Either Thursday or Friday night my friends and I are having a somewhat large party to celebrate the end of the school year. Since I finally have some money, I'm looking to buy a lot of nice beer, and I'd like to try some new ones.

There's a store here in Rochester called Beers of the World, with an amazingly extensive collection of beers from around the world. They sell individual bottles so it's a great place to try new things.

So, what do you suggest? I'm a big fan of wheat beers, so something along those lines is good. I'm not into dark beers although I've had a few that were quite good (Unibroue, Ommegang). I'm also interested in only good beers, i.e., if you can buy it in a supermarket, I probably don't want it. I'm not a beer snob, I just want to try some really nice things this weekend.

Oh, for Shintock and other Canadians, I've already had most of the Unibroue line, and plan to sample the rest of them. So no need to suggest those.

So, give me a name and, if you're feeling especially helpful, a picture, and I'll try to get everything you guys suggest, assuming it isn't too expensive.

hoegaarden

Highly doubt they have it, but I and everyone enjoyed it. Had it at a restaurant in Poland and it's called Dog in the Fog.

It you haven't had it before, try Duvel. It's a solid Belgian ale. While American workers sip on their Bud Lights after a long day of work, Belgian blue collars drink stuff like this. It's unfair, really. If not that, Piraat, or any Belgian that comes in those stubby bottles.


Another one I would recommend is Anchor Steam Beer. It's a relatively uncommon California style, a cross between a lager and an ale, and was wildly popular during the so-called microbrew revolution of the '90s, but has become an industry standard since. It's nothing amazing, but since you say you don't like dark or heavy beers, I think you would enjoy it.

Have you tried Erdinger Weissbier? It's the main wheat beer I'm familiar with, quite tasty too. It was the main one on sale in Vienna and Munich when I was there.


For English stuff, I quite like Theakston's Old Peculier which is a dark ale but it tastes so good I reckon you'd enjoy it anyway. It can be found in supermarkets though, but maybe American supermarkets don't cater for beer in the same way they do here.


And try Fruli, a strawberry fruit beer, that you'll either love or hate. It almost tastes like strawberry jam in a pint.

Recusant's post reminds me: Old Speckled Hen. Classic English cask ale, I got it once, but can't remember where I bought it. I even found a picture of Baconfish drinking it.

Blue Moon

oh you

A timeless classic

Monty Python Holy Grail Ale

Mickeys

...Miller Light.

Yay! A beer thread! I haven't gone to Prairie Moon in quite awhile, so I'm a bit light on recommendations at the moment.

My newest discovery is Abita Strawberry Harvest, a seasonal lager brewed with real Louisiana strawberries. Very nice tart strawberry finish, almost like strawberry ice cream, impossible to miss but not overwhelming. No other outstanding characteristics; the base is a solid, unremarkable lager. Even if you don't like fruit flavors in your beer, get it for the ladies.



I think I've recommended you my favorites from Abita before, but I'll throw their names out there just to be sure: Turbodog. Restoration.

Various pale ales are probably a good idea this time of year. Stat recommended Anchor Steam, I'll recommend Anchor Liberty. If you've had Sierra Nevada Pale Ale... well, it's pretty much like that. If you haven't had Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, get it.



Even if you're not a huge fan of darker beers, you'll probably like Dogfish Head Indian Brown. It's probably the best brown ale I've ever had. And if you like hops, try their 90 Minute IPA while you're at it. (These are higher in alcohol content than the others I've recommended.)



Oh and I almost forgot another one that's dark but still wonderful... not sure about the availability though. Belhaven St Andrews Ale. Larger bottles!

The Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is much more popular.

Maine has a lot of good micro-brews with large distribution. I love Shipyard's Summer Ale and their Old Thumper. If you want something more rugged, there's Geary's Hampshire Special Ale. It's dark and has a much higher alcohol content.

I'm not ginger and have better hair than that you tosspot!




Lomond Gold - I reckon the blonde stuff is the best.
Just about anything made by Samuel Smith's.

What is popular is not always right.

Seriously though, I've had both and prefer the 90 Minute. So beautifully balanced.

By the way, Emon... had the Blanche de Chambly from Unibroue yet? I ask not because I'm recommending it, but because there's a bottle sitting in my fridge waiting to be opened and I'd be interested to know what to expect.

Yes, Blanche de Chambly is beautiful.

I don't drink beer often, but most of my friends do and they all drink Alexander Keith's. No idea how it rates, but I like it.

Those are 2 excellent beers.

Leffe Tripel is also an excellent Belgian, something like 8.4% alcohol.

I like Czech beers.

I also dig Czech beers like Dark Starobrno


and Kozel

It's pretty common, but Rogue Dead Guy Ale is damned delicious.

I'm a big fan of Shiner Bock (I'm a Bock fan in general). I know, down south it's everywhere, but I just had a taste of it recently up here in WI and I really liked it. Bocks are so smooth. Sprecher actually makes a very very good one called their Dopplebock that you may want to try.

Also, try Bell's Oberon (Bell's being the brewery). It's QUITE excellent, and one of my favorites...

I hate this thread. My mouth is watering.

Try some Yorkshire Terrier if you can find it.

I haven't looked at the other posts but I saw Duvel, a very good choice. My suggestions include Hoegaarden and Hefeweisen

Leffe is really good, I had one last week.

Too bad so few of them are exported. Beer tasting was probably the only worthwhile part of my trip to Prague. They're basically ALL craft beers and all locally owned, which is astounding for this day and age. They also have a no import policy on all beers except Stella Artois.

Beer tastes like piss. Drink liquor.

Yeah, you would.

You have never had real beer.

stat already said duvel, so here's some of my other favorites

I loved Kozel Černý when I had it in Prague, but I can't find it anywhere in the states.

this and this



i hear are really good. my g/f's two favorite beers. czech beers, but pilsner's if i'm not mistaken and its what all the slovak functions her dad throws carry(along with standard domestics for those who are cheap(read most slovak men))

i'd reccomend some beers but since i cant catch a buzz off it before vomiting, i cant really reccomend anything.

anything from the Willoughby brewing company (not great lakes) is good, at least according to all my beer drinking friends.

Oh, also, heres my usual get some cider comment.

Anything by Fordham (I don't know if you get get it outside this area.. It's brewed in Maryland), and anything by Dogfish Head (Again, brewed in Delaware, not sure of it's availability)

Why do I doubt that everyone here drinks these weird obscure beers that are seemingly impossible to find...

DOES NOONE DRINK SAM ADAMS ANYMORE?!

I like Red Stripe.

No. No one drinks urine anymore.

Red stripe is actually quite good considering recently I realised its not beer I dislike, I just despise lager.

Can't say I've tried Sam Adams but I have no idea what that is.

its a lager.