Days of the Beer, March 19

The beer for today is Great River Brewery, 483 Pale Ale.

On March 19, 1687, explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle, was murdered by his men, when they were searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River.

de La Salle, had explored the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico. He claimed the entire Mississippi River basin for France.

As to the beer:

Great River Brewery is out of Davenport, Iowa (part of the Quad Cities).

True to the style, our pale ale is brewed with pale malt and a touch of crystal malt which gives it that copper hue. Then we aggressively hop it with centennial hops for a big citrus hop aroma and taste.

Beer for the hop lover. Nice bitterness and a good long aftertaste with a smack of grapefruit.

It's a really good beer.

Great River Brewery started in October, 2004 in Iowa City. They moved in December, 2008 to Davenport. Their first batch at the new location was brewed in February, 2009. Two of their beers are available in 16 ounce cans, 483 Pale and Roller Dam Red Ale.

So, for de La Salle, who was killed while trying to find the end of the Great River, have a beer that's made on the Great River.

(the beer is available in cans at Radio Maria, and other places around Champaign Urbana)