OT: Absolute Favorite Bottled Beer?
On the cusp of another St. Patty's Day filled with drunken debauchery...or, more accurately, workplace drudgery with no hint of inebriation, I was thinking about what is my absolute favorite beer.
I've been drinking Sam Adams almost exclusively. I went through an IPA and Rye-PA kick last fall, but I'm into mellower and crisper (word?) brews right now.
I know my vote right now would be for Sam Adams Black Lager.
March 16th, 2010 at 11:47 PM ^
Dortmunder Union Original. Wow, I couldn't get enough. Unfortunately, the Export, which is the only kind I can find around her, just isn't the same.
March 16th, 2010 at 11:58 PM ^
Think there's an actual difference in the beer, or is it like the Guinness in Dublin thing?
March 17th, 2010 at 12:05 AM ^
But, I think there is actually a difference in the beer.
'County Guinness', as it is called, does not get the same preservatives and has something different about how it goes into the keg than the stuff that gets exported.
When I lived in London some Irish guys on my soccer team took me to a pub that apparently sort of smuggled the County stuff into the UK and they gave me the low-down. You could taste a difference and the place was always full of Irish people as a result, so there is likely some truth to it.
Thats true, I never cared for Guinness until I went to Ireland, it's much better there. The bartender I talked to said it was a preservative thing as well.
March 16th, 2010 at 11:52 PM ^
...a bottle of Dos Equis Amber (with a little lime). I'm sure there are better brews out there, but this is my summer time beer of choice after mowing the lawn.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:22 AM ^
Here's what's in my fridge right now:
1. Rogue Dead Guy Ale
2. Franziskaner
3. Magic Hat Howl Winter Lager
4. Bell's Oberon (a single bottle left over from last season)
That Magic Hat selection was something that I bought completely at random (meaning that I thought the bottle and 6-pak carton looked really cool), and I liked it quite a bit. But the others are staples of my fridge, in addition to any number of Belgians (fave is probably St Bernardus Abt 12, or maybe Tripel Karmeliet), which I need to restock!
Good beer is one of life's greatest joys.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:31 AM ^
I had a Dead Guy Ale in my hand tonight and then placed it back on the shelf. Have you had it before and would you recommend it?
March 17th, 2010 at 12:37 AM ^
Dead Guy Ale is an absolute favorite. I discovered it probably about a year or so ago. It is sooooooo drinkable (whatever that actually means). I'm not into super-mega-hoppy beers, and Dead Guy has (for me, anyway) just the right touch of hops flavor.
Next time, make sure it leaves the store with you. I highly recommend it.
Perfectly set. You take some crabpots down to the pier, throw them in the water, then hit the brewery. After a beer or two, you go check and see if there are crabs in the pot. Usually, the crabbing sucks, but the Dead Guy is cold and the brewery is warm ...
That sounds outstanding. The last time I was in PDX visiting friends, I had not yet discovered Rogue beers, and was retroactively bummed that I'd missed out. Next trip for sure!
I live in Corvallis and trips to Newport are a regular occurrence for us. Luckily my wife understands my passion for Rogue and she supports our trip there each time.
My list
1. Blue Heron Pale Ale (Bridgeport Brewing)
2. Full Sail Pale Ale (Full Sail Brewery)
3. Rogue Oregon Ale (Rogue Brewery)
4. Widmer Bros Heffeweizen (Widmer Brothers)
5. Arrogant Bastard Ale (Stone Brewery)
Yeah...I'm kind of an ale guy...Dead guy is good, I just prefer lighter beers.
Also just missing the list is Mirror Pond Pale Ale (or hell, anything from the Deschutes Brewery)
March 17th, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^
Lucky you being in Oregon, a state that brews some fine, fine beers.
I first had Widmer Hefe at a hotel bar in San Diego when I was there on business. I immediately declared it tasty and refreshing, upon which I sat there the rest of the night and drank one after another. Hefeweizen are my favorites for sure, and Widmer quickly became part of my hefe rotation in my fridge. I was thrilled to find it in bottles here in Michigan!
Many don't like the fact that' it's unfiltered and tends to have particulate in it. I drink it fast enough that I don't care. It's my summer drink of choice...goes good during backyard parties.
Blue Heron is great year round though. I just finished off a 6 pack of it last night.
Oregon is a terrific place to live for microbrews. Before I lived out here, I was a poor college kid who thought Labatt was good stuff....Blech I'm a total beer snob now. Totally spoiled. Best part is, Oregon's terrific breweries were mainly started by seed money from the state lotto. Same with the wine industry. Good economic programs back in the 90s here. I applaud it.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:21 AM ^
Lion Lager (from sri lanka)
Lion Stout (ditto)
Weinstephaner
Hacker Pschorr
Pretty much anything Bell's or Goose Island
(Man I've really lost my touch with my beer snobbery)
I stumbled upon Lion in Toledo a few weeks ago while visiting home. Truly a fantastic product, and I was shocked to find out it's from Sri Lanka.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:29 AM ^
Life & Limb.
