Imperial / Double Pastry Stouts combine the best of both worlds.
Take a pastry stout, considered a stout brewed with plenty of sugary ingredients to be intentionally sweet, and bump up the ABV.
These are over-the-top beers in every sense of the word often overloaded with adjuncts to taste like popular candy bars, traditional cakes and pies, even nostalgic cereals.
It wouldn't be uncommon to find Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, maple syrup, coconut truffles, German chocolate cake, and everything in between in these beers.
And with ABVs often rising above nine percent, Imperial / Double Pastry Stouts should be considered decadent treats best shared with others.
Happy indulging!
Untappd's 10 Highest-Rated Imperial / Double Pastry Stouts of 2022
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's our newest Untappd badge available only to Untappd Insiders. The first in our series of what we're calling "Super Style" badges is the "Super Style IPA - American" badge.
Last year, Untappd released its Top Ten Styles of 2021. Based on this list, we're going to make six badges on these top styles. Our "Super Style" badges will get a golden Insider makeover. We'll release each one at various points throughout the year.
As an Untappd Insider, you'll have the exclusive opportunity to earn these "Super Style" badges by checking in that style of beer.
We're starting with the number one style of 2021: The American IPA.
Finishing as number one on this list for an astonishing eleventh year in a row, the American IPA topped every other style with over 7.2 million check-ins in 2021.
This classic, ubiquitous style continues to make its mark in United States history. We think we can safely say that the American IPA has become as iconic as baseball and apple pie.
Here's the catch: You can only unlock it if you're an Untappd Insider!
Untappd Insiders is an upgraded version of the free Untappd app, available for both iOS and Android.
Becoming an Untappd Insider means you can unlock exclusive badges, access The Untappd Secret Store, score discounted event tickets, benefit from more precise ratings, enjoy limited ads, and tons more.
Deep inside the hidden forests of Beerland is a special tree that holds a wooden door. And behind this door? The Untappd Secret Store, filled with exclusive goodies and early purchasing access for Untappd Insiders only, is one of the best perks of becoming an Untappd Insider.
For instance, only an Untappd Insider can buy the sweet Owl Shirt above designed by the renowned Dean McKeever, artist for Tree House and Vitamin Sea Brewing and founder of Keever Glass.
If you're reading this blog it probably means you're a fan of Untappd. In that case listen up because we have big news.
We're kicking off May with a HUGE GIVEAWAY.
We're giving away five FREE ANNUAL UNTAPPD INSIDERS MEMBERSHIPS along with a sweet swag pack for you and a friend.
Wait, What Is an Untappd Insider?
Untappd Insiders is an upgraded version of the free Untappd app, available for both iOS and Android.
Becoming an Untappd Insider means you can unlock exclusive badges, access the Untappd Secret Store, score discounted event tickets, benefit from more precise ratings, enjoy limited ads, and tons more.
We're giving away five free Annual Untappd Insiders memberships. Plus each of the five winners will receive an extra membership for the friend of their choice.
And each winner (both you and your friend) will get a dope swag pack that includes:
Well, what are you waiting for? Go get lucky with the ultimate Untappd giveaway.
Or Why Leave Things to Chance?
Think being an Untappd Insider would be pretty dope? Don't leave things to chance. Get your access to exclusive badges, precise ratings, discounted festival tickets, the Untappd Secret Store, and more.
Waypost Schwarz Bier | Photography courtesy of John A. Paradiso
May the schwartz be with you! For those unfamiliar with the iconic Star Wars parody from Mel Brooks called Spaceballs, let us fill you in. It's a hilarious flick featuring Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet (aka Darth Vader) in a helmet ten sizes too big for him; John Candy as Barf, a half-man, half-dog sidekick; and a character called Yogurt, the wisest sage in the galaxy. It's Yogurt that wisely says, "May the Schwartz be with you." Obviously, a parody of "May the Force be with you." Star Wars fans famously mark May 4th as an official holiday: May the 4th Be With You. So it makes complete sense that craft beer fans have morphed that day into our own parody: May the Schwartz Be With You. Instead of celebrating Star Wars (you still can if you want), the craft beer version celebrates schwarzbier.
What?
Schwarzbier! Literally a German word that translates to black lager, schwarzbier is reminiscent of a German-style dunkel, but drier, darker, roastier, and lighter.
It's a style that has a rich history in Germany but only recently started to pop up in the United States.
