March is here. We’re knocking on spring’s door. That means there are a lot of great beers getting released as the sun starts to inch its way back to our lives.
Big beers with bright flavors are hitting the stage this month. Juicy fruit pale ales and big-bodied stouts are what you should be looking for right now. Throw in some nice funky sours and we have a great selection of beers to drink this month.
The beers listed below are great pickups right now. Some of them will take a little longer to hunt down, others will be in your corner liquor store. All of them are delicious. Either way, traveling for a great beer is always worth the effort.
NEW ENGLAND PALE ALE — SAMUEL ADAMS
Samuel Adams’ latest creation, New England Pale Ale, is a delicate brew with a big punch of tropical juice. There’s a nice balance of peach and mango and plenty of hop punch. A nice malty counterpoint comes in late to balance out the dank juice.
This is a super-drinkable beer that’ll be easy to get your hands on this month.
MOXEE GOLD IPA — STONE BREWING
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Moxie Gold IPA is a tribute IPA to Moxee, Washington, where the hops are grown. The beer celebrates farm-to-can brewing culture with a subtle and delicious brew.
The hops give this one a burst of lemon sunshine with hints of white pepper. Clover honey sweetness shines through a nice whiff of pine resin. This is a tasty can of suds that gives a nod to the folks growing the hops.
BOMB! — PRAIRIE ARTISAN ALES
With St. Patrick’s Day nearly upon us, it’s time to stock up on stouts. Bomb! from Prairie Artisan Ales is one of the best imperial stouts on the market.
The sip has a bold nature to it. Dark chocolate, smooth vanilla, roasted coffee, and ancho chilis make this one shine. Though be warned, this has a 13 percent ABV. So, it might be best to share a bottle with a friend.
DESERT REVIVAL BARREL-AGED RASPBERRY SOUR — BOW & ARROW BREWING
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Bow and Arrow Brewing down in Albuquerque is doing some of the finest work in beer in the U.S. right now. Their current barrel-aged sour, Desert Revival Barrel-Aged Raspberry Sour, is a delightful mix of funk, sour, fruit, and tart goodness.
It’s a refreshingly dry and easily quaffable beer (especially as the weather gets nicer). Bottles have been released, so call up your specialty store today. You might get lucky.
OBSIDIAN STOUT — DESCHUTES BREWERY
Obsidian Stout is a classic stout that you should have on hand all month (all year, really). The silky smooth dark brew has a clear sense of rich chocolate and freshly roasted coffee.
“Rich” is the best way to think about this beer. It’s just so damn satisfying with a well-rounded balance of creamy, smooth, and slightly hoppy bitter.
INTERNATIONAL PICK OF THE WEEK: LEANN FOLLÁIN — O’HARA’S
Look, Guinness is great. Thing is, Ireland has a long list of other stouts besides Guinness and now’s the time to try some new ones.
O’Hara’s Leann Follain is a wholesome, old-school Irish stout. This is an excellent sipper with a mocha feel to it thanks to the chocolate and vanilla interplay. The beer is light and refreshing — making this the perfect sixer to have in your fridge this month.
EDITOR’S PICK OF THE WEEK: CALIDAD CERVEZA
“What if classic Mexican lagers like Pacifico got a Cali-fied update for the Instagram generation?” — that, in short, is the mission statement of Calidad Beer. The brand is made for a world where “curation” matters and its mid-century “authentico” can design and merch feel like they would fit right in at the peak of hippie Hollywood. Expect to see this one all over Instagram, paired with chambray shirts and cruisy vintage surfboards.
What about the taste? During our tasting, Uproxx EIC Brett Michael Dykes said, “Like a better-quality Pacifico or a much-better quality Tecate” — which seems to be exactly what the Calidad crew was hoping for. Their site proclaims their beer is “the first quality Mexican-style beer,” though there are no specifics on what that means or how the ingredients are sourced. The flavors are light and pair perfectly with a tiny wedge of lime. There’s almost no aftertaste (the bitterness is super low) and no malt heaviness. It’s a nice, breezy lager, perfect for pairing with carne asada fresh off the grill. And it’s quickly becoming ubiquitous in SoCal. — Steve Bramucci, Uproxx Life Editorial Director
