Two new beers on the Israeli market (for now)

Within the last few weeks, several new Israeli craft beers have made their appearance on the Israeli market.  I hope to write about them all (not an easy task), but for now I'll mention two which won't be permanent.  Both are seasonal or time-limited.

Blazer from the Negev Brewery in Kiryat Gat

The first is the third version of a Blazer beer, brewed in conjunction with Blazer Magazine, a Hebrew-language men's publication specializing in sports, automobiles, fashion, food and drink, and women.  This Blazer beer was brewed by the Negev Brewery in Kiryat Gat, but previous Blazer beers were brewed by Jem's Beer Factory in Petach Tikva and Alexander Brewery in Emek Hefer (which you can read about here.)

As always, the magazine claims that it wants to brew a beer that its readers would want to drink.  This is strange, since I imagine that among the readers of Blazer, there are those who like their beer hoppy and bitter, or malty and sweet; light-bodied, or heavy; low in alcohol, or strong.

But what do I know.  The program certainly brings marketing and PR benefits to the magazine, and the participating breweries also share the spotlight.  

Yishai Auman, in charge of marketing at the Negev Brewery, told me that Negev's brewmaster, Tomer Ronen, produced Negev Blazer by combining elements of an American IPA (India pale ale), including two weeks of dry-hopping (steeping hops in the beer during fermentation), with hallmarks of a Belgian trippel, full-bodied, sweet and strong.   

Anyway, when I tasted it, I found the Negev version of Blazer beer to be quite similar to the Alexander version.  It poured a very appetizing dark amber color.  You could already sense the sweetness in the aroma, along with the hop character.  The taste was sweet caramel, cherries and/or berries.  This was nicely balanced by the bitterness of the hops.  Alcoholic content is a solid 6.9%.  I wrote that the Alexander Blazer was "bitter-sweet," not a common appellation for a beer, and I have to say that the Negev Blazer also fits this description.   

This is a beer that suits any occasion, winter or summer, with food or without.  Its strong flavor should pair well with any spicy cuisine, flavorful salads, and non-chocolate desserts. 

Yishai said that the original batch of Blazer was snatched up quickly from store shelves.  There really is none left.  But, he added, "we have done an additional brewing of Blazer and it should soon be in stores.  So those who missed out the first time will now be able to buy and enjoy our Blazer."

Amarillo 2015 India Pale Ale from 

Shapiro Brewery in Beit Shemesh

The new Shapiro IPA is made with American Amarillo hops, prominently proclaimed on the bottle.  These are hops grown in the West Coast state of Washington and give the beer a sweet citrus aroma and taste, specifically orange.  Amarillo hops are enjoying something of a trend these days and are popular in both the U.S. and Israel.

Until just a few years ago, Israeli brewers believed that the powerful flavor of hops and bitterness of India pale ales were too extreme for Israeli tastes.  Not any more.  As Israeli beer drinkers were exposed to strong IPAs from abroad, they developed a taste for this style of beer.  Today, at least 15 Israeli craft brewers are making IPAs.     

Shapiro IPA pours out a lovely mid-amber color with a creamy head.  You can smell the strong hops even before you bring the glass to your nose, a sure sign of an IPA.  Along with the citrus aroma and taste (orange-grapefruit), I also detected a nice piney finish.  The beer's hop bitterness is slightly mitigated by the malt base which also comes through.  The alcoholic strength is 6.5%.

I found this to be a very refreshing and drinkable beer.  It pairs well with any spicy or strong food and cheese, fried foods, and even rich, sweet desserts.

Itzik Shapiro, a partner in the brewery, told me that he intends to bring out a different version of an IPA every spring, "in time for Independence Day."  Shapiro Brewery has been doing something similar with their Jack's Winter Ale, brewing a different dated version at the start of every winter.

I've noticed that even now in Jerusalem it's not easy to find the 2015 Shapiro IPA, with its distinctive blue label and turbaned lion.  So if you come across a bottle, don't hesitate to buy it and enjoy a thoroughly Israeli IPA.  The beer is also available on tap in Jerusalem at the Bardak Pub, Borla, Tuvia, and the Glen Whisky Bar, and in Tel Aviv at the Agnes Pub. 

Israeli craft beer at the Jerusalem market

For me, a Jerusalemite who does not have easy access to the beer superstores in Tel Aviv, the best bottle shops for buying alcoholic beverages are along Agrippas Street near the Machane Yehuda market.  For years, I've been singing the praises of Hamisameach (64 Agrippas), which has the largest selection of Israeli beers, and I've been encouraging the other store owners to offer more of them.    

Yayin BaShuk owner Matan Levy
at his new mix-and-match section
for Israeli craft beers.

Maybe my kind words, or perhaps public pressure, are beginning to be heard.

Last week, another store, Yayin BaShuk ("Wine in the Market" at 63 Agrippas), unveiled a nice size section devoted to Israeli craft beers.  Nine brands to be exact -- Ahuzat Bayit, Alexander, Bazelet, Emek Ha'ela, Herzl, Jem's, Malka, Ronen, and Shapiro.

Even better: Owner Matan Levy has devised a unified pricing system where you can buy a mix of any of the above beers on a declining scale.  The more you buy, the cheaper is the per bottle cost.  For example, one bottle costs 15 shekels.  But if you buy a mix-and-match six pack, the cost drops to 11.50 shekels per bottle, an excellent price for craft beer.

So, for those readers who live in Jerusalem, or are visiting, let's get over to Yayin BaShuk and show Matan Levy that he made a great marketing decision by promoting Israeli craft beer.  And please tell him that you read about it here.  Thanks.