But if American craft brewers have anything to say about it, schwarzbiers are a style that one should drink not just on May 4th, but any time during the year.
What Exactly Is a Schwarzbier?
Eventide Midnight Hour Schwarzbier | Photography courtesy of Eventide Brewing
As we mentioned, schwarzbier literally translates to black beer.
It's the roasted malts that create that dark color in a schwarzbier. Usually a combination of Pilsner, dark Munich, and roasted barley.
See back in Medieval times, when these beers became popular, brewers used kilned malts often categorized as schwarz (black), braun (brown), or rot (red).
Hence schwarzbiers = black lagers.
Oh and that's the other important quality of this beer: it's a lager, meaning brewers use a bottom-fermenting yeast during fermentation.
This creates a beer that's lighter, crisper, and drier.
Just because this beer is black doesn't mean that it's similar to a stout.
Schwarzbiers Are Dark. But They're NOT Stouts. And Yet They're Delicious
Necromancer Brewing Co. Night Light Schwarzbier | Photography courtesy of Necromancer Brewing Co.
If you remember anything from this article it should be this: Schwarzbiers are dark lagers; they are NOT stouts.
"Some people think that schwarzbiers are the stout of Germany, but I would argue it's not," says Lauren Hughes, head brewer at Necromancer Brewing in Pittsburgh, PA, where recently a plethora of breweries have served up the style. "It's still a lager, so it should still have that really crisp base malt and be something zippy, but with a tiny bit of roast to make you feel like you're drinking a dark beer."
And this is one of the best parts of a schwarzbier.
Whereas stouts can be heavy, schwarzbiers are light.
Whereas imperial stouts can reach upwards of 9% ABV, schwarzbiers typically fall between 5-6% ABV, making them ideal for one or two.
And whereas adjunct stouts can have lots of cloying sweet notes, schwarzbiers are simply malty, roasty, clean, and dry.
They're dark lagers. And that's a good thing.
To put schwarzbiers in the same category as a stout would be like saying Star Wars and Star Trek are the same.
Sure, they're both movies about space, but totally different plots and followers.
Same with schwarzbiers and stouts: They're two completely different styles of beer that share mainly their color in common.
Remember: Schwarzbiers are lagers.
May the Schwartz be With You
In reality, schwarzbiers really have nothing to do with Star Wars. It's just a really dark beer that happens to have a name that matches a funny quote from the Star Wars parody Spaceballs.
We could get deep here and say that its depths take us to galaxies far, far away, but we won't.
We'll just say: Although nowhere near as popular as American IPAs, schwarzbiers deserve a place in the American craft beer iconography.
So go forth on this May 4th and drink one of these top-rated schwarzbiers!
Untappd's 12 Highest-Rated Schwarzbiers to Drink on May 4th, 2022*
*The this list is generated from beers rated between Jan. 1st, 2021, to date.
Grimm Artisanal Ales Lithos Schwarzbier | Photography courtesy of Grimm Artisanal Ales
Brewing a beer is not necessarily a hard task. Okay, it can be pretty complicated at times because you'll need to maintain consistent temperatures and keep all of your equipment extremely clean. But overall, brewing may be more accessible than you think. Over the last few decades, homebrewing has become a serious hobby and passion for many.
In fact, there are 1.1 million homebrewers in the U.S. alone, according to the American Homebrewers Association (AHA).
Gasp!
Plus, many of our favorite professional brewers and brewery owners started their brewing careers as homebrew hobbyists.
So you can too.
On Saturday, May 7th, 2022, we celebrate National Homebrew Day.
What a perfect time to bust out your brewing chops.
At the very least, you can check-in Untappd's newest "National Homebrew Day 2022" badge just by drinking a beer categorized as "home-brewed."
Try out your Great Aunt Sally's newest saison, give your daughter's chocolate coffee stout a sip, or hangout with your buddies in the backyard comparing recipes.
However you spend National Homebrew Day, just make sure that you recognize this magical combination of art and science, hobby and profession, that creates something we all love….beer!
How to earn: Just check-in any beer categorized as home-brewed.
Here's to another year of homebrewers taking their hobby to the next level.
The Charlotte Independent Brewers Alliance (CIBA) is proud to bring a new tradition to the Charlotte region: CLT Brewed Week, May 6-15. The homegrown breweries founded in Charlotte and the surrounding area have made extra special arrangements to celebrate and appreciate its legion of longtime and new-to-town craft beer fans. Now, as a collective alliance, you're getting a full week of programming including one-off beers, collaboration releases (even a day of brewery fitness) and an anchor event not to be missed!
