My liquor store has a build your own 6-pack feature. They have 6 shelves that go as high as I can reach stacked with different beers. What are your suggestions for the top 6 beers I should try? If you only want to suggest a couple of your favs that's fine too... but I need suggestions. Thanks.
Build me a 6-pack
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Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
Leffe Blond. Made with the same recipe since AD 1240.
A Belgian Framboise such as Cantillon Rosé de Gambrinus, or a raspberry wheat beer
Miller Lite. Try it with a wedge of lime over cracked or crushed ice, with the barest pinhead of salt. A Beer-garita! (actually, called a chelada)
Guiness Stout. Nice in the evenings with a short cigar... a toro or a robusto or a Fuente Hemmingway Short Story.
Stella Artois. A very nice Euro Lager, widely available worldwide
Any locally brewed IPA.
A Belgian Framboise such as Cantillon Rosé de Gambrinus, or a raspberry wheat beer
Miller Lite. Try it with a wedge of lime over cracked or crushed ice, with the barest pinhead of salt. A Beer-garita! (actually, called a chelada)
Guiness Stout. Nice in the evenings with a short cigar... a toro or a robusto or a Fuente Hemmingway Short Story.
Stella Artois. A very nice Euro Lager, widely available worldwide
Any locally brewed IPA.
Kasteel Rouge
Chimay
Arrogant Bastard
Any good chocolate stout
New Albanian Hoptimus
Goose Island IPA
Chimay
Arrogant Bastard
Any good chocolate stout
New Albanian Hoptimus
Goose Island IPA
Wow, where to start. Maybe you could suggest what you like? Dark, light? Hoppy or not? Sour or not? American, English, Belgian, German? Seasonal beers?
Some favorites:
Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA
Franziskaner Dunkel
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout
Anchor Steam
Yuengling
That's a bit of variety at least.
Some favorites:
Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA
Franziskaner Dunkel
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout
Anchor Steam
Yuengling
That's a bit of variety at least.
Guinness and Stella. There is this French walnut beer, I just can't remember its name right now.. tried to google it but!. Tried it in a bar just off St Denis a few years back. The guy there said its extremely popular in France. Had a rich hazel color, very refined, deep taste.
Do you have any preference when it comes to styles of beer?
I know that Schlafly and Boulevard (which are in your neck of the woods) have some highly recommended brews on the beer sites.
Is it Mandrin?
I know that Schlafly and Boulevard (which are in your neck of the woods) have some highly recommended brews on the beer sites.
Is it Mandrin?
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I really like most beer. I'm aware of both Schlafly and Boulevard and haven't found one of their offerings I thought exceptional. I should have said the beers offerd are both American and European, some craft beers and some from larger breweries. I guess the question is more difficult than I thought. The top six beers you would recommend.
I tried calling the friend I was with that day, don't know if he still has that number. Give me a few days and hopefully I'll be able to track down the name of the beer.
Smithwick's Irish Ale
Leffe Blond or Leffe Brun, either one is a good choice
Yuengling Lager
Spaten
Hoegaarden
Trois Pistoles
Leffe Blond or Leffe Brun, either one is a good choice
Yuengling Lager
Spaten
Hoegaarden
Trois Pistoles
Happy to see a few folks here recommend Leffe (I like both the Blond and Brun).
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
I was glad to see Leffe finally start turning up in the U.S. some years back. I had enjoyed it in Europe and often brought a case or two back with me to the states. It is definitely my favorite Belgian brew. I also like Kwak (okay, I admit it... it is partly for the way cool glass it is served in!) and Kriek, a cherry infused beer that is actually much better than it sounds. Duvel is good but 4 or 5 and you are pretty lit up because it has a very high alcohol content. Belgium definitely has the coolest variety of beers, and Belgian chocolates are to die for. No, not the packaged and shrink wrapped mass produced stuff that gets imported to the states, like Godiva... the unique creations from all the little mom and pop chocolateries. The Belgians know chocolate, and they know beer.
Ooooh, more Belgian stuff to look for! Thanks!
