More than a decade ago, BrewDog and Schorschbräu entered into an international “Strongest Beer” ABV arm’s race to determine who could brew the world’s strongest beer. Sam Adams Utopias, Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout…
The production of anything–beer included–results in a plethora of spent materials and wasted energy… regardless of how in-tune brands are with their production methods. Making beer inevitably results in the creation of spent grain that…
The IPA still remains the king of American craft beer. According to a recent estimate from Dr. Bart Watson, chief economist of the Brewers Association, IPA accounts for roughly 35 to 40 percent of U.S. craft beer sales. Its popularity has sparked a sea of variations on the style over the years: New England-Style IPA, Double IPA, Triple IPA, Session IPA, Brut IPA, Lo-Cal IPA and so on.
Out of Beer Advocate’s top 10-rated US beers, five are IPAs. But these are the white whales most of us can’t get hands-on — Pliny the Elder, King Julius, Heady Topper. These beers require traveling to breweries on release days or ponying up for them online. But you don’t have to hunt these rarities down though to enjoy a good IPA. The beauty of America’s love of the IPA is that you can get a good one just about anywhere (even online). And the following 15 IPAs are about as reliable — and available — as IPAs get.
Additional reporting by Jack Seemer and Will Price.
While Sierra Nevada’s iconic Pale Ale fits the guidelines for this list, the California brewery’s Hazy Little Thing falls more inline with today’s IPA tastes. This New England-Style IPA has taken the beer world by storm, at one point in October 2019 seeing an increase in volume by 160 percent year-over-year. It’s citrusy and fresh thanks to a combination of Citra, Magnum, Simcoe, Comet, Mosaic and El Dorado hops. When it comes to a Hazy IPA you can find in your grocery store, we find ourselves gravitating to this one more often than not.
|
There’s a reason Bell’s Two Hearted Ale has been voted by Zymurgy readers as the “Best Beer in America” for three years consecutively: it’s the definition of an American IPA and you can get it just about everywhere. Unlike the other beers on this list, Two Hearted Ale features just a single hop, Centennial, which gives it a floral taste and smell. If you’re counting calories, check out the recently released Light Hearted Ale.
|
While New Belgium became known years ago for Fat Tire (and then its incredible sour program), Voodoo Ranger took the beer world by storm when it was re-launched in 2017 as a unified series. New Belgium now produces at least five distinct Voodoo Ranger variants but the flagship IPA version is an excellent, clean-tasting IPA hopped with Mosaic and Amarillo (among Nugget, Cascade, Simcoe and Chinook).
|
Led by the vision of Sam Caglione, winner of a 2017 James Beard Award, Dogfish Head makes what it calls “off-centered ales for off-centered people.” Its 60-Minute IPA may be the most centered beer in Caglione’s repertoire, however, as the impeccably balanced 17-year-old beer remains relevant as ever. It’s light gold in color, moderately bitter and incredibly crisp.
|
While All Day IPA might have been the most successful session beer in the country at one time, Founders Brewing Co. has had a fall from grace after a 2019 lawsuit in which they were accused of discrimination against employees. Abhorrent as that is, the liquid itself stands up. At just 4.7 percent ABV, it’s light in both body and mouthfeel, though surprisingly complex for a beer of its gravity. It also launched the now-standard 15-pack. But it may eventually be left behind in the dust as more Lo-Cal IPAs continue to be launched (All Day has 147 calories).
|
Founded in 1996 in Escondido, California, Stone Brewing has become one of the most respected craft brewers in the world. While the “Enjoy By” series and Neverending Haze have recently garnered praise from beer drinkers across the country, it’s the 20-plus-year-old IPA, which features eight different hops, that helped put West Coast IPAs on the map. It leans a little more on the hoppy bitter end of the spectrum, but it’s still very much a leader in the traditional IPA category.
|
If you can look past the hype, you’ll find plenty of solid IPA offerings from what are now considered big-name brewers. Here are 12 of them, all first brewed more than a decade ago. Read the Story
Lagunitas IPA might be the one beer on this list you can find just about anywhere you look — on tap and in bottles. Thanks to being owned by Heineken, even the diviest of dive bars oftentimes have a keg of this balanced IPA. The hop bitterness of this IPA is married perfectly with a caramel malt body that mellows out the hops and brings forward more of the citrusy flavors.
|
Firestone Walker was one of the first nationally distributed breweries to find success with a shelf-stable hazy IPA. This tropically-flavored IPA is brewed with Cashmere and Mandarina hops and then dry-hopped with El Dorado, Idaho 7, Azacca, Mosaic and Cashmere.
|
Brooklyn Brewery’s Garrett Oliver is a student of English brewing. As such, the iconic brewery’s East IPA (which became a year-round offering in 1996) blends British tradition with American innovation. British malt balances out the blend of hops quite well, creating a toffee malt palate and a clean hoppy finish.
|
If tropical Florida vibes were an IPA, it’d be Jai Alai. It’s bright and citrusy thanks to an impeccable blend of seven different hops. A standout for quite some time, it’s now readily available due to an ever-expanding distribution network from Cigar City.
|
Goose Island’s flagship IPA harkens back to a little more of the piney, bitter IPAs. That’s thanks to the use of some more characteristically resiny hops like Pilgrim, Celeia, Cascade and Centennial. A grapefruit-like citrus is to be found though with a smooth flavor and a moderate lingering bitterness.
