calling all beer snobs (non BB)

[JimR]

list 5 beers that everyone should try. i'll hang up and listen.

[pravata]

list 5 beers that everyone should try. i'll hang up and listen.

Not snobbish, and in no order, my 5 favorites are, India Pale Ale, Boddington's, Bass, Harp, Pilsner Urquel. 

[Andyzipp]

Shiner Kolsch
Shiner Hefeweizen
Shiner Dunkelweizen
Shiner Blonde
Shiner 98

[Spack McGrimm]

Lone Star
Pearl
Olympia
Schlitz
Falstaff

[strobum]

These are widely available (at most of your larger liquor stores). I could list a whole lot of really good microbeers that you'll never find in Texas.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (North Coast)
Stone Ruination IPA
Real Ale Shade Grown Coffee Porter (Seasonal and hard to find outside of the Hill Country)

[94CougarGrad]

I'm a regular Shiner drinker, so beyond that, and in no particular order: Real Ale Fireman's #4, Harp, Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, Sam Adams Black Lager, St. Arnold Amber.

[MusicMan]

Lone Star
Pearl
Olympia
Schlitz
Falstaff

I'm nominating Spack for POTW.

Because I'm afraid I'll have to drink Pearl AFTER he eats my spleen.

[austro]

Shiner 97 (good luck finding any)
Pilsner Urquel
Czechvar
Paulaner Munchen
Duvel

And based on this week's glowing recommendations, I'm picking up some Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest on the way home tonight.

[JimR]

Lone Star
Pearl
Olympia
Schlitz
Falstaff

funny MF. i thought you only drank blood.

[HudsonHawk]

Not snobbish, and in no order, my 5 favorites are, India Pale Ale, Boddington's, Bass, Harp, Pilsner Urquel. 

IPA is a style, not a brand, but....

1.  The previously discussed Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest,
2.  Guiness
3.  Chimay
4.  Paulaner Hefeweizen
5.  Pilsner Urquell

These are 5 beers that everyone should try.  Not saying they should drink them regularly, but if an alien landed and wanted to "discover" beer, I'd make sure he/she/it drank at least these five.

[pravata]

I'm nominating Spack for POTW.

Because I'm afraid I'll have to drink Pearl AFTER he eats my spleen.

"Pearl! The beer to drink with spleen!"

[HudsonHawk]

Lone Star
Pearl
Olympia
Schlitz
Falstaff

No Black Label?

[94CougarGrad]

Lone Star
Pearl
Olympia
Schlitz
Falstaff

Homeboy got no love for the Mickey's Big Mouth?

[HudsonHawk]

Homeboy got no love for the Mickey's Big Mouth?

Spack got no love, period.  Only a taste for flesh and a thirst for tobacco juice.

[pravata]

IPA is a style, not a brand, but....

Samuel Smith would be the brand I prefer.

[94CougarGrad]

Spack got no love, period.  Only a taste for flesh and a thirst for tobacco juice.

Mmm... beefy.

[pravata]

No Black Label?

Don't start, there's no PBR, Jax, Lone Star, Dixie, Coors, Ballentine's nor Schaefers neither.

[HudsonHawk]

Don't start, there's no PBR, Jax, Lone Star, Dixie, Coors, Ballentine's nor Schaefers neither.

Well, he did mention the Lone Star. 

Did I ever tell you about the single best beer serving I've ever had?  It was a Lone Star.

[94CougarGrad]

IPA is a style, not a brand, but....

1.  The previously discussed Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest,
2.  Guiness
3.  Chimay
4.  Paulaner Hefeweizen
5.  Pilsner Urquell

These are 5 beers that everyone should try.  Not saying they should drink them regularly, but if an alien landed and wanted to "discover" beer, I'd make sure he/she/it drank at least these five.

Abita Turbo Dog and and Young's Double Chocolate could be an intriguing alien adventure.

[pravata]

Well, he did mention the Lone Star. 

Did I ever tell you about the single best beer serving I've ever had?  It was a Lone Star.

I've heard that.

[Phil_in_CS]

IPA is a style, not a brand, but....

