craft beer

Everyone has their “go-to” beer of choice. Most people I know prefer something low in calories–my “figure” is long gone and probably will never return, so I have chosen something with actual flavor.

Diamond Bear Brewing Company is located in Little Rock, Arkansas, near where I live, so the brewery’s beer is readily available at nearly every store and most of the locally owned restaurants. While I do not want to get into reviewing the brewery too much at this point (that will come another day), I will say that Diamond Bear pioneered the long-awaited craft beer scene in Arkansas.

Diamond Bear’s Pale Ale is the best Pale Ale in The Natural State. Yes, many might disagree as other local breweries have set up shop in Arkansas and offer Pale Ale options, but those people can create their own blog and discuss their favorite Pale Ale! It is apparent that DB’s Pale Ale serves as the flagship beer for the company, and they picked a great one. Through much research, I have decided that I enjoy DB Pale Ale best on draft; drinking it from the bottle is good as well, but the beer has a small amount of head that when poured from the tap adds significantly to the flavor of the beer. This beer is one of the more balanced pale ales I have tried, combining the proper mix of malt and hops flavorings. With the unique combination of hops and malts, the brew is suited for any season, making it perfect for summer cookouts on the lake or those cool fall nights around a bonfire.

For anyone wanting to switch their ‘go-to’ from a flavorless light beer to a full-flavored beer, give Diamond Bear’s Pale Ale a shot–it is the beer you’ve been missing out on all along!

I recently went on a trip to Kentucky, my home state, to visit family. Having been away from Western Kentucky for several years now, I have lost touch with most of the happenings of the area. I was refreshed to see a sleepy part of the state embracing the craft beer boom that is sweeping the nation.

Dry Ground Brewing Co. is a player at the forefront of the Western Kentucky craft beer movement, bringing quality beer in a modern atmosphere to its audience. The brewery is located within the Coca-Cola plant and features a tasting room that will make you feel cool even if you’re not. The stainless brewing equipment draws the attention of the patrons and literally begs them to ask those serving the beer questions about their operations, engaging the customers into all aspects of the business.

While there, I tried the 37 Flood, an American IPA that gets its name from the historical 1937 flood that devastated the area. This beer was fantastic, although my dad who is not a craft beer enthusiast found it “too strong” for his virgin pallet. The color, a beautiful shade of orange, looked great paired with the thick layer of head that held for the majority of time it took me to finish the glass. A strong hit of hops mixed with citrus wakes you up and keeps you intrigued throughout the entire glass, perfect for those of you that can appreciate a bitter beer.

While the beer was great, I found that the brewery limited who visits (maybe that is part of the plan…). I went with two people that do not drink beer and the only option for them was water out of a water cooler. My suggestion for the brewery would be to add other drink options for those that are not “beerisseurs” like myself. In doing so, I can stay longer without hearing about how much my girlfriend does not like beer and is ready to go.

Hint Of Local

A Hint of All Things Local.

Diamond Bear Pale Ale: It’s My ‘Go-To’

Dry Ground Brewing Co. — Paducah, Kentucky