Innis and gunn
Duvel
Hoegaarden
DogFish
Are some of my favorites I can think about off the top of my head
Duvel
Hoegaarden
DogFish
Are some of my favorites I can think about off the top of my head
If you're trying to just experience some new beer styles, and since it's summer, here are my suggestions. Get a Belgian, a Hefeweizen, a Kolsch, traditional pilsener, Oktoberfest or Marzen, and just to keep North America in it, get a Labatt's Blue from Canada. All good for drinking in the summer. A good Kolsch I had in Germany was Dom (Dom meaning the cathedral in Cologne). Warsteiner makes a pilsener I like. Pick a Hefeweizen that still has the yeast in the bottom.
P
pdillon
IMHO, the first beer you should search out is Saison Dupont. It is pretty widely available and at $8 for a 750ml bottle is a pretty good deal. My brother is getting into beer, so I gave him some and he didn't like it. But personally I love it. GQ or some other magazine like that declared it the best beer in the world. It is very dry (attenuated) and has a bit of funkiness to it (the funkiness is sometimes described as tasting like "horse blanket").
I'm not a huge fan of mix-a-six deals in general, but you're getting some good advice. I would probably do something like this... New Belgium is an AWESOME brewery and has some great examples of Belgian-style beers made in the US (in case you don't know, Belgium is like the Mecca for beer). In fact, the head brewer from the esteemed Rodenbach brewery in Belgium moved to work at New Belgium. They are making amazing stuff. So I would get a sixer made entirely out of New Belgium stuff with the idea of educating yourself on the different styles:
2x Abbey - This is the New Belgium version of a Dubbel
2x Tripel - This shares the name with the style, Tripel (there are Dubbel, Tripels, and Quads [but NB does not make Quad])
Then grab some other things that strike your fancy:
The wheat beers are very refreshing and you will probably like them. Blue Paddle is a pilsener, like Budweiser, but it actually offers some taste. I love it. 1554 is an interesting "Black Ale."
Also, I agree that the regular offerings from Boulevard are nothing to write home about, but their Smokestack Series is rather good. The Tank7 is a similar style to the Saison Dupont I recommended earlier. As you are nearby, the smokestack series might be some of the best craft beer available on tap in your area.
I'm not a huge fan of mix-a-six deals in general, but you're getting some good advice. I would probably do something like this... New Belgium is an AWESOME brewery and has some great examples of Belgian-style beers made in the US (in case you don't know, Belgium is like the Mecca for beer). In fact, the head brewer from the esteemed Rodenbach brewery in Belgium moved to work at New Belgium. They are making amazing stuff. So I would get a sixer made entirely out of New Belgium stuff with the idea of educating yourself on the different styles:
2x Abbey - This is the New Belgium version of a Dubbel
2x Tripel - This shares the name with the style, Tripel (there are Dubbel, Tripels, and Quads [but NB does not make Quad])
Then grab some other things that strike your fancy:
The wheat beers are very refreshing and you will probably like them. Blue Paddle is a pilsener, like Budweiser, but it actually offers some taste. I love it. 1554 is an interesting "Black Ale."
Also, I agree that the regular offerings from Boulevard are nothing to write home about, but their Smokestack Series is rather good. The Tank7 is a similar style to the Saison Dupont I recommended earlier. As you are nearby, the smokestack series might be some of the best craft beer available on tap in your area.
I'm going to try to include as many good styles as possible in 12oz bottles.
Sierra Nevada Torpedo or Lagunitas Lil Sumpin' Sumpin'
Great Divide Yeti or Victory Storm King
Anchor Breckle's Brown or Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown
Trappiste Rochefort 8 or 10 or Anything by St. Bernardus (Abt 12 would be my first choice)
Duvel or Delrium Tremens
Victory Prima Pils or Sam Adams Noble Pils
Other worthy mentions:
North Coast Old Rasputin
Chimay White
I realize I could go on and on.....and on. So I'm stopping there. lol
Sierra Nevada Torpedo or Lagunitas Lil Sumpin' Sumpin'
Great Divide Yeti or Victory Storm King
Anchor Breckle's Brown or Tommyknocker Imperial Nut Brown
Trappiste Rochefort 8 or 10 or Anything by St. Bernardus (Abt 12 would be my first choice)
Duvel or Delrium Tremens
Victory Prima Pils or Sam Adams Noble Pils
Other worthy mentions:
North Coast Old Rasputin
Chimay White
I realize I could go on and on.....and on. So I'm stopping there. lol
gaffel kolsch
pilsener urquell
and get 3 of each
but really at this time of year all i can drink is pilseners or similar beers. Never liked heffe's/witbeers, so my summer craft options are more limited/
So for six summer, aka fizzy yellow beers:
Gaffel Kolsch- probably my favorite beer. Perfect kolsch flavor ie. pilsener with hint of ale
Pilsener Urquell- Prima Pils is good, but too hoppy for the ummm... rate of drinking i tend to do this time of year
Budweiser Budvar - or whatever its called here (pilsner czechvar maybe?) . A great beer, and you can brag about how your drinking the original Bud.