|
Chicago’s beloved Revolution Brewing may not be on the name-recognition level of some of the other breweries on this list, but it should be. First brewed in 2010, this flagship features a blend of Warrior, Chinook, Centennial and Amarillo hops for a unique floral and citrus combination that finishes clean and crisp.
|
The second IPA from Sierra Nevada on this list, Torpedo Extra IPA gets its name from a dry-hopping device Sierra Nevada invented in 2009 called the Hop Torpedo. This essentially circulates beer with hops in a way that imparts flavor without bitterness. The beer itself, hopped with Magnum, Crystal and Citra varietals, is darker than most IPAs with notes of pine and citrus and less perceived bitterness than Pale Ale (despite a higher grading on the IBUs scale).
|
This classic West Coast IPA may not be as familiar to East Coasters, but it is most certainly a supermarket gem — especially since AB InBev owns Elysian and is pushing this beer hard in more and more markets everyday. It’s on the heavier side at 8.2 percent ABV but the bitterness is balanced by dry-hopping Citra and Amarillo. It’s a decent middleground between the old school IPAs of yesteryear and the en vogue fruity Hazy IPAs.
|
Dale’s Pale Ale has been a craft beer staple since 2002 when it became the first canned craft beer in America. Much like Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale, it harkens back to the popularity of the American Pale Ale (which is of course, America’s take on the India Pale Ale) before the haze craze. It features more pale malts and a citrusy hop character and is still just as pleasant to drink today as it was back in 2002.
|
We asked 15 brewers from across the country to name a beer they consider underrated. When was the last time you had one of these beers? Read the Story
Every month, a huge amount of booze moves through the Gear Patrol offices — beer, wine and a whole lot of whiskey. Here are a few of our favorites.
Elijah Craig Rye. What?
Made of a mashbill of 51 percent rye, 35 percent corn and 14 percent malted barley, it’s only a couple percentage points off its Heave Hill rye predecessors, Rittenhouse and Pikesville (plus, according to the distillery, it’s made with older whiskey). The bigger difference is the proof. At 94, it’s sturdy but noticeably less hot than its 100 and 110 proof cousins. This, combined with a more mature spirit, makes it a little easier to sip neat or on the rocks. I get a lot of honey, cinnamon and cardamom on the first sip and a bitter chocolate nuke on the followthrough. Some bad news: availability is limited to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Oregon at launch, with rollout beginning later this month. The suggested retail price is $30. — Will Price, Assistant Editor, Home & Design
Stone Brewing is the latest nationally-distributed brewery to figure out how to make a shelf-stable Hazy IPA thanks to a little help from oats in the malt base. The California brewery’s Neverending Haze IPA is a crushable 4 percent ABV beer that has the look and mouthfeel of a New England-style IPA, but without the fast degradation of one (but it should still be consumed fresh). The brew pours a cloudy orange, with overwhelming peach aromas. Mosaic and Citra hops give this low-ABV beer notes of tropical fruit with a pleasant grapefruit bitterness finish. — Tyler Chin, Editorial Associate
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of the lower ABV trend breweries of all types are gravitating towards these days. One particular low-ABV style we’d love to see more of is the table beer. Our friends at Creature Comforts released their seasonal Table Beer and it’s hitting all the right notes for us. It’s bright, snappy and floral easy-sipping Belgian-style blonde ale that you could drink all day long. It’s a nice change of pace to have in the winter and certainly one we could enjoy any time of the year at just 4.2 percent. — Ryan Brower, Commerce Editor
When most people hear ‘Nebbiolo,’ if it evokes anything at all, it’s generally big, grippy, maybe-oaky Barolos and Barbarescos. Ar Pe Pe’s take comes from Valtellina right on the Swiss border and way further north than its more famous siblings in Piedmont. The result is a lighter wine that has all those classic Nebbiolo berries and leather and tannins but is toned down by a little more acid, a little more minerality and a significantly lighter body. Never mind that the price is reasonable for a weeknight “nice bottle” and Ar Pe Pe is a standard bearer for quality, modern winemaking in Italy. — Henry Phillips, Deputy Photo Editor
Although there have been a plethora of low-cal IPAs to drop already this year (and more to come), Light Hearted Ale from Bell’s Brewery was certainly one of the beers we were most excited about for 2020. It clocks in at 110 calories, 9 carbs and 3.7 percent ABV but packs more IPA flavor than lots of normal IPAs. Brewed with Centennial and Galaxy hops, the hop character plays more to tropical notes than that of its older sibling Two Hearted Ale. While it’s just hitting all markets now, we’re certainly excited about crushing this one all summer (and year) long. — Ryan Brower, Commerce Editor
Does it seem like there are too many IPA styles to keep track of these days? Yes. But we’d argue there’s room for one more with Springdale Beer Company’s revamped “bi-coastal” IPA. That’s to say they sought to strike “a balance between tropical bliss and pleasant bitterness.” Combining Citra, Amarillo, Galaxy and Sultana hops it marries the best of East- and West Coast-style IPAs for a beer that we’re pleasantly surprised with. This 6.2 percent IPA is only available in the Northeast. — Ryan Brower, Commerce Editor
Another low-cal IPA from a nationally-distributed brewery? Goose Island tested So-Lo in Chicago last year and it was a huge success, leading to it being rolled out nationally in January. We had gotten to try it at the Bourbon County Stout tasting last November and it was the perfect palate cleanser for that evening of heavy, bourbon barrel-aged stouts — especially at only 3 percent ABV and 98 calories. It packs plenty of hop character with Idaho 7, Kohatu and Chinook being used while bringing a full-body profile thanks to oat flakes and carafoam malt. So-Lo is going to be an underground gem of the low-cal IPA style in 2020. — Ryan Brower, Commerce Editor
While summer is the time to stick to light and refreshing beers, fall presents opportunities of its own. And no, that doesn’t just mean falling into the trap of pumpkin beers. It’s time to dial down the hops and drink something a little different. Here are 10 beer styles perfect for fall weather, and a few standout examples of each.
