Spring Heat Spiced Wheat)

North American Beer Awards (NABA) – Belgian Wit (White) category - 2007 Bronze (entered as Spring Heat Spiced Wheat)

Color:

Bright Yellow-Gold

3.Blue Moon (beer)

Blue Moon

Manufacturer	Molson Coors Brewing Company 2005-present Coors Brewing Company1995-2005
Introduced	1995
Alcohol by volume	5.4%[1]
Style	Witbier

Blue Moon, a Belgian-style witbier brewed by the Molson Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado, was launched in 1995. In Canada it is marketed as a similar beer called Rickard's White and is brewed in Montreal, Quebec^[2]. Originally called Bellyslide Belgian White, it was created by Keith Villa, a brewmaster at Coors Field's Sandlot Brewery (the onsite brewery owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company). The beer is orange-amber in color with a cloudy appearance because it is unfiltered. It is also spiced with coriander and orange peel in addition to the hops found in most beers. Blue Moon has a more pronounced orange flavor than many other beers of the style, and also has a slightly sweet flavor. The grain bill for Blue Moon includes malted barley, white wheat, and oats.

Some weiss and hefeweizen beers are commonly served with a slice of lemon in North America. Blue Moon, however, is traditionally served with a slice of orange, as it is said to accentuate the flavor of the brew. Keith Villa of Molson Coors admitted the orange slice garnish was mostly for attention-getting when Blue Moon is served in a bar.^[3] Many beer drinkers do not prefer fruit slices in their beer, since citric acid can eliminate the beer's frothy, flavorful head, and may prefer to have the brew served in a wheat beer glass instead. Finally, since Blue Moon is an unfiltered wheat beer, it is suggested to leave a small amount of the beer with sediment at the bottom of the bottle, then swirl it around in order to pour it into the glass, creating a thick head on the beer.

Blue Moon is available in bottles and kegs. The brew has 171 calories per 12-ounce serving and 5.4% alcohol by volume. However, in Oklahoma, Colorado, Minnesota, and Utah, the alcohol content of all Blue Moon beers bought in grocery or convenience stores is 3.2% alcohol by weight (approximately 4.0% alcohol by volume). Blue Moon Brews and Seasonal Brews sold in Liquor Stores are 5.4% by volume.

The back of the label reads, "Brewed with white wheat and oats, Blue Moon features a crisp wheat finish and the perfect combination of orange peel and coriander. Bring out Blue Moon's natural spices by serving it in a Pilsner glass with an orange-slice garnish." The coriander may potentiate the anxiolytic effects of the alcohol, with studies showing anxiety-reduction in mice administered with coriander.^[4]

Coors does not actively advertise the fact that the brew is owned by Coors on the belief that being associated with a major national brewery would diminish its credibility among aficionados. Blue Moon is instead branded as being brewed by the "Blue Moon Brewing Company." ^[5]

2.

Any beer from the Outer Banks Brewing Station. Try a sampler!!

1. An lastly, my favorite because it does not fill you up and never lets you down. . .

oh, and by the way, only in a glass bottle or pilsner glass.

Stella Artois

Stella Artois

Type	Lager
Manufacturer	Anheuser–Busch InBev
Country of origin	Leuven, Belgium
Introduced	1926
Alcohol by volume	5% (5.2% in some markets)
Website	stella-artois.com

Stella Artois (pronounced /ˈstɛlə ɑrˈtwɑː/) is a 5% ABV (5.2% in some markets) lager first brewed in Leuven, Belgium in 1926 as a Christmas brew, and named Stella after the Latin word for "star".^[1]

Although Belgium is best known internationally for its ales, the so-called "table beers," the bottom-fermented pilsner lagers such as Stella Artois head the list for domestic consumption, making up almost 75% of Belgian beer production. Stella is promoted as an international brand by its brewer, AB InBev. In its home market of Belgium, however, it is marketed, priced and sold as a regular lager. Despite its success internationally, the number 1 selling beer in Belgium is its sister beer Jupiler.

In the UK and in Canada, a lower ABV version is also available, called respectively Stella Artois 4% and Stella Artois Light-Légère. This variant was launched to compete alongside fellow Inbev lager Beck's Vier and to address negative associations of the brand.^[2