January 28, 2005

9:38 AM

Beer fans: what are you favorite brews? Are there any particular styles you appreciate more than others? If so, what do you think are the exemplary crafts of that style? Do you prefer bottle, bottle poured, or tap? What, to you, makes a good beer?
posted by baphomet to (57 comments total)

I like English and American ales, and German and Czech beers. Some of my favorites are Fuller's London Pride, Newcastle Brown Ale, Fat Tire, and Czechvar. In descending order: tap, bottle poured, bottle.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:49 AM on January 28, 2005

English-style bitter; real ale.
posted by transient at 9:49 AM on January 28, 2005

I am a fan of Brown Ale. Newcastle is ubiquitous nowadays, but I enjoy it nonetheless. Sam Smith's is the best example, in my opinion, and is absolutely delicious on tap.

I'm sure that a British MeFite will be along soon to tell me that Newcastle and Sam Smith's are the UK's versions of Natural Light and Milwaukee's Best, but I don't care.

Other than Ice-cold Budweiser at a pig roast or a similar lowbrow event, beer is always best in a glass.
posted by trharlan at 9:50 AM on January 28, 2005

Oh, dinah... I don't have enough time to go through all my favourites, so I'll just throw out a few to get things started:

• Three Floyds "Alpha King Ale" (one of the best pale ales I know of, and I do like my pale ales)


• Paulaner "Salvator" Double Bock


• Huyghe "Delerium Tremens"


• Leffe Blonde Ale

I'll post a few more later this afternoon when I can think of them.
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:51 AM on January 28, 2005

Let me take a moment to recommend BeerPal.
posted by orange clock at 9:52 AM on January 28, 2005

I love Hoegaarden (superb on draught but difficult to find in Seattle, the bottled version is plenty good), anything that comes from Unibroue in Quebec City (La Fin du Monde, Maudite, Blanche de Chambly - all in the bottled version only). When in Vermont, try to find Stovepipe Porter from the Otter Creek Brewery. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and all of Deschutes Brewery's offerings as well (Black Butte Porter, Obsidian Stout).

Generally speaking (and you can find 1000 exceptions to this rule...) the lighter and more delicate a beer's flavor is (Pales, Red ales, some ambers, Weis beers) the more you will notice the difference between the bottled version and the draught version of a beer. If a beer has a strong, pronounced flavor like a porter or stout then the difference is more difficult to discern. Technically a can is a better container than a bottle, but canning is so prohibitively expensive that craft breweries can't do it. Recently I found a canned Belgian White beer that was fantastic, but I had no draught to compare it to.
posted by vito90 at 9:54 AM on January 28, 2005

There are a bunch of great beers brewed in Minnesota; Summit's Extra Pale Ale and Hefe Weizen are both stellar, and Lake Superior Brewing in Duluth does a great Kayak Kolsch.

The Boulevard family out of Kansas City is great, too, especially their wheat beer.

And I can brew up some stone cold magic in my kitchen.
posted by COBRA! at 9:58 AM on January 28, 2005

Grain Belt Premium. Summit Pale Ale. Yummy!
posted by Lola_G at 10:00 AM on January 28, 2005

I'm a fan of ales, with the possible exception of brown. I don't like very heavy beers.
For every-day drinking, I personally like Bridgeport's Blue Heron Pale. The Portland Rock Bottom brewery's Oregonic Amber is excellent, as is the ubiquitous Fat Tire.
For special events, I might buy several bottles of Pranqster or a Lost Coast Great White. There's only a few pubs in my area that carry either of those beers on tap.
I will usually make an exception for a Hazelnut Brown from Rogue, although I don't usually like Rogue beers. (They're FAR too hoppy for my taste.)

I prefer beers from the tap, but I'll drink bottled on some.
posted by SpecialK at 10:01 AM on January 28, 2005

Vito, if you're jonesing for Hoegaarden, make your way to Capitol Hill. The Stumbling Monk, The Summit Ale House and The Deluxe all have it on tap.

