For the Better on Draft team, January 2021 was a bit damp for most of us rather than a full on Dry January. I’m not sure if anyone made it through the entire month dry, but our winners of the month range in Dry January options to favorite beers.

Liquids are listed in alphabetical order by the company name of the drink.

Cerveza Delray

Brew Detroit | Detroit, MI | Lager – American | 4.2%

Selected by Dani | Blog Writer

“I talk a lot about beers tasting like and reminding me of summer, but the truth is I’m much more of an autumn person. Thankfully, Cerveza Delray is delicious and perfect in any season. Its clear, golden color glows in a glass and compliments any meal. It’s easy drinking, a low ABV of 4.2%, does not require a lime wedge, and can be found just as easily as its macro brew equivalents. What’s not to love? This beer is so satisfying and tasty that I recently found myself purchasing a case of it directly from Brew Detroit to enjoy at home. While that case is already gone (and much quicker than I anticipated), I know I can find Cerveza Delray in so many places that I never have to actually be without it.”

Variety of HopTeas

Hoplark HopTea | Boulder, CO | Tea | 0%

Selected by Ken | Founder and Podcast Co-Host

“HopTea has exploded over the last year with exciting flavors and new flavors launching every week. It is best to catch the newest flavors during a free shipping weekend and take advantage of their amazing hop flavored teas. With a variety of caffeine free, low caffeine, and high caffeine options, there is a tea for everyone. As someone who hates the bitterness of most hop forward beer, the tea balances out of the hops in a way to bring out the true flavor profile of each hop as opposed to just adding IBUs. There were a few I was not a fan of, but many more that I loved. Each one is worth a shot to try, which is why various cans of HopTea are my ‘beer of the month.'”

Caribbean Shade

Parish Brewing Co | Broussard, LA | Stout – Imperial/Double | 12%

Selected by Rob | Podcast Co-Host

Rob’s favorite beer of January 2021 was Parish Brewing Co.’s Caribbean Shade. According to Untappd, Caribbean Shade took 16 months to make and “slumbered peacefully in Barbados and Trinidad rum barrels along with a small amount of Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, all quietly waiting to be blended and conditioned.” After the barrels were emptied Parish “infused the beer with three separate additions of toasted coconut and coconut cream along with a dusting of cassia bark to enhance the warm, toasted notes of the beer. Finally, an addition of Tahitian vanilla added baking spice and chocolate depth to an already rich base.” Rob frequently references his baking on the show and this beer description sounds right up his alley.

Ghost in the Machine

Parish Brewing Co | Broussard, LA | IPA – Double/Imperial New England | 8.5%

Selected by Wendy | Podcast Co-Host

“It’s not often that I will champion an IPA for my Beer of the Month, but I cannot get enough of Ghost in the Machine from Parish Brewing Co. It is a juicy double IPA made with a obscene amount of Citra Hops. This New England style IPA is the best of both worlds. It pours a hazy pale gold with a creamy white head with beautiful lacing and a nice retention. The bite of the citrus at the start gives way to the tropical notes you expect from a Citra Hop with a slight acidity on the finish. This beer is a delightful mix of citrus, hops, and tropical fruits that will please both the hophead and the hop timid.”

Citra Hopped Kombucha

Reputation Beverage Company | DeWitt, MI | Kombucha | 0%

Selected by Ed | Editor in Chief and Lead Blog Writer

“Kombucha has been growing on me ever since last year’s introduction to Dry January and the beverages that are available. Eric Elliott and the crew at Reputation Beverage Company are concocting up magical brews not just in the kombucha department but also in their coffees and cold brews.

The Citra Hopped Kombucha is a mixture of so many different tastes in this approachable kombucha, including lemon and lime, light tea tastes, and, of course, the Citra hops. I enjoyed reaching for and drinking cans of the kombucha as a beer replacement throughout January because I was able to get that hoppy taste without the hangover the next day. Each can is only 40 calories and the product is gluten free and vegan friendly!”

Station3

TwoGuys Brewing | Wyoming, MI | Stout – Oatmeal | 5.5%

Selected by Bill | Webmaster

“In mid-January I found myself driving to Wyoming, MI to take my kid to a hobby store. On the way there I was listening to Better on Draft’s fourth episode of the Michigan Series with North Center Brewing. The topic of take-out beer flights came up, with guest Kevin DeGrood talking about the difficulty in sourcing 8 ounce cans. He noted that TwoGuys Brewing was one of a few breweries that helped him out by providing these smaller cans. I thought that was a really cool thing to do, so while I was waiting for my kid to finish shopping, I looked up TwoGuys Brewing on the MI Beer Map App and discovered they were literally right around the corner from where I was.

I stopped in and picked up two 4-packs, and one that really stood out for me was the American Oatmeal Stout, Station3. It’s a lighter stout with notes of black coffee and burnt toast. What an excellent oatmeal stout! Apparently, it is called Station3 as the brewery itself is in an old fire station while the taproom is across the street in a remodeled 7-11.

As a side note, the other four pack I bought was Get Bent, a Scottish Ale that was also excellent. If the quality of these beers are representative of their entire lineup, I can’t wait to visit Wyoming, MI again! They’ve made my list of ‘If you’re in the area, you HAVE TO stop in this place…'”

Cheers!