A Springtime Dilemma

Spring has finally sprung. The weather is all over the chart, some good, and some bad. Warmer days, cooler nights, sun, rain, wind, we’ve got it all. During these wildest of pre-summer months, which beers are serviceable and which, if any, just don’t cut it.
If you know your beer then you’ll be hip to the notion that, historically, and at least in Germany, Bock is the true spring beer. Bocks and Dopplebocks roll out near the end of February and into March, with maibocks showing up closer to May.
Of course, true Bock beers are somewhat rare, so what else works for spring? In my opinion, something that leans toward the malty side yet is lighter and crisper than the winter fare should prove a great choice.
More widely available are several other German lagers that fit nicely into a brisk March or April day. Munich Dunkel Lagers are malty and rich, crisp and brown without being heavy. Ayinger has a solid example. Slightly darker and drier is the Schwarzbier. Look for Mönchshof, but the Schwarz from Duck Rabbit is great too.
Closer to amber in color are Vienna lagers, which are smooth and malty to start, but are balanced with a crisp hop finish. Although originating in Germany, Sam Adams Lager is the easiest to find. Great Lakes Eliot Ness is even better.
If you think Bock is tough to find, try locating a Bière De Mars, which means March Beer in French, but is typically a Belgian, and sometimes French, offering. This beer, a subtype of Bière De Garde, is brewed with fresh malts and hops, is crisp, fruity, slightly malty, and also sour. Find one from Jolly Pumpkin and New Belgium.
On the ale side, there are several English beers that could easily be spring fare. The classic ESB is a balanced and sessionable ale. Fuller’s London Pride may be the best example of the style. Sawtooth from Left Hand is serviceable if not decent, hoppy for an ESB, it’s still a solid beer.
English brown ales will have more of a malt presence, but will not be as strong or thick as stouts, old ales or barleywines. Slightly sweet, Sam Smith’s is still the best, and will be somewhat dry with a nutty finish, hence the name Nut Brown Ale.
With St. Patrick’s Day having just past, Irish red ales will still be lining shelves and can be a decent choice. Most are tasty, somewhat malty, sometimes a bit sweet, and yet not too heavy. Smithwick’s is a standard and easy spring beer.
Where this spring fest takes a strange turn is the typical offering from American brewers. Many push summer beers much too soon in the season. This practice is standard in our country, with dozens of breweries bringing out wheats, hefeweizens, and the sunny wit. Please, there is enough time for these refreshing, tangy beers this summer.
The opposite case can be seen with a number of the renowned smaller craft beer makers. Three Floyds brewing company releases in the spring Dark Lord and Oak-aged Dark Lord, both 13+percent alcohol by volume (ABV) Russian Imperial Stouts. Yikes. Dark Horse Brewing offers up their Crooked Tree, an American double IPA at nearly 14 percent ABV. New Holland Brewing Company has its Double Stout, Night Tripper, ready for the spring, while Foothills releases Sexual Chocolate. Hope we get some cold nights for these! Enjoy the brews … cheers.
Gene’s Haufbrau has at more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. While they don’t have every beer the Beer Snob writes about, they probably have most. Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.