# Beer drinkers, What is the best beer in the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [April 10, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307 "2013-04-10T08:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/101 "2013-04-11T16:15:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Piling on with the above. There is just something “off” about Heineken. I’ll drink a Coors Light before I’ll reach for that green bottle. Let’s not get crazy. Nobody should ever drink a Coors Light for any reason. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/102 "2013-04-11T16:20:48Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Let’s not get crazy. Nobody should ever drink a Coors Light for any reason. Do you know why Coors Light is better than Coors? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/103 "2013-04-11T16:38:56Z")
Because there’s less of it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/104 "2013-04-11T16:41:52Z")
Because if you _have_ to drink piss, you want it watered down as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/105 "2013-04-11T16:44:52Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > Maudite or Don de Dieu by Unibroue in Quebec. Or maybe Trois Pistoles LOL > [@Munch](#): > > Nope. Free is at the top, followed closely by cold. Yep, and my beer is usually always the one that’s full. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/106 "2013-04-11T16:58:07Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > Well, you can see how people think about Heineken - do you really think they’ll feel much differently about Stella? IMO Stella is on a whole different level than Heineken. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/107 "2013-04-11T17:02:02Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > IMO Stella is on a whole different level than Heineken. Better or worse? ETA: Serious question. While I’ve never had them side-by-side (and side-by-side comparisons do yield surprising results sometimes), I consider them about equal in terms of quality, and I’ve had Stella in Leuven. Of course, the one or two times I was in Belgium was before I discovered the magical myriad of styles of Belgian beer. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/108 "2013-04-11T18:29:35Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Stone IPA Stone makes SEVERAL world class IPA’s… their current Cali-Belgique IPA is quite tastey though IMHO it does not drink like an IPA. The OP is like asking "who is THE most beautiful person in the world;As has already been stated, there is NO definitive answer. I enjoy many of the aforementioned selections, and also despise a few too. Boddington’s and Smithwicks are both considered “world class” yet they are not my “cup of tea”. I’m a HopHead! That being said I also get a taste for a good Stout/Imperial Stout on occasion. There are also times when only a pale lager will do the trick. I second Bell’s HopSlam…this year was especially tasty. I also came to note Torpedo by Sierra Nevada and Shift (pale lager) from New Belgium. Life is too short to drink bad beer! ymmv ---
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/109 "2013-04-11T21:55:36Z")
The best beer in the world is whichever one I can currently afford. Recently it has been Natty Ice. 😛 If I had the money to chose from a wider range, though, I have had a fondness for New Glarus Coffee Stout (a seasonal beer), Schells Blonde Dopplebock from New Ulm, Minnesota (I don’t even know if they brew this anymore, but it was also seasonal.), and Guiness Stout pulled from a tap in London - (because I never had the opportunity to taste it in Dublin). 30 years ago, I had the single best beer I ever tasted. I had been on a semester in England and had become used to warm beer, even though I am American and grew up on cold beer. After the Semester, we toured Europe. The first stop was Paris. We got in late the first night and my friends and I went for a walk. Our Hostel was “non-drinking” and located across the road from an insane asylum. After walking 4 blocks, the first place that looked friendly was a “patisserie”. We had no idea what that was, but decided to check it out. They had beer on tap. Cool! I raised my index finger and said: “un beir sil voux plait”. The server/bartender/barrista/whatever gave me two ice cold Stella Artois. After drinking warm beer for 4+ months, I was in heaven. Stella is the single best beer I ever tasted. As for ordering one beer and getting two - I was told later that many people in Paris start counting with their thumbs. I don’t know if this is true. I just know that I would have been happy to pay for one cold beer at the price I paid for two! ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/110 "2013-04-11T22:25:22Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > IMO Stella is on a whole different level than Heineken. You’re entitled to your opinion but I’m not getting ‘a whole different level’. I mean - they’re obviously different chemical compounds and all, they’re not identical, but that said, they’re both pretty much inoffensive middle of the road mainstream lagers marketed to and enjoyed by giant audiences. After 80 posts of people extolling the virtues of beers with a lot of strong tastes while bashing mainstream beers such as Heineken, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree asking about “Stella love”. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/111 "2013-04-11T23:18:24Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > You’re entitled to your opinion but I’m not getting ‘a whole different level’. I mean - they’re obviously different chemical compounds and all, they’re not identical, but that said, they’re both pretty much inoffensive middle of the road mainstream lagers marketed to and enjoyed by giant audiences. After 80 posts of people extolling the virtues of beers with a lot of strong tastes while bashing mainstream beers such as Heineken, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree asking about “Stella love”. Actually, there’s a pretty good listing of middle-of-the-road beers in this thread. Maybe not all mainstream lagers a la Bud, but it’s not all hop-heavy or malt-heavy or funky Belgians in here, either. I mean we got Shiner Bock, Carslberg, Pilsner Urquell, Budvar, Yuengling, Sam Adams, Anchor Steam, and Scrimshaw Pilsner all on the first page. They might not be macro lagers, but they’re pretty much all beers that are safe to bring to a party for macrolager beer drinkers. MAYBEEE Shiner Bock is the odd duck there, but all those are inoffensive, middle-of-the-road beers. