The Naked Pint (10 page)

Unique
, of course, means “unlike any other.” These are beers that make you sit up and pay attention. They change a night at the bar from average to extraordinary. These are beers that stand out from the rest because they do something different. They may not follow any rules or be the quintessential of the style, but they are almost impossible to replicate. They may use an herb you’ve never had in a beer or a fruit found only in the area of the brewery. These beers can change your whole idea of what you thought beer could be. They break down barriers and destroy all the rules. These beers often cross over to the rare or iconic section, elevating themselves into the best of the beer world. Some of our favorites from the “unique” category:

Madonna, Jack Kerouac, Oprah, and Robert Redford have all become icons. A beer that becomes an icon is one you may see on posters, something you’ve heard talk of in craft beer circles; its reputation precedes it. These are beers that tend to have the highest ratings within their style. They don’t have to be quintessential or balanced; they are famous because of the populace, and popularity doesn’t necessarily require the brew to be balanced, unique, rare, or anything else, just favored by the public. Chimay Tripel (White) is a great example of this. To some people, it is the quintessential Belgian Tripel; to others, not at all, but everyone has heard of it, and most bars have Chimay posters adorning their walls. It’s famous, not rare; balanced to some but not others; and loved by thousands. An iconic beer is a must have beer: