The 25 best local beer names

On Saturday, Fairhope Brewing celebrated its ninth anniversary with a “Beverly Hills 90210”-themed party. The taproom served 43 varieties of beer for the event and most of them had topical names like Donna Martin Graduates (a lemon icebox pie beer), Kelly Is Nuts (a pistachio-coconut stout), Wassailing You, Brenda? (a spiced ale) and Brian Austin Cream (a cream ale). Since its founding, Fairhope has released hundreds upon hundreds of beers, and the brewers have embraced this kind of irreverent word play with their beer names since the beginning. Many names reference TV shows, movies (The Millennium Firkin), book titles (The Art of the Dill) or local characters (Merry Widows) and customs (Sunglasses at Night).

In fact, all our area breweries have a good time naming their suds. I recently perused Untappd — the social network for beer — and collected 25 that I think are the cleverest, the silliest and the most unique. Some of these beers are one-offs and others are well known and in regular rotation. These are the 25 all-around best in my opinion, in no particular order:

White Shandy Beaches (Fairhope): An ode to the pearly sands of the Gulf Coast.

Everyone Should Boat (Oyster City): Few beer names are declarative sentences. This one is and it’s correct.

Mullet Over (Big Beach): Don’t overthink it.

Take the Causeway and Stuck on 280 (Fairhope): For the best driving directions, consult Fairhope beer names.

Park at Meyer (Big Beach): For the best parking instructions, consult Big Beach beer names.

False Fall and Second Summer (Braided River): These are two separate beers, but they originate from the same meme that claims Alabama has 12 seasons. False Fall and Second Summer occur right between Hell’s Front Porch and Actual Fall.

Nick Saison (Fairhope): Roll Tide.

White Girl Instagram Post (Old Majestic): Is this better or worse than a White Boy Untapped Check-in?

Wheaty McBeerface (Iron Hand): It’s as if an 8-year-old was assigned the task of naming this beer. It’s perfect.

Citrus Got Real (Fairhope): This took a turn.

After-Dune Delight (Big Beach): When it’s right, it’s right.

Oops! All Mango (Braided River): It’s as if the brewer slipped on a banana peel and accidentally dumped a case of mangos into the brew tanks while making this beer. It’s perfect.

Just Another IPA (Old Majestic): Don’t get overly excited about this one.

Lost in Mountain Brook (Fairhope): Be careful, someone will call the police on you.

Wolf Bae (Big Beach): So dang cute.

HB 176 (Fairhope): This beer commemorates the state law that permitted Alabama breweries to sell beer to go. Cheers!

Melting Clown Face Cotton Candy Sour (Old Majestic): Few beer names are plots of horror movies. This one is and it’s terrifying.

S’Wheat Home (Fairhope): Neil Young will remember this!

Flight of the Snowbirds (Big Beach): An ode to the human migratory species. This classic stout is flavored with the ingredients of a Bushwhacker — chocolate, vanilla, toasted coconut and cold brew coffee.

Area Two Fifty-One (Big Beach): The most creative use of our area code.

Resting Grinch Face (Old Majestic): A peppermint-chocolate chip holiday brew for the naturally misanthropic.

I Drink Therefore I Amber (Fairhope): Cogito, ergo sum … -thing.

Friends in Low Places (all): Every brewery in our region teamed up to make this one, a collaborative project spearheaded by Fairhope, with proceeds going to an environmental nonprofit. Blame it all on our roots, but it sure is fun to be part of our local beer community.