Concerts on the Square: Beer Edition

As a follow up to our previous post, Concerts on the Square: Wine Edition, which highlighted our top picks for this year’s Concerts on the Square, we will now turn to the world of craft beer—an often overlooked alternative to the picnic wine.

Craft beer has been growing steadily over the past 10 years, and while overall beer industry sales have gone down, craft beer continues to rise. This is great news for all consumers as there is more support for the smaller brewers which may lead to continued expansion, experimentation, and widened distribution. Riley’s has been expanding our craft beer selection as more and more products become available. We’ve gone from around 100 different craft beers (mostly local) around the first part of the millennia to well over 500. We’re even more excited that all of this beer keeps finding its way into the hands of our customers, now more than ever.

For our wine segment, we focused on wines that featured screwcaps, an important feature in terms of ease-of-access. With beer, this is less of a concern, as bottle openers are almost always on hand, and if not, can be purchased on the cheap. So we will instead focus our attention on large-format beer bottlings which are more conducive to sharing. Without further ado, here are our top picks:

#1: The Bruery

The Bruery has continually impressed us with their family of Belgian-Style ales and earns our top recommendation. The Trade Winds tripel, Orchard White, and Saison de Lente all offer refreshing options for under-the-sun consumption. All of the Bruery’s offereings come in 750ml bottles, which will serve up to four people, depending upon how generously you decide to pour.

#2: Brewery Ommegang

Brewery Ommegang was one of America’s first micro breweries to devote their attention solely to the art of Belgian-style ales. The former head brewer for Ommegang now leads the laboratory operations at New Glarus Brewery, but the quality of beers coming from Ommegang has not suffered one bit. For a stronger, maltier beer, look for the either the Three Philosophers Quadrupel, or the Ommegang Abbey Ale. For a more summery session beer, pick up either a bottle of Hennepin Saison or the Witte (Belgian Witbier).

#3: New Glarus Brewing Co.’s Fruit Beers

Consistently rated as two of the best beers in the world, both the Raspberry Tart and Wisconsin Belgian Red are both tremendous beers and are certainly worthy of being poured at Concerts on the Square. You will want to share these beers with friends, as they are on the sweeter side. Both also pair well with chocolates, cakes, and other sweets.

#4: New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Series

New Belgium has been releasing a steady stream of beers under the Lips of Faith series of bold, and over-the-top beers. We recommend picking up one of the sour beers produced in this line. Sour beer? Yes. For the same reasons that white wine tastes so good outside on a hot summer afternoon, sour beers are also excellent options and pair very well with a variety of foods. Riley’s has both Le Terroir, a dry hopped sour ale, and Vrienden, a sour ale brewed with hibiscus flowers, and each are outstanding impressions of what sour beers can, and should be. Soft cheeses are your best pairing options here, and we know you love cheese.

#5: Fantôme Saison

In the world of Belgian Saisons, we have always looked at Fantôme Saison as the gold standard. Rustic in appearance, yet immaculately defined in character, Fantôme Saison delivers a torrent of nuanced flavors and aromas ranging from wildflowers to peppery spice. You won’t want to pass this beer up. It is a gem to hold in your hand, and a delight to savor. Best of all, Saisons are quite versatile and can be paired with just about anything, making this a great choice for a picnic beer.

#6: Goose Island Fleur:

Finally, Goose Island’s Fleur, a Belgian [pale] ale brewed with hibiscus flowers provides yet another complex and elegant option. Tart and tangy, complete with some musky flavors and aromas, Fleur delivers a solid dose of acidity which is a great way to keep your palate fresh and ready for the next picnic dish. The addition of hibiscus flowers turns this beer a pinkish orange color, a unique feature in the realm of beer.

Once again, we hope you’ll take us up on a few of our recommendations and try some of the excellent beers we have on hand that are hoping to find their way up to the Capitol lawn. We’re always here and ready to offer up other recommendations as well, should your taste differ from ours.