Bed Head a great brew for beer and coffee lovers

It all started with a sample at Crystal Beer Parlor and has blossomed into a full-blown affair. For a bald guy, I must confess to spending a lot of quality drinking time lately with Bed Head, the hair-raising, coffee-infused, hop-loaded Double/Imperial India Pale Ale produced by Monday Night Brewing Co. in Atlanta. Bed Head simply beguiles you with its balance, a rare trait in the DIPA category. The coffee comes from Batdorf & Bronson, a gourmet company that has outlets in Washington state and Georgia, and it tastefully, elegantly mellows Bed Head’s 75 IBUs. The hops are evident, particularly at first, but the finish is cool and fruity, a unique fusion of hops and coffee beans that’s reminiscent of a tall glass of iced coffee. Still, with an ABV of 8.4 percent, a little caution is necessary here. It’s called Bed Head for a reason.

In the summer, in the city

It was steamy and sandy underneath the tent early this afternoon at Coach’s Corner on Victory Drive, perfect conditions for the Summer Suds Craft Brew Festival. Tim Rutherford, whose carefully-crafted blog www.savannahfoodie.com should be required reading for local residents, and I were there before the start, talking with organizer Laura Simpson and several of the beer distributor representatives. When the curtain went up at 1 p.m., Tim and I slowly worked our way through the 70-some beers, most of them from major American craft breweries, that were offered. My primary objective was to find selections that I hadn't yet tried, an often frustrating exercise when you've been drinking beer for some 49 years. But, Elderberry Weiss from Magic Hat, Kinda Blue Blueberry Wheat Beer from Boulder Beer, and Summer Weizen from Smutty Nose were each newcomers to my palate, and were each flavorful and light, just what you need on the first day of summer. The best beer that I tried, however, wasn't from anyone with a national, or even a regional, profile. It was, hands down, Da Bomb, an Irish-style Dry Stout that came all the way from Moon River Brewing Co. on Bay Street. Da Bomb is an absolute show-stopper. Earlier this year, the World Beer Cup bestowed a gold medal on Moon River brewmaster John Pinkerton for it. Da Bomb has got the look of a Guinness, but also the layers, boldness and flavor on an IPA, all with an ABV of just 3.8 percent. It’s a beer for all seasons.

Stoopid is as Stoopid does

Let’s start with the numbers – 102 IBUs; a 94 rating at beeradvocate.com based on 5,463 reviews; and a price tag of $4.29 at Habersham Beverage for a 22-ounce bomber. You’d have to be, well, pretty damn stoopid to not at least try this. Produced by the irreverent folks at Lagunitas Brewing Co. in Petaluma, Calif., Hop Stoopid is, in industry parlance, an American Double/Imperial India Pale Ale with an ABV of 8 percent. As for its actual character, it can accurately be described as a straight-up, dry-hopped, gold-hued flavor bomb. It smacks you immediately with strident hop notes of citrus and pine, a bitterness that smooths out as it slowly rolls along to a lengthy, dry, clean finish. Its alcohol content is not apparent. There are many DIPAs out there with much larger profiles, and much higher price tags, but, Hop Stoopid is a smart choice.

Pulling on pieces of cycling history

When my good friend Dr. Paul Kulbersh recently showed me a box of vintage cycling jerseys that an acquaintance of his had collected during a long riding career, I’d hoped to pull out a couple that were worth purchasing. It quickly became obvious, however, that the problem was going to be exactly the opposite, limiting myself to a reasonable number. In all, there were some 25 or 30 European-racing-style jerseys to choose from, including one from Motorola, the first pro team of Lance Armstrong, and a couple that were connected to Nestor Gurney, a Savannah cycling legend. Finally, after considering and trying on perhaps a dozen of them, I settled on four. The easiest choice, because of its dramatic black-yellow-red color scheme, was from Domo-Farm Frites, a star-studded Belgian team that was a potent professional force in 2001-2002. The artfully-hued Tulip Computer jersey was likewise worn by a Belgian team, this one in the early 1990s. The Quality Bike Shop jersey was also too good to pass up. Over the past 10 years I’ve bought road, mountain and hybrid bikes from the staff at QBS, and I’ve come to appreciate their advice and value their friendship. The jersey that really made my heart beat faster, however, was from 7-Eleven, the iconic and iconoclastic American team that exploded into the European peloton in the early 1980s. With a roster than included Eric Heiden, Davis Phinney, Chris Carmichael and Bob Roll, 7-Eleven won stages in the Tour de France and forever buried the supposition that Americans could not compete with on the highest professional level. Who knows, maybe I’ll even be a little faster with some cycling history on my shoulders.

