Brew Review:

Memorial Day means summer.  As we kick off the season, let's remember our American patriots who gave everything so that the rest of us might savor the sweet fruits of Freedom.  This month we honor history's heroes and toast today's warriors with a truly American tradition: the backyard cookout.

A good cookout requires only a few ingredients - food, friends, fun, and of course, great beer.  But before you break out the horseshoes, baseball gear, and lawn darts, take a moment to plot the culinary and drinkable details of your celebration.  If food is the bricks, then beer is the mortar of every great summer smoker.  Fortunately for us Americans, we have abundant choices of both, and our party menu can draw inspiration from every corner of this great country.  Plan on cooking, eating, and drinking all day - the American-style cookout is a marathon, not a sprint.

Wake up early to fire up the old-fashioned charcoal barbecue.  Pork shoulder, spareribs, and beef brisket are delectable when cooked long and slow at low temperatures.  Hickory wood chunks in the fire add a truly American touch, and the smoke will anoint your yard with a heavenly aroma for the entire 8 to 10 hours it takes to render the meat into the succulent cornerstone of a perfect party.  That means you can take all day to explore the rich food and beer heritage of our nation with several pre-courses of cookout fare, before finally hunkering down with a heavy plate of slow-cooked barbecue and a tankard brimming with your favorite grog.

Brats and onions steamed in lager beer - deep-fried seafood medley drizzled with a tangy American wheat ale remoulade - tri-color pepper slaw with pilsner aioli - baked beans simmered in zesty American Porter-spiced ancho chile pepper mole sauce...  These delicacies are just a few of the easy buffet choices built on a foundation of some great American brews that will really fuel the fires of your al fresco feast.  After heaping course upon course of fabulous cookout fare, ignite some dessert fireworks with a hearty helping of strawberry rhubarb cobbler topped with fresh whipped cream and a maple syrup-barleywine glaze.

This Memorial Day, respect and honor America's patriots in your own way - and remember that it's because of their sacrifices that we're able to enjoy good food made even better by great beer.


American Pale Wheat Ale - Samuel Adams Summer Ale, Boston Beer Company, Boston, MA

American Imperial Pilsner - Golden Era, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE

American Porter - Sierra Nevada Porter, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA.

American Barleywine - Druid Fluid, Middle Ages Brewing Co., Ltd., Syracuse, NY