I purchased a Worldwide Stout tonight that I will be tasting in a few days...
March 17th, 2010 at 12:29 AM ^
Smithwicks or Blue Moon are my beers of choice
March 17th, 2010 at 12:33 AM ^
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale. Technically might not count for this thread (because it only comes in a can; not a bottle), but man is it ever good.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:33 AM ^
i never comment here, i just read the info and move on, but i had to comment on this one. quite frankly, the best beer i've had out of the bottle has always been and still is labatt blue. absolutle genius. however, i have been a big fan of bell's hopslam and two-hearted lately. both are solid. certain leinenkugals are good as well. but i still think labatt blue in a bottle is the best beer you can drink.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:34 AM ^
p.s. oberon is overrated and at the lower echelon of bells beers.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:49 AM ^
I've got some in the fridge right now. Hmmm, still early enough?
(Labatts Blue I meant.)
1. Broken Halo IPA
2. Speakeasy Double Daddy
3. Two-hearted
4. Bridgeport IPA
5. Dead Guy IPA
P.S.-best memories of St. Patty's in college were the annual pilgrimages to Chicago.
- the worst: green crap the next day.
Not to nitpick, but Dead Guy isn't an IPA.
Highland Oatmeal Porter
Duck Rabbit Milk Stout
Fat Tire Mother ship Wheat
Corona Extra (summertime/hot weather)
Beamers Irish Stout (actually in a can though)
You sir must be from North Carolina! Highland Oatmeal Porter is solid. Duck Rabbit Baltic Porter is outstanding, but rare. You ever try any of the Pisgah beers?
Not sure anyone mentioned:
Old Rasputin Imperial Stout by North Coast Brewing
Raison D'etre by Dog Fish Head (heck anything by Dog Fish Head)
My home-brewed IPA The Categorical ImBEERative is my favorite out of the bottle. Commercial brews: Two-Hearted.
There was an Irish import I loved called Caffrey's Irish Ale. Smoothest beer I've ever had. Can't get it now. Apparently Coors acquired the US distribution rights and stopped importing it to kill it from competing against Coors' own Killian's Irish brew.
I hate you Coors.
March 17th, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^
Caffreys was pretty awesome. I didn't know Coors had rubbed out it's competition...bastards.
Westvleteren 12, a Trappist ale from Belgium.
It is almost impossible to find in the U.S., and it will run you about $10 for one 12 oz. bottle, but it is worth it. I would pay $30 for a bottle, it is that good.
March 17th, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^
I know of a place that sells it. It's called Merchant's Fine Wines, on Mack Ave in Grosse Pointe Woods. And you're right: $10/bottle. but worth it.
In no particular order:
1. Shiner Bock (Outstanding on draft as well)
2. Shiner Black
3. Dragonmead Final Absolution
4. Smithwicks
5. Sam Adams Winter Ale
On Draft, Guinness replaces Sam's Winter.
March 17th, 2010 at 10:42 AM ^
Grain Belt beer is awesome...
March 17th, 2010 at 11:37 AM ^
And don't ever let the PBR fools tell you otherwise.
March 17th, 2010 at 10:45 AM ^
1. Old Speckled Hen (better out of a can to a glass)
2. Hacker Pschorr
3. Magic Hat
4. Yuengling
5. Bells Two-Heart Ale
March 17th, 2010 at 11:15 AM ^
... and a clothespin firmly clamped onto the nose. The economical man's choice.
March 17th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
1) Oberon is my drinking beer. It's relatively inexpensive compared to my other choices and easy to find.
When money is no object my preference is:
1) Hopslam
2) Huma Lupaliscious
Also, really like Bell's Oracle but drank my last of the secret stash a month or so ago. :(
March 17th, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
1. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald (Porter)
2. Founder's Porter
3. Sam Adams Oktoberfest
4. Troegs Troeginator
5. Delirium Nocturnem
6. Sam Adams Boston Lager
7. Gordon Biersch Schwartzbier
8. Bell's Expedition Stout
9. Great Divide Titan IPA
10. Bell's Oberon
March 17th, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
I really like wheat beers, so I always used to have Blue Moon or Widmer Heffeweizen in my fridge. But last summer I ran into Leinenkugel's Harvest Wheat and that's been the main beer I buy now.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:47 PM ^
Stone Double Bastard (from a bomber).
Bells Hopslam.
Worth the price. No question.
March 19th, 2010 at 10:43 PM ^
Historically, I have been a Sam Adams Boston Lager drinker. However, I recently tried the Michelob Amber Bock and have a new mistress. Anyone tried it and what did you think.
Just bought a 6 pack of Dead Guy Ale from a wine store in Livonia. This thread has had me dying to try a new beer and that one seems to be getting positive reviews all around. Still waiting for the beer to get cold before I can give it a whirl.