5 great spring seasonal beers to try!

When I think of spring seasonals its kinda like "eh not that interested". I tend to get very excited about fall and winter for beer because those are some incredible varieties only available around the colder months. However I am slowly finding more and more great seasonals for spring and summer that get me even more anxious for warmer weather. So here are 5 spring seasonals, 2 favorites I first tried a few years ago and 3 I tried for the first time this year. I decided on these 5 because of course I enjoyed drinking them but also they are a lot different then what you typically think of a spring seasonal. I like when a seasonal beer stands out from the pack and tries a different style or flavor than the more popular ideas of a seasonal brew.

1. RedHook ale brewery - Mudslinger spring ale

As a huge fan of brown ales , I don't usually think of a brown ale when I think of spring. But, hey, I have to admit I was excited to see a spring seasonal that is a brown ale especially since I enjoy them all year anyway. So a brown ale for spring?? Hmm..well for me it just works. It is a bit lighter and smoother than some brown ales out there, but it is still nutty and has a well balanced sweetness with chocolate and caramel notes. This is a new one from redhook and I hope they continue to brew this beer as I would like to enjoy it again and again.

2. Magic Hat Demo Black I.P.A.- IPA on tour series.

I love I.P.As and I love dark beers. So you could say a black I.P.A is the best of both worlds. I love the distinctive hoppiness like a typical I.P.A. but also heavier with the smooth richness from the roasted malts, chocolate hints of flavor, and you gotta love that nice dark color. My only problem with this beer is that it is of course only available in spring!

3. Samuel Adams Noble Pils

Typically, I see a lot of hefeweizens and belgian whites for spring ales. So when Samuel Adams switched to their Noble Pils, replacing the white ale, I was all for it. I love the crisp refreshing drinkable quality of this beer. It screams spring with the citrus, floral, and piney notes. I am not usually a huge fan of pilsners, but this one has a nice hop flavor and a great balance. Since this beer was released, it is a must-have every spring for me!

4. Dogfish head ApriHop

A lot of beer snobs won't even touch any fruit beers, at all, whatsoever. I am not a huge fan of fruit beers, but there are a lot of them that I absolutely love, and this is one of them! I like a fruit beer to not be overpowering with fruit, no overly sweet syrup feel, and still taste like a beer. Beer with apricots in it? I love the idea, especially blending it into an ipa. There is just a hint of fresh apricots in this beer blending nicely into the great hop flavor. This beer is everything I could ask for in a fruit beer and we could all learn a thing or two from this. ApriHop is hands down my favorite spring seasonal beer and I will continue to look forward to it every year, thanks again Dogfish head!

5. Flying dog Brewery Garde Dog (Biere De Garde)

A great take on a classic french style beer. This beer is lighter with a unique sweet and sourness which is common in this "farmhouse" ale. I love farmhouse ales, I just can't get enough of that sweet maltyness and slight sour factor. Even though this beer is light, it has a lot of flavor and pays respect to the Biere De Garde style which was enjoyed during the warmer seasons for hundreds of years in France. I just discovered Flying dog brewery this year and I am quite impressed with them. Another great beer from Flying dog, enough said.

Like I said before, I don't tend to get too excited about spring beer because the other seasons seem to outshine (mmm oktoberfest) but these beers forced me to re-think spring beer and get excited for it every year. Give these beers a try, there is something for every taste and enjoy spring a little bit more! Cheers.

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