Favorite Beer

[quota2000]

Two of my absolute favorites from right here in the great NW are from the Deschutes Brewery in Bend, OR.

Obsidian Stout:

http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brew/obsidian-stout

Black Butte Porter:

http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/brew/black-butte-porter

Regards,

Jeff

[Chuck in Indiana]

I like em all, but if you're a hop head, Bell's Hopslam is da bomb. Just made in the Spring, sells out immediately. If you have a chance, give it a go.

[roofus]

So I finally got my case of Westvleteren XII after a year of waiting. Opened it, and abruptly discovered why it has been voted the worlds best beer.
After this discovery, it had gotten me thinking. How many of us here enjoy "the good stuff", and what is your favorite?

Pilsner Urquell is my favourite!

[Joe A.]

Arrogant Bastard out of San Diego.

Agree about the Yuengling offerings.

Also agree with lagers as entry drugs to the hard stuff...IPA's.

Local micro here, Rohrbachers has an exceptional scotch ale :drool

[Moto Fugazzi]

Good, Certainly, but I'd say its unavailability has led to a hyping of its quality.
YMMV and all that.
And, cheers!

Ha! I remember years ago when you couldn't buy Coors east of the Mississippi, everybody raved about it. I was disappointed when it came to WI and I tried it. They did have some really cool looking cans.

[Wayne Orwig]

It wasn't until a trip to Germany that I found there was beer that actually tasted GOOD. The typical American rice syrup based stuff is crap. (though it has its points when it is ice cold and you have been outside in the summer heat).
So after that trip, I started home brewing. I could never get the beer exactly like I wanted it, but I keep trying. Few experiments go to waste.  :BEER:

In the trip to the national in Virginia, I picked up some Vienna lager from the Devils Backbone brewery up there. That was pretty good stuff.
Sweetwater 420 here in Atlanta is pretty good.

[Muley]

I know I'll get beat up about this, but yesterday afternoon we went to the big city for some errands.  It was stinkin' hot, and I had a craving for a really cold beer.  I ordered up a Corona in a frosted glass with salted edges and lime.  It sure hit the spot and so did the second one.  I especially enjoyed the salt yesterday; my body must have needed it.

I sampled every Alaskan beer that was available (in season) a few summers ago.  They make some tasty offerings, but we can't get it here yet.

My taste in beer is seasonal, meaning I like different beers at different times of the year, but I'll drink anything if it's free ;D

[BigRooster]

My two favorites right now:
Anderson Valley - Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/193/23506

and

Fordham Brewing - Copperhead Ale
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1512/4043
Beer Advocate says Maryland but I think Fordham comes out of Dover, DE now.

I am a beleiver that almost all beer has it's purpose - even the Macro Brews that snobs like to crap on.  Sure the mass produced beers have WAY less flavor, but they seem to work better for things like tailgate activities or those times when drinking en mass (Bud Light, Miller Light, Coors Light, etc).  Conversely, the micros and nanos fit better with lower volume, one to thre beer activites, especially given the frequency of significantly higher alchohol contents in many micros.  Then there is the middle ground of imports and beers like Yuengling.  More taste, decent prices, and generally easy to drink.  I consider these the all-arounders; stuff like XX, Labatts, Stella, Amstel, Yuengling, Mooshead etc.

Then there are the beers I just dont like - most IPAs fit into this group for me, but some I enjoy, I also dont care for the micros that go overboard with too much fake fruit flavor (a general fault of Pumpkin beers).

[Two Checks]

+1 on the Yuengling! Sunday I was at the store and grabbed a Dundee's sampler-IPA, stout, pilsner and bock lager, which are quite good, BTw, and saw a couple perusing the beers. The gal was wearing a Yuengling t-shirt so I struck up a conversation. Not available here in STL but when I visit friends in TN that's what I drink. When my son lived in VA we always got some Yuengling. Sadly he now lives in MS and until July 1 they were not allowed any beer over 5%. Their beer selections are poor to lousy!

[donn]

Now here's a trick adder to the original question.  When riding I need can beer for packing purposes.  So what't the best can beer out there?  For me it's two of the Oskar beers out of CO: Mam's Pils and Dale's Pale Ale.

I like "Bitter American

Might not be as readily available, our grocery lists it as "seasonal".

Right now we're in the middle of a pack of "Churchkey", a local Pilsener in plain steel cans.  I'm not sure why ... I mean, I know why we're drinking it, but why steel?  It came with an opener, of the classic style after which it's named.  It was sadly unable to get purchase on the can, but the thought was nice.  And the beer was decent.

[ranette]

Funny to see the high praise for Yuengling.  I went to college about 1/2 hour from the brewery and we drank it not because it was good, but because it was cheap.  A case of Bud was deemed "better" on account of it costing about 50% more than the "Yingers". That being said I remember for a marketing class coming up with a plan for Yuengling to go national based on its history and quality, you have to admire what the brewery has done in the past 25 years.

[Chuck in Indiana]

If you've never tried Cave Creek chili beer.... don't.  ~; ;D

[wrbix]

All beer is good :)


Now here's a trick adder to the original question.  When riding I need can beer for packing purposes.  So what't the best can beer out there? 

Ranger IPA is now available in a can. Great on the trout stream!

[ken farr]

O.K., not a beer snob, don't know the difference between a lager or a pilsner, don't know what IPA stands for.....