We’re back in the saddle – riding a cold beerafrator through the steamy, sweaty streets of Savannah to sample beers and bring you our results. This inaugural reboot tackles a mixed 12-pack that we think will be perfect for summer. Here’s our logic – or BS – on our picks.

Chuck Mobley: As the temperature and humidity rise, I tend to back off the hops and reach for American wheat or Belgian wit beers, styles that are light and smooth, yet flavorful and refreshing. To complete the six-pack, I put in a farmhouse ale, one with American rather than European tones, an amber ale that packs a ton of flavor into just 4.4% ABV, and a San Francisco favorite that was at the very forefront of the craft-beer movement.

Tim Rutherford: I went IPA heavy – the style’s sheer refreshment, bright citrus notes and biting hops hit the spot on a blistering summer day in Savannah. I had to include my East Coast style IPA benchmark – Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA – and well as a pair of Rye IPAs that add a layer of tangy black pepper characteristics. Rounding out my six is a session IPA that delivered huge flavor, a Georgia-made Belgian Style ale and a hard cider – the beverage that is taking the industry by storm.

Chuck’s Summer Six-Pack
Maggie's Peach Farmhouse Ale
Terrapin Brewing Co., Athens, GA
Saison/Farmhouse Ale. ABV – 6%
$8.49 four-pack at Habersham Beverage
Soft, with a slight and stylish note of peach sweetness, Maggie’s brings a calm, peaceful conclusion to a summer evening. It’s certainly not a traditional Saison, and anyone looking for distinctive, pronounced Belgian yeast tones will be disappointed. But, Maggie’s has a certain Southern ambiance, one that takes into consideration our climate and character. If you have a porch, and a rocking chair, this should be in your refrigerator.

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., California and North Carolina
Hefeweizen. ABV – 4.8%
$8.99 six-pack at Habersham Beverage
A true German hefeweizen, Kellerweis is head and shoulders above the typical American wheat beer. It’s full of flavors, particularly the traditional hefeweizen banana and clove elements, and there’s also a light, lemony twist of citrus that leads to a clean, bright, refreshing finish. To get the best experience from each bottle, be sure to read the directions and swirl the final one-third left inside before pouring it into the glass.

Westbrook White Thai
Westbrook Brewing Co., Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Witbier. ABV – 5%
$11.49 six-pack at Habersham Beverage
Bright and refreshing, White Thai features traditional witbier notes – citrus and spice – but from far different sources than its Belgian predecessor. Westbrook pairs lemongrass and ginger root with Sorachi Ace hops, a Japanese strain known for its strong lemon characteristics. The result is a witbier with a racy, fashionable edge to it. Bold, imaginative beers such as this have brought Westbrook, which opened just four years ago, considerable acclaim.

Allagash White
Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, Maine
Witbier. ABV – 5%
$8.79 six-pack at Habersham Beverage
How do you merit a rating of 100 from the Alstrom Brothers of beeradovcate.com fame – as Allagash White has done? Simple, you produce what is arguably the best American witbier, a clean, light, effervescent beer that’s a perfect partner for a summer day. Allagash White’s Coriander and Curacao orange peel elements are assertive, but not overpowering, and its steady wheat component lends it strength and balance.

Stone Levitation Ale
Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, Calif.
American Amber. ABV – 4.4%
$11.49 six-pack at Habersham Beverage
A gorgeous amber color in the glass, Levitation has the lowest ABV of any beer on this list. But, don’t let that fool you: It’s a sleek, sinewy ale that also delivers enough taste and complexity to have won a gold ribbon at the Great American Beer Festival. Its strength is in its balance, the strong hop notes you expect from Stone, leavened by toasty, herbal malt tones. It would be a mistake to only drink Levitation Ale during the summer.

Anchor Steam
Anchor Brewing Co., San Francisco, Calif.
Common/Steam. ABV – 4.9%
$9.79 six-pack at Habersham Beverage
One of the first American craft beers, Anchor Steam has been a steady presence on store shelves and inside refrigerators for decades. Its dominant caramel-like malt tone is sweetly reminiscent of a German Marzen, but its crisp, clean finish is pleasant and distinctive. With those characteristics, Anchor Steam is a great choice for whatever you’ve got on the grill. 

