The days are longer, the beaches are open again, and summer approaches. This week on Beer Notes, we are highlighting the summer beers produced here on the Shore.
Craft beers full of flavor and lighter in color are popular as warm weather approaches. Sours and fruited beers including the milkshake IPAs come into their own. Porters and stouts are taking a back seat to pilsners, wit biers, and IPAs of all varieties.
Here on the Shore where local politicians say the sun kisses Ocean City first each morning, the ocean dominates our environment and our psyche, and so does summer.
EVO craft brewing in Salisbury Maryland has the Delmarva Pure Pils, A supremely sessionable Eastern Shore take on a Czech-style pilsner.
Fin City, started in a crab house in West Ocean City, still serves crabs in working boats permanently docked at their pier all summer. They take their location and fishing seriously. With names like Angler Ale, White Marlin Pale Ale, Blackfin Black IPA, Catch of the Day IPA, and Backfin Blue Crab Stout to Marga Wheat A and Marina Colada. They even made a beer to support the creation and maintenance of artificial reefs off the coast of Ocean City for fishing habitat, OC Reef Red.
3rd Wave-, a woman owned brewery in Delmar, a small village that sits astride the state border between Delaware and Maryland produces the SandStorm Belgian Tripel, BeachBreak Apricot Wheat, and ShoreBreak Pale Ale.
Crooked Hammock, nestled in among the beach resort towns of Coastal Delaware- produces BEACH ESCAPE and Hammock Easy. Their neighbor in Lewes, Big Oyster Brewing has the Hammerhead IPA, a traditional west coast style that competes with the best IPAs on the market.
As summer crests the horizon, make sure that your vision includes locally made craft beer with names and flavors that bring to mind all the places and activities you love about the season.
