Best Mainstream Beer

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hudsontc said:
Founders Breakfast Stout is my favorite winter beer. Their Dirty Bastard is delicious, as well. Other favorites: Bells Amber Ale, New Belgiums Fat Tire and Hoponius Union by Jack's Abby Brewing.

I like Miller lite as a cheap drink after a long run...
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Personally, I love Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale in the winters. I will usually grab a couple of cases from Costco. Tastes just like Christmas.
 
Gotta add this stuff to the list

Schneider%20Aventinus-thumb-450x567-102916.jpg


And imfrankie, I think the problem is that you're just not drinking enough beer
 
cnfz said:
Personally, I love Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale in the winters. I will usually grab a couple of cases from Costco. Tastes just like Christmas.
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It's a fantastic beer. AFAIK there's nothing "spiced" or "holiday" about it, it's just a dark IPA. It's available and affordable and delicious.
 
imfrankie said:
all i've got to say is you guys must drink a helluva lot beer to know all this stuff about aromas and whatnot
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Step 1: Smell the beer before you drink it
Step 2: Make up a bunch of words about what you just smelled
Step 3: Congratulate yourself, you're now a beer connoisseur

Seriously, it's that easy!
 
partydoc said:
finally someone who matches my hatred for corona and heineken. cant stand the 2.

all mexican beer aint bad, dos equis is alright
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I decided forget about my bias, and I bought some Negra Modelo...very tasty. My only complaint is that it is a pain in the ass taking the foil off the top of the bottle.
 
Stellar Clouds said:
I decided forget about my bias, and I bought some Negra Modelo...very tasty. My only complaint is that it is a pain in the ass taking the foil off the top of the bottle.
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Haven't had that one in a while. Gonna have to try it again soon.
 
I met Greg Koch of Stone (no relation to Jim Koch of Sam Adams) at a beer festival. Dude is out there. Does brew some killer stuff. Their Russian Imperial Stout would be extremely hard to get and coveted if it was a limited release. As it is, it's readily available and one of the best of its class. Try it if you're into the really big beers.
 
Other stuff I'm aging right now...
  • Firestone Walker "Velvet Merkin No. 001"
  • Firestone Walker "Parabola" (2012, 2013, 2014 releases)
  • Hardywood "Gingerbread Stout" (2012, 2013 releases)
  • North Coast Brewing "Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin XVI"
  • Founder's "KBS" (2011, 2012, 2013)
  • Bell's "Black Note Stout" (2012, 2014)
Just to name a few.
 
BLADEMDA said:
Wallstreet Journal listed the ten best beers in America (large brands):

1. Yuengling Traditional
2. Blue Moon
3. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
4. NewCastle Brown Ale
5. Guiness Stout
6. Samuel Adams Lager
7. Modelo Especial
8. Becks
9. Heineken
10. Corona Extra
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Except for #3 and #6, all of those beers are macrobrews and are pretty much terrible. They are part-and-parcel to the Miller-Coors/InBev near monopoly of the beer industry and they are pretty much all undrinkable in my opinion.

I know this thread was titled "Best Mainstream Beer". But it's high time to start expanding the palette and enjoying some truly outstanding brews that (1) are made with quality ingredients (2) are interested in offering variety and taste not at the expense of marketing and sales and (3) won't leave you with a hangover the next day.

Work up to conquering this list (some of these are very hard to get). They will blow your mind.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/lists/top/

I've had 6 of the top 10.
 
My hometown is where Founders is headquartered. I asked some family members to get me some KBS, it's near impossible to get. Went to college in Kzoo where Bells is located. Glad to see michigan beer getting some love. If any of you are near GR, there are a lot of breweries in addition to founders that are great. Check them out. I do when I get back home.
 
Founder's is a fantastic brewery. Love their Red's Rye

Ballast Point Sculpin is my #1
Cigar City Jai Alai is a damn good IPA as well.
Straight to Ale Monkeynaut is my go to.
Westbrook IPA is solid as well.


I dont even drink beer unless its craft.
 
Dogfish Head's Midas Touch is probably my favorite easy to find craft beer. Innus and Gunn Oak Cask is probably a close second.
 
To add a NW flavor: Boundary Bay IPA (Bellingham, WA), Georgetown Lucille IPA (Seattle, WA). Double Mountain IPA (Hood River, OR), 10 Barrel IPA (Bend, OR).

I have also really enjoyed Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin.
 
BLADEMDA said:
Wallstreet Journal listed the ten best beers in America (large brands):

1. Yuengling Traditional
2. Blue Moon
3. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
4. NewCastle Brown Ale
5. Guiness Stout
6. Samuel Adams Lager
7. Modelo Especial
8. Becks
9. Heineken
10. Corona Extra
Click to expand...

WHAT? Remove Corona and Modelo Especial, and it's a decent list, but those are horrid beers.

And Blue Moon? Might as well say Stella Artois... tasteless, meaningless beer for people who don't like beer.

😛😎
 
MaximusD said:
WHAT? Remove Corona and Modelo Especial, and it's a decent list, but those are horrid beers.

And Blue Moon? Might as well say Stella Artois... tasteless, meaningless beer for people who don't like beer.
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Right on!

And here's a beer specifically for you.

2_35361126_3.jpg
 
Is that really Trappistes Rochefort? Because if it is... I hate you and whomever you are drinking that with.

