Greetings, Citizens!

It is indeed July 4th.  Without a truly patriotic post yet this fine day, I'll invite you to check out some past Independence Day posts from the Ferment Nation:
http://fermentnation.blogspot.com/search?q=fourth+of+july

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything worth reading.  My "other" life has been quite hectic, but I haven't stopped sipping the nectar of the gods...  Please bear with me and check out this Storified collection of brews I've been sampling lately.  Please feel free to share your experiences with us: simply mention @FermentNation in a tweet with a brief citizen review of a beer you're drinking.  Heck, make it any fermented beverage.  If you have a picture, even better.  Or a food pairing.... Just give our readers some ideas and inspiration for their next adventure.


By the way, for a truly patriotic toast (in an ancient Chinese black magic sort of way) check out what Jack Burton and Wang have to say: http://youtu.be/RR7q-qf3VSQ

Happy Fourth of July

Hello Citizens,

Happy Independence Day!! We here at the Ferment Nation like to celebrate July 4th in barbecue style. And what transforms cooking outside into a cookout? Beer. If you remember last year's Independence Day BBQ selections, the Stoudts American Pale Ale and Troegs Sunshine Pils reigned supreme.

Sunshine makes a return engagement because it has proven itself time and again to be a go-to brew in the hot weather. Clean, light, refreshing, and easy to drink, this pilsnser keeps giving and giving.

Troegs comes up big with another light and sessionable favorite, Hop Back. Bottle or draft, Hop Back is a perennial stand-by.

Lancaster County's Spring House Brewery offers a nifty pale ale called Seven Gates. I just visited Spring House a few weeks ago and got these brews right from the premises. This Seven Gates Pale Ale on tap is excellent. Lets give it a go in the bottle.

Dogfish Head's Raison D'Extra is a beast of a beer. Fruity and wine-like, this will work as an after-dinner relaxer, finishing off the night for certain. Raison D'Etre on steroids should be drunk from a wine glass as the sun goes down.

Thanks for spending your holiday with the Ferment Nation. Be safe and stay hydrated. Cheers.

Erie Brewing Company Mad Anthony's APA

Erie Brewing Company Mad Anthony's APA American Pale Ale:

American Pale Ales seem to have an interesting color... just a shade darker than a traditional Pale Ale (mostly fashioned in the British tradition) with a slightly sharper hop profile than an English style pale ale.

The flavor is an interesting "melting pot" of pale ale, pilsner, and IPA. Mad Anthony's APA is a pleasantly refreshing version of this patriotic style. Nothing crazy going on here, but I detect a slight haze, perhaps a wheaty influence. There's a little hoppy bite right in the middle of the draught, and I seem to sense a bit of German influence in the brewing.

Mad Anthony's APA is a prime candidate to share with neighbors and friends at a Fourth of July barbecue. Pour some over the bratwurst and enjoy the rest straight out of the bottle or perhaps in a pilsner glass. Feel free to enjoy a few: this is a nice session brew at 5.5% abv. Mad Anthony's APA would be a fine brew drunk ice cold on a hot day -- and accessible enough to pass along to a stranger who is simply curious about the intriguing name of the man whose bust adorns the label ("Mad" Anthony Wayne was a widely decorated and highly respected military officer in the American Revolution. He was apparently quite the spark plug, earning his nickname "Mad" Anthony. His legacy is quite profound, having left his mark on history by way of a billion towns named after him. Rock a Wiki if you don't believe me).

Actually, I'm quite looking forward to this summer after a cold, wet East Coast winter. If you remember last Independence Day, yours truly celebrated with Troegs Sunshine Pils and another American Pale Ale, Stoudts APA. Erie Brewing Company has offered a fun and drinkable session brew in Mad Anthony's APA. Not terribly stylish, but certainly user friendly.

Erie Brewing Company Mad Anthony's APA American Pale Ale:

Representation: .90

Accessibility: .99

Style: .80

Personal Preference: .895

Total Score: 3.585 Flags

Happy 4th of July!

So what does El Presidente bring to a Fourth of July Barbecue? After a heated internal debate, Stoudts American Pale Ale and Troegs Sunshine Pils were the winners. Here's why:

My first selection was the Stoudts American Pale Ale. This pale ale is flavorful and crisp and just a little bold. It's guaranteed to complement just about anything you could possibly put on the grill. Besides that, the packaging is the perfect for the Independence Day holiday, proudly sporting the Red, White, and Blue.

Here's to the Army and Navy and the battles they have won... Here's to America's colors -- the colors that never run. May the Wings of Liberty never lose a feather.

Next selection: Troegs Sunshine Pils. This pilsner is easy-drinking but not at all wimpy. Boasting plenty of taste, Troegs Sunshine Pils is the perfect upgrade to the shiny cans of stuff that coolers all across America contain at this very moment. And that sunshine on the label... I don't know if I can trust him but he looks great on this beautiful sunny day.

Just so you know, there are plenty of other choices that you may want to investigate on your way to the celebration. These are some of the other brews that almost made it to the Presidential BBQ: Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale; Yards Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale; Victory Prima Pils; Victory Hop Devil; Anchor Summer Beer; Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager; Sam Adams Summer Ale.

Enjoy your 4th of July celebration responsibly and be sure to watch the obligatory video footage of the little manequin boy getting his hands blown off by illegal fireworks. I know my Independence Day wouldn't be the same without it.