New Belgium / 3 Floyds Lips of Faith Gratzer

Pronounced "grate-sirs", this style of beer is named after its hometown of Grodzisk, Poland, and was one of many styles of German ales marginalized by the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot (that ol’ law stating beer can only be made from yeast, water, hops and barley.)

The style typically has a distinctive smoky flavor derived from oak wood-smoked wheat malt. Think heavy, smoky notes in a light bodied beer. Here’s some more details:

Grain Bill: Pale, Midnight Wheat and Oak-Smoked Wheat

Hop Bill: Target for bittering and Polish Lublin Hops for aroma

Brewing Yeast: German Ale Yeast

There’s also a little bit of Lacto in there to give a characteristic aroma and slightly tart finish. With an ABV of 4.5 percent and IBU of 30, Grätzer might be the most unique tasting sessionable beer you’ll have all summer.

Onto the next order of business: ZOMBIES! Did you notice there’s a bunch of them riding bikes on the Grätzer bottle art? That, added to the fact that there’s a (nearly) full moon tonight and it’s Friday the 13th makes me a little worried. Like, what if I drink a Grätzer tonight, turn into a zombie and hunt unsuspecting humans by the full moon’s quietly-brooding reflections? What if you do the same?

I don’t know, but it’s kind of scary to think about. And at the same time, I hope it happens. So tonight I’m going to sit down with a Grätzer and see where the full moon takes me.