One to Try: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company x Bitburger Oktoberfest
While Oktoberfest itself is winding down, there isn’t a better beer to signal the changing of seasons. Oktoberfests are malty, medium-bodied and copper in color, presenting a perfect match for the fall. Each year Sierra Nevada partners with a German brewery to produce a collaborative Oktoberfest, and this year’s, made with Bitburger Braugruppe, might be the best yet.
Clocking in at 6 percent ABV, it’s sweet, complex and full of the perfect amount of Oktoberfest spices. Considering it’s the first time ever that Bitburger’s sealed hops and yeast were used outside of Germany, this is a special fall beer and you should get your hands on if you still can.
One to Try: Bell’s Brewery Best Brown Ale
Brown ales are among the most underappreciated styles out there. They provide a great balance between heavy dark beers and crisp, hoppy brews — especially the American versions.
Bell’s Best Brown Ale is a great example of that; combining caramel, cocoa and malty notes with generous use of American hops to present a light and comforting beer. At only 5.8 percent ABV, it’s one you can drink a few of in the fall and still have a good time.
One to Try: Anchor Brewing Anchor Porter
If you’re more of a light beer drinker and want to dip your toe into the waters of darker beer this season, reach for a porter. Typically lighter than stouts, porters have a thinner mouthfeel and lower malt bitterness thanks to the lack of roasted barley. Notes of chocolate, coffee and a little sweetness make porters the easy-drinking cousin of stouts.
Anchor Steam’s Anchor Porter is as classic as it gets. The first American version ever brewed (in 1972), it offers more fruity notes like dark berries and unroasted coffee. The 5.6 percent ABV brew produces a deep black color and a thick head for a definitive example of American porter.
One to Try: Allagash Brewing Truepenny
Pilsners and football just go together. The most popular beers in America are pilsners because everyone can understand them, they’re refreshing, they’re light and they have a much more palatable hop character than IPAs. They don’t tend to take many risks, which makes Allagash Brewing’s Truepenny Pilsner all the more brilliant.
It’s a Belgian-style pilsner fermented in two ways: one part of the batch with pilsner yeast and the other with its house Brettanomyces yeast. They then blended those two batches back together to create the first-ever Allagash pilsner. It hits crisp like a traditional lager off the bat but the backend offers more complexity than you’d expect from the style.
One to Try: Guinness Open Gate Brewery Over the Moon Milk Stout
Stout usually conjures up images of dark, heavy beers best drank next to a fire on a cold winter’s evening. But not all stouts have to be 13 percent bombs that smack you in the teeth like imperial stouts, barrel-aged stouts or pastry stouts. Even Guiness, the most popular stout int he world, isn’t like that.
But instead of reaching for old reliable, reach for Guinness’s new Over the Moon Milk Stout. Brewed out of the Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland, it’s an approachable 5.3 percent ABV that offsets stout’s standard roasted barley by way of cream-like sweetness from milk sugars. This beer isn’t vegan, but it’s an easy entry for those looking to try darker beers in the colder months.
One to Try: Brouwerij Rodenbach Classic
Few beers can offer an entrypoint into sours and mixed fermentation better than a Flanders red ale. The most near-wine beer out there, oak barrel aging and fermentation by way of lactobacillus and Brettanomyces end up giving this old world style ruby to deep red colors along with a fruity tartness not disimilar to red wine.
When going for this sour ale, a tried-and-true variant like Brouwerij Rodenbach Classic is the way to go. It sets the bar for Flemish red ales, having been brewed since the late 1800s. It consists of 75 percent young beer and 25 percent beer that has been matured in oak foeders for two years. Fresh, softly acidic and sweet, at 5.2 percent ABV it’s as good as it gets.
One to Try: Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont
Ah, saisons. Where a Flemish red ale might be a bit more sour, a saison can be more citrusy, spicy and carry a earthy, hoppy bitterness. This wildly fermented style relies on lactobacillus (or Brettanomyces) yeast strains but come out with a much more pale, amber color.
Brasserie Dupont Saison Dupont is the saison all other saisons are compared against. It brings a little more sweetness than others, but remains as complex an any. It clocks in at 6.5 percent ABV and thanks to refermentation that happens in the bottle.