I'm such a sucker for Belgian beers, and since there's over 400 of them, you can have a real ball working your way through them.
posted by Skot at 10:06 AM on January 28, 2005

I tend to like hoppy pale ales, and brown ales. Stone IPA and Newcastle are two of my favorites.
posted by Mark Doner at 10:11 AM on January 28, 2005

PABST BLUE RIBBON!!!
posted by Captain_Tenille at 10:17 AM on January 28, 2005

I like ESBs and IPAs, something between a lager and a porter, and I try to drink local draft whenever possible, fortunately for me if not my waistline, I live in a town that is serious about it's microbrews.

For bottled beers, again I try to go relatively local and recommend Sweetwater 420, which is sold all over the place;Thomas Creek, probably harder to find, but worth it! and French Broad Brewery - I have no idea if they distribute outside Asheville at all. Out of the area I second the recommendation for Otter Creek, above, I also like Anchor Steam and Bass is good beer, as is Newcastle.

When money is an issue, Yuengling. Or maybe Rolling Rock. And okay, when you're going to be drinking all night long, PBR - the beer to have when you're having more than 12. Budweiser for fishing trips and in the cooler at the beach - but only drink Bud in a can, it's just more authentic like that. There's a bar in Folly Beach, SC that had a sign on its wall for years that simply read 100 Bud Can - and yeah, 100 Bud Can.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:17 AM on January 28, 2005

Word up, COBRA!. My favorite brew is Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat. In KC you can get it pretty cheap, but it does have somewhat of a snobbish stigma to it -- at least in my circles. I think it's perceived as a Sprint middle-management having a beer with some friends at Chili's, instead of the proper accolades it deserves. A little trivia, Big Sky Distributor handles Boulevard, and it is owned by former Chief/49er/demigod Joe Montana.

I hear Sierra Nevada makes a wheat beer that's worth trying out, I haven't been around to trying it.

I highly recommend some Negra Modelo if you get the chance. It looks really cool and goes down surprisingly smooth. Exact opposite of the other beer the brewery makes, Corona.
posted by geoff. at 10:22 AM on January 28, 2005

Pale Ales...especially IPAs, although I enjoy a good stout now and then too. Experiment with your local microbrews.
And wheat beer is an abomination.
posted by rocket88 at 10:26 AM on January 28, 2005

I consider myself a bit of a beer snob, but for some reason even with a lot of interesting world brews available at the local liquor store, I keep coming back to Quebec's Unibroue.

There's really not much I don't recommend of their Belgian-style beer (their Canadian-yellow-beer U and U2 are awful, but they're supposed to be awful, aimed at Molson drinkers instead of beer connoisseurs), but I regularly have on hand their Trois Pistoles (bottle-refermented strong dark ale), Maudite (bottle-fermented strong red ale), Fin du Monde (strong golden Tripel) and Eau Benite (lighter golden Tripel). The first three are quite strong.

Raftman is an interesting treat, brewed with whisky malt. Not a regular drinker for me, and it's quite a bit lighter than my favorites there. Their abbey-style Terrible is a nice treat but hard to find even here. Blanche de Chambly is a very good white beer for summer.
posted by mendel at 10:28 AM on January 28, 2005

Ooops, sorry, better link. Which doesn't make quite clear, either, that Asheville , my town of roughly 60,000, happily boasts 2 brewpubs and 5, count 'em, 5 microbrewerys and just about every bar & restaurant has a nice selection of good beer on tap. We are spoiled.
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:31 AM on January 28, 2005

I'm a big fan of American pale ales, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale being my idea of a nearly-perfect beer: bright, hoppy, but not too bitter. Actually, I like a lot of the stuff that Sierra Nevada brews, and it's widely available. I'm also a fan of porters, although I don't drink a wide enough variety to have a preference or a recommendation. I do, however, recommend the general porter experience if you like roasty, malty beer that isn't too heavy.

Also, If you're drinking tap beer in a bar that doesn't take good care of its kegs (Charlie's Kitchen, I'm looking at you), stay away from ales that aren't strongly hopped (Bass, I'm looking at you). They tend to become quite unpleasant if not properly tended to.

