What’s a ‘crispy’ beer?

There are very few occasions that don’t pair well with a refreshing beer. Kicking back at a football game? Reach for a pilsner. Just finished a marathon? Seek out a light lager. One single descriptor could be used for the above styles: “crispy.” According to brewer Jesse Ferguson, owner of Brooklyn-based distillery and brewery Interboro Spirits and Ales, the term refers to beers characterized by a light bitterness and refreshing taste. “Crispiness is sort of a bite — a hop bite,” he says. Ferguson says the term typically refers to lagers — specifically, pilsners — and beers that serve a particular sharpness and clean taste on the palate.