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The soon-to-be-released expanded edition of The World Atlas of Beer, co-authored by Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont, chronicles the ales, lagers, and oddities of more than 100 countries, including some rare finds, Beaumont says, that you can only get by going to the source.
Santa Rosa, California
The Beer: Pliny the Younger, Russian River Brewing Co.
Made in very limited quantities, kegs of this “lighter, amped-up IPA” are tapped at the brewery during a release day party every February that’s “a true experience,” Beaumont says. (It’s also occasionally found at Northern California bars that may receive a small allocation.)
Curitiba, Brazil
The beer: Way Amburana Lager
“Brazil has one of the fastest developing craft beer cultures in the world,” Beaumont says, “and the Cervejaria Way brewery has been at the head of improving the curve.” Their 8.4-percent lager is flavored with amburana, also known as Brazilian oak, which imparts “wonderful, spicy, cinnamon flavors. It’d be a hunt to find it anywhere else.”
New Glarus, Wisconsin
The beer: Wisconsin Belgian Red
“New Glarus is one of those rare breweries that does almost everything well,” says Beaumont, including this unique fruit beer that’s made with Montmorency cherries grown in Door County.
Lucca, Italy
The beer: Brùton Limes
“Grape ales” are a new category of beer, and Birrificio Brùton is making an excellent, “slightly tart and sparkling version,” Beaumont says, with verdicchio grapes grown in the brewery’s own vineyard. It’s still made in very limited quantities, so “it’s hard to find, even in Tuscany.”
Bamberg, Germany
The beer: Spezial Rauchbier
Rauchbier, or smoked beer, gets its flavor from flame-dried malted barley. “Because Brauerei Spezial uses a smaller amount of the malt than most—and that flavor fades when bottled—you’ve got to drink this one in their atmospheric beer hall.”
Brussels, Belgium
The beer: De la Senne Bruxellensis
Brussels has no shortage of great beers (or beer bars), but Brasserie de la Senne was the first new brewery to open there in decades. Their “funky, spectacular, little bit bitter” Bruxellensis may have “aromas of wet hay," but it has been enthusiastically embraced by the locals.
Burton-upon-Trent, England
The beer: Marston’s Pedigree
This West Midlands city is the original home of the pale ale, “the very best of which will have ‘Burton snatch,’ a sulfuric character that’s tremendously appealing when drawn from a fresh cask,” says Beaumont.
Nashville, Tennessee
The beer: Mantra Brewing Saffron IPA
“You can find this IPA across Tennessee, but it’s best at Chauhan Ale & Masala House,” says Beaumont, about the place where the beer’s saffron and cardamom notes pair perfectly with chef Maneet Chauhan’s dishes like tandoori chicken poutine and Nashville hot chicken pakoras. No wonder: Chauhan’s also one of the founders of Mantra Brewing.