Of course, I also love an ice cold Bud Light or 7 when I'm playing poker; cans only, please.
posted by uncleozzy at 10:37 AM on January 28, 2005

My personal favorite is Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale. As the name suggests, it is a generously hoppy harvest ale. It is a phenomenal brew, and they donate a portion of the proceeds to local charities.

That said, I love chilling out with the occasional porter or stout.
posted by grateful at 10:38 AM on January 28, 2005

Fat Tire
Red Stripe
Sierra Nevada
Anchor Steam
And the local favorite: Cutthroat
posted by trbrts at 10:42 AM on January 28, 2005

Bell's Expidition Stout is a fine example of an imperial stout. Their Two-Hearted Ale is fantastic. Their Porter is too—one of the few left that doesn't taste too much like a stout. Bell's is a trustworthy brewer that crafts some great beers.

Arcadia's ESB is nearly my favorite beer ever. I'll forgive their crappy site for that. Arcadia makes other beers that are good, but their ESB is their best.

Founder's Dirty Bastard is a great scotch ale. I've had a couple of other beers from Founder's and haven't been impressed.

And though it's expensive, I picked up a St. Peter's Porter on a goof once. Wonderful.

I prefer bottle conditioned beer and drink from as close to the correct glassware as possible. Like wine, it actually makes a difference.
posted by mealy-mouthed at 10:49 AM on January 28, 2005

I tend to prefer stouts and porters, though I'll drink all kinds. I'm not a rabid fan of hoppy beers, which for me covers a lot of pale ales. I will make exceptions and always try new beers despite my preferences. My father used to home-brew and his beers were generally quite good though the house would stink during the process.

I prefer beer on tap. For non-rational reasons, if it comes in a bottle I usually don't pour it in a glass (unless for brewing reasons there is sediment at the bottom, then I'll pour directly to the glass and leave the last half-inch in the bottle).

Beers:
Guinness, of course.

Mac & Jacks African Amber is an excellent treat from the pacific northwest. It is an all time favorite of mine. I miss it.

Brooklyn: Brown, Lager, Black Chocolate Stout.

Redhook: ESB, Nut Brown

Seen upstream and seconded: Fat Tire is a good beer that, like so many others, I don't drink as often as I should.
posted by safetyfork at 11:16 AM on January 28, 2005

Lager. At the moment, Stella Artois.
posted by carter at 11:21 AM on January 28, 2005

How could I have forgotten Unibroue? Some damn fine beer. Especially the Maudite.
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:36 AM on January 28, 2005

Shipyard Export Ale. A classic bitter, just slightly sweeter and more caramel flavor than most. Best thing to come out of Maine since Judd Nelson.

Affordable if you can find it. And you probably can't west or south of New York state.
posted by Mayor Curley at 11:38 AM on January 28, 2005

Sapporo, especially in those large silver artillery cans, is nice if you like a dry beer. Good to drink in the woods.

Red Stripe's heavier and generally better by a river.
posted by Luther Blissett at 11:38 AM on January 28, 2005

I really enjoyed Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale while I was in Canada. Best thing out of Nova Scotia since Alexander Graham Bell.
posted by theFlyingSquirrel at 12:08 PM on January 28, 2005

rocket88 you said it, man. ay-men.
posted by AwkwardPause at 12:10 PM on January 28, 2005

This weekend, I did my volunteer stint at the Boston BeerSummit's Winter Jubilee (everything was 7% ABV or better), so my current leanings are away from strong beers and towards session beers. It's not that the strong stuff is bad (I had a great time and was even run down by duckstab on my way to the bathroom), it's just that after being surrounded by it for a weekend.. ungh.

So normally I'm a big hophead and will recommend both the Smuttynose IPA and Mendocino's Whitehawk IPA. Great finishes on both those beers. Look for them if you like American IPAs. Also of note is Ipswich IPA, which is made by the folks at Mercury. I have a keg of this stuff currently sitting in my kitchen and it's pretty dang good even now.

Because of my newfound thirst for session beers, I've been drinking a number of English offerings. The brewer I've recently discovered is Greene King which you likely know through Old Speckled Hen, but whose Abbot Ale, IPA, and County ales are also pretty good. Also, the local importer for Greene King is the same guy who pays for the hot Brazilian girls' "considerable assets" at the Pacena booth every year, so more money in his pocket means more viewing pleasure for all.

