International Beer Day 2023: 5 Pensacola beers that will transport you around the globe

Cheers to another sunny Pensacola weekend and another International Beer Day, which has been celebrated on the first Friday of August every year since 2007.

The global holiday has ties to Santa Cruz, California, and though it lacks a deep meaning, it is an excuse to get out and enjoy local restaurants and breweries.

Whether your “cheers” sounds like salud, sante, or cin-cin — International Beer Day gives people around the world an excuse to taste beers from other countries and also learn about their traditions.

Here are five beers that will take you around the globe without having to leave Pensacola.

1. “Tour of Italy”

Where to find it: Odd Colony Brewing Company, 260 N. Palafox St.

The Tour of Italy Italian pilsner, created in partnership with Dssolvr brewery in Asheville, North Carolina, was created to transport you to the coast of Capri, according to the brewery’s social media page. Using a blend of saaz and sladek hops, the drink creates a crisp and light flavor reflective of easy, breezy summers on the coastline.

2. “McGuire’s Irish Red Ale”

Where to find it: McGuire’s Irish Pub, 600 E. Gregory Street

One step into McGuire’s already has you feeling Irish, and its award-winning traditional red ale will have you drinking like you’re Irish, too. The Red Ale was McGuire’s first beer ever brewed and is the restaurant's most popular, according to the McGuire's website, and is praised for its smooth and malty character. It rings in at 4.5% ABV and is available by the bottle and keg in addition to the pint.

3. “The One and Only” (The Pilsner ‘Dunkel’)

Where to find it: Bavaria Pensacola, 10 S. Palafox St.

This Pensacola German restaurant is known for its authenticity, from its Oktoberfest bench seats to its imported German biers. You can’t go wrong with the restaurant's rotating selection of beers on tap, since the restaurant brings them specifically in from the motherland of Germany. While you’re there, pair your drink with a giant Bavarian pretzel and get into the spirit.

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4. “El Chapo's Norwegian Cousin Ívarr”

Where to find it: Emerald Republic, 1414 W. Government St.

Emerald Republic's newest Mexican Amber lager-based beer was a happy improvisation when brewed with a kveik yeast strain from Norway, according to Emerald Republic’s social media page. As a hybrid, the staff decided that the beer needed a name that embodied the two. A malt-forward flavor with a rounded hop bitterness and 5.8% ABV, the beer is available to taste on draft and in crowlers to go, according to the social media post.

5. “Honey Hoops”

Where to find it: Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St.

This Belgian Style Tripel with local East Hill Honey is a spin on the yeast-driven Belgian classic. Though Belgium may be as small country in size, it is home to the biggest brewery in the world and world-renowned for its beer quality, according to travel guide, The Lonely Planet. With the beer’s sweet honey undertones and bright golden hues, it’s the perfect pick-me up for a sunny afternoon.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: International Beer Day: 5 best Pensacola places to raise a glass