The Best of the Midwest (According to Lindsay)

2013 has been kind to me. New breweries flood Wisconsin, beer fests abound, and I squeezed in a trip to Europe (my beer mecca) and Turks and Caicos (their beer wasn’t bad!). Through thousands of tastes, sips, and chugs, I’ve painstakingly extracted my favorites. And although I love Madison, I do my best to be fair to the rest of the Midwest in my selections. Alright, no I don’t. Here we go – the best of 2013!

, The Best of the Midwest (According to Lindsay)Fleece NavidadKarben4

On this frosty evening, my mittens are wrapped around a Karben4 Fleece Navidad. Karben4 is my favorite of the slew of new breweries to pop up in Madison over the past year and a half (One Barrel, Next Door, and Mobcraft are a few others), and their winter seasonal does not disappoint. Its hue is that of dark chocolate, while its taste is more reminiscent of a sugar cookie. I’m partial to lighter beers, but the unique spices of Christmas Ales win me over every year. True to its name, Fleece Navidad is every bit as cozy and warming as a Christmas Ale in below-freezing temps should be. It’s the perfect companion to a fresh layer of snow and a twinkling Christmas tree. Nothing beats a Wisconsin Christmas. Except maybe a Wisconsin summer, which brings me to my next favorite.

Moon ManNew Glarus Brewing

My favorite go-to beer of the year juxtaposes Karben4’s wintery creation in every way. One of Madison’s most established breweries, New Glarus, makes a no-coast pale ale called Moon Man that I’ve praised before. As New Glarus describes it, Moon Man is “one cool cat,” and it is my constant companion throughout the summer months. Perfection is the best way to describe it, but for you, dear readers, I’ll provide more detail. It has a light golden color with a friendly citrusy taste and a smooth finish. Its subtle yet pleasing flavors encourage drinking more than one, a plus for many Wisconsin activities. From porch to paddleboard, this beer is my go-to.

, The Best of the Midwest (According to Lindsay)Two Hearted AleBell’s Brewery

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale tops this year’s list. As the IPA fad fades, the enthusiasm for this beer does not, and for good reason. This medium-bodied ale is hoppy and crisp, but also smooth for easy drinking. Cases of this one disappear at alarming rates in bars, boats, and baseball parks all over the Midwest. Brewed in Michigan and distributed all over, this beer is one that Midwesterners can all agree on, no matter what the scoreboard says at the moment.

The Midwest boasts lots of disappointing, chugability-over-taste kind of beers (I’m looking at you, Schlitz), but it also holds a great deal of gems. I’m happy to navigate the difference for you, and excited to see where that path takes me in 2014. Cheers!

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