It’s cyclocross season and that means cowbells, dollar grabs and beer gardens. And we all know that the races wouldn’t be as much fun without those enthusiastic (and sometimes inebriated) fans. So, to toast them and the start of cross season, here is a list of the five best beers from countries where cross is most popular: Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Italy and the United States. This list is by no means exhaustive or scientific, just delicious. Cross fans and cyclists were randomly polled about their favorite brews.
Belgian Beers
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Brewery: Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus, Westvletern
An opaque, dark brown ale with oaky aroma and rich fruity notes. Typically served in a trappist glass - a bowl-like glass with a short stem.
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Brewery: Brasserie Rochefort, Rochefort
A deep reddish-brown ale with strong taste of plum, raisin, and currants. Produced at a Trappist monastery in the Ardennes.
Vicaris Tripel
Style: Abbey Tripel
Brewery: Dilewyns, Dendermonde
A golden ale with a lemony malty aroma, which is sweet and mildly bitter.
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Brewery: Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV, Breendonk-Puurs
A golden amber beer with medium body and hints of lemon meringue pie.
Style: Tripel
Brewery: Westmalle, Malle
A creamy and aromatic beer. The monks of Westmalle, just north of Antwerp, claim their beers cure appetite loss and insomnia and reduce stress. So now you can rest up before the race.
Beers from the Netherlands
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Brewery: Grolsch Bierbrouwerij N.V., Enchede
Sunny gold color with a sweet aroma. First choice among several cross riders in Holland.
Wieckse Witte
Style: Witbier
Brewery: De Ridder Brewery, Maastricht
Spiced with coriander and orange peel.
Style: Czech Pilsner
Brewery: Dommelsche Bierbrouwerij, Dommelen
Light straw color with floral flavor.
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Brewery: Amstel Brouwerij B. V., Amsterdam
A simple beer, familiar overseas and in the U.S.
Oranjeboom
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Brewery: Oranjeboom Bierbrouwerij B. V., Breda
A clear, yellow beer that is malty and not too sweet. The name means “orange tree.”
French Beers
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Brewery: Brasseries Kronenbourg, Strasbourg
One of the best selling lagers in France with a bread-y, malty aroma and a lot of fizz.
Cuvée Des Jonquilles
Style: Bière de Garde
Brewery: Brasserie Bailleux, Gussignies
A golden yellow biere de garde characterized by its toasted malt aroma, sweet flavor and medium bitterness.
Style: Bière de Garde
Brewery: Brasserie La Choulette, Hordain
A full-flavored amber version of a bières de gardes. It has an aroma of caramel and malt with hints of plum. This spicy beer is full-flavored, but not sweet.
3 Monts Flanders Golden Ale
Style: Bière de Garde
Brewery: Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre, Saint Sylvestre Cappel
A light beer, popular in pubs in Flanders.
Craig Allan Cuvée d’Oscar
Style: Wheat Ale
Brewery: Craig Allan, Mery-la-Bataille
A dry-hopped, dark wheat ale with hints of chocolate and citrus.
Italian Beers
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Brewery: Birra Peroni Industriale S.p.A., Rome
The most recognized and widely consumed Italian beer, this has a light malty taste and comes in a green bottle.
Peroni Red
Style: Premium Pale Lager
Brewery: Birra Peroni Industriale S.p.A., Rome
More distinct than its brother Peroni, this beer is easy-drinking and grassy, with a little sweetness to finish.
Moretti
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Brewery: Heineken, Udine
A pale gold lager with spicy hops and sweet grains.
Style: Euro Pale Lager
Brewery: Brauerei Forst AG, Merano
A no-frills light lager, refreshing on those late summer hot days.
Style: Pale Lager
Brewery: Birra Menabrea SpA, Biella
An appetizing amber with notes of apple and pear.
U.S. Beers
Style: Golden Ale
Brewery: New Belgium, Fort Collins, Colo.
Strong hops aroma with a sweet honey aftertaste from a bike-focused brewery.
Style: Amber Ale
Brewery: Deschutes, Bend, Ore.
Deschutes is a major supporter of cyclocross in the U.S., hosting races right in its backyard. Its organic ale is grassy and hoppy.
Style: IPA
Brewery: Firestone Walker, Paso Robles, Calif.
A fruity mix of apple and peach will tickle your taste buds.
Style: Extra IPA
Brewery: Sierra Nevada, Chico, Calif.
A robust IPA with heavy hints of apricot and JuicyFruit gum.
Style: Triple IPA
Brewery: Russian River, Santa Rosa, Calif.
The deep golden amber is dry hopped four different times. It’s a rare gem; if you can find it, drink it.
