This is a collaborative post: Beer is a pastime that many of us enjoy over a meal, on a night out, or when enjoying the cool summer breeze when it comes. But there are many different kinds of beers out there to satiate your taste buds.
There are hoppy beers, light beers, ales, stouts, craft beers, IPAs, and so many more. With so much choice and so many independent craft breweries popping up all across Europe, it can be hard to get a grasp of what you’d like and what’s out there.
In this article, we will break down some of the best beer in Europe for you to try the next time you feel like experimenting with beer.
Innis And Gunn IPA
Hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland, Innis and Gunn is a top contender for some of the best beer you can get in Europe. The brand and its distinctive taste were founded by Douglas Sharp in 2003 and has been making waves in Scotland – as well as across the UK – ever since.
They have developed a wide range of beer for all kinds of folks. Everything from their IPAs to their lagers to their Red Beers matured in Caribbean Rum Casks. They have a unique style that will keep you on your toes and introduce you to new tastes you never thought you’d get from beer.
Take, for example, their Mango On The Run IPA that fuses a light, refreshing beer with the unique, fruity taste of Mangos! That is just one of the amazing IPAs that they have to offer.
N17 Rye Ale
Next on the list, we are going across the pond to Ireland, particularly Galway, which houses the N17 brewery. Their medium-strength Rye Ale is Bavarian-inspired but crafted in the heart of County Galway.
This beer has a unique, organic flavour that feels very natural and refreshing. Better yet, the N17 brewery ethos is inspiring, with not a single by-product of their fermentation process going to waste.
What sets the Rye Ale apart from other IPA contenders is its break away from the usual hoppy assault on the senses that IPAs can offer. This IPA is good for both people dipping their toes in the IPA pool for the first time and those IPA hoppy heads that love to try something new.
Nostradamus
Going from some of the lighter IPAs and we, of course, need to introduce a stronger, darker IPA for all the lovers of something a little bit heavier out there. Well, if a dark beer is what you are looking for, Nostradamus will absolutely deliver.
With its origin hailing from the Brasserie Caracole in Falmignoul, Belgium, you know it is going to be good. But nobody can prepare you for just how good.
This IPA is somewhat of a mystery, and its taste develops in an intriguing way, even for the seasoned IPA lovers out there.
A frothy and thick yet light and digestible head is a signal of things to come. But as you take that first gulp, a distinctive blend of caramel and malt becomes fused with an undertone of liquorice that will leave its hallmark on you – long after you’ve finished!
Mikkeller’s Beer Geek Brunch Weasel
Moving onto Denmark and we have a brilliantly crafted beer by Mikkeller, the Beer Geek Brunch Weasel. And its taste lives up to its interesting name. This beer is brewed using one of the world’s most expensive coffees.
It is an Imperial Oatmeal stout that is created with aid from Civet or Weasel Coffee. This isn’t for the squeamish as this coffee has been extracted from animal droppings which – arguably – give it a rich, rare flavour.
Described as having an aroma of dark roast coffee, dark chocolate, and a dark, tangy taste, this is certainly one for the bucket list.
Naparbier’s Insider IPA
And for the last entry on the list, we have the Insider IPA from Naparbier in Spain. Having been brewing since 2009, Naparbeir is partly responsible for changing the beer scene for Spaniards.
Finding its home in Pamplona, Navarra, this brewery has been creating magnificent beers such as one of their most popular, the Insider IPA.
This IPA blends all the good bits of home brewing styles to create a taste that has a citrus overtone of lemon and orange, with a pine-like herbal aroma. A flavoursome and sugary IPA for those who like to live on the sweet side of things.
In Conclusion
Europe is a honeypot for wonderfully crafted beers hiding away in plain sight. With so much to offer and with fresh, readily available ingredients on their doorstep, it is no wonder that Europe has developed so many awesome beers.
Be sure to give them a try and see what one takes your fancy the most.