With so many microbreweries around, companies are trying to find ways to separate themselves from the pack. It has to be done tastefully, but some brewers are using different and somewhat crazy ingredients in an attempt to draw customers their way. Whether they do this from purely a marketing perspective or because they actually taste better with a little Cabernet, veggies, or chilis is up for discussion. All we know is that these five beers are definitely different. Check out the five most outrageous beers after the jump!

The Super Bowl is nearly upon us, and with that comes the swarm of house parties and crowded bars filled with throngs of people ready to celebrate one of the most popular occasions in sports. Whether you’re a complete football fanatic or can only identify teams by what color their jersey is, you’re almost guaranteed to be drinking and eating your Super Bowl Sunday away. While the nation celebrates from coast to coast with their beverage of choice, here are some breweries representing the home states of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers. Make sure to vote in our poll after the jump!

When I’m holed up indoors during the winter months I find myself appreciating the taste of beer far more than any other season. Mark it up to cabin fever if you want, but my taste buds pucker up in cold weather. Samuel Adams Winter Lager, one of the brewing company’s many great season-specific beers, doesn’t disappoint in my constant need for a well-bodied, alcoholic beverage in cool weather.

Though the “holiday season” ranks lower than St. Patty’s Day and Cinco de Mayo in terms of top drinking holidays, we at COED tend to think it’s the longest lasting drinking holiday. While others get 24 hours to flex their beer muscles, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Festivus collectively occupy a month’s worth of partying. After that first week, you’ll get tired of the same old sh*t. So, why not snatch up some of these delectable holiday brews?

Football season is upon us, and with it comes all of the raucous excitement of tailgating before each and every college or pro football game. Stock up on a variety of these delicious brews to ensure your tailgate is properly fueled for those cool, blustery fall and winter weekend afternoons. Once the sun starts to fade and the chilly wind starts to pick up, you’ll be looking for something to warm you up, and it probably won’t be hot chocolate.

The leaves are slowly beginning to change, and so are the seasonal beers, switching from wheat and fruit inspired brews into darker, warmer flavors. Whether it’s a pumpkin ale, Oktoberfest, or brown ale, there’s more than enough exciting choices to browse on your next visit to the liquor store. The end of summer might be a bummer, but any of these brews are sure to help you forget about bikinis and beaches.

We’re sure you’ve already seen fruit in beer. Even things such as coffee and chocolate are more commonplace these days than they were years ago. But what about vegetables in beer? Or chilis in your suds? Some brewers even create ales aged in wine barrels, which take on Cabernet Sauvignon flavors with sour tendencies. Some of these might be excellent, while others could be a complete train wreck. It’s up to you to decide.

Sure, when it comes to beer most people can’t help but immediately think that the only quality suds must come from a bottle. The thought or image of a can spurs on memories of frat parties, Keystone Light 30 packs, or Natural Ice spilled all over an already dingy floor. Well, innovative and amazing breweries such as Oskar Blues and 21st Amendment are here… Click to read more

Imported beer can come from many corners of the globe, but some of the best in the world consistently hail from Belgium. Touted as possibly the best beer city in the world, Brussels and its surrounding areas have been churning out some of the most legendary concoctions for hundreds of years. These are a few accessible varieties that everyone should give a whirl. Don’t be scared, it’s only beer!

While most people might be turned off by a fruit inspired or flavored beer, there are actually some high quality brews deserving of a chance. Whether it’s orange, blueberry, cherry, or peach, some of the greatest minds in brewing have found ways to make fruit in beer an acceptable concept. Keep an open mind as just because these might contain a smattering of sweet flavors, doesn’t mean they’re girly at all.

Spring is finally here, and along with it comes boatloads of new, delicious beer. Some brewed with fruit and others with spice. These are great to get you in the mood for barbecues, sunny afternoons, and the upcoming summer season. The changing season brings a lot more than warmer weather and the opportunity to whip out the mandals. It also gives us seasonal be… Click to read more

If you know anything about the mischievous “Green Fairy,” you know “real” absinthe was banned in the U.S. for nearly a century because of the hallucinogenic ingredients in worm wood, from which absinthe is partially made. But unless you’ve been paying close attention to ordinances passed at The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax an… Click to read more

If you know anything about the mischievous “Green Fairy,” you know “real” absinthe was banned in the U.S. for nearly a century because of the hallucinogenic ingredients in worm wood, from which absinthe is partially made. But unless you’ve been paying close attention to ordinances passed at The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax an… Click to read more

Nothing will lighten up your weekend this summer like some free beer tourism!
Along with some of the freshest complementary beer one can taste, you will tour the grounds and learn the beer making process from the brew master.
Wine tours have been the traditional powerhouse in alcoholic tourism, but it is now the “craft beer makers, who brew traditiona… Click to read more

I’ve been hearing all this talk about Espresso Stouts lately, so I decided to give them a shot…of espresso! Get it? Isn’t that funny? Shot, espresso…forget it.
If you’re into “desert” beers, Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout will be right up your alley. As for me, the brew left my stomach feeling…bloated.… Click to read more