One to Try: Great Lakes Brewing Co. Moondog Ale
ESB once had a promising presence in America, but for hop-related reasons (we’re looking at you New England-style IPAs) has fallen out of graces along with its American cousin amber ales. But the English-style beer is essentially an ode to fall: malty, mellow and easy drinking. They tend to not be very bitter compared to hop-forward IPAs, and they share a lot in common with fuller amber ales that can be enjoyed on cooler evenings.
Moondog Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Co. is a three-time gold medal winner at the World Beer Championships and is one of the best American versions of ESB. A little hoppier than the standard ESB, it brings along those floral hop scents to pair well with crisp, sweet malts and comes through at 5.5 percent ABV.
One to Try: Uinta Baba Black Lager
Schwarzbiers, German for “black beers,” are even lighter in body than porters and present another great opportunity for giving a go at dark beers. Good black lagers balance roasty malts and chocolates with hoppy crispness for a dry finish.
Produced year-round at Uinta Brewing’s Utah brewery, Baba Black Lager is one of the most readily available in the category. It’s light in body, low in alcohol (4 percent ABV) and offers notes of dark coffee and chocolate. This blends incredibly well with the hop count (38 IBUs) for a smooth dark beer that doesn’t necessarily taste like one.
One to Try: Alaskan Brewing Co. Smoked Porter
While black lagers are arguably the most accessible dark beer, Rauchbiers (also called smoked beers) are going to challenge you. A rauchbier presents a distinct smokey flavor that comes from the drying of the malts over an open fire. Modern day versions recreate this historical style and blend it with modern brewing flavors to dial up (or down) smokiness in a myriad of different approaches.
That’s why Alaskan Brewing Co.’s Smoked Porter remains one of America’s greatest versions of rauchbier. For over 30 years, Alaskan Brewing Co. has utilized direct heat from local alder wood to malt its barley — the same technique used for smoked salmon. This limited release seasonal comes in at 6.5 percent ABV and offers a dark, robust body that pairs perfect with cooking dinner over a fire on a cool fall evening.
Whether you’re talking about Pabst Blue Ribbon’s new beers for 2019, their PBR Whiskey, or their White Claw-crushing PBR Stronger Seltzer, everyone’s favorite blue ribbon beverage label has been having a big year. Despite those…
Booze juggernauts Budweiser and Jim Beam have gotten together again, this time to create a limited-edition Black Lager in the most handsome of short bottles. The Reserve Black Lager combines the best of both worlds,…
Good beer with good friends. That’s the goal of every bottle share, a small gathering to drink rare, unique or hard-to-acquire beers best saved for “that special occasion.” But bad manners and an eagerness to try too much, too quick, can make even the best beer taste off. Which is why we sat down with Benjamin Pratt, cofounder of As Is, one of New York City’s top craft beer bars, who shared his tips for hosting a bottle share, the right way. Here’s everything you need to know before you break out the bottle opener.
When coming up with the invite list, keep it under 10 people. “The goal should be a group small enough that the share can actually be conversational and educational,” Pratt says, “not just a free-for-all to try as many beers as possible. Some of the best shares I’ve been to have been with three or four other friends who have great taste and interest in beer.”
Ask every friend that’s attending to bring something, and be clear with the expectations. According to Pratt, two larger format bottles per person is the standard rule of thumb. “When we’ve had shares at the bar and people have shown up with too much beer, there is a superficial pressure to blow through bottles and not actually be able to appreciate the beers,” he says.
From Left to Right: Allagash Brewing Company Nancy, Grimm Ales Camoufleur, New Belgium La Folie Grand Reserve PX, Backacre Sour Golden Ale, American Solera House Couture, Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic Bio, Oxbow Brewing Co. First Fruits, Fermentery Form Fooz, Grimm Ales Eternal Now and Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic Bio.
Part of the ethos of a bottle share is to share rare beer, so don’t just go down to your grocery store and buy whatever you can find on the shelf last-minute. Pratt says, “Bring bottles that you’ve either been holding onto for a special occasion or that are not normally available wherever you are.”
It’s not a bad idea to set a theme like, say, focusing on specific styles that age well — sours and dark beer. “The point is for people to be able to try something they have never heard of or have always wanted to try,” Pratt says.
If each person brings two larger bottles, that means there are two larger bottles per person to drink. You shouldn’t feel pressured to finish everything or open every single bottle. “In my experience, these things are extended drinking sessions that usually result in a slow, creeping drunkenness,” Pratt says. “It’s good to keep in mind that you don’t have to drink every ounce of everything.” If someone doesn’t love a beer, it’s totally acceptable for them to take a few sips and move on — as a host, make sure they know that.
If you’re not armed with the knowledge, designate someone to facilitate the order things are being opened. “This way things can be tasted in series and comparisons can be drawn and maybe something can even be learned,” Pratt says. It also helps avoid multiple bottles being opened all at once. Just remember: never open someone’s bottle without their permission. How would you feel?
Not everyone has two dozen tulip sampler glasses just sitting around for bottle shares, nor is it feasible in terms of storage if you’re a city-dweller in a small apartment. That being said, using full-size pint glasses is far from ideal, as everyone won’t be getting full pours and shaker pints are not “going to heighten your sensitivity to what is put in front of you,” Pratt says. If you don’t want to invest in reusable tasters, Tossware offers plastic cups used by top-notch festivals that won’t affect the taste or aroma of beer.
