Category: Ales

Year in Beer

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Spotify Untappd has released its Year in Beer feature for 2022. Happily for us, the release is promoted with a new badge. To claim it, check into any beer between 13 December and 13 January. That’s so easy, you probably already have it!

The release is accompanied by seven style specific badges that are sponsored by Oskar Blues and Cigar City. Check into any beer of that style to earn each badge. They styles are: IPA – American, Pale Ale – American, IPA – New England / Hazy, Wheat Beer – Hereweizen, Blonde Ale, Dark Ale and Hard Seltzer.

Set the Table

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Untappd’s badge for Table beer. Have 5 to claim the badge. Have 5 more to reach level 2 and then keep going until you hit level 100.

From the June 2019 update, table beer is a low percentage or “small beer” that is usually 3% or less. It follows a tradition that dates back to the middle ages when water was unsafe to drink and so low alcohol beer was favoured with meals.

The Wine of Beers

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Have 5 Barleywines to earn The Wine of Beers badge. Untappd recognises three styles of Barleywine: American, English and Other, and Rye Wine and Wheat wine also count towards this badge.

A Barleywine is a strong ale of at least 6%, and usually more. They are rather sweet, due to the amount of malt added to achieve the desired ABV. Some beer critics consider them to be indistinguishable from Old Ales.

And no, despite the name, Barleywines are not a wine and contain no grapes.

Mild Mannered

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Have 5 English Mild Ales to earn the Mild Mannered badge.

The original session beer, an English Mild Ale is a low strength beer of around 2 or 3 percent that gets its flavour and aroma from its malt profile. A perfect beer for a day in the pub!

Cream of the Crop

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Cream Ales. Have 5 to unlock level one of the Cream of the Crop badge.

A Cream Ale is an American style of pale ale. They are usually light with no pronounced hop or malt tastes, a result of being lagered even though its a true ale. They often contain adjuncts such as rice or corn, but no cream!

My favourite example of the style is Kiwanda, from Oregon’s Pelican Brewing Company.

You’re Extra Special

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ESBCelebrating English Ales, have 5 beers that are British Bitter’s for this one. It levels after every 5, all the way to level 100 for 500 Bitter’s. Three sub-styles count towards this badge: Bitter – Session / Ordinary, Bitter – Best and Bitter – Extra Special / Strong (ESB).

A bitter is a traditional English pale ale that has relatively more hops than an English Mild Ale. Usually served from a cask rather than a keg, a bitter will have an ABV of between 3 and 5.5%.

An Extra Special Bitter (or Extra Strong Bitter) is, as the name suggests, a stronger version, sitting between 4.5 and 6% ABV. The extra alcohol makes them noticeably maltier and fruitier.

The abbreviation ESB is actually a trademark owned by Fullers (Asahi).

California Dreamin’

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Have 5 California Commons, or Steam beers, to get this badge.

Essentially an ale brewed with lager ingredients, the style came about when German immigrants arrived on the Californian goldfields in the 1800s. Pre-refrigeration, fermenting cool lagers in the hot Californian climate was impossible so the German brewers made the best of what they had.

The style nearly died away in the 20th century until it was revived by Anchor Brewing when they launched a bottled version of Anchor Steam Beer in 1971. Steam beer is now a trademark of Anchor (who is owned by Sapporo) and so California Common is used to describe the style.

Respect the Kölsch

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KolschHave 5 Kölsch for this badge. A Kölsch is a German style of beer from Cologne (or Köln).

A golden ale, the style has some similarities with American Cream Ales and Altbier, which is from the neighbouring city of Düsseldorf. Their is even an ongoing rivalry between drinkers of Kölsch and the drinkers of Altbier.

Kölsch is a protected term within the European Union, which means it can only be brewed by breweries near Cologne. However, outside of the EU the term is fair game, and many craft breweries make their own version of the style.

Wee Bit of the Scotch

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Check into 5 Scottish Ales to gain this badge. The three Untappd styles that count towards the badge are Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy, Scottish Ale and Scottish Export Ale.WeeHeavy

A Scotch Ale is a strong, malty ale that can be rather sweet. Also known as a Wee Heavy, they have been referred to as the Scottish equivalent of a Barley Wine.

Scottish Ales and Scottish Export Ales are similarly malty but are not necessarily as strong. Some have a smoked flavour. Try the Original by craft brewery Innis & Gunn.