1.  The previously discussed Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest,
2.  Guiness
3.  Chimay
4.  Paulaner Hefeweizen
5.  Pilsner Urquell

These are 5 beers that everyone should try.  Not saying they should drink them regularly, but if an alien landed and wanted to "discover" beer, I'd make sure he/she/it drank at least these five.

wrt the Urquell, the kind made/sold in Czech is orders of magnitude better than what they export. I like bocks and bitters, and generally don't like pilsners as much. But I was given 2 4 packs of the real stuff (4 .5L bottles in a carton), and it was really, really good.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Ayinger Brau-Weisse
New Belgium 1554 Black Ale
Real Ale Brown Ale
Stone IPA
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

Young's Double Chocolate is a good sixth.

I'm surprised nobody has thrown Natty Ice out there in the shite beer discussion.

[austro]

Ayinger Brau-Weisse
New Belgium 1554 Black Ale
Real Ale Brown Ale
Stone IPA
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA

Young's Double Chocolate is a good sixth.

I'm surprised nobody has thrown Natty Ice out there in the shite beer discussion.

Damn, forgot about the Dogfish.  Avery IPA is good, too.

[mihoba]

O'Douls

[JimR]

O'Douls

there's one in every crowd.

[BudGirl]

Don't start, there's no PBR, Jax, Lone Star, Dixie, Coors, Ballentine's nor Schaefers neither.

Where's the Beast?

[Rebel Jew]

anybody else other than me ever come from work and sip a cool 6'er of this stuff:

http://www.emahiser.com/Sparks.JPG

[astrojo]

Maredsous
Chimay
Young's Double Chocolate
Lindeman's Framboise Lambic
Blue Moon

[MRaup]

anybody else other than me ever come from work and sip a cool 6'er of this stuff:

http://www.emahiser.com/Sparks.JPG

Mother of God.

That stuff tastes like the liquid from the bar matt at a biker bar... Not... that... I'd know what that tastes like.

[Frobie]

1.  The previously discussed Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest,
2.  Guiness
3.  Chimay
4.  Paulaner Hefeweizen
5.  Pilsner Urquell

I might quibble a bit on specific brands (Paulaner Oktoberfest--you knew I was going to say that, didn't you), Ayinger hefe, and probably the red Chimay (even though it's probably my least favorite of the three), but that's an outstanding list.

[astrojo]

Maredsous
Chimay
Young's Double Chocolate
Lindeman's Framboise Lambic
Blue Moon

I will add that one of the best beers I've ever had was in the bar where we stayed at Forest Pines in England called Samuel Smiths English bitter but we have not been able to find it here at home.

[otterjb]

Heineken? Fuck that shit. PABST BLUE RIBBON!

[Rebel Jew]

Mother of God.

That stuff tastes like the liquid from the bar matt at a biker bar... Not... that... I'd know what that tastes like.

true story:

at a party at my house a couple of years ago, a friend of mine made, and we inexplicably drank, a mixed drink that was a half a can of sparks mixed with two shots of yagermeister and a shot of vodka.  he called it a one-legged monkey with dysentery.  never in my life has my stomach hurt as much as it hurt the next day.

[Mr. Happy]

During an impassioned speech on the type of beer we were going to buy, one of my fraternity brothers once said "there's only two kinds of beer in this world. There's Budweiser and then there's free beer."

[MRaup]

During an impassioned speech on the type of beer we were going to buy, one of my fraternity brothers once said "there's only two kinds of beer in this world. There's Budweiser and then there's free beer."

I'm assuming he works for some form of non-profit org now?

[Mr. Happy]

I'm assuming he works for some form of non-profit org now?

Believe it or not, he followed his father onto the bench as an esteemed, elected member of the Louisiana judiciary. The boy could always give a good speech. And he could drink the shit out of beer.

[jmontessi]

I don't think I can list 5, because I don't ever get much past Shiner, but if I had to pick a couple more I'd say:

Sam Adams Black Lager
Isotope Amber (brew named after the local AAA nine)

[BossierNaut]

Mother of God.

That stuff tastes like the liquid from the bar matt at a biker bar... Not... that... I'd know what that tastes like.

Can we get an Amen?

[geezerdonk]

Ballentine's

The three ring sign

[geezerdonk]

Spaten Optimator

[Mike S]

Cooper's Pale Ale and Boag's Lager.  They're both Aussie and tough to find.  But, man, are they good.

[Sleepy]

Guinness and Dogfish Head 90-minute were mentioned and would go on my list as well.  One that wasn't is Bell's Two-Hearted IPA, probably my favorite right now.  It comes out of Michigan.  If you really, really like hops, try their Hopslam.