Just like any other party, you want to give people food options and the ability to hydrate. As Pratt says, “Eat food, drink water, be an adult.” Just make sure whatever food you’re providing isn’t going to take away from everyone’s ability to taste the beers. Items like cheeses, bread, chips, pretzels and meats are all good middle-of-the-road choices.
T
here’s very few worse things than a warm beer on a warm day. Well, really a warm beer in general. If you’re not a fan of your favorite tipple getting warm in the sun and want to prolong the cool effects of the fridge you’re using, you need to seriously consider investing in some good quality beer bottle koozie holders.
Unless you have a secret mutant power that means you can cool a bottle with your bare hands, that is.
Like many things, they are a mass-produced product these days. To say there are quite a few options to choose from when it comes to beer bottle koozie holders is an understatement, to say the least. We wouldn’t envy anyone’s job it was to research the best of the best from the available beer bottle koozie holders out there.
Wait, that’s our job….well, it wasn’t the worst weekend research!
We actually managed to whittle a whole lot of beer bottle koozie holders down to just 20. It’s possible that we could have gone further and come up with a more definitive top 10 or top 5. However, we wanted to make sure we had all bases covered.
We wanted to makes sure all tastes and preferences were catered for.
Before we look at each of the 20 best beer koozies on the market, there are some questions that need addressing. There are things people always ask about beer koozies, and they aren’t always answered effectively enough.
First and foremost, before looking at what to consider when buying beer bottle koozie holders, you need to understand better what the word “koozie” means. As a koozie is essentially a drinks holder designed to help, through thermal insulation, keep your drink cold.
In the past, they’ve been sold and marketed as promotional gifts for corporations. They often include a company’s logo, branding, or slogans on them. We’ve already established that the beer koozie market might be bigger than you actually imagined it was.
Size is a factor you need to think about when buying a koozie. The koozies that are better at their job are the ones that fit more snugly around the container they’re thermally insulating. So, it follows that you should invest in a beer bottle koozie that fits the bottle size of your favorite poison, doesn’t it?
We’ve mentioned a number of times now that there’s quite a number of different koozies out there. It follows that one of the major considerations you’d make is the design. You’ll find, especially from the 20 items we’ve highlighted further down the page, that there’s plenty of variety in terms of colors and designs. There’s definitely a koozie for everyone out there.
Don’t be alarmed if you find you want to get more than one. It’s okay, no-one’s going to judge you if you develop a koozie obsession and start collecting them like baseball cards.
The material the koozie is made from is another important consideration you need to make. Some materials such as stainless-steel and neoprene are better at thermal insulation. At least, better than others like aluminum and polyester in general.
Koozies made from those are likely to fulfill their role much better than the ones that have just been made as a fancy holder.
Concerning the material of koozies, that brings us onto our next question…
There are quite a number of different materials that beer bottle koozie holders tend to come in, with foam and neoprene being two of the most common. Neoprene is famous for being used in scuba diving gear as it helps regulate the temperature of divers while helping their skin to stay dry.
Interestingly, thermal insulation works in the opposite way in scuba gear to the way it does in koozies.
In terms of the casing of beer bottle koozie holders, the metal beer bottle koozies tend to be made from stainless steel. There are obviously different grades of stainless steel. That means it’s important to make sure you buy a koozie that uses high-quality stainless steel to get the full benefit of it.
Finally, Aluminum sometimes is used. However, this is not particularly a good material to use because it’s not nearly as effective or high quality. That could mean that if you invest in an aluminum koozie, you’re bound to run into problems along the way.
Neoprene is the material that is often found in both metal and fabric koozies. Metal koozies use it as an additional layer of insulation and protection, it also helps to avoid the bottle sweating. Often it is used as the primary material. These koozies tend to benefit from being collapsible and easy to store.
However, they don’t always provide the same level of insulation.
The main reason people buy beer bottle koozie holders is to help keep their cold beers cold for as long as possible. Aside from that, there’s not much more to say in answer to that question.
However, picture this scene for a moment. You’re at a beach or pool party with a large number of your friends. There are some friends of friends there and even some people that you’re not sure how they even got the invite. Internet, we’re guessing.
If lots of you are drinking the same beer, say Corona Extra or some Bud Light, there’s no chance of confusion over whose is whose.
Although designed as an ingenious way to keep your beer cold, having a distinctively designed beer bottle koozie can help to establish which is your bottle of beer. That means no more beer deficit, even when things really kick off at a party.
In addition and as highlighted earlier, beer koozies are often used as promotional gifts as a way of advertising for a brand. You could use yours and any you offered to party goers in the same way. Maybe you wanted to draw people’s attention to your business or a special cause you were involved in.
A koozie could do that. There’s no shortage or koozies out there that can be personalized.
Now that we’ve covered the burning topics and ice-cold facts about beer bottle koozie holders, it’s time to start picking through our selections. We’ve tried to ensure that we only feature high-quality koozies, with strong customer ratings, cool designs, and that actually do the job they were made for.
The first on our list of beer bottle koozie holders is this extremely cool one from Asobu. More than just a bottle koozie, this will actually fit cans as well. Simply use it normally for most regular sized bottles of beer. If you’re drinking from cans, you remove the top section and then you have the perfect sized koozie for your cans of Heineken or Bud light.