I second, third, and fourth anything said about Unibroue. They're the Tasty.

Others to try include Dogfish Head, Flying Dog, Rogue, Stone, and Cisco, but many of their flagship beers are not really session beers (a 120 Minute IPA will knock me flat on an empty stomach).

So easier drinking beers, consider Long Trail, Smuttynose, Gritty McDuff, or Geary's. I don't know a whole lot about German beers, but I do know you can't go wrong with Spaten.

My Poor Man's Beer is, of course, PBR.

As for how I drink it, it depends on the beer. As a general rule of thumb, the more alcoholic the beer, the nicer the drinking method. It takes a lot of work to craft a really strong beer and you're missing a lot if you don't match the beer up to the right glass or goblet. The fancy stuff will tell you what glass to use. Beyond that, I won't drink an English beer from a can or bottle (I'll pour it into a pint glass, always) but will do so with American beers.

When at a bar, I never look at their list of bottles, but we're pretty lucky in Boston to have a few great beer bars (Sunset, Anam Cara, and Bukowski's).
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:12 PM on January 28, 2005

Bell's Best Brown Ale and Porter are quite good, if you can find it; IMO nothing compares to sitting at a local brewery, enjoying the atmosphere and drinking from the tap.

Although, having it served in a glass is a close second.
posted by AllesKlar at 12:12 PM on January 28, 2005

Ambers and browns primarily for me. A stout if I know I'm not going to have more than one. Someone mentioned Huyghe's Delirium Tremens above, which I'll second, partly so I can mention that I like their Delirium Nocturnum even better.

I find drinking from a bottle awkward at best--I'll do it if I'm in a situation where everyone else is, but I very much prefer to pour a bottled beer into a glass to drink.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:19 PM on January 28, 2005

If I'm drinking for flavor, I'm very fond of the Brooklyn Brewery family of beers, especially the Lager and Stout, both of which have quite strong flavors but are still eminently drinkable. I also really like Unibroue's offerings. All very complex flavors but the alcohol content is HIGH so be forewarned European beers like Czechvar, Newcastle Brown and Weinstephaner (sp?) can be quite hearty and enjoyable as well.

If I'm drinking on the cheap, or merely for the buzz, I'll drink Schlitz Malt Liqour, Schaefer of even Budwieser since their sudsy foaminess aids in quantity consumption.

I do generally prefer bottles or draft because they lack that metallic can taste, but I won't turn my nose up at beer in a can if that's what you got.
posted by jonmc at 12:25 PM on January 28, 2005

I'm really enjoying Yukon Midnight Sun Espresso Stout. When I was in Europe a few years ago, I had an amazing Belgian beer that tasted like chocolate. And was about 12%.
posted by hamfisted at 12:42 PM on January 28, 2005

Chimay.
posted by fixedgear at 12:44 PM on January 28, 2005

I am shocked that no one has mentioned Victory's Hop Devil. Shocked and amazed.
posted by AlexReynolds at 12:51 PM on January 28, 2005

Czech pilseners, in a glass.
posted by Dean King at 12:53 PM on January 28, 2005

There's also He'brew which along with the goofy name has a nice malty taste, and Arrogant Bastard Ale for those times when you feel like an Arrogant Bastard.
posted by jonmc at 12:58 PM on January 28, 2005

Whoa nellie. AlexReynolds I forgot about HopDevil. That's one evil beer.
posted by grateful at 1:09 PM on January 28, 2005

For the most part, I brew the beer I drink. I love ales, but my tastes change depending on the weather. In the winter I prefer heavier brews. In the summer, I prefer lighter, hoppier brews. When I'm out locally, I look for Berkshire Brewery's offerings, as I've been uniformly pleased with their beer. I go tap then bottle, and avoid most cans. Other brands that I learn towards are Long Trail, Wachusetts, Red Hook, Sierra Nevada, Anchor.