[Guinness]

1.  Spitfire (cask)
2.  Harvey's Sussex Bitter (cask)
3.  Guinness (in all of its forms)
4.  Bombardier (cask)
5.  Stella Artois (cans, draft, whatever)

Can you get Stella in Texas?  It's a decent lager, called 'wifebeater' over here because of the relatively high alcohol content.  I know you can get it in some parts of the country, don't know about Tx.

The best Guinness on the planet can be found in a pub in Ireland, northeast of Dublin off the N3 past Navan, called Wilkinsons.  Best. Guinness. Ever.Always.  Of course, it's been over 5 years since I've been there, so I could be wrong.

[austro]

1.  Spitfire (cask)
2.  Harvey's Sussex Bitter (cask)
3.  Guinness (in all of its forms)
4.  Bombardier (cask)
5.  Stella Artois (cans, draft, whatever)

Can you get Stella in Texas?  It's a decent lager, called 'wifebeater' over here because of the relatively high alcohol content.  I know you can get it in some parts of the country, don't know about Tx.

The best Guinness on the planet can be found in a pub in Ireland, northeast of Dublin off the N3 past Navan, called Wilkinsons.  Best. Guinness. Ever.Always.  Of course, it's been over 5 years since I've been there, so I could be wrong.

You can get Stella here, but every bottle I've ever had was skunked.  Maybe others have found it on tap, but I've only ever found bottles (of course, I haven't looked real hard either).

[Limey]

In no particular order:

Kronenbourg 1664 (it's French, but just don't think about that and enjoy)
Shiner '97 ('nuff said)
Caffrey's Irish Ale (no longer available in the US because the Coors Brewing Company are a bunch of cunts)
Carlsberg Hof (don't be driving)
Hürlimann Sternbrau (don't be driving for a few days)

[Limey]

You can get Stella here, but every bottle I've ever had was skunked.  Maybe others have found it on tap, but I've only ever found bottles (of course, I haven't looked real hard either).

The draught version is becoming much more widely available.  Please remember to call it "wife beater" or simply "brain damage".

[Limey]

Cooper's Pale Ale and Boag's Lager.  They're both Aussie and tough to find.  But, man, are they good.

Aussie's don't drink Fosters; it's actually Australian for "piss".  They drink Boag's and Tooey's, which are both great lagers whose names sound like someone puking.  Appropriate, really.  They also drink XXXX, just don't ever ask for it by the name Castlemaine.

[Limey]

1.  Spitfire (cask)

I'm really anxious to try Spitfire ale.  Heard it's wonderful.  Also plays to my boyhood flying bent; the Spitfire to us Limeys is probably the most evocative symbol of British pride.  It's also a beautiful machine that makes a noise that thrills you to the bone.  The only cars I ever owned before moving to the States were Triumph Spitfires.  I had three.

[HudsonHawk]

The draught version is becoming much more widely available.  Please remember to call it "wife beater" or simply "brain damage".

I've never seen Stella in anything *other* than draft.  Of course, I never really looked for it in cans/bottles. 

[Limey]

I've never seen Stella in anything *other* than draft.  Of course, I never really looked for it in cans/bottles. 

Oh, it's out there.  Look for it in the hand-to-hand combat section of your local hunting provisions store.

[austro]

... the Spitfire to us Limeys is probably the most evocative symbol of British pride.  It's also a beautiful machine that makes a noise that thrills you to the bone.

It's not just Brits: the Spitfire may be the most beautiful airplane ever conceived. And anybody who hasn't ever been to an air show featuring WWII piston aircraft needs to go, especially if something like a twin-row radial Corsair is flying. The sound reaches into your innards and shakes you.

[Limey]

It's not just Brits: the Spitfire may be the most beautiful airplane ever conceived. And anybody who hasn't ever been to an air show featuring WWII piston aircraft needs to go, especially if something like a twin-row radial Corsair is flying. The sound reaches into your innards and shakes you.

Biggin Hill is one of the famous Battle of Britain fighter bases.  I used to go to the air show there, the highlight of which for me was always the Spit.  Biggin has the infamous "bump", which is actually a valley at the end of the runway.  When coming in over the valley, it felt like there was a bump because the ground rushed up at you so quickly (I've experienced this first hand, and it is truly unnerving the first time...well every time actually).

