Beers for Labor Day
The brewery, brewing, the malt, the vats, every thing that is done
by brewers, wine-makers, vinegar-makers,
Leather-dressing, coach-making, boiler-making, rope-twisting, dis-
tilling, sign-painting, lime-burning . . .
—Walt Whitman, “A Song for Occupations”
To the memory of Henry Bradshaw: foreman, craftsman, grandfather
With my Granddad I shared my first beer;
It was lager and yellowish clear.
We had parked near the graves
Marking wielders of lathes
At the papermill. Rail lines were near.
As a switchman, then welder, he worked
By the tracks, in a shipyard. Alert
To the rhythms of crews,
And a craftsman with tools,
He enjoyed kicking back with a brew.
So let’s honor the workers so deft
From whose hands we enjoy our beer drafts.
For without laboring,
There’s indeed no fine thing.
Raise your glasses to them and their craft!
1.
Here’s a Scottish Style Ale you should try,
For this Railbender’s flavor supplies
Notes between peat and sweet
(Neither brash nor discreet).
And its tongue-skating feel satisfies.
2.
For a crushable, tropical take
On an India Pale Ale to slake
Your thirst for fruit-hoppy,
Try this Working Party.
Not tarty. So why not partake?
3.
In its name, Sober Carpenter hails
All the labor that brewing entails.
Try this iteration
Of IPA Session.
Sweet malty, then bitter, prevails.
Tasting Notes:
Railbender Scottish Style Ale. Eerie Brewing Co., Eerie PA. 6.8% ABV.
Very approachable for a strong ale, this beer pours dark amber with an adequate, pale beige head and light carbonation. The caramel notes in the malts hit your tongue first, and the boozy and light hop flavors peak in the finish. An American Scotch ale that rides smoothly on a hot day.
Working Party IPA, Tactical Brewing Co., Orlando FL. 7% ABV.
A citrine-hued brew that pours with an impressively full and lively white head. Smooth starting but friskier in the finish, this easy-drinking IPA has citrus notes in its fruitiness akin to Lemondrop hops. But they come from Cashmere and Mosaic hops, which play well with the classic bitterness of Centennial.
Session IPA, Sober Carpenter, Montréal, Quebec. < 0.5% ABV.
Pouring a light translucent gold with a white head, this non-alcoholic beer has lively carbonation. The mouthfeel is akin to a pilsner, but the Galaxy hops bring some zip to the tip and the back of your tongue. The sweet notes in the malt backbone give the hops a smooth conduit.
Marsha Bryant writes about literature, culture, and craft beer. Her recent essays appear in The Poetry of Bob Dylan, Creativity in the Classroom, and The Bloomsbury Handbook to Sylvia Plath. Marsha taught for many years at the University of Florida. Her Untappd handle is LimerickLady.
