I like beer. Hell, I love beer. And I’ve enjoyed many, many, many different kinds, but not nearly enough. (you could never get enough). The only kind on the SDMB I’ve truly avoided is the Penis Beer discussed in a separate thread.
I am always on the lookout for new, good beers, and would like opinions on your own personal favorite. Now, a man (or woman’s) choice of beer is very personal, but if you are willing to share, I’d like to learn.
I’ll start by saying my two favorite beers I’ve had are:
Sprecher Amber - a microbrew made in Milwaukee. It is the best beer I’ve ever had. It’s got a good body, a crisp taste, and goes unbelievably well with food.
Leinenkugel’s limited - They only make it once a year, and it’s a fantastic beer for summer days. It’s light and tasty, but with enough complex flavors that it’s not like the normal swill made by Mass producers of beer.
I like a lot of Oregon microbrews that aren’t distributed very far. The Lighthouse pub in Lincoln City occasionally has “tournaments” where you can buy samplers with little 4 oz glasses of each entrant. Damn, that’s good beer.
My favorite beer that’s distributed widely is labeled Full Sail, both the Amber Ale or the IPA flavors. The blend of hops they use is what I like. Yum!
After that, I really like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Krausened in the bottle, and unfiltered. (Gives me large volumes of gas the next morning though. LOL!)
Britain, though, makes some of the world’s best beers IMO. Fuller’s, Young’s, Samuel Smith, Newcastle… Guinness! The list goes on and on. And that’s just what we get here in the US. I want to go on a tap tour of Britain someday.
There aren’t too many continental or asian imports that I really like. Foster’s is drinkable on tap, and then there’s the Australian Sheaf Stout that is sometimes fun.
I gotta tell you I tried White Ale (I think it was Samuel Adams) and I could not finish it (which means it musta really sucked! Heck, I lived on Rhinelander for 3 years). It had no beer taste, it had too much creaminess… I still can’t forget how bad it was. The tap of white Ale I had from a local bar was hideous also. It was Belgian, and it was no better than Sam Adams. Oh well, different strokes for different folks.
Bughunter,
I’d watch my back if I were you. Lots of people (myself included) would have no problem beating you to death with an Atlas for calling Guiness a British Beer. Tread lightly my friend.
i do however really like the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I’ll keep an eye out for Full Sail though, it sounds good.
I’m not posting a list of beers that you should try as there are hundreds, if you are able to travel the world and/or have an excellent source for them to be imported to you (that’s my deal… in bed with an absolutely fantastic importer/distributer). BUT…
I will stand behind 1000% the fact that Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, as mentioned more than twice, is one hell of a beer. It stands up to some of the finest I’ve ever tried from around the world, but the nicest thing about it is that it has grown increasingly more available and hasn’t tarnished its quality in the interim.
And does it give you gas the next morning? Well, if you drink fourteen of 'em because they taste so good… then now probably ain’t the time to point out that asparagus is my favorite veggie and it makes my pee smell like photographic stop-bath!
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale… $6.99/6 pack
Fresh native asparagus… $2.99/bunch
Linguine w/white clam sauce from Mezza Luna… extra garlic and enough leftovers for a midnight snack… $15.99
Bathroom to yourself even if you have four roomates… PRICELESS!
sorry… I figured that any beer thread could turn ugly without warning.
Pessor
I thought I liked Tsing-Tao but I got some tonight and it was kinda bitter and not too great tasting - well, since it was imported from The People’s Republic of China, it may have been a bit old.
I was about to list a bunch of beers to try, but most of them you have probably already heard about. So try some Abita Turbo Dog. It’s a really good ale from Louisiana. Kicks ass.
Having lived in Wisconsin my entire life, I’ve always been embarrassed that the world tends to think of Miller Beer(it sucks ) when they think of Milwaukee. I’m glad at least someone from the cheeseless 49 has tried a few of the better beers we have to offer. Sprecher is an excellent, with a capital EXCELLENT, brewery, and I’m proud to have them here. Do yourself a favor, Hamlet, and try some of the other fine brews they produce. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.
Even though Leinenkugels is now owned by Miller ( ) they still produce some great brews. Their Berry Weise is top notch!
Boy, all this beer talk has me hankering for one.
Talk to ya later;)
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again…J.W. Dundee’s Honey Brown Lager. My personal favorite. Anchor Porter is also very good and full-bodied. And a nice mug of Young’s Oatmeal Stout is nice too.
I never drank much beer before I joined the Army. I was stationed in Germany and an NCO took me to a restarant on my second night there. He convinced to try a Hefe-Weizen. After trying that, I think it should be a crime to call the American mega-brewery product “beer”.
I now live near Dallas, Texas. I found a liquor store that carries Erdinger in 6-packs (but 12oz bottles rather than the German 1/2Liter [16.9oz] bottles). they also have Franziskanner in 1/2L size.
There are many different brands out there, though they may be hard to find in the US. I don’t care for Paulaner. You must try this beer. Be sure you pour it correctly. Pour all but about 2 oz in the glass then roll the bottle between your hands to stir up the (wheat? yeast?) in the bottom. Pour that into the glass and it will be the smoothest beer you ever had.
Well, for big choice of REAL beer you need to go to middle England. Locally brewed Bass is in (at least) half of the pubs in my home town, it’s usually disgusting because nobody can keep it in good condition! Derby, very close to Burton on Trent where the dreaded Bass but the desirable Pedigree is/was brewed was voted as Beer City last year by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). The website for CAMRA may interest you (a little?) its URL is
The Derby branch doesn’t seem to have much to say for itself but its URL is
My humble opinion (it isn’t likely to be of much use to you though) …Best local brew: Draught Burton Ale (well until recently, brewing procedure has changed, apparently)…Best English Draught Beer: Pendle Witches Brew.
Is there not a ‘Good Beer Guide’ for your part of the world?
) they still produce some great brews. Their Berry Weise is top notch!