Anyway, one year at the show, the Spit hammered down the runway towards the bump at full tilt at what seemed like 6'!  The noise was stupendous.  As he cleared the bump he dropped into the valley and cut the throttle.  The Spit and his telltale engine note was gone.  After what seemed like too long, he blasted back up into view, came over the top and rolled upright, screaming back down the show line.  It was truly amazing to see (even though I know that he used a fraction of the plane's ability to do it).

[chuck]

1. Guinness (draft only, and at the proper temperature, please)
2. Balboa
3. Panama
4. Atlas (LOVE the Atlas azafatas, though, especially at the Machetazo in Penonome)
5. Soberana (who the fuck would name a beer Soberana?)

[VirtualBob]

1.  Einbecker Mai ur-Bock (the seasonal variant of the original bock beer)
2.  Any of the Prague black lagers available on draught in Prague
3.  Shiner 97 (almost as impractical as #2 ... maybe it will be the one they continue?)
4.  Westmalle Trippel
5.  Guiness (draught)

[VirtualBob]

1.  Einbecker Mai ur-Bock (the seasonal variant of the original bock beer)
2.  Any of the Prague black lagers available on draught in Prague
3.  Shiner 97 (almost as impractical as #2 ... maybe it will be the one they continue?)
4.  Westmalle Trippel
5.  Guiness (draught)

The best drink known to man is Einbecker Beer

http://www.einbecker.com/flycms/en/screen/6/-/Einbecker+Ur-Bock.html?SID=BTpsi6Ld0ac0

[TheWizard]

1. Pacifico Clara
2. Shiner hefeweizen
3. Stella Artois
4. Yeungling traditional lager
5.  Miller High Life - the Champagne of Beers

[Wild Dog]

Regia (comes only in quarts, from El Salvador)
Dos Equis (green bottle of course)
Fat Tire
Brooklyn Lager (A friend brought a case with him when he came to visit last year.  Really good beer, not sure if you can get it around here)
XXXX (New Zealand or Australian)

[Sleepy]

Guinness
Left Hand Milk Stout
Bell's Two-Hearted IPA
Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA
Duck Rabbit Milk Stout

I'm obviously partial to stouts and IPAs.

[lc_db]

1. Fuller's ESB
2. Leffe Brune (or Blonde since Brune is so damn difficult to find)
3. Smithwick's
4. Wells Bombardier
5. Staropramen

[Mike S]

Aussie's don't drink Fosters; it's actually Australian for "piss".  They drink Boag's and Tooey's, which are both great lagers whose names sound like someone puking.  Appropriate, really.  They also drink XXXX, just don't ever ask for it by the name Castlemaine.

Foster's is piss and I'll thank you never to bring that up again.

Toohey's and XXXX are not bad, but Cascade is a far better option (even if it is a Tassie beer - i.e. the equivalent of being Welsh).

[T. J.]

I tried the St. Arnold's Divine Reserve #5 this weekend after it was recommended here.  Unbelievable.  Try it with dark chocolate.  Beautiful beer.  It ain't for chugging.

[Frobie]

I tried the St. Arnold's Divine Reserve #5 this weekend after it was recommended here.  Unbelievable.  Try it with dark chocolate.  Beautiful beer.  It ain't for chugging.

I was looking for their Oktoberfest this weekend and saw a bunch of the Divine Reserve (I originally typed Divine Reverse; I guess posting about a 10% ABV beer will do that to you) but it didn't dawn on me what it was until after I'd gotten home.  D'oh.  I definitely need to go snag some.  Love the imperial stouts.

Other random beer thoughts:

I did eventually find some SA Oktoberfest.  It was hidden in a display at the end of an aisle at the Kroger on Montrose close to Westheimer.  I liked it but it was far too fruity to really be a Märzen lager IMHO; would make a nice amber ale, though, and went well with the homemade soft pretzels I had on Saturday night.  Too bad I don't know where to find decent bratwurst around here else I'd have been all set.

I also noticed that this particular Kroger has a bunch of the Shiner 98 left.  I don't recall seeing it elsewhere recently, but I haven't been looking for it, either.

[Frobie]

I also just got an email from somebody I don't know stating the following:

Shiner is about to reproduce their 97 Anniversary beer, but this time it will be a full-time edition to the family and not just a limited edition run. Look for Shiner Bohemian Black Lager on tap in mid-October and in stores November 1.