CLT Brewed Week is a CELEBRATION OF BEERS BREWED HERE with events and experiences to be enjoyed in the taprooms and establishments that support local craft beer.
"There are a lot of great CIBA breweries producing a lot of great beer," says David Gonzalez, Director of Brewing Operations and Head Brewer at Lost Worlds Brewing Company in Cornelius, NC. "With the smooth notes of dark chocolate and slight roast, we are honored to be able to showcase our Vasa Baltic Porter at the CLT Rare Beer Fest. A treat for all attendees!"
Another treat will be from Legion Brewing, who will also be pouring something very special at the festival.
"Our barrel aged Court Shoes beer demonstrates the spirit of collaboration and innovation in our craft," says head brewer at Legion Brewing. "Our red ale rested in barrels formerly holding Path to the Darkside Whiskey, a spirit Legion had a hand in making with our friends at Great Wagon Road."
Don't miss your chance to try these rare beers during CLT Rare Beer Fest!
Beer has the power to create change. Since May officially marks ALS Awareness month, we thought it would be the perfect time to release our new badge in collaboration with the Ales for ALS™ program.
For the past two years we've teamed up with Ales for ALS™, an incredible initiative pushing for groundbreaking research to find a cure for ALS. How? Well, by drinking beer of course!
If you're not familiar with Ales for ALS™, over the past seven years, breweries from around the world such as RAM Restaurants & Brewery, Bell's Brewery, and Founders Brewing Co, among many more have joined the program, fighting to #EndALS by crafting great beers.
Participating Ales for ALS™ brewers receive a unique hop blend, created and donated annually by Loftus Ranches and YCH Hops. With the exclusive hop blend, which is provided to participating brewers at no cost, they can each craft and sell their own unique Ales for ALS™ brew.
For every pint of the Ales for ALS™ brew sold, participating brewers donate $1 to support research at the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI). The funds raised are immediately invested into the lab at ALS TDI, where their science team continues to discover and develop potential treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
And while ALS can be devastating on those it effects and the family around them, Ales for ALS™ is proof that hops, beer, a little ingenuity, and a lot of elbow grease can help change the course of a degenerative disease. And hopefully, eventually, even lead to cures.
HOW TO EARN THIS BADGE: This special Ales for ALS™ badge can be earned by checking in any beer from one of these participating breweries between May 1st, 2021 - May 31st, 2022.
Buying (and drinking) one of these beers will donate directly to research to find a cure for ALS.
We know spring just bloomed, but c'mon, this season really just signifies that summer is on the horizon. And we all know summer reigns as the season supreme. Three long months full of splashing around in the ocean, cannonballing into the pool, building sand castles on the beach, biking through our national parks, running through the flower-filled meadows, grilling on the deck, and day-drinking with all of our friends.
Summer calls for beers that sustain us through these long sun-filled hours. Light, sessionable ones that we can comfortably enjoy two, three, or even four of throughout the day without sacrificing flavor.
Sierra Nevada's new summer seasonal, a session hazy IPA called Summer Break, does exactly that.
Bursting with juiciness, but only hitting 4.6% ABV, the beer made such a splash when it first hit shelves last summer that it's back in 2022.
Now it is more flavorful and more balanced than ever.
With Summer Break, Sierra Nevada is yelling C-A-N-N-O-N-B-A-L-L at the top of their lungs.
And we're one hundred percent ready to jump in with them.
In this week's special episode of Drinking Socially, hosts Harrison Hickok and Kyle Roderick chat with Sierra Nevada's Innovation Brewmaster Scott Jennings about how Sierra Nevada has developed such a full and hop-forward IPA that fans crave all summer long!
And don't miss out on the Sierra Nevada Summer Break IPA badge. To earn this badge: Check-in one (1) Summer Break from Sierra Nevada between April 3rd, 2022, and May 18th, 2022.
On April 23rd, 2022, we celebrate Saison Day by sipping our favorite saisons.
Actually the French word for "season," saison is an ale born in the farmhouses of Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium.
Historically, saisons are low in alcohol, light in body, and high in carbonation. Oftentimes, saisons are seen as these pastoral almost romantic beers, delicate to drink with a light tartness and dry finish.
