Mix it Up With the Best New Beers To Try in 2021
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For most people, popping into the local bar isn’t a viable proposition right now, which means more people are drinking at home. And while drinking at home isn’t much of a substitute for gathering with friends at a bar, there are at least a few advantages. For one, you don’t have to worry about calling a Lyft at the end of the night.
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Now is also a good time to experiment with new drinks, whether that’s a cocktail you’ve never made, a tasty new tequila or a new craft beer from some of the best breweries. Despite the challenges this and last year have brought, plenty craft breweries have announced new beer offerings, especially amid the surge of liquor sales.
If you’re looking to break out of a rut of drinking the same beer, we’ve rounded up some of the best new beer releases to try right now.
1. Firestone Walker XXIV American Strong Ale
BEST OVERALL
Last year, Firestone Walker released anniversary ale XXIV to celebrate 24 years since the California brewery was established. The anniversary ale also celebrates the region’s most famous export, wine. The beer was blended with the help of Paso Robles winemakers, who lend their blending expertise to beermaking, and the blend of ales is aged in bourbon and tequila barrels. The rich flavor has notes of chocolate and vanilla bean.
Buy: Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale
2. Stone Wizards And Gargoyles Hazy Coffee IPA
BEST COLLABORATION
Businesses in the same town and industry might seem to invite fierce competition, but that’s fortunately not the case with San Diego’s Stone and Modern Times breweries, who teamed up on the unique Wizards and Gargoyles Hazy Coffee IPA, which has citrusy notes with a coffee flavor.
Buy: Wizards and Gargoyles Hazy Coffee IPA
3. Avery Pomona Barrel-Aged Tart Ale
FRUIT-FORWARD FLAVORS
This barrel-aged ale comes from Avery, a Colorado brewer that was founded in 1993. If you’re a fan of berries, the Pomona Tart Ale brings together a pleasantly sour and juicy treat in the form of pomegranate and blueberry. This 6.5% ABV new beer is an under the radar option for anyone looking for a unique flavor.
4. Great Lakes Hazecraft IPA
BEST HAZY IPA
Great Lakes was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, and has been quietly churning out great beer for over three decades. If you enjoy a hazy IPA, this option, released in 2020, has tropical fruit aromas and highlights ingredients like lemondrop hops, which add a lemony fruitiness. This new beer has a 6.7% ABV and comes in a six-pack of cans.
Buy: Great Lakes Hazecraft IPA
5. Stone Soaring Dragon Imperial IPA
TEA-INSPIRED FLAVORS
Beer and coffee is a pretty established flavor combination, and there are plenty of coffee stouts on the market. But what about tea? Stone’s brewers took a trip to Tian Shan Tea City in Shanghai and returned to produce this unique IPA blended with white tea. It follows Stone’s longheld interest in tea, and this is the California breweries’ latest experiment, which has a pleasant blend of bitter and floral notes.
Buy: Stone Soaring Dragon Imperial IPA
6. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
BOURBON BARREL AGED
The Goose Island Bourbon County Stout doesn’t just take inspiration from the taste of bourbon, but it also takes on some of the ABV, too. At 12.9%, this is one of the boozier options on this list. This new beer is aged in bourbon barrels, imbuing it with a rich, unique flavor.
Buy: Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
7. New Belgium Sour IPA
HOPPY AND TROPICAL
New Belgium brewing company produces notable beers like Fat Tire and Voodoo Ranger, and this recent release from the brand features a cheery kite image, which belies the hoppy, sour flavor. New Belgium is noted for its commitment to sustainability, too, so it’s a new beer that tastes good that you can feel good about drinking.
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