..years ago, I was in Wi. and had a Hielmanns Old Style, on tap.  I really liked it.  Thought about it over the years, and when I found myself outside of Chicago a few years ago, I thought I would try to find Old Style again.
I found it, and come to find out it is one of the better $3 six packs out there... ;D

Anyway, I like Yuengling, but my brother introduced me to Shiner Bock.

I LIKE Shiner Bock.

...but then again I like American Motors, Guzzis, stray cats...

kjf

[GuzziChris]

Was out in Montana last summer and tried Salmon Fly Honey Rye.... LOVED it, very smooth and refreshing - but then again I'm not a huge fan of rich, heavy beers: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/11972/25162/

[prof_stack]

O.K., not a beer snob, don't know the difference between a lager or a pilsner, don't know what IPA stands for.....

India Pale Ale - the Brits put in LOTS of hops in the casks bound for India by boat, to help preserve the beer (bacteria don't like hop bitterness).

IPA currently stands for the most over-hyped style in existence in the USA.  Too many hops, not enough malt flavor.  YMMV.

The best beers I've had were all on tap in Germany.  From the bitterness of Hamburg's beers to the maltiness of Bavaria.

The crowning beer came at a monastery south and west of Munich.  Andech's was a most amazing place with beers being poured from a faucet, out of a LARGE wooden cask, with one turn.  Perfect foam with malt flavor that went over the tongue like waves from a tsunami.  It was heaven on earth.  The bock and helles were awesome.

Back to reality here, most micro's make good porters or ambers, and they are my current choices.

[JJ]

If you've never tried Cave Creek chili beer.... don't.  ~; ;D

Agreed (+1) Yes, that is dreadful! :o ??? ::)

[JJ]

Remember the little stubby green little Genesse Cream Ale bottles?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iandavid/7275382786/

[Testarossa]

I've always found good beer at local microbreweries, and assumed that it was great just because it was made carefully in small batches. Then a friend who owned a microbrewery pointed out that beer is best when served fresh, like milk, within a day or so of being brewed. After that, unless it's pasteurized, it begins slowly to turn, like wine; and pasteurization does tend to blend and mute the flavors.

Since then I've tended to drink local beers wherever I go.  I do like the heavier, maltier beers best: stouts and porters. We have great microbreweries around here and they all make good stuff. Where I can't get something local, Guinness does the trick. Maybe the heavy maltiness stands up smoothly to pasteurization.

[prof_stack]

I've always found good beer at local microbreweries, and assumed that it was great just because it was made carefully in small batches. Then a friend who owned a microbrewery pointed out that beer is best when served fresh, like milk, within a day or so of being brewed. After that, unless it's pasteurized, it begins slowly to turn, like wine; and pasteurization does tend to blend and mute the flavors.

That would be true of top-fermented beers like ales, porters, and stouts that aren't cold-conditioned to smooth out the flavors. 

Lagers like pilsners, helles, and bocks are cold-conditioned for a few weeks to months to, like a good wine, bring out the crisp and clean characteristics of the style.  The German word lager means "to store".

[SteveAZ]

North Coast Old Stock Ale is hands down my favorite.

That being said, I drink just about any beer. Generic in a can up to whatever microexpensiveimpor t that is offered.

Beer.
 

[Sasquatch Jim]

I actually liked the Cave Creek Chili beer, and the little chili in the bottle.  It was different.

[wittangamo]

Most overlooked Beer and only available in certain regions of the US. No it is not an Asian Beer Originally from the oldest brewery in the US, Pottstown PA. They are expanding and thankfully for me took over the old Schlitz brewery in Tampa and business is good they are expanding that site. My everyday beer is the Black and Tan

Good quality American beer at piss water prices. Even the Light is pretty darn good.

Always liked the price, and used to drink it often. Couple of years ago I bought a case that had so much sediment in it tipping the bottle was like shaking a snow-globe. Swore off it then, but may give it another shot someday.

[redbirds]

Flying Dog is easy to find in my area and two are really good, Old Scratch and In Heat Wheat.

[Don Ivey]

Buzz Beer!

[guzzi ride]

# 1 Guinness extra stout :BEER:

[Wayne Orwig]

Was out in Montana last summer and tried Salmon Fly Honey Rye.... LOVED it, very smooth and refreshing - but then again I'm not a huge fan of rich, heavy beers: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/11972/25162/

What, you didn't like the Moose Drool beer?
I actually thought that was pretty good stuff.

[Vince in Milwaukee]

Years ago, when I was heavily into collecting beer cans (way before my Guzzi addiction) and came accross a beer from Belgium called Reis Van Roi (hope I am spelling that correctly).  It was the best beer that I have ever tasted in my life.  Would love to get a case of the stuff.  I currently drink Tecate from Mexico as my regular beer.  It's nothing fancy, but I find it very crisp and refreshing. 

[drums4money]

Beer?

Yes, please.

Bass, Anchor Steam, Weyerbacher

[john fish]

# 1 Guinness extra stout :BEER:

Not for me anymore.  When I was a kid, Guinness Extra Stout was exceptional.  Nice distinctive stuff.  When they started making it in Canada, (Yep, that's where the USA stuff comes from, just look at the bottle, that way they can still plaster 'Imported' all over the stuff. :) ) it just became watery, flat and tasteless.  Molson's with caramel food coloring added.  Damn disappointing.

However, there is a bright side.  I recently discovered Guinness Foreign Extra.  Still made in Dublin and still has a fantastic taste.  More expensive than the Extra Stout but well worth it.