🙂
 
dhb said:
Rochefort 10 (although the elephant in the room here is the Westvleteren 12), you hate me and myself 😉
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Rochefort 10 is my favorite beer of all time. You anywhere near Minnesota? 😎
 
How the f*** did you get a CASE of Westy 12? I have one (as in a single bottle) in my fridge right now. I can't bring myself to drink it!
 
Lagunitas is great. I don't mind yuengling either. Also have been into magic hat and good people lately. But those aren't as "mainstream" I guess. So much beer, so little time, heh.
 
I paid my neighbor $100 for a six pack of Westy 12. He's a pilot and flies a 747 to Amsterdam. Good beer!

My favs are Chimay red, fat tire, bells two hearted, founders breakfast stout, new glarus dubbel, Sierra Nevada pale ale, shiner bock, Alaskan Amber, moose drool, magic hat 9, ale asylum, Pliny the elder, dogfish Indian brown ale, Guinness and leininkugels vanilla stout. Oh and Bollywood blonde, Oberon, spotted cow, gumballhead, all the vivants, jolly pumpkin bam.

Anyone try Three Floyd's dark lord?
 
I just grabbed some "Enjoy By 12/26/14" and I will enjoy it far before then.

Stone_Enjoy_By_12.26.14_IPA_22OZ_BTL_1024x1024.jpg


I also got some FW "Pale 31" which is a nice session APA, if you don't want the big 10% bombs while watching Sunday afternoon football... and posting on SDN. 😉

pale.png
 
Yuengling Black and Tan
 
Enjoy by is my favorite IPA (and I have had many IPAs). Can't wait to open up 12-26-14.

The lonely westy 12 in my cellar will probably sit there until I get a second to replace it. Just can't bring myself to drinking it either!
 
Yeah, I like the Cali-Belgique too.

Ever had "Saison du Buff"? It was an interesting three-brewery collaboration between Dogfish Head, Stone, and Victory. The recipe is basically the same but brewed separately at the three breweries. Each was a little bit different. I had the DFH and Stone varieities. Never got to try the Victory batch.

Also love Two-Hearted. One of the first and best widely-available IPAs. I remember when I tried it several years ago I thought "too hoppy". That was when my palate was evolving. Now when I have it I think "not hoppy enough." :laugh:
 
nolagas, how is that Left Hand "Polestar Pilsner"? I had some of the Founder's "Dissenter" not that long ago and although I'm more of an ale than a pilsner guy, I really liked it. A good pilsner is still a good beer.
 
BuzzPhreed said:
I just grabbed some "Enjoy By 12/26/14" and I will enjoy it far before then.



I also got some FW "Pale 31" which is a nice session APA, if you don't want the big 10% bombs while watching Sunday afternoon football... and posting on SDN. 😉
Click to expand...

Enjoy by 12.26.14 is probably one of the best of that series.

If you like Pale 31, I think Easy Jack is even better - probably my favorite session IPA.

Was just in the Kentucky/Ohio area and picked up a bunch of local beers - some surprisingly good - after an interview there. Now for another Vermont haul after the new year when I go up to UVM!
 
courtnes said:
Enjoy by 12.26.14 is probably one of the best of that series
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I have two bottles. Will crack the first one this weekend.

courtnes said:
If you like Pale 31, I think Easy Jack is even better - probably my favorite session IPA.
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I think Pale 31 is okay. Reminds me of Founder's "All Day IPA". It's not a 9%+. So I don't expect it to be more than it is. If I can find some Easy Jack, I'll give it a try. I've yet to try a "bad" FW beer. (I have some Parabola, Stickee Monkee, Sucaba... and maybe one or two others... aging right now.)

courtnes said:
Was just in the Kentucky/Ohio area and picked up a bunch of local beers - some surprisingly good - after an interview there. Now for another Vermont haul after the new year when I go up to UVM!
Click to expand...

Vermont?!??! I'm all ears... 😉
 
BuzzPhreed said:
I have two bottles. Will crack the first one this weekend.



I think Pale 31 is okay. Reminds me of Founder's "All Day IPA". It's not a 9%+. So I don't expect it to be more than it is. If I can find some Easy Jack, I'll give it a try. I've yet to try a "bad" FW beer. (I have some Parabola, Stickee Monkee, Sucaba... and maybe one or two others... aging right now.)



Vermont?!??! I'm all ears... 😉
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Yeah, I'm a fan of most of the FW beer - Union Jack is a great IPA, good mix of English and American style. Don't get me wrong, as I think Pale 31 is a pretty good pale. If you like pils, their Pivo blew me away. Might actually become my favorite of their beers, and I'm a confirmed hophead.

Haha, I've already had requests for some HT. Thinking we might have time to hit up HF too, as one of my buddies just opened a B&B up there. PM me if you're interested re: VT, though not sure what I can do given the limits that have been placed on purchases since the brewery isn't open to on-campus sales anymore.
 
BuzzPhreed said:
nolagas, how is that Left Hand "Polestar Pilsner"? I had some of the Founder's "Dissenter" not that long ago and although I'm more of an ale than a pilsner guy, I really liked it. A good pilsner is still a good beer.
Click to expand...

I came across it randomly and liked it enough to pick up some more. It gets lousy reviews on rate beer but better on beer advocate. I like it if I'm in the mood for a Pilsner.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nice Necrobumpage Salty...

Funny. I thought I remembered posting on this thread, which I did 4 years ago.

Finishing a tasty leffe as I write this.

At least I’m consistent. :happy:
 
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