The Beautiful Diversity of Autism

IPAs

Sculpin IPA

Ballast Point Brewing Company, CA (7% ABV) Lighter body helps bring out hop flavors like apricot, peach, mango, and lemon. (There are grapefruit- and habanero-forward varieties as well—both as delicious as they sound.)

Sours

Rooted in Belgian styles like lambics and gueuzes, these acidic, bacteria- and yeastenhanced beers have exploded in the States. —K. M. McFarland

Raspberry Tart

New Glarus Brewing Company, WI (4% approx. ABV) This Midwestern favorite brews its fair share of sours, but none like this berry- packed delight that goes down like a superfruit champagne—seriously, drink it from a flute if you can.

Dogpatch Sour

Almanac Beer Company, CA (7.5% ABV) A little boozier than most sours, this Bay Area brew uses California cherries and the bacterium in San Francisco sourdough starter Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis.

Duchesse de Bourgogne

Brouwerij Verhaeghe, Belgium (6.2% ABV) This is the perfect starter to see if you have a palate for the style—on the sweet side but with the distinct vinegar scent and tartness common to any worthy sour.

Unfiltered Wheat Beer

Boulevard Brewing Company, MO (4.4% ABV) This cloudy, straw-colored Midwestern standby is perfectly balanced: easydrinking citrus tempered by a tinge of hoppy bite.

Oberon Ale

Bell’s Brewery, Inc., MI (5.8% ABV) Mild hops and light malt make it a great tool for the hard work of relaxing— no wonder it’s a summer staple for Michiganders.

These American versions of India pale ale no longer need to be super-alcoholic for sea voyages—so their big hops are used for flavor, not camouflage. —B.G.

Fresh Squeezed IPA

Deschutes Brewery, OR (6.4% ABV) Despite the name, there’s no fruit, but plenty of Citra and Mosaic hops give this IPA its super-citrusy flavor profile.

60 Minute IPA

Dogfish Head Brewery, DE (6% ABV) The innovative boiling process for this eminently drinkable East Coast IPA involves fresh hops being added 60 times over an hour, which imparts plenty of citrus, cedar, pine, orange, and grassy flavors.

Wheats

Light and often fruity, wheat beers are refreshing but still flavorful, thanks to prodigious carbonation. Great even for non–beer lovers. —Megan Logan

A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale

Lagunitas Brewing Company, CA (7.5% ABV) Surprisingly potent and unapologetically hoppy—at 65 IBU (international bitterness units), it’s smack in IPA range—it’s not for beginners.

Allagash White

Allagash Brewing Company, ME (5.0% ABV) A New England hat tip to the Belgian witbier style takes its light, spicy flavor from orange peel and coriander.

Number of breweries in the US

4,000 4,131

3,464

0

0

Top 5 states, by size of brewing industry

$1 billion

California New York

Texas Pennsylvania

Colorado

Lighter Ales

Blonde, summer, Kölsch—there are lots of varieties of lighter ales, but all are perfect for the warmer months. —M.L.

Somersault Ale

New Belgium Brewing, CO (5.2% ABV) Light and tangy citrus notes complement juicy peach and apricot flavors in this once-in- a-harvest-moon summer seasonal.

Krankshaft

Metropolitan Brewing, IL (5.0% ABV) The most popular beer from the leader of Chicago’s new school—a light, lemony ale that’s easygoing enough for you to enjoy a few.

Wünderbier

Ninkasi Brewing Company, OR (4.4% ABV) Fermented at higher temperatures like an ale but finished cooler like a lager, this one is only around through August, so act fast.

THE INTERVIEW

A conversation with NeuroTribes author Steve Silberman