It's a distinct yeast strain (or sometimes even naturally occuring microflora and fauna) that gives saisons a unique fruity, spicy ester taste and helps provide that characteristic thirst-quenching dryness.
Take one sip of a saison and you'll immediately want to take another.
And that was the whole idea. Back in the day, folks brewed saisons for farmers to drink during the hot summer months. Hence the low ABV.
Of course, most recently, craft brewers have produced incredible interpretations of the style. Including those with higher ABVs, hoppier profiles, and more complex and funky bodies.
While Saison Dupont has been the hallmark of the saison style, you can find excellent versions from revered breweries including Hill Farmstead, Side Project, Jester King, Equilibrium, and Brewery Ommegang, among many, many others.
No matter if you're drinking a traditional saison to quench your thirst during the warmer months or a fresh, new interpretation, don't sleep on these sensational saisons.
Untappd's 17 Highest-Rated Saisons to Drink on Saison Day on April 17th*
*The this list is generated from beers rated between Jan. 1st, 2021, to date.
This past March, we ran the ultimate beer competition for the second year in a row. Untappd Brewery Madness pitted sixty-four of our most checked-in breweries of 2022 against each other in a head-to-head battle of the beers. Call it bracketology, Untappd style. Who cut down the nets? Tree House Brewing Company in Charlton, MA. Let's celebrate their victory as Untappd's 2022 Untappd Brewery Madness Champion.
Once we had our list of 64, we seeded them based on popularity. Put simply, the most checked-in breweries got the top seeds. Then, we matched seeds in a head-to-head, single-elimination tournament based on check-ins received during periods that coincided with the March Madness basketball games.
Last year, we discovered how much you all loved Other Half when they became the inaugural winners.
This year, the competition returned with many more close calls (in the very first round, Great Notion Brewing edged out The Veil Brewing Co. by only seventy check-ins). And high-flying triumphs. For instance, when Equilibrium Brewery slayed Anheuser-Busch in the final eight.
But perhaps we saved the best battle for last. On April 4th, former champion Other Half Brewing Co. went head-to-head against Tree House Brewing Company. Two huge heavy hitters in the industry both known for their incredible American, hazy, and double IPAs.
After a hard-fought contest, Tree House Brewing Company emerged as the new Brewery Madness 2022 champion!
As promised, the winning brewery will receive a free badge. From April 15, 2022, to May 15, 2022, check-in any beer from Tree House Brewing Company to support Untappd's new Brewery Madness champion and earn the Tree House Brewery Madness Champion 2022 badge.
Cut down that net, Tree House. You earned it!
HOW TO EARN THIS BADGE
Check-in any beer from Tree House Brewing Company between April 15, 2022 - May 15, 2022 to earn the Brewery Madness Champion (2022) badge.
Meet the Monsters of IPA! In 2019, Rogue released its first hazy IPA called Batsquatch, a fabled creature found in the deep woods near Mount St. Helens. Following this juicy, cloudy, fruit-forward IPA, Rogue launched a second monster in 2021.
Colossal Claude, a massive sea monster last seen off the coast of his favorite brewery, has been terrifying sailors and feasting on salmon for years. Now he's turned to hops. This imperial IPA has a colossal dose of Cascade, Chinook, Citra, and Strata.
Now, there is a new monster on the scene, the Gumberoo. This West Coast IPA is fashioned after the mythical half bear, half hog last sighted by campers in the Pacific Northwest woods. The piney and protective Gumberoo has a subtle hop aroma and flavors upfront giving way to a light tropical fruit body.
This year, the monsters will be duking it out in the Battle of the Beasts! Rogue is asking fans to help choose the winner by checking in their favorite monster beer on Untappd or voting at monstersofipa.com.
In this week's special episode of Drinking Socially, hosts Harrison Hickok and Kyle Roderick chat with Rogue Creative Director Evan Bartholomew and Innovation Manager Danny Connors about bringing these beasts and beers to life!
And don't miss out on the Monsters of IPA badge. To earn this badge: Untappd users will unlock (1) Monsters of IPA badge by checking in any variant of the Monsters of IPA pack—Batsquatch, Colossal Claude, and Gumbaroo. Users can level up by checking in a 2nd beer in the Monsters of IPA pack and users will unlock the 3rd level once they have checked in 3 beers within the pack. The badge will be available from April 1, 2022, to June 6, 2022.
