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HOP LINE: Liberté, égalité, fraternité, to the Brewery!

It’s July – break out the fireworks, hot dogs and hamburgers and apple pie! As we celebrate the independent spirit that birthed a country, let’s remember to enjoy some fine craft beer, whose independent spirit revolted against the tyranny of mass-produced, flavorless beer.

Too much metaphor? Seriously, it’s always fun to bring some “Fourth of July”-themed beers to the cookout. And if it weren’t for some very independent-minded people to spirit a movement of finely crafted beers, our cookouts wouldn’t be nearly as fun or flavorful.

But why stop only four days into July? There’s a whole month left to celebrate other independence days in some classic brewing nations. Belgium and France celebrate their independence in July too. Bastille Day in France is celebrated on July 14 to mark the beginning of the French Revolution, and Belgian Independence is celebrated on July 21. Keep the independent spirit going all month long with some inspiring brews from our revolutionary friends. Here are a few beers to look out for at your independently owned craft-beer store.

For our own Fourth of July, there is no better place to start than the grandfather of American craft beer: Anchor Brewing Company. In 1975, owner Fritz Maytag released Liberty Ale to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Paul Revere’s famous ride. Liberty Ale, with its bold American craft-beer flavor, was a proverbial shot heard round the brewing world. It announced the beginning of the craft-beer movement. Liberty Ale captures the essential American craft-beer flavor with bold hop aroma and flavor over a smooth toasted-grain body and a tasty bitter finish.

Look no farther than home for other great July 4 beers. Carolina Brewery offers their traditional Firecracker Pale Ale for the summer season. Firecracker is that beer you want to hold in one hand and a hot dog in the other! Clean and smooth, Firecracker tastes like fresh oranges dipped in honey.

A new beer that is just hitting the market also has revolutionary ties. Natty Greene’s Pub and Brewing Company in Greensboro and Raleigh, named for Revolutionary War-hero Nathaniel Greene, has introduced Freedom American IPA this year. This IPA shows a beautiful citrus hop quality with fruity undertones, making it a great drink around the grill.

The French Revolution began on July 14 as citizens stormed the Bastille, so keep your red, white and blue for another week or so and grab a bottle of Brasserie La Choulette’s La biere des Sans Culottes. French breweries make a beer known as Biere de Garde, or “beer for keeping.” Similar to Belgian farmhouse ales, Les Sans Culottes has notes of fresh-baked baguette and French herbs in a well-carbonated, champagne-like beer. The term Les Sans Culottes was a name used to describe fighters in the French Revolution. Meaning “without pants,” it referred to those who could not afford a normal uniform. Many brewers were a part of Les Sans Culottes.

One of the most historic brewing nations, Belgium has a wide array of beers to pick from for a hot late-July day. One to look out for is Brasserie Caracole’s Saxo. Saxo, named after Adolphus Sax, who invented the saxophone, is a bright and refreshing blonde ale with a fruity yeast character and clean hop flavor. Think cheese Danish with orange cream cheese – bright as the July sun and just as warming.

There are so many great ways to keep the party going in July; here’s to a Happy Independence Month and a safe time for everyone! Here are some great pairing ideas for these amazing beers to add to the fun:

• Apricot and Ginger Bread Pudding with Brasserie Caracole Saxo (recipe at thorsmug.wordpress.com)
• Hamburger with jalapeño pimiento cheese with Natty Greene’s Freedom IPA
• Country pate and cheese plate with Les Sans Culottes
• Grilled bacon-wrapped sea scallops with Anchor Liberty Ale
• Honey-drizzled feta with oregano and thyme with Firecracker Ale (recipe at thorsmug.wordpress.com)