No idea if this is true or not, just passing it on.  Here's hoping!

[Astroholic]

I also just got an email from somebody I don't know stating the following:

No idea if this is true or not, just passing it on.  Here's hoping!

Sorry wrong tread.

[HudsonHawk]

I also just got an email from somebody I don't know stating the following:

No idea if this is true or not, just passing it on.  Here's hoping!

That is a rumour that is going around.  It appears to have some substance.  We'll all keep our fingers crossed.

[JimR]

I was looking for their Oktoberfest this weekend and saw a bunch of the Divine Reserve (I originally typed Divine Reverse; I guess posting about a 10% ABV beer will do that to you) but it didn't dawn on me what it was until after I'd gotten home.  D'oh.  I definitely need to go snag some.  Love the imperial stouts.

Other random beer thoughts:

I did eventually find some SA Oktoberfest.  It was hidden in a display at the end of an aisle at the Kroger on Montrose close to Westheimer.  I liked it but it was far too fruity to really be a Märzen lager IMHO; would make a nice amber ale, though, and went well with the homemade soft pretzels I had on Saturday night.  Too bad I don't know where to find decent bratwurst around here else I'd have been all set.

I also noticed that this particular Kroger has a bunch of the Shiner 98 left.  I don't recall seeing it elsewhere recently, but I haven't been looking for it, either.

the S. Austin Spec's sold out of the Divine Reserve in 30 minutes.

[Duke]

the S. Austin Spec's sold out of the Divine Reserve in 30 minutes.

Taiwan Pijo
Tiger
Bir Bintang
Anchor
Black Swan

[CarolinaStro]

You can get Stella here, but every bottle I've ever had was skunked.  Maybe others have found it on tap, but I've only ever found bottles (of course, I haven't looked real hard either).

Ditto on the skunked Stella in a bottle.  Good on draft here (limited but I know a couple spots) but not the same content I believe so not so much on the wife beating.  My favorite when in Europe or Canada.

Guess I am lucky, but I have no problem finding Shiner 97 and I am in North Carolina.  Thanks for the heads up from this board on that one by the way.

[94CougarGrad]

I did eventually find some SA Oktoberfest.  It was hidden in a display at the end of an aisle at the Kroger on Montrose close to Westheimer.  I liked it but it was far too fruity to really be a Märzen lager IMHO; would make a nice amber ale, though, and went well with the homemade soft pretzels I had on Saturday night.  Too bad I don't know where to find decent bratwurst around here else I'd have been all set.

There's quite a bit of it at the Kroger on El Camino Real and Ramada in Clear Lake, right out in the open, in front of the chips and pistachios.

[VirtualBob]

2. Leffe Brune (or Blonde since Brune is so damn difficult to find)
5. Staropramen

two very nice choices.

[Frobie]

Picked up some of the Divine Reserve #5 today (they have plenty at the Kroger mentioned above).  It is very good, though for $11 a sixer it ought to be. 

My unsolicited amateur advice:  this beer is way too young.  It will mellow with age and could become something really spectacular.  Buy some and taste it, but put most of it aside to be revisited at four-month intervals.  The only problem is that not dipping into the stash is much easier said than done. 

Thanks for the recommendation.

ETA:  Forgot to mention that it went incredibly well with some very sweet Italian dark cherries my wife picked up a few weeks ago.  Gotta love dessert beers.

[JimR]

Yep. Beer is not just for breakfast any more.

[austro]

Is any of this (Divine Reserve) available in Austin? I believe Jim said that the south Spec's sold out. Have any Austinites seen it elsewhere?

[Ron Brand]

Hoegaarden
Schlenkerla Rauchbier
Leffe Blonde
Paulaner Marzen Oktoberfest
Fuller's ESB

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Is any of this (Divine Reserve) available in Austin? I believe Jim said that the south Spec's sold out. Have any Austinites seen it elsewhere?

I just bought a sixer at Central Market south, hadn't tried it yet. They had a good supply.

[ybbodeus]

Heineken? Fuck that shit. PABST BLUE RIBBON!

Good call, "Frank."

4 pages and not one mention of Samuel Jackson beer?  It'll get ya' drunk!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHuOvRat7tc