That’s not all, Asobu has tried to think of everything by incorporating a beer opener into the koozie lid. You also have the choice of this great koozie in three different colors.
Thanks to its stainless-steel design, it’s as incredibly durable as it’s sweatproof. Everything you need for a great koozie.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
If you thought the last item was a little tame and too cool for school, these beer bottle koozie holders from Avery Barn will probably excite you. It is made from incredibly durable with thick 3mm neoprene and an alloy zipper. Despite their zany looks, the items in this set are definitely serious zippered beer bottle koozies.
As well as keeping the heat out, these padded sleeves help to protect your beer from accidental slips and drops.
If you or one of your friends is a bit accident prone, they’ll never smash a beer bottle again with one of the great koozies in this pack. When they’re not in use, they fold down into a compact package and are machine washable. Don’t worry you’re a little clumsy and spill beer over your brand new koozie.
It can be washed so it’s as good as new in no time at all. Even without worrying about the color fading or the item losing its insulation powers.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
These stainless-steel beer bottle koozie holders from BottleKeeper are considered the best, by many, in the stainless-steel department. It is lined with neoprene and padded for shock-absorption and protection for the bottle if/when it falls. This is a sophisticated product that looks sublimely cool.
The team at Men’s Gear particularly love this one.
At BottleKeeper, they realize not all beer bottles are the same. This is especially true if you’ve got a taste for a wide variety. You’ll find that some are taller than others as well as some smaller. To tackle that particular issue, BottleKeeper came up with the frankly ingenious Custom BottleKeeper Cap.
This little device that ensures, no matter the size of the bottle, your beer will be insulated perfectly. It is hard to dislike a great model like that.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
Bold and bright is the theme with this set of six beer bottle sleeves. It also conveniently includes a handy bottle opener. The beer bottle koozie holders themselves are zigzag stitched at the seams, durable and sealed securely. There is absolutely no glue used here.
The binding is made from polyester while the main body is made from neoprene. As they’re zippered beer bottle koozies, they’re incredibly easy to use and empty.
When it comes to the sizing, they’ve been designed to fit most 12 oz long neck bottles of the good stuff. These koozies can even work with soft drinks too. You can even personalize them with the help of some hot glue, heat transfer vinyl and waterproof markers.
We dare you to buy one and do your craziest designs and show us.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
We could not ignore these beer bottle koozie holders for obvious reasons. The brightly colored pack of 4 can be owned for less than $10 bucks. It’s made with premium-grade neoprene. This is standard in most of these and it helps to keep your hands dry while ensuring your beer is ice cold.
Although standard, it’s still comforting to know that it sports those kinds of materials.
As you’d expect, they’re designed to fit most ordinary long neck beer bottles of roughly 12 oz size. Although, there will always be exceptions to the rule. The zips on these particular insulators have a little loop for you to pull, making it easy to open and shut.
Similar to other neoprene non-metallic casing bottle koozies on this list, these fold-away incredibly easy. They are even machine washable.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
Time for another stainless-steel model with this AIEVE bottle cooler. It’s BPA-free, for all you that are conscious of the level of chemicals in the things they use. It also benefits from an extremely clever design. To use it you unscrew both the lid and the base, to begin with.
Then you place the bottle with your favorite tipple on the base.
Now slide the body of the cooler down over the bottle and screw it into the base. Presto – you’re ready to enjoy the coolness of that beer for as long as it takes you to drink it.
Not only is the stainless-steel BPA-free, its leakproof, waterproof, rustproof, and as a result extremely durable. Oh, and these beer bottle koozie holders screw-on cap comes with a handy and compact bottle opener. You’re now ready to enjoy a cold one wherever you are and can make sure it stays that way – cold and fresh.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
Never let it be said that Men’s Gear brings plain and dull products. These FestyFun beer bottle koozie holders are anything but dull. Just look at them with their wacky designs! The price actually covers for a 6 pack of covers, so we think that’s a really great bargain.
You do have to be a particular kind of person to get away with using these. However, it can stop beer theft, because really who else is going to drink from it?
If you can stomach the loudness of the design, you’ll be rewarded with insulators that are made from the standard 3mm neoprene. These are especially noteworthy because of their easy on and off side zipper. Another item we’re sure will find its way onto our wishlist pretty soon.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
From Flank, we see yet another great set of stainless steel koozies. Lined with neoprene, the model has a very traditional look. What makes them stand out over the others on our list? They’re very similar to some others. However, with a shot glass cap, you can enjoy a little chaser while sipping on your cold beer.
With a bottle opener and construction free from toxic BPA, these are a steal at just under $15. Not only do you have effective insulation for it, but you also have means of opening plenty of beers long after you’ve finished the first one.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
This is an excellent beer bottle cooler. The Nerub Warehouse insulator has a carabiner attached to make it easy to attach to any jeans, backpack, or any other equipment. That means you don’t have to worry about carrying your drink like some past peasant!
Thanks to the stainless-steel construction, it’s the perfect thermal insulator.
Featuring a neoprene lining, these beer bottle koozie holders also have an insulator bag to carry the koozie inside. Not only do you get a cool koozie, but you also get a cool bag to carry it in. When you don’t want to use the bag you can attach it to virtually anything you’re wearing or using.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
Another great version of stainless steel, neoprene sleeve, BPA-free beer bottle koozie holders come from Joe Cooler. Like many on this list, the base and top are both removable to make it easier for you to slot in the particular bottle of beer you want to keep in it.
