The Beer Thread

[zuludelta]

A friend of mine is having a "Beers of the World" party for kicks this weekend, so I was helping him compile a list of the different beers that he might want to feature. It put in mind to list some of the better beers I've had over the years. Anyways, my list of fave brews:

1. San Miguel Pale Pilsen: Not the Spanish version, but the more popular Philippine one. Nothing fancy, just a light and clean-tasting pale pilsener. I grew up drinking this stuff so I just assumed that all pale pilsners taste similarly, so imagine my surprise when I had my first taste of Budweiser (blech!).

2. Black Plague Stout: An Irish-style stout brewed locally in Vancouver. This thing has a very bold roasted flavour and is very heavy, so it's an acquired taste for most. You can't buy this stuff in stores, but many local pubs and restaurants have it on tap... it's my drink of choice when hanging out at Cafe Deux Soleils (awesome vegetarian-friendly Vancouver club that features indie bands on the weekends).

3. Red Horse Beer: The San Miguel Pale Pilsen's obnoxious little brother. This stuff is strong, even for a malt liquor. My personal best for this thing is five bottles on a full stomach before passing out. It's become something of a legend in the online beer-drinking community, as it's only available in the Philippines and recently, Thailand. Google "Red Horse Beer" and you'll find numerous blog entries and sites touting Red Horse's ability to bring even the most experienced drinker to his/her knees. Tastes like piss, though (or what I think piss would taste like), and is only drinkable ice-cold, although that can be said for most macro-brewed malt liquors, but it makes for an awesome "party beer."

4. Rickard's Red: A red ale (has roasted barley) with a crisp taste. Probably the best-tasting non-specialty beer I've had in Canada.       

5. Warsteiner Premium Verum: I know a lot of people don't like this German beer, but I think it's a pretty decent pilsner. Certainly better than most American and Canadian pale lagers, but still reasonably priced compared to its imported fellows.

[BWPS]

IBC Root:
This is a really tasty kind of beer, it's of the root variety, the only beers that don't taste awful... unfortunately this great taste comes with a drawback, it won't get you drunk, so there's not much incentive past the second.

Heineken Light:
Similar to most brews, this tastes terrible and makes you throw up, but there isn't a bitter aftertaste, so it isn't as difficult to drink.

[Mr. Hamrick]

Ok, a few cliche ones here:
Guiness  Way too obvious probably but it's one of my favorites.  I figured I would just mention and get it out of the way.
Bass Ale See note above.  Again way too obvious but again one of my favorites.

Ok, a few more that I would recommend.
Stella Artois  The first time I had this Belgian lager, I hated it.  Since then, I've grown to like it.  It's not my favorite but it's in my top ten.  It is the most popular Belgian beer based on consumption from what I understand as well.  In addition, I am pleased to say that Stella Artois is the official beer sponsor for The Atlanta Film Festival and has been for several years now.  This means that I get free Stella Artois while I am at the festival.  YAY! 

Two Japanese beers, or rather beer companies: Sapporo and Kirin.  My advice is to do a little research (ie taste test).  I will need to do some again.  I had a bad experience with one of the beers but i don't remember the beer or the company.  Of course, all I remember about that experience was Sushi and Saki.  Someone else bought the beer and I drank it out of respect for them buying it.

That's all that come to mind but I will report back if I think of more.

[thalaw2]

I have acquired a taste chocolate beer and prefer it over chocolate sweets.  Here in China there is a beer called "Hei Pi" (Black Beer) that has a very awesome choco tast to it....unfortunately, I was only able to find it in one city and the other beers by the same name just don't cut it.  Stuff is best cold! 

[MJB]

Beer sux.

-MJB

[Camma]

Im with Mr. Hamrick, obvious choices or not.  I really enjoy Guiness and Bass.

Another one i like is Pilsner Urquell which is from Czech Republic or whatever they call themselves now.  Although i am told it is essentially the Budweiser of that area, but hey i like me some Bud too.

Sticking with another obvious choice, you've got Red Stripe from Jamaca.

[captainspud]

On the few occasions when I used to drink, I favored the horrible swill that is Colt 45. If you have to put up with the horrific taste that all beer has, you might as well use the one that requires you to imbibe the smallest amount for the same effect.