Years ago, I heard the founder of Anchor on NPR and he was clearly a very big fan of beer and had particular fondness for American style pilsners as "lawnmower beer". There really isn't a whole lot that goes down as smoothly after mowing the lawn on a summer day.
posted by plinth at 1:24 PM on January 28, 2005

I never know exactly why I like a given beer. It's much easier to describe what I don't like. But here are my favorites, anyway:

Brooklyn Lager is crisp and satisfyingly bitter when cold and on tap. In the bottle, it just doesn't have the same effect. I feel the same way about Pete's Wicked Ale, which is a bit richer in texture. Kokanee Glacier Beer is great for a hot summer day when you want something light and refreshing that still packs a punch. Warsteiner is in the same category as Budweiser, but is a much better beer. Magic Hat's #9 is delicious and creamy without being frothy or heavy. Henry Weinhard's Dark Reserve is still a good winter warmer even though it is now owned by Miller, and it won't fill you up as much as stout. Shiner Bock holds a special place in my heart for its slightly tart take on dark beers.
posted by mds35 at 1:34 PM on January 28, 2005

My preferred brews:

• Unibroue's ales, as mentioned before in the thread. I don't think I've ever heard from a beer-lover who doesn't love these -- they're just that good.
  
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Celebration Ale. The Celebration Ale in particular is astounding, but only available during the winter.
  
• Fat Tire Pale Ale is another good one.
  
• Victory's HopDevil IPA is probably my favorite IPA, if not my favorite beer period. Very strong hop flavor, but rounded and rich, instead of a sharp hop flavor like most other IPAs.
  
• For British/Irish style drinkin': Guinness and Bass, of course. Also I have a weakness for pub ales: Boddingtons, Wexford, Greene King Abbot Ale.
  
• Sam Adams Boston Lager. Like the guy with the tankard says on TV, it's always a good decision.
  
• Warsteiner. It may be Germany's version of fizzy yellow beer, but it tastes pretty good and goes down easy. I like.

posted by neckro23 at 2:19 PM on January 28, 2005

Paulaner's Hefe is smokin'. So light and fruity. Strong citrus with a banana finish...I've never found a better one. It's the quintessential summer beer.

And this is a stretch, but if you ever come across Summit Oatmeal Stout, don't pass it up. Specimens like this are the very definition of why I drink beer.

I'll second neckro's appraisal of Sam Adams. It's a supreme beer for the style and price. Scarcely a situation it doesn't fit, totally drinkable all night long.
posted by esch at 2:36 PM on January 28, 2005

I always come back to Chimay Red. And you can say you're supporting charity by drinking it.

On a related note, if you're in the Boston area, beg or steal your way to the sold-out Extreme Beer Festival tomorrow. (And if anybody needs one ticket, I'm probably going to have one available, face value, just email me)
posted by luyon at 2:49 PM on January 28, 2005

Definitely Unibroue, especially Maudite. Fortunately, since I live in Montreal, I can pick it up at any dep (that's convenience store to you).
posted by ITheCosmos at 3:50 PM on January 28, 2005

I'm slowly, but surely, working my way through the inventory of Bottleworks here in beer-drenched Seattle.
posted by glyphlet at 4:05 PM on January 28, 2005

I'm partial to brews from the UK. I get a lot of strange looks from friends when I say that I'm yet to find an American beer that I truly love. I also don't think most German beers are all that hot, which my German family is not proud of. Czech beer is pretty good, but that UK stuff is just freaking phenomenal.

Ducks and Covers
posted by spaghetti at 4:07 PM on January 28, 2005

Black Butte Porter is excellent.

So is Dead Guy, from the Rogue Brewery.
posted by Yelling At Nothing at 4:11 PM on January 28, 2005

I'm such a sucker for Belgian beers
If you're willing to go domestic (and cheaper), I hihgly reccomend Blue Moon, a Belgian-style wheat ale brewed here in the States. My drink of choice, indeed.
However, my favorite drink ever is from when I was in Austria- Stiegl. I LOVE the stuff but sadly cannot get it over here in the States. If anyone ever wants to send me some, I'll willing to pay...
posted by jmd82 at 4:27 PM on January 28, 2005

Oh man, I'm so late to this thread. I missed the party.