Stainless steel and neoprene are the perfect combinations. Steel, in general, is a better choice of material than aluminum.
Thanks to the design it has an almost universal compatibility with just about any beer bottle big or small. They are perfect for those tailgate parties, camping, and golfing. These koozies are also good for just about anything else you intend to do with a healthy supply of beers.
Just be careful, your friends might want to swipe it.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
Reduce has made a name for itself designing and manufacturing stylish, slick, and Eco-friendly accessories in various categories. This stainless-steel bottle and can koozie is just another great product in their family of goods. These beer bottle koozie holders are vacuum-insulated.
They will keep your drinks cold and as you’d expect, it’s free from BPA.
Further to this, it is sweatproof. It also has a very unique design compared to many of the others on our list or on the market in general. One of the best things that set this apart from others on the list is the fact it also doubles as a 14 oz cup, with the top off.
Not bad, as multiple functions make something worth more to those thinking to invest money into a product.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
At under $10, these beer bottle koozie holders are beloved by those who have them. A 12 oz container made from stainless steel and free from BPA, it can be used anywhere. The materials ensure it’s insulated properly and very durable. You can’t go wrong with that combination.
The neoprene on the inside helps to make the outer stainless-steel casing work even better.
The company has also tried to ensure that it’s as versatile as it can be with regards to its compatibility with different bottles. Although, you should always check the dimensions of your favorite beers before investing. This is just so you’re completely sure of what you’re buying.
At Men’s Gear, we’re not your mother or wife, but we do want our bros to make the right investment. If you’re looking for a solid koozie that’ll keep your beers fresh and cool on those hot days, this is a great choice. This item can likely work anywhere and might be perfect for long trips, camping, and more.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
The usual suspects make an appearance in this bottle koozie from My Home Tavern. It’s a 12 oz stainless-steel container with a neoprene lining for adequate insulation. Shield by name, shield by nature. This is an awesome shield for your beer.
That’s mainly to shield it from that horrible sun and its nasty warm rays that cook up beer.
It’s more than just a bottle holder that you get here. With these beer bottle koozie holders, there’s also a small but effective bottle opener. It also includes pacers for using the shield with a number of different types and sizes of beers and a shot glass.
If that wasn’t enough, it comes with an anti-loss beer saver that you can pop in place of the cap to keep your beer crisp and fresh at all times. No one could go wrong grabbing this koozie holder.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
We’re not entirely sure if this is a pack of two slick and, dare we say, sexy beer bottle koozie holders or something from outer space. They’re definitely cool, that’s for sure. With the usual stainless-steel and neoprene BPA-free lining, they’re perfect at insulating both hot and cold beverages.
However, it’s the striking color, that deep purple that really wins us over.
Along with the usual fare, the bottle holder features a silicone bottle stopper for keeping your beer fresh while you aren’t drinking it. This comes with a bottle opener and a special finger grip.
The extras provided clearly make up for the price tag. This isn’t too bad when you remember that it’s for two containers rather than one.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
My oh my, what a sexy body you have. Wait, it’s just another in the line of great beer bottle koozie holders. Yet in an almost womanly shaped top, with a halfway down zipper section and an attractive camo design. It folds flat when it’s not in use for easier storage and is the perfect design for keeping your beer cold.
Fabric insulators are a good choice, particularly if you have a tight budget. Remember, this doesn’t have stainless steel, so will not be nearly as good at its job. However, it does look good and won’t feel too bulky or weighted in your hands. The sexy design is something you’ll want to put your hands around, we’re sure.
We’re not judging you at all. This likely perfect for those who hunt or, just like being in the woods away from it all.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
Now for something a bit different from the rest of the crowd. These Chuggie beer bottle koozie holders are more than just smart and high-quality. They actually have a few extra pockets for other items. Those extra bonuses are what attracted us to it, well along with the very attractive design.
The only problem is that it’s kinda bulky, but nevertheless practical and helpful.
For example, you can carry your phone or keys in it. This model is made with a neoprene sleeve with 3mm of the material that has been stitched and not glued together. When you’re not using it, as you’d hope, it all collapses down into a compact package.
We also love the fact that it comes with its own keyring and it has the official Chuggie logo and insignia.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
Another great version of beer bottle koozie holders is this premium quality stainless steel beer insulator from FineDine. What’s special about this? Oh, just the fact that it’s made from stainless steel for starters. It has proper, effective double-walled insulation for the best cooling for your beer possible.
Although it sounds impressive, depending on who you speak to, it’s either really great or not as great as it could be.
Product manufacturers claim it is almost completely unbreakable and shatterproof. If you’re the kind to accidentally drop bottles of beer, this is one koozie you should seriously consider. It also has that classic brushed metal coloring on the exterior.
Thanks to the obligatory neoprene lining, it closes around the bottle of your favorite poison snugly. This is without causing any sweating or unappealing smells or flavorings.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
Oh dear, looks can be so deceiving. These beer bottle koozie holders look like they have a positive message until you lift it to take a drink and reveal the middle finger sticking upwards. This will not be to everyone’s tastes, but we love it and think its hilarious.