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/112 "2013-04-11T23:34:46Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Oddly, the most refreshing beer I ever had abroad was El Presidente in the Dominican Republic. Just the perfect thing to quench your thirst after (or during) a day on the beach. > > Then I found it in an import beer store here, and it was undrinkable. It must only be good fresh. The most profound beer drinking experience I have had was miller lite. Four of us were out mountain bike riding and after about 3 hours we were returning to the car. Two guys in a two wheel drive small pickup had gotten the truck stuck in the ditch beside the road. There were in luck because it turns out that four college guys can push/lift a small pickup out of a ditch and we were in luck because they had a cooler full of beer and ice. So we each got a couple of really cold beers at the end of a hot dusty ride. That was over 20 years ago and I still remember just how damn good those beers were. Of late I am really getting tired of way over hopped IPAs I remember liking IPAs about 15 or 20 years ago but now they are pretty much undrinkable to me. People talk about the Stone beers as really good but I find them way over hopped. My favorite beer of late is Alesmith X. I am not sure how available it is outside of Southern California but last year the papers had articles about how they secured funding for an expansion so maybe it can be found elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/113 "2013-04-12T04:31:13Z")
> [@jeturgeon](#): > > The correct answer is Chimay, blue label. If I have to pick just one, this is the one. > [@Cuckoorex](#): > > Maudite or Don de Dieu by Unibroue in Quebec. Or maybe Trois Pistoles No, La Fin Du Monde ---
**Author:** ![iseethink720](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dbc845/32.png) [@iseethink720](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iseethink720)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/114 "2013-04-12T06:09:20Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The problem with beer surveys is that they are populated by two groups: no-neck mouth-breathers without taste buds and people I agree with. 😛 True! ---
**Author:** ![iseethink720](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dbc845/32.png) [@iseethink720](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iseethink720)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/115 "2013-04-12T06:11:47Z")
> [@Pitchmeister](#): > > I believe that might be because Guinness is a very unique beer, not necessarily the best one (don’t get me wrong, it’s great!). People who like the taste of it have little other choice, whereas there are thousands of pilsners, lagers, weizen or ales, respectively, that are fairly similar to each other. Guinness is really a unique beer. As you said there are a lot of beers to choose from, it’s just a matter of personal preference 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/116 "2013-04-12T09:16:41Z")
> [@Cumbrian](#): > > Being British, I’ve been brought up in the “session” beer culture - this isn’t necessarily the default mode but the one I have slipped into during my time drinking - whereby I prefer something that is flavourful without being exceptionally alcoholic, so that you can keep drinking it all night (by the pint) and not get absolutely wasted (just pretty wasted). On these grounds, what I drink will depend on where I am in the country. When back home, I try and find Coniston Brewery’s Bluebird - I’ve never had a pint of this that I would call decent further than about 50 miles from the brewery - it’s a belting session ale though and if anyone is passing through the Lake District and is interested in a local beer to have after a day’s fell-walking, you could do one hell of a lot worse. When in Sheffield, I’ll try and find stuff from the Sheffield Brewing Company (usually Five Rivers - another session ale, less hop forward than American style but hoppy for British ales - or Tramlines if they have made any, as they do it only for a local festival). My GF and I stayed at The Bull (home of the Coniston Brewery) in Coniston for a few days a couple years ago. They had their full range of beers on including the current Champion Beer of Britain, No. 9 Barley Wine. There’s a naming convention that American brewers have started using that really gets on my tits - using the word “Imperial” for anything that’s just really strong, as in Imperial IPA. The word “Imperial” was first applied to stouts and porters brewed specifically for export to the Russian Imperial Court. I’ve moaned about this here before, and I know it’s a losing battle, but to me the word “Imperial” should ONLY be applied to stouts and porters. ---
**Author:** ![Cumbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cumbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumbrian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/118 "2013-04-12T10:25:16Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > My GF and I stayed at The Bull (home of the Coniston Brewery) in Coniston for a few days a couple years ago. They had their full range of beers on including the current Champion Beer of Britain, No. 9 Barley Wine. Applause. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/119 "2013-04-12T11:45:47Z")
On the Coniston and Bluebird theme, that would either be the perfect or worst tipple to have whilst watching this recent BBC program on the life of Donald Campbell ([link here only for UK dopers](http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01rrk63/Donald_Campbell_Speed_King/)) ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/120 "2013-04-12T12:11:41Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I really dislike Heineken. I mean I’ll drink it if it’s all there is, but I’m not going to enjoy it. It just has a weird off-taste. It’s my understanding that it tastes better, or at least different, in Holland. No doubt, I when I drank a bottle of it in Amsterdam I was quite surprised that it didn’t make me gag. But I picked one out because I like to drink the local brew wherever I go. I thought that maybe my taste buds were off due to the “coffee” I had earlier; but now I see that many other people noticed this too. Tried it again when I got back to the state and it went back to be a beer that taste like ass to me (and not a nice ass at that). ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307/121 "2013-04-12T12:49:45Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > You’re entitled to your opinion but I’m not getting ‘a whole different level’. I mean - they’re obviously different chemical compounds and all, they’re not identical, but that said, they’re both pretty much inoffensive middle of the road mainstream lagers marketed to and enjoyed by giant audiences. After 80 posts of people extolling the virtues of beers with a lot of strong tastes while bashing mainstream beers such as Heineken, I think you’re barking up the wrong tree asking about “Stella love”. Well considering (and yes I know what this will do to my credibility :D) I also enjoy Michelob Ultra when low carbing, I am probably out of my element in these discussions. I abdicate and will lurk this thread henceforth 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beer-drinkers-what-is-the-best-beer-in-the-world/655307.md?page=7)