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It feels like spring already, so why not drink like it is?

Many brewers are bottling lighter and fruitier beers to replace the dark stouts and heavy porters of winter. Spring offers diversity of flavors and styles, however, with barrel-aged beers and Irish ales rounding out taprooms across the state.

Here are some suggestions of Pennsylvania-brewed beverages to celebrate spring. You can find most in bottles or cans, but some are limited releases only available on draft.

Get a few six-packs ahead of National Beer Day on April 7!

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Victory's Kirsch Gose

Cherry gose

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Downington

4.7% ABV

Malt: pilsner, wheat, torrified wheat, acidulated

Hops: Spalt Spalt

Brewery description : "Pours a ruby to light red with white foam. Aroma of fresh sour cherries with flavors of tartness, intense rounded cherry character, and a refreshing salty character. Crisp carbonation and light body are both combined into a thirst quencher."

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Roy Pitz' Honey Sucker Pilsner

German-style pilsner

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Chambersburg

5.2% ABV

German malts

Brewery description : "This beer's floral bouquet of aromas, crisp bitterness, fruit and honey flavors, and easy going finish are in line for the season change from Winter to Spring when flowers are blooming and sun is shining."

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Spoonwood's Secret Alphabet

Chili pale ale

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Pittsburgh

5.7% ABV

Malt: 2-row, wheat, Munich, honey malt

Hops: Columbus

Brewery description : "When we released our first batch, some folks said that Secret Alphabet wasn't hot enough. So we upped the ante on the chili peppers, and now there's definitely some heat. It's not over-the-top ghost pepper torture type heat, but there's no mistaking the capsaicin. There is also a noticeable "green" character from the serrano peppers. And as the beer warms, you get more of the subtle malt sweetness with a hint of orange peel, just enough to add dimensions to the flavor."

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Red Castle's Battle Axe

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Lehighton

7.5% ABV

Brewery description : "Our potent spring time Double Bock with rich malt backbone with a sweet finish."

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Straub's Boulder Bock

Maibock

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St. Marys

6.9% ABV

Malt: German pilsner, Munich and Vienna

Hops: Liberty and Mount Hood

Brewery description: "Boulder Bock's rich malty flavor, balanced by the European-style hop character, is perfect for welcoming spring to north-central Pennsylvania, or wherever you call home."

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Yard's Saison

Saison

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Philadelphia

6.5% ABV

Brewery description: "Saisons were originally brewed to keep farmhands happy and hydrated during the warm summer months. Our Saison, a summer wheat ale, is brewed with Belgian yeast, malted summer wheat and Styrian Goldings, which lend a touch of hoppiness to the palate. This refreshing blonde-colored ale is characterized by delicate notes of banana, clove and a subtle spice."

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Spring House's Atomic Raygun

Imperial red

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Lancaster

8.3% ABV

Brewery description: "Atomic Raygun Imperial Red is a big, aggressively hopped Red Ale. It starts out with piney aromas and citrus flavors courtesy of the generous hops, and finishes with a nice rich, malty sweetness that balances the crisp hop bitterness."

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Wyndridge's Black Cherry Cider

Cider

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Dallastown

6% ABV

Brewery description: "Dark sweet cherry juice blended at the tail end of fermentation comprised of 100% PA pressed apples, this off dry cider retains the rich flavor of the cherries. A natural orchard's compliment to the apple, our black cherry cider is a full bodied stone fruit cider with sweet and tart in balance."

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Weyerbacher's Insanity

Barleywine aged in whiskey barrels

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Easton

13.3% ABV

Brewery description: "Insanity, 13.3% ABV, is made by aging our Blithering Idiot Barleywine Ale in whiskey barrels. The barrel aging imparts an additional level of complexity to an already intense malt profile by adding a combination of vanilla, oak and whiskey notes."

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Philadelphia Brewing's Fleur de Lehigh

Golden ale with spices

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Philadelphia

4.75% ABV

Brewery description: "We create Fleur de Lehigh in the spirit of a new season. Spring is a time of warmth, blossoms, and memories of Shibe Park, where Philadelphians once celebrated the annual rebirth of baseball season. This unfiltered, golden ale brewed with ginger, lemongrass and other natural herbs, blooms upon the palate with a vibrant, floral character."

