The U.S. and International Variety Beer Club by The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club delivers the best domestic and international beers the world has to offer. For $32.95 per per month (plus $15 for s&h), you’ll get 12 beers (4 different beer styles x 3 bottles or cans) from US based craft breweries, as well as imported beers from renowned beer-crafting countries like Belgium, Germany and England.
DEAL:$10 off any 4 shipment order with coupon code SAVE10, $15 off 6 with SAVE15, and $25 off 12 with SAVE25.
TIP: You can customize your membership with any of the Monthly Clubs subscriptions.
The box comes with a monthly newsletter called Malt Of The Earth. It is packed with quite a bit of info on the month’s selections, including details the history of the brewery behind each of the month’s beers.
It also provides a thorough description the individual beers, including notes on its characteristics (plus the IBU’s, style, and hop varietals used) and proper serving temp and vessel. You can also reorder your favorites by the 12 pack or case!
Everything in my May The U.S. and International Variety Beer Club box! This month featured two domestic selections and two imports, the usual composition of the box.
Our international selections this month were from Augustiner-Bräu, the oldest independent brewery in the city of Munich, Germany. Founded by Augustinian monks, the brewery has been in operation since 1328!
Augustiner-Brau Edelstoff: This light, crisp beer is a Munich-style Helles Lager, or Dortmunder. The style is reminiscent of a light pilsners, like Coors, but grassy, spicy, and citrus notes give the Edelstoff a more sophisticated flavor profile. Very light and crisp, with very fine bubbles.
Augustiner-Brau Maximator: In stark contrast to the Edelstoff stands the Maximator, a Munich Doppelbock. Malty and caramely, the Maximator displays an array of hearty tones ranging from cocoa to licorice, yet it retains a malty sweetness and smooth texture. The hops add a bit of balance, but they offer little in the way bitterness, providing a bit of floral color to the nose.
Our domestic selections were chosen from Dover, Delaware’s Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company, and Humboldt County, California’s Mad River Brewing.
Fordham & Dominion Brewing Company Copperhead Ale: This luscious American amber ale has a sustained earthy and bitter hops note that keeps the powerful malts in check. Toasty and slightly nutty, this foamy beer drinks thick, with lots of spice and herb from the hops creating a lasting presence.
Mad River Brewing Co. Jamaica Red Ale: Malty and spicy, this unfiltered red ale has lovely deep color. Lots of sweet malt and caramel, with spicy citrus and piney notes. The hops tend toward the resinous and sharp side, cutting into an otherwise very sweet flavor profile.
I loved this selection of beers. The selections from Munich showed the incredible range that can be achieved with a lager, both displaying a clean simplicity. The domestic offerings were big and bold, and I loved the choice of potent, flavorful offerings that weren’t porters or extremely dark.
The range of colors was quite lovely, and even the unfiltered beer had nice clarity.
An insert reminds us that beer is a great gift for Father’s Day.
I continue to enjoy this subscription! I like the selection of two beers from the same international brewer, as it gives some context and insight into the character of the brewer, as well as the chosen styles. The domestic selections were great, too – I love the red/amber ales and other strong, but not too dark, beers, as they seem to have the most to offer in malt, hops, and mouthfeel.
Comments