Tim’s Summer Six-Pack
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE
India Pale Ale. ABV – 6%
$9.99 six-pack at Kroger, Mall Boulevard
Dogfish Head brewer and founder Sam Caligione’s company slogan is “Off-centered ales for off-centered people.” That may well be the case with some of his over-the-top special formulas, but his 60 Minute IPA is my benchmark for East Coast style IPA. The continuously hopped beer drinks with beautiful balance and perfectly crafted IPA characteristics of citrus, grassiness and, of course, palate-refreshing hoppiness. This crew of Yankees is welcome to cross the Mason-Dixon Line – as long as they have a truckload of 60 Minute IPA!

Terrapin Rye Pale Ale
Terrapin Brewing Co., Athens, GA
American Pale Ale. ABV – 5.5%
$9.99 six-pack at Kroger, Mall Boulevard
Terrapin Rye Pale Ale took a gold medal at the 2002 Great American Beer Festival. That was about the time I spied the cheery banjo-playing turtle on the label – and it’s been a regular guest in my fridge ever since. But there’s much more to this uniquely Southern Pale Ale than its whimsical label. I count on Terrapin Rye Pale Ale to deliver the refreshment I expect from Pale Ale with the unique spiciness that comes from the rye in its grain bill. Five hops and five malts marry amicably in this beer that’s perfect with a burger from the grill – or for sippin’ ‘round the cement pond.

Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA and Asheville, NC
India Pale Ale. ABV – 6.6%
$8.99 six-pack at Kroger, Mall Boulevard
Sierra Nevada founder and brewer Ken Grossman started out as a home-brew shop owner in Chico, Calif. From the beginning, he was a hops head, ultimately driving to Yakima, Wash., to buy better quality hops directly from the farmers. This pioneering craft beer figure produces a great number of excellent beers – Ruthless Rye joins the family as a biting IPA It has all the balance of a great IPA with the black pepper tones that come from its rye grain bill. Rye is a tough grain with a survivor’s instinct. This little bottle of beer is bigger than its package – with a mouthful of fruity citrus and herbal hop character. Ruthless loves to join roasted chicken and salty cheeses, like Asiago, on the table.

Founders All Day IPA
Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, MI
India Pale Ale. ABV – 4.7%
$10.29 six-pack at Kroger, Mall Boulevard
This stout-looking bottle delivered the biggest flavor of all the IPAs and Pale Ales I tasted for this story. It’s an explosive, palate-blasting mouthful of citrus, hops and resinous tanginess. In 2010, All Day IPA brought home a silver medal from the Great American Beer Festival – a well-deserved honor for the former home brewers who launched Founders Brewing. Bold, supremely refreshing, and, at 4.7 ABV, a true session beer with big ol’ hops. When you’ve gotta smoke that big ol’ Boston Butt for 8 hours, stock up the cooler with All Day IPA.

Three Taverns Single Intent
Three Taverns Craft Brewery, Atlanta, GA
Belgian-style Single. ABV – 5%
$8.49 four-pack at Kroger, Mall Boulevard
I love the first taste of a freshly opened Belgian beer – or a Belgian-style beer handcrafted right here in Georgia. Single Intent pays homage to the Trappist beer style made for in-house consumption, the so-called “patersbier” (Father’s beer). French Strisselspalt hops give it Old World integrity, and the talent of these Georgia brewers gives the beer the complexity, character and enjoyable character that I expect from its Belgian counterpart. Easy drinking, clean finish, palate pleasing complexity.

Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cider
Boston Beer Co., Cincinnati, OH
Hard Apple Cider. ABV – 5%
$9.99 six-pack at Kroger, Mall Boulevard
The fastest growing category at your beer retailer is – hard cider. The popularity of these generally gluten-free, low ABV beverages has propelled several players into the cider industry, including Boston Beer Co. – the same folks who bring us Samuel Adams beers. This Crisp Apple Cider is the easiest drinking of the Angry Orchard line. It’s juicy like a cold, fresh apple, and mildly sweet. Drink it alone or pair with backyard BBQ fare or spicy foods like Thai or Mexican chow. Careful – hard ciders go down WAAAAY easy!