7 beers you have to try at Jungle Jim’s International BeerFest

Jim Bonaminio serving drinks at his Fairfield store Jungle Jim’s International Market in 2013. STAFF FILE PHOTO

Jim Bonaminio serving drinks at his Fairfield store Jungle Jim’s International Market in 2013. STAFF FILE PHOTO


WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Jungle Jim's 11th Annual International Beerfest

WHERE: The Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim's International Market, 5440 Dixie Hwy., Fairfield

HOURS: 7 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 17 and 18

TICKETS: $50 drinking ticket, $60 early admission ticket and $20 non-drinkers' ticket

INFO: Visit Jungle Jim's Beerfest website or their Facebook page

With over 400 beers to choose from, knowing which must-try beverages to fill your sample glass with at the 11th Annual Jungle Jim's International BeerFest can seem daunting no matter whether you consider yourself a beer geek or are venturing beyond your local grocery cooler aisle for the first time.

>>RELATED: Jungle Jim's Named Best Grocery Retailer for Beer

We’ve compiled a list of the seven beers worth grabbing a taste of -- from the well-known to the limited release and small-batch specialties available just for this event.

1. Boulevard Love Child No. 7 (Kansas City)

The 7th bottling in the Love Child series of blended sour ales returns to the Flanders-style red base beer that has comprised most of the releases from this line.

BOULEVARD

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Source: photo via http://www.boulevard.com/love-child-no-7/

2. Urban Artifact Keypunch Key Lime Gose (Cincinnati)

A summer time Gose lead by fragrant key limes, giving way to biscuit and salt reminiscent of key lime pie.

KEY PUNCH

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Source: photo via http://www.artifactbeer.com/portfolio/keypunch/

3. Fat Heads Head Hunter IPA (Cleveland)

Head Hunter is an aggressively dry-hopped, West Coast-Style IPA with a huge hop display of pine, grapefruit, citrus and pineapple. A punch-you-in-the-mouth brew for those who truly love their hops, this brew won the Silver Award for American-Style IPA most recently at the 2014 World Beer Cup.

HEAD HUNTER

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Source: photo via http://fatheadscleveland.com/beer.html

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4. Madtree Citra High Double IPA (Cincinnati)

A big, burly Imperial IPA that focuses on potent hop aroma and flavor that is rounded out with a nice dry finish.

MADTREE

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Source: photo via http://www.madtreebrewing.com/beer/citra-high

5. Ommegang Rosetta Flanders oud bruin (New York)

A traditional Belgian Kriek with a complex yet refreshing mahogany-brown brew that is an intriguing interplay of tartness and sweetness.

OMMEGANG

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Source: Photo via http://www.ommegang.com/blog/meet-rosetta/

6. Kentucky Old Fashioned Barrel Ale (Kentucky)

A subtly sweet, citrusy, cocktail-inspired ale aged in bourbon barrels with cherries, oranges and bitters

OLD FASHIONED

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Source: Photo via http://kybeer.com/kentucky-old-fashioned-barrel-ale-summer-seasonal-beer-debuts/

7. Jackie Os Dark Apparition Russian Imperial Stout (Athens, OH)

This Russian Imperial Stout includes great flavors like chocolate, coffee, roast, dark fruit, caramel and some nice earthy/spicy hop character. With a midnight black color and chewy, dextrinous body, Dark Apparition is a huge beer with tons of character.

JACKIE O

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Source: Photo via http://jackieos.com/brews/dark-apparition/

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