It’s made from stitched neoprene so has a reasonable amount of insulation for keeping the cold products cold and the hot products hot. It also benefits from being foldable, for when you’re not using it. If it needs to, it can go through a washing machine too.
The design, despite its hilarity, has been conceived by professionals who know what they’re doing. In fact, the makers promise that the lettering and image will keep and won’t fade out over time. As an added bonus, it comes with a keychain bottle opener, that we thought was a spanner at first.
Bottle openers are one thing you can never really have too many of, in our humble opinion.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
This Cold & Bold beer bottle koozie holders are a slick-looking, lightweight, and effective insulator for your beer bottles. That matte black design is simply spellbinding. Made from high-quality, military-grade stainless steel, it’s ready for whatever abuse you inadvertently put it through.
Not that we’re suggesting you abuse it or deliberately smash it around. We’re just pointing out that it’s designed to cope with a reasonable amount of trouble that you might cause it. Especially if you have pesky drunk fingers.
Once you’ve slotted your beer bottle into place and closed the cap tightly, a vacuum is created. This baby will fit most 12oz bottles and there’s an extra layer of protection to stop sweating from being a problem. We love this one, it just has a cool look and works extremely well for the price tag.
You need to be careful though, your friends may try to snatch it when you’re not looking. It really is that cool, we think.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
Last on our list is Shihkara’s great entry into the market of beer bottle koozie holders. This is another attractive koozie and features some bonuses. That includes the steel keychain bottle opener and it comes with an insulated sleeve. It’s BPA-free and made from high-grade stainless steel.
Clearly, this is a top koozie. You’ll find it fits most standard sized bottles and will even cope well with those more awkward artisan craft beer bottles too.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, it’ll be right there waiting for you. We’re sorry but we couldn’t resist. Searching for a cool-looking koozie that does the job it was designed for to a high standard? You could do a whole lot worse than this particular one.
Check Product Price // Read More Reviews
We’ve reached the end of our fun and interesting look at best beer bottle koozie holders around today. All will keep your drinking sessions with the boys as cool as you all are. We’ve certainly learned a thing or two along the way. We hope you have too. We didn’t realize koozies could have so many different accessories and uses.
Along with insulation, many of them help you to open your beer wherever you find yourself. Some koozies can be attached to things such as your backpack or even belt loops thanks to carabiners.
We’re sure the 20 beer koozies above are enough for you to find one of your dreams. At least, one that’s good enough to hold and keep your beer cold, even during the warmest of summer days. Materials are the main thing that makes a koozie holder work, and we feel we showed 20 of the best material wise on the market.
We would like to warn you about investing in a good quality and even funky or sexy beer bottle koozie-style holder for your favorite drink. It may attract the attention of your friends. It might be a good idea to gift them one as well, or buy one of the items listed above that’s part of a bigger set so everyone can share in the fun.
Why not get all of the guys’ names personalized onto koozies for a quick Christmas gift fix that’s sure to please all?
While we did not supply the beers for the koozies today, we know you have them. So buy one of these puppies above and get a bottle in them quickly.
If your life revolves around working out, eating salads, and drinking so much water people assume you’re severely hungover 24/7, knocking back a 10% ABV stout with 350 calories is a once-in-a-while thing. Luckily, you don’t…
Coffee, tea, kombucha, dry soda, fusion, energy, health drinks, and of course, craft beer. The Pico U is a universal brewing machine that spits out delicious drinks, frees up counter space, and makes your life easier in the process.
Created by Seattle’s PicroBrew, the household appliance can produce craft beer, using the included full-size filter and 5L stainless steel brew keg. Attach the pour-over basket, load it up with ground coffee, and the Pico U can also make hot java, while adding another smaller filter will allow you to brew fusion drinks like kombucha, dry soda, chai, and iced horchata. And when you’ve had enough of that stuff, simply remove the filters and use this versatile device as a single cup coffee brewing machine.
“Ready to grease gullets and stock shelves at your local whistle-whetting workshops,” Young Henrys Motorcycle Oil Beer is a limited edition brew produced by one of Australia’s most beloved breweries.
Roughly based on a hopped-up American porter, the special black beer is smooth, hoppy, with mild bitterness. For the true connoisseurs among you who wish to know the ingredients, here’s what’s in it: Weyerman Munich 1 & Carafa, Light Crystal, Pale, Rolled Oats, and Bairds Roast Barley for malts; US Warrior, Cascade & Citra, Centennial, and Aus Cascade for hops.
Clocking in at 5.5% ABV and arriving in a 500mL can, Young Henrys Motorcycle Oil is available in Australia only. Now we’ve got another good reason to visit Aussieland.
Forget the beer cans when you’re going for a hike and get yourself a ManCan Grab’n Go Growler. Thanks to its patented sealing build, this indestructible keg-style growler keeps your beer or other carbonated beverage fresh to the last drop, and doesn’t take much space in your bag.
Made from 304 stainless steel, the same material used in regular kegs, the lightweight growler preserves the flavors, aromas, and unique characteristics of your beer. It boasts an airtight screw down lid and single-wall insulation that gets the contents colder quicker.
The compact Grab ‘N Go has a 64-oz capacity and fits easily into the door of your fridge, chilling patiently until your next outdoor adventure.