National Beer Day is a holiday that you just can't miss as a craft beer fan.
Celebrated every year on April 7th, National Beer Day recognizes the day President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) legally allowed beer to once again be manufactured and sold in the United States after Prohibition.
So this National Beer Day let's pour one out and toast to all the icons of American craft beer!
How to earn the badge: Check-in to any beer between April 7, 2022 - April 10, 2022.
Honestly, we're not sure this blog needs any introduction. Quite simply, American and global craft drinkers love hazy IPAs. And for good reason. Their turbid, juicy depths transport our tastebuds to galaxies far, far away.
First popularized by New England breweries (hence the name)—such as Tree House and The Alchemist—hazy IPAs are now in pretty much every brewery's portfolio across the country. There are even some versions from big breweries such as Sierra Nevada, Rogue, Lagunitas, and Bell's that you can find in pretty much any store across the country. And they're pretty good. Actually, our friends at Hop Culture ranked them.
Unsurprisingly, the New England-style IPA ranked second on Untappd's Top 10 Styles of 2021 with a whopping 6.1 million check-ins last year.
With no end to the haze craze in sight, the only question now is what hazy IPAs will reign supreme in 2022?
Editor's note: These are only single hazy / New England-style IPAs. We have not counted double hazy / New England-style IPAs in this list. Additionally, this is a ranking of the highest-rated hazy / New England in 2022 (Jan. 1st, 2022, to date).
Untappd's 20 Highest-Rated Hazy / New England-Style IPAs of 2022
A juicy, cloudy, fruit-forward IPA with intense tropical aromas and flavors. The northeast meets the northwest in this dank and drinkable beer.
For years, rumors have circled that deep in the woods on Mount St. Helens lives the fabled Batsquatch. While there are many tales of Batsquatch, they are all a bit hazy on the details, which makes the truth such a juicy mystery. So what better way to honor the elusive legend than with a hazy IPA? Perfect for camping and potentially making a new friend. This juicy, cloudy IPA features intense tropical flavors and aromas.
ColossalClaude - Imperial IPA
Citrus and floral hop aromas on the nose lead way to a classic Northwest IPA malt body. It finishes a touch on the bitter side with plenty of soft pine and resinous hoppy notes bouncing around.
It's been a few decades since a Colossal Claude sighting has been reported, but we're fairly certain the massive sea monster has been laying low off the coast of his favorite brewery. Word has it that after years of terrifying sailors and feasting on salmon he acquired a taste for hops. So we brewed this Imperial IPA with a colossal dose of Cascade, Chinook, Citro and Strata hops in hope of coaxing Claude out to join us for a pint.
Piney and protective 'Gumberoo' West Coast IPA, the newest monster to join the Monsters of IPA crew.
Subtle hop aroma with piney hop flavors up front that give way to a light tropical fruit body. The finish is a nice blend of malts, fruit and pine with a lingering bitterness.
Ever hear the story of the Gumberoo? As the story goes, three loggers were camped in the woods drinking beers and entertaining the idea of illegally harvesting old growth sequoias for extra cash when the ground suddenly shook with a heavy footstep. Bigger than a bear with wild eyes and jagged teeth, the Gumberoo rose from behind a stump with a mighty roar. As the loggers scrambled to escape, beer spilled onto the fire causing smoke to fill the air. Some say the forest only wanted to send them a warning that night as this stroke of smokey fortune helped hold off the Gumberoo while the loggers got away. So remember to respect our forests, put out your fires and always bring cold beer camping.
To earn this badge: Check-in one (1) of any variant of the Monsters of IPA pack (Batsquatch, Colossal Claude, or Gumbaroo) between April 1st, 2022, and June 1st, 2022. Level up by checking-in a 2nd beer in the Monsters of IPA pack and Level 3 by checking-in 3 beers within the pack.
At 4.6% ABV, Summer Break Session Hazy IPA is brewed for long days of play — whether that's launching off the rope swing or lounging by the pool.
And for all its refreshing tropical and citrus notes from six hop varieties, Summer Break backs it up with malt body — not an easy task for a session IPA. "You get those creamy elements from the oats and the wheat," says Sierra Nevada innovation brewmaster Scott Jennings, "and then the complex malt sugars on top of that help create a rounded, full mouthfeel."
To earn this badge: Check-in one (1) Summer Break from Sierra Nevada between April 3rd, 2022, and May 18th, 2022.
Toast
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