Sam Adams Boston lager- Good solid easy to find. i like it more than the noble pils, no clue why
Pacifico - the best of the Mexican yellow fizzy ones. I don't think it needs lime
Lasko - the one beer here that is probably impossible to get for you, but this was my favorite beer my last trip to Europe. I cant get it, but if you see it, buy it.
Of course when its colder theres a whole other list.
pilsener urquell
and get 3 of each
but really at this time of year all i can drink is pilseners or similar beers. Never liked heffe's/witbeers, so my summer craft options are more limited/
So for six summer, aka fizzy yellow beers:
Gaffel Kolsch- probably my favorite beer. Perfect kolsch flavor ie. pilsener with hint of ale
Pilsener Urquell- Prima Pils is good, but too hoppy for the ummm... rate of drinking i tend to do this time of year
Budweiser Budvar - or whatever its called here (pilsner czechvar maybe?) . A great beer, and you can brag about how your drinking the original Bud.
Sam Adams Boston lager- Good solid easy to find. i like it more than the noble pils, no clue why
Pacifico - the best of the Mexican yellow fizzy ones. I don't think it needs lime
Lasko - the one beer here that is probably impossible to get for you, but this was my favorite beer my last trip to Europe. I cant get it, but if you see it, buy it.
Of course when its colder theres a whole other list.
I love hefeweizens and blondes, so my suggestions will be skewed in that direction.
1. Blanche de Bruxelles. My absolute favorite beer, although I've only found it on tap so I don't know it's availability in bottles. Great with a lemon wedge.
2. Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer by 21st Amendment Brewery. This is a summer seasonal, and quite refreshing for an afternoon picnic if you ask me!
3. Hoegaarden. It's been mentioned a few times already, but I wanted to echo the recommendation. Terrific beer, though I've always enjoyed it more on tap than from the bottle.
4. Celis White. Great beer, very similar to Hoegaarden, and has won many awards. (beer nut trivia: the creator of this beer, Pierre Celis, also created Hoegaarden originally)
5. Mothership Wit by New Belgium Brewing. Wonderful beer, and a very unique taste. I've had mixed luck recommending this though, it's always very polar; a lot of my friends loved it, but many thought it absolutely disgusting. Also note, this beer is in the process of being discontinued so if you see it, you should definitely try it, as it may be your last chance to do so!
That's all for now, you're making me want to drink and it's only 9am!
1. Blanche de Bruxelles. My absolute favorite beer, although I've only found it on tap so I don't know it's availability in bottles. Great with a lemon wedge.
2. Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer by 21st Amendment Brewery. This is a summer seasonal, and quite refreshing for an afternoon picnic if you ask me!
3. Hoegaarden. It's been mentioned a few times already, but I wanted to echo the recommendation. Terrific beer, though I've always enjoyed it more on tap than from the bottle.
4. Celis White. Great beer, very similar to Hoegaarden, and has won many awards. (beer nut trivia: the creator of this beer, Pierre Celis, also created Hoegaarden originally)
5. Mothership Wit by New Belgium Brewing. Wonderful beer, and a very unique taste. I've had mixed luck recommending this though, it's always very polar; a lot of my friends loved it, but many thought it absolutely disgusting. Also note, this beer is in the process of being discontinued so if you see it, you should definitely try it, as it may be your last chance to do so!
That's all for now, you're making me want to drink and it's only 9am!
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