The ultimate beer challenge: US vs Canada!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Later this summer, the second annual Doperéal will be held.

While I’m sure there will be lots of cool things going on, with lots of cool people, a challenge has been raised; a challenge that cannot be ignored.

CuriousCanuck has claimed that Canadan beer is, by its very nature, better than the beer we brew south of the border.

In the interest of science and national honor, we have decided to each amass the best beer our respective countries have to offer, and have a taste off at Doperéal

I’m here to solicit suggestions of great beers brewed in America that you, fellow dopers, feel represent the best of the best.

Of course, not only do I need to know of it, but I need to have a sample. If the brewery has a website and ships, please, let me know it. If the best beer you know can only be purchased locally, e-mail me and we can perhaps work something out (I am 23, so I’m not trying to scam any illegal booze).[sup]*[/sup]

So, I’m counting on you all. What should I use to defeat the insolent Northener?
[sup]*[/sup]Moderators, if this request is somehow inappropriate for the SD, I appologize, and feel free to cut that last sentence.

2

By the same token, Canucks, speak up! Send me your thoughts too!

Bring it on!

Big Rock vs Sam Adams. Canadian vs Bud. MGD vs JL Classic. Michelob vs a kick in the head. Alexander Keiths vs Colt 45.
*I am aware that some of the aforementioned US beers are crap, and not your best, just as some of the Canuck beers I have mentioned suck too (but still are better than yours! :wink: )
OK… Let’s go Eonwe. You n Me to judge for our respective countrymen. In an honourable drunken fest. Samples sent to me are welcomed of course!

3

Why is American beer like making love in a canoe?

It’s fucking close to water!

Aaah… I never get tired of hearing that one. Over and over and over and over and over again. And then some more.

4

Cool, more publicity for Doperéal.

Doperéal Doperéal Doperéal!!! :smiley:

5

I would put Shiner Bock up against any Canadian brew. In fact, as long as you exclude the Germans, Shiner beats practically anything else in the world (although Guiness has a couple of decent brews). Aside from that and some of the local micro-brews, I can’t think of ANY American or Canadian beer that’s worth the effort it takes to open it.

6

scott evil, shouldn’t you be in the tub? :wink:

7

Oh, and also, you linked to your engagement thread. Not sure if that’s what you meant to do.

8

Kinda like putting up the Mona Lisa against a framed turd, isn’t it?

9

Any Canadian beer challenge is incomplete without putting Sleeman’s Honey Brown Ale in the mix.

10

Eonwe, check this site: BeerAdvocate. They have reviews of many beers and links to most of the breweries’ websites. It’ll help find out who ships and who doesn’t.

I recommend anything from Anderson Valley Brewing Co. My favourites are their Hop Ottin’ IPA and Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout. I’ll put those up against any beer.

11

If we bring (or serve) this beer , let us hope you won’t have to take an urine test at the border Eonwe :smiley:

12

I was of course referring to the Fumisterie beer in the post above

13

Let us just hope that the challenge is handled in a practical manner. Of course a great microbrewed bock is going to beat a macrobrewed lager, thats just silly. We need to establish classes and all that jazz.

I propose that you determine the best of each category from each country and compare them.

For example, I’d agrue that Budweiser is the best of the American Macrobrewed Lagers. Miller Products have no place in the competition nor do any light beers, and while I have a perverse affection for Old Style, I suppose I probably wouldn’t expect a non-local to really appreciate it. I would never claim that Budweiser is better than one of the many top quality microbrewed lagers, but it beats the everloving piss out of Molson Canadian.

Carry this rationale and work your way down to small batch, top quality IPAs, seasonal treats and the finest unfiltered wheat beers.

14

Unless it’s America’s best against Canadia’s worst, ain’t no contest. America is best at one aspect of beer: importing the good stuff from other countries;)

15

As an American, I must say that Canada has better beer. Too much of our country is too warm for good beer.

16

All you silly Americans have to do is drink some Maudite (“Damned one”) or some Eau bénite (literally “Holy Water”) or any other beers produced by our Quebec microbrews.

You will understand why we have better beer.

:smiley:

17

I would agree that the beer needs to be divided into classes, so that you’re comparing ales to ales, so to speak. I also agree that macrobrews ought to be separated from microbrews. However, I’m not sure that’s the best way to do it. With the explosive growth of craft beers, many that were previously considered microbrews no longer fit the technical definition (which, if my quick internet research is true, is 15,000 barrels a year).

Perhaps there ought to be three categories: Megabrews, Regional/Craft, and Microbrews.

The Megabrew category would include such brewers as Budweiser and Coors (or Molsen and Moosehead). It would be defined as, well, big freaking breweries that you can find in just about any store in the country that sells beer. It’s subcategories could be:
Lagers
Amber/Dark
(I admit to a certain amount of ignorance here, as I’m not sure what type of variety exists in the megabrewer world).

In the Regional/Craft department, we could have breweries such as Colorado’s New Belgium (of Fat Tire fame) or Quebec’s Unibroue (I have to admit, my current favorite dark beer is Unibroue’s Trois Pistoles). The categories could be:
Lager
Amber
Pale Ale
Dark (stouts, porters, that sort of thing)
Fruity
Hefeweizen/Wheat

In the true Microbrew category, there would be beers that can only be obtained locally or mail ordered, such as from Arizona’s Mogollon Brewery. I don’t know of a Canadian counterpart. The categories would be the same as regional/craft.

Or, that could be WAY too much work and you might want to just sit around and get blitzed and argue over who has the better beers.

(on preview)
Elenfair, you can see that I have tried some of your Quebec beers, and have mentioned one in particular. But I think we can hang with you.

18

I don’t drink but from what I hear from people who are visiting here, Canada has the better beer.

19

A good representative on the American side would be something from D.G. Yuengling & Son. They are America’s oldest brewery and their Traditional Lager is very popular along the East Coast.

20

I say: forget the mass-marketed beers-they are brewed to satisfy the avaerage palate, and the sad fact is that the average American likes his beer ice-cold. This means that the subtle flavors of the beer get trashed-you cannot distinguish a good beer from a mediocre one, if both are served at 32 deg. F.
Having said that , American mass-market beers are made from quality ingredients…and there is nothing wrong with that. I think the smaller breweries make some very good beers, and Canadian mass-market beers are just as bland as anything from the USA. My favorite: Anchor steam beer (San Francisco); very good, very expensive, and hard to find (on the east coast).