DRAFT Magazine

By Blake Gernstetter

Celebrating Valentine’s Day polarizes the lovers and the haters, but one thing’s for sure: a beer aficionado never passes up an occasion to toast.

Champagne and wine have traditionally dominated the V-Day drinking scene, but beer has a sexy side, too. Like pairing red, white, or bubbly with complementary flavors, beer makes an excellent foil for sweet Valentine’s indulgences. The intensity of a heady winter brew coupled with the perfect edible treat is enough to make anyone swoon. If you’re drinking a deux with someone high maintenance, our hard cider and lambic picks will please even the most adamant avoider of beer. Likewise, laid-back girls will appreciate the casual, more original approach to getting tipsy on V-Day. Selecting a mouth-watering beer for you both to enjoy also showcases your pint prowess.

Whether you want to impress a special someone or forget they ever existed, we’ve got a shortlist of brews you’ll want to take home on February 14.

Lindemans Lambic Framboise
All bottled up, this Belgian beer looks like girlier than, well, Valentine’s Day. Kind of like using your sister’s shampoo in the shower because you secretly like the scent, this raspberry brew is a guilty pleasure. The rosy color of the romantic lambic will impress your date as much as a bouquet of flowers. The fruity, bubbly flavor pairs well with fresh berries, decadent desserts, and even aphrodisiacal oysters. The fancy packaging makes for a pretty present, and something this sweet should be shared. Sometimes less is more…

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Served in a snifter glass, this winter stout is best savored slowly. Unlike some other chocolate beers (ahem, Sam Adams Chocolate Bock), this doesn’t taste like a glorified Yoo-hoo, favoring subtlety and sophistication. The distinct bitter chocolate flavor would be overpowering if not for the more than 10%-ABV, which tempers the sweetness. The lingering mouth-feel makes you want to pucker up or pair with truffles, tarts, and ice cream. Deeply dark in color, with layers of complex cocoa notes, this brew brings a little mystery to the table.

Belhaven Scottish Ale
Hints of toasted nut and caramel lend this delicious beer its brilliant coppery color. Want to save room for dessert (and more beer)? This creamy classic’s on the lighter side as far as wintry selections go, though it’s packed with malt and hop flavor. Score bonus points by serving this ale alongside a homemade dinner. It’s equally prime for a long night of drinking with your buddies, since it won’t fill you up too quickly. Like a good impression on a first date, this ale’s got style and substance without being a showoff.

Original Sin Hard Cider
Nothing says fizzy and fun like hard cider, though its reputation may be more pastel candy heart than fine Swiss chocolate. This version was “conceived” in New York City, and it’s bringing sexy back to the fruit favorite. When poured into a flute, this sinfully good interpretation looks as refined as champagne, with a shimmering golden hue. The apples’ acidity keeps the crisp flavor fresh, not flat. This deceptively light drink makes for an elegant complement to chocolate-covered strawberries and other fruit desserts. It also leaves a refreshing taste in your mouth. You and your girlfriend might be a cute couple, but you’re no Adam and Eve, so go ahead and take a big bite out of this apple.

Southampton Imperial Porter
The unsuspecting drinker could be seduced into a long-term relationship with this Long Island brew. Well-balanced and bursting with malt and toffee, this porter teases between sweet and sour. Its flavor profile aligns equally well with a steak, cheese plate, or dessert. Plus, the slightly higher alcohol content warms you up as you drink.

V-Day Recession Special
For those of you on a tight beer budget, we’ve got the solution. Take some Miller, mix in a few drops of pink food coloring, and voila: The Pink Champagne of Beers. Times are tough, man.

Blake Gernstetter is editorial assistant at mediabistro.com. She admits to opening a beer bottle with a hammer one Valentine’s Day.