Ugh... beer... *shudder*

[zuludelta]

Two Japanese beers, or rather beer companies: Sapporo and Kirin.  My advice is to do a little research (ie taste test).  I will need to do some again.  I had a bad experience with one of the beers but i don't remember the beer or the company.  Of course, all I remember about that experience was Sushi and Saki.  Someone else bought the beer and I drank it out of respect for them buying it.

You probably had Asahi Super Dry or Asahi Z or whatever it's called now. It's definitely an acquired taste... some people swear by it (a lot of them Western Japan-ophiles, although the irony is all my Japanese friends don't really like it). I've had it a few times, and it's got an odd  flavour profile, but you could probably say that for many Japanese "interpretations" of Western food and beverage.

[Adamence]

I find the beer I chose really depends on the situation. 

For casual consumption at home or a friend's place, I usually just go with my default choice, which is Moosehead.  Ever since I tried it, I've just been a big fan of it, tastes good, goes down easy, and they usually give away some nice swag with purchase like belts, t-shirts,  flashlights, cooler bags, basketballs and footballs and other nice stuff.  Which is just a nice perk for beer I already like.

If I'm out with friends, the normal choices are any of Rickard's Red, Rickard's Pale or Alexander Keith's Red.  They're all nice good beers for just sitting around chilling and sharing a pitcher or seven.  Stay away from Rickard's White though if you don't like fruity tasting beers.  It's very... well as Meej put it, it 'sux.'

If I'm in the states, I'll usually get MGD, it's pretty good, easily available, nice for a change of pace, and definitely one of the better American beers.  Corona's the Mexican choice, also a good beer, nice on a hot summer eve I find.  And if I want something European, I'll enjoy a Guinness.  Just a great beer to sit back and sip on for a while.

One thing some friends of mine and I have started doing is just going to the liquor store (the LCBO for those in Ontario, preferably a big location) and just wander around with one of their beer holders and just get 8 random beers to try.  It's just a great way to find try new beer, so if you have that option, go for it.

And finally...

On the few occasions when I used to drink, I favored the horrible swill that is Colt 45. If you have to put up with the horrific taste that all beer has, you might as well use the one that requires you to imbibe the smallest amount for the same effect.

Don't you just miss living in res Spuddles?  I remember that night, it was fun. 

[77]

Working for a local beer distributer I happen to know the names of MANY beers!
I have not had the chance to taste many of these :(

dos equis (green and amber) green being my fav.
yuengling, I like this one on tap.
here are some names for you to look into yourself.
tecate, modello, negro modello, fosters, st paulys girl, sol, sapparo, and asahi.

you can find a case (24 bottles 4 six packs) called beers of mexico, may have to order that one special tho, could look into doing something like that for other parts of the world as well.

[lugaru]

Me and my friends over at the connoisseurs write about beer all the time, I recomend you guy's check out these articles:

http://www.theconnoisseurs.com/extremebeerfest2008.html  We drank more than 40 extreme beers that night and somehow lived to tell the tale. Check it out, we have audio and video clips from the extreme beer festival.

http://www.theconnoisseurs.com/theocho.html  Tom and Jon try 8 beers (mostly Mexican) while vacationing in Texas.

http://www.theconnoisseurs.com/unodiez.html  One of our classic articles, 10 beers while playing uno.

http://www.theconnoisseurs.com/funwithfourties.html  We drink 8 Malt liquors while playing Magic the Gathering.

Also we've got blind vodka tastings, an event hosted by Jonny Walker, Side by side Champagne and wine comparisons and other drunken revelry. Let me know what you guy's think of our site.

:unsure:

[GogglesPizanno]

Beer sux.

-MJB

If I may retort...
Beer good.

-GP

[Epimethee]

Caveat emptor, my tastes run toward UK- and also Belgian-type beer.

From the UK: Young's Double Chocolate Stout, McEwan Scotch, plus of course the aforementioned Bass and Guinness (this last one needs to be very fresh; the glass bottle version doesn't compare; also note that this beer follows a different recipe depending on the region, so your mileage may vary wildly).

From Belgium: Chimay bleue, Blanche de Bruges

Québec: Fin du Monde*, Maudite*, Raftman, St-Ambroise Pale Ale, Boréale noire, Coup de Grisou
(*: 750ml format preferred, as the taste is much richer due to in-bottle re-fermenting.)