I love almost all beers, for one reason or another. I honestly have very few hang ups when it comes to enjoying beers. I'm a beer slut.

Currently I'm drinking honey browns (Sleeman's, Rickard's, and Big Rock). It was red beers, particularly Hammerhead and Rickard's, for a long time. Before that, Alexander Keith's. Nothing very fancy.

I've yet to meet a small brew that I didn't like. :-)
posted by C.Batt at 6:11 PM on January 28, 2005

If a beer has a strong, pronounced flavor like a porter or stout then the difference is more difficult to discern

(replying to a comment way up there about whether bottled can be distinguished from draught) this may be an exception to your rule rather than a general argument against it, but guinness from a bottle in the states tastes nothing like draught guinness in ireland. maybe it's the travelling rather than how it is stored, but the two are so different they could be different products. i say this despite being annoyed by the usual fetishism over "originals" etc - it's based on the bitter disappointment, many years ago, of finding myself in the states, on a hot day, with a cold bottle of guinness, and the anticipation of a good drink...
posted by andrew cooke at 5:01 AM on January 29, 2005

I'm not going to repeat suggestions from above, but I will add Ramstein. I don't think it gets too far from New Jersey though.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 6:14 AM on January 29, 2005

I'll second the Unibroue. My personal favorite is "La Fin du Monde".
posted by dazed_one at 8:58 AM on January 29, 2005

andrew cooke: Are you referring to the Guinness Extra Stout bottles? Those taste nothing like draught Guinness because they're carbonated, so the carbonic acid changes the taste quite a bit. The relatively new "rocket widget" bottles are much closer to the real thing.

Of course, I've heard that draught Guinness in Ireland/UK is significantly different from the draught Guinness available in the States. I've only had the latter...
posted by neckro23 at 12:50 PM on January 29, 2005

fizzy guinness?! well, it was a long time ago. i guess it's possible! if so, that clears up one of those things i've puzzled over for years...
posted by andrew cooke at 1:04 PM on January 29, 2005

I'll third(fourth? fifth?) that Unibroue reccommendation. That stuff will knock you flat and steal your wallet, and you'll still come back for more.

Other favorites:

- Belhaven
- Whitbread
- Chimay Red
- Bell's Winter
posted by 40 Watt at 1:09 PM on January 29, 2005

I'll fifth/sixth other people's recommendations of Unibroue beers if ever you're in Canada or the province of Quebec. My personal favourite though is Boreal Rousse, a red (amber) beer. You can read more about rousse beers here.

Oh, I'm also a big fan of Boddington's cream ale in a can. Those gas inserts are nobel prize worthy.
posted by furtive at 2:11 PM on January 29, 2005

I'm one of those peculiar human beings who actually likes a Munich style lager or even a proper Czech pilsner. Even if it's made in the USA.

The finest beer I ever had was the Munich-style lager I brewed myself, at home, all the way from grain to bottle (although I did use pelleted hops.) I wish I knew why I can't buy beer that good.

Beer on tap is good. Pilsner Urquell is fabulous. Pre-buyout Sam Adams Winter Lager on tap is about as close to beervana as I will ever need to be; sadly, the current stuff doesn't measure up (too little malt by about half.)

I also love Guinness, Boddington's (especially the cans; they really got it right), and anything from Belgium with raspberries or cherries ("framboise" or "kriek.") I like Chimay, both the red and the blue label, but it veers dangerously close to the 'beer-your-spoon-stands-up-in' territory for me. Maudite and Fin du Monde are far, far too much beer for my tender mouth, but I do like their seasonal fruit brews, especially the green apple beer they made a couple years back.

I like bocks and doppelbocks too. Späten Optimator is a fine example of the latter.

Boreále deserves its own paragraph. Good thing they don't export - I'd stay drunk all the time. Especially the Rousse.

And I drink probably more Rolling Rock and Bud than I should care to admit. Corn and beechwood - who doesn't like it? Bud in particular is much better on tap.
posted by ikkyu2 at 8:21 PM on January 29, 2005