Lotte Peplow, the Brewers Association’s American Craft Beer Ambassador for Europe, on ideas for Mother’s Day with a twist!
Photograph: Nic Crilly-Hargrave
It’s Mother’s Day on 14th March! In normal times this means meals out at pubs or restaurants, and a day of recognising the special person in our lives. This year, however, we need to think of new and creative ways of bringing happiness to one of the people who raised us.
Gifts are one option, but flowers are predictable and chocolates unoriginal. Here’s an idea with a difference… introduce your mum to the wonderful world of craft beer, in particular super-high-quality American craft beer, with its bold, complex and full flavour!
Female drinkers around the world are embracing craft beer. For example, in the States last year 37% of beer drinkers were female. Whether your mum does or doesn’t enjoy the amber nectar, there’s a beer style out there with her name on it.
From lagers to lambics, pale ales to porters, saisons to stouts, age is no barrier to appreciating flavour and it’s never too late to discover the delights of a well-made beer. Open her eyes to the vast array of flavours found in today’s craft beers and she will be amazed by how good they taste.
But before plying her with the latest hop bomb, think about her taste preferences and find a similar match. For example, if your mum likes:
Red wine — try a porter or a stout. A beer that is full-bodied, rich, and roasty that mimics the depth of flavour of red wine and pairs well with the types of food red wine usually accompanies, such as meat casserole, steak, burger, or cheese. Don’t let the dark colour and full mouthfeel fool you — porters and stouts often mean a lower alcohol content and lower calorie count, too.
White wine — try a gose. With its gentle acidity and slight tartness, this style may be brewed with fruit additions to add further flavour. The more adventurous could try a witbier, with its orange, coriander, and peppery kick that will offer a good pairing for foods more commonly associated with white wine, such as fish, seafood and shellfish.
Gin/vodka — try a clean, crisp, refreshing, perfectly balanced Helles lager. Perhaps one with a subtle floral or citrus hop note and a high level of carbonation.
Port/sherry/whisky/brandy/liqueurs — imperial barrel aged stout. Beers can be aged in a variety of used spirit barrels, and bourbon is a classic example. The barrel’s previous occupant imbues the beer with a rich depth of flavour and high alcohol content that gives the beer an intriguing layer of complexity.
Mum with a sweet tooth — a stout with chocolate, coffee or mocha notes. Perhaps brewed with lactose for a creamy, smooth mouthfeel. The roasted malts give a rich, deep sweetness, without being bitter on the palate. Brown Ale is also appropriate for those who favour less roasted character.
Mum without a sweet tooth — a hoppy IPA. Bursting with juicy, tropical fruit flavours, perfectly balanced with a malty backbone to ensure the correct level of bitterness. The American craft beer scene is a full of incredible tasting IPAs that range in alcohol content from 4% to over 10% and run the gamut of flavours from restrained bitterness and hop character to in-your-face hop explosions.
If she’s concerned that beer will make her feel bloated or pile on the pounds, reassure her that beer contains no more calories than a glass of wine. Half a pint of 5% beer contains 120 calories, while a standard 175ml glass of 12% wine is 133 calories (source: NHS.uk). There are several low-calorie beer options available if preferred, such as Oskar Blues One-Y or Firestone Walker Flyjack Hazy IPA.
A range of American craft beers can be found at online beer retailers such as Beer Hop, Beer
Merchants, The Malt Miller, Beer Bruvs, or through independent bottle shops and off-licences, beer subscription services such as Beer52, and supermarkets.
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts.
The BA represents 5,400 US breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers.
The BA organises events including the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week.
The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine, and Brewers Publications is the largest publisher of brewing literature in the US.
Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association and the free Brew Guru mobile app.