Beer sux.

-MJB

Your tastes might change once you reach legal drinking age. ;)

[ow_tiobe_sb]

And the only question that remains in my mind is: Why haven't Epimethee and I had a drink (or four) to this date?  You've named a number of my usual and not-so-usual favourites. :)

The offer stands, my friend (Epi).  My tab--your place (you name it).

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning

P.S. 'Tis an honest offer. *nods solemnly*

[stumpy]

My tastes run more to mixed drinks because of the better ( drunkenness ) / ( bladder relief time ) ratio.

But, I like Newcastle Brown, Chimay ale, and I think some Swedish beer whose name is lost to the mists of some Beers Around The World party a few years back.

[GhostMachine]

When I was 18, my father handed me a glass of redneck champagne, aka Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. I took one sip....then promptly drank 3 glasses of water. I haven't touched a beer since, but that's not the reason why - alcoholism is hereditary and there's a history of it on my mother's side of the family, which is why she doesn't drink, either.

[randyripoff]

On the few occasions when I used to drink, I favored the horrible swill that is Colt 45. If you have to put up with the horrific taste that all beer has, you might as well use the one that requires you to imbibe the smallest amount for the same effect.

Ugh... beer... *shudder*

Shoulda tried Cool Colt

Personally, I've recently become a big fan of Flat Tire.

[GogglesPizanno]

When I was 18, my father handed me a glass of redneck champagne, aka Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

I cant speak for anywhere else, but here in the Pacific Northwest, PBR is the sign of hipster beer drinking cred (in a non-ironic fashion of course). I think this initially had to do with the price... and well we all know how these things go once they catch on.

Personally I stick mostly to the local microbrews since there are so many around my neck of the woods.

[zuludelta]

On the few occasions when I used to drink, I favored the horrible swill that is Colt 45. If you have to put up with the horrific taste that all beer has, you might as well use the one that requires you to imbibe the smallest amount for the same effect.

Ugh... beer... *shudder*

Shoulda tried Cool Colt

Lord that looks terrible. And it also looks like massive fail in targeted product development.

[randyripoff]

Lord that looks terrible. And it also looks like massive fail in targeted product development.

I had one once...just once.

[Epimethee]

A most splendid offer, Master Scholar! :)

And the only question that remains in my mind is: Why haven't Epimethee and I had a drink (or four) to this date?

Because I need to move my lazy arse* to... Boston, I believe? Which I certainly should. Of course, if you happen to go to Montréal before that, I'll be happy to return the favour. There are also a few local pubs brewing their own mixtures with reasonably interesting results.

*I'm referring, of course, to my narcoleptic donkey (he is not called Martin, by the way) which is my usual transport method.

[Sevenforce]

Why am I suddenly thinking of Charlie Mopps? :blink:

[Midnight]

Muahaha, walking among my people.

One of the guys I used to work with had the six and six rule. A six pack of good beer, a six pack of cheap beer, cause after the first six everything tastes the same. Speaking of tasting the same Pabst Blue Ribbon is always good for that. Tastes a bit better than Old Mil, roughly the same price. For hardcore economy beer drinking, you really can't beat Steel Reserve. High alcohol content, low cost.

As for good beer, I like local microbrews. For stouts, Black Fly Stout is a nice thick brown bitter. Cadillac Mountain Stout is a lighter more chocolatey stout. It's beaten out Guinness in the stout category at the World Beer Championships every year since 1995 too. ;)

[Adamence]

One of the guys I used to work with had the six and six rule. A six pack of good beer, a six pack of cheap beer, cause after the first six everything tastes the same.

That is so not true.  Maybe after the first six pitchers they all start to taste similar...

But for high alcohol content and fairly low cost, I liked the Faxe Extra Strong.  10% beer, tasted pretty good (tasted a bit sweet) and was reasonably priced at our local liquor stores.  Plus it came up to the same amount of alcohol by volume as a Colt 45, without the same stigma of purchasing it.

[GhostMachine]

By the way, is it strange that I don't drink but am interested in microbrewing? (Not doing it myself, just hearing about how its done and the different kinds of microbrewed drinks there are out there)