You may have heard — because we have been HYPED! about the matter — that there’s a solar eclipse on August 21st. It’s going to be a highly visible event happening across a big swath of the United States and people are getting excited about the cosmic dance. Travel plans are being made, parties are being prepped, and events are filling up. That means beer is going to be needed at some point, to quench all that astro-viewing summer thirst — it is August after all.
We poked around the craft beer world a little to find some appropriately cosmic-themed beers for your eclipse viewing party. These beers are spread out across America and should be fairly easy to find nationwide — though some will be more local than national. Either way, crack open one of these stellar beers and watch the sun and the moon do their little dance of seduction.
SPACE DUST IPA — ELYSIAN BREWING COMPANY (Washington)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXUEBI4F2gc/
Elysian’s Imperial IPA is a big hitting beer with an 8.2 percent ABV and a whole lot going on. The IBUs are big here as well, clocking in at 62. So expect a solid bitterness coming from a lot of hopping that brings out citrus and tropical fruits alongside the pine resin that typifies a great west coast IPA.
Overall, this is a hophead’s delight of outlandish fruit, citrus, and pine shining through a caramel malt.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXBpJqrlxSv/
COSMIC JIVE — OCELOT BREWING COMPANY (Virginia)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXqWzj5APPn/
Ocelot’s American IPA is a balanced treat in a glass. The beer knows its place and doesn’t over do its IPA-ness. There’s a sweet malt back to an orange citrus and pine resin forward rush on the taste. It’s easy to drink and hits the spot if you’re outside on a hot August afternoon.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUZ63H6Dete/
MOONJUICE IPA — SANTAN BREWING CO. (Arizona)
SanTan’s ‘Galatic’ IPA is a big wheat beer with style and grace. The taste is that of a big west coast IPA. Expect a lot of fruits shining through the pine resin and sweet biscuit malt. It’s balanced and delicious (if you love fruity and piney hops).
MOONLIGHT SHINE WHEAT ALE — WILD ACRE BREWING COMPANY (Texas)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXSz7GvhZbl/
Wild Acre’s American Pale Wheat Beer is a balanced beer that fits into anyone’s summer drinking repertoire. The wheat lends an almost sweetened grain forward flavor that’s underpinned with orange peel, hay fields, and grapefruit twang. It’s refreshing, drinkable, and light.
SCATTERED SUN BELGIAN WIT — SOUTHBOUND BREWING COMPANY (Georgia)
Southbound’s witbier is the perfect summer companion for anytime you’ll be standing outside for extended periods of time. It’s a refreshingly tart mix of wheat malt, sour Belgian yeast, and orange rind bitter citrus with cloves, banana, and freshly mowed lawns casting shadows over the whole affair. It’s the perfect August thirst quencher.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVLGefCgnXC/
FOLLOW THE SUN — KARL STRAUSS BREWING COMPANY (California)
Karl Strauss’ Kölsch (a western German light lager) is a great beer for anyone who hasn’t gotten on the whole big-flavor-craft-beer-bandwagon. If you like a Coors or Tecate, this is a great way to transition into craft. There’s a hint of citrus that dances over the low hum of bitter hop and sweet, cereal malt. It goes down very easy.
SUNSHINE WHEAT BEER– NEW BELGIUM BREWING (Colorado & North Carolina)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BK66ehkAS6P/
New Belgium’s Sunshine Wheat is a well-balanced and light summer wheat beer. Expect hints of clean grain and coriander with a light spritz of orange citrus tangled up with echoes of spice. This one should be a crowd pleaser on a hot day.
https://www.instagram.com/p/cVNkUzvGL0/