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East End's Wheat Hop

Fruit ale

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Pittsburgh

4.5% ABV

Brewery description: "This juicy, tropical-fruit-hop-loaded beer is just BURSTING with notes of peach, fresh melon, citrus, and passion fruit. And at a very 'sessionable' 4.5%, you can really spend some quality time with it and not get hurt."

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Lavery's La Bealtaine

American wheat ale

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Erie

5% ABV

Brewery description: "Named in homage to the spring planting festivals of Ireland and Scotland. Bealtaine is an amazing complex beer rising out of simple ingredients. Brewed with wheat & pilsner for a light body and color. Hopped with American Zythos hops which gives the wheat base Citrus and Pine flavors."

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Appalachian Brewing's Celtic Knot

Irish red ale

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Harrisburg

4.8% ABV

Brewery description: "This buoyant red ale is brewed with sweet, toffee-like malt. It finishes crisp and clean with medium hoppiness like the great red ales of Dublin."

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Penn Brewery's Hot Ginger

Ginger beer

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Pittsburgh

5% ABV

Malt: two-row

Hops: perle

Brewery description: "Plenty of fresh ginger for the classic Jamaican style ginger burn, full mouthfeel and sweetness of ginger sodas, but on draft! Perfect for mixing into Moscow Mules."

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Troegs' Cultivator

Helles bock

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Hershey

6.9% ABV

Malt: floor malted Bohemian pilsner

Hops: Herscbrucker, magnum

Brewery description: "Emerging from springtime's fertile ground, Cultivator Helles Bock delivers hints of toasted grains, fresh baked bread, and delicate floral hops."

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Sly Fox's Seamus

Irish-style red ale

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Pottstown

4.9% ABV

Brewery description: "Brewed seasonally in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Pale and British crystal malts combine with Centennial and East Kent Golding hops to create a nicely balanced session beer with a delightful hop finish."

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Fegley's Monkey Wrench

Saison / farmhouse ale

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Allentown

7% ABV

Malts: Belgian pilsner, wheat

Hops: Czech saaz, east Kent golding, magnum

Brewery description: "An outstanding example of a classic Saison Ale, with refreshing hints of lemon and pepper. An epic tale of adventure and exploration, this crisp golden-colored ale is brewed to impart the secrets of a higher intelligence through its monolithic flavor. Brewed with an imported Belgian Saison yeast strain for a complexity that's tart and crisp, with an array of earthy and mineral tones."

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Rivertowne's Suburban Housewife

Kolsch

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Export

5.5% ABV

Brewery description: "Kölsch Brewed With Blackberries & Cucumbers. A traditional German ale with a nontraditional twist. Fermented at cooler temperatures, this beer has a crisp finish that is accentuated by the blackberries and cucumbers. Nothing is too over the top in our new go-to session beer. Time to take the kids to soccer practice!"

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Lancaster Brewing's Wilkum White

Belgian-style witbier

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Lancaster

5% ABV

Brewery description: "We brew Wilkum White, our traditional Belgian-Style Witbier, with both malted and unmalted grain, for customary smoothness and haze, then spike it with curacao orange peel and coriander to deliver a complex, yet easy drinking and curiously refreshing brew."

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Liquid Hero's Juste le Bout

French saison

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York

6.6% ABV

Malt: pilsner, Vienna, wheat

Hops: Cascade

Brewery description: "Straw to pale yellow in color, this French style saison features a yeast strain that produces some interesting spice notes. Expect aromatic hints of clove, pepper, and citrus as well as ginger and sage which are added to the brewkettle."

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Stoudts' Blonde Double Maibock

German-style Helles bock

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Adamstown

7% ABV

Brewery description: "Our classic German style Helles bock, it is a rich & full-bodied lager with a deep golden-blonde color. Brewed with the finest 2-row barley & a subtle amount of noble hops, gives it the perfect balance of malty sweetness & hop character."

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Full Pint's Rye Rebellion

Imperial barrel-aged stout

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North Versailles

11% ABV

Malt: pilsner, crystal rye, rye, roasted, chocolate rye, special aromatic, crystal 120

Hops: Columbus, tettnang

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2SP's Patina

Saison / farmhouse ale

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Aston

7.5% ABV

Brewery description: "Our very own version of the Belgian favorite."

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Bullfrog's Ol' Skool Apricot Wheat

Apricot wheat ale

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Williamsport

5.3% ABV

Brewery description: "A new take on our classic apricot wheat ... same grain bill, but updated with real apricot. No additives, no extracts ... just apricot!"

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