The greatest beer of all time...

[Burgs]

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16866/51257

Almost 20% abv... Jesus. Too boozy for me man.

 

[rockinipa]

Sweetwater has a Dank Tank that they make a Barleywine in. it was called Donkey Punch Barley Wine, it was damn good and got a rating too. had a couple of bottles but hard to find.

 

[BrewBrain]

I've just learned that regional styles shouldn't dominate their own region, but I'll be damned if Green Flash IIPA isn't best of show for me.

It edges out Calico Amber - another San Diego beer. I may have to move. The weather is better in San Diego too

 

[SumnerH]

I can't say they're the greatest beers in the world, but 10 of my favorites are:

Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale
St Bernardus Abt 12
Anchor Steam Ale
Bell's Two-Hearted Ale
Orval
Meantime IPA
Allagash Confluence
Dogfish Head Immort Ale (only when aged a couple of years)
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
Hitachino Nest White Ale

 

[BogusOwnz]

some of my faves

New Glarus Crack'd Wheat
Bell's Two Hearted Ale
Flying Dog In the Heat Wheat
DFH Red & White
Bell's Expedition Stout
Tyranena Rocky's Revenge

 

[dozer217]

Remember the OP stated best when you include the COST. Their ESB is my go to beer at my local bar however if I'm picking up something for around the house or to take to a get together I reach for either the Kona Fire Rock APA or the Longboard Lager, for the $$$ in So Cal at $8 a 6er it's hard to beat.

 

[humann_brewing]

if it is based on the price, I would say anything pyramid, at least when I could get 12 packs of a lot of their beers for $5.99 at the grocery outlet, yes you read that correctly

 

[carnevoodoo]

When I buy beer to drink, cost is only a factor inasmuch as I will buy things I think are worth buying, and I won't buy things that I think are gross. So a bottle of Consecration at 22 dollars is a better deal than an 18 pack of anything Pyramid or Coors or Redhook in my mind.

 

[RegionalChaos]

I thought Longhammer was great, until I poured it into a glass and drank it from there. Not the same taste as from the bottle, and a bit disappointing. I have however greatly enjoyed quite a bit of Longhammer, and brewed a clone of it at one point that turned out well. These days, for the price vs quality debate, I'm buying Full Sail Amber Ale.

http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/beers/amber.cfm

 

[carnevoodoo]

Yeah, WC breweries tend to stick with the classic American IPA style.

Flavor: Hop flavor is medium to high, and should reflect an American hop character with citrusy, floral, resinous, piney or fruity aspects.

You're right. Beers like cali-belgique and sublimely self-righteous from Stone, New English IPA, and many more have no variance whatsoever. There are plenty of experimental IPAs out here. Two points. One, yes, the West Coast style IPA is big on the West Coast hop flavors. So what? They're awesome. Second, there's not a single beer mentioned above that we can't just get here. We have good distribution and a healthy list of stock that more than fills out the line of beer if that's what you prefer. And three, when you're talking about variance and you compare one city to Delaware AND Belgium, you're talking about one place vs. the entire world.

I still maintain that the best IPAs are made in this area. And if you think Duet and Sculpin and West Coast and Stone and Alesmith IPAs are all the same, you're crazy. There are so many interpretations to the style in that list, and I'm glad that they're all different enough to make me happy. Sure, they're all dry, hop forward IPAs, but that's what sells in the local market. And these beers are all highly regarded as being some of the best, variations be damned.

 

[kyleobie]

If we're talking about price point, I vote for Goose Island IPA. Nice English IPA with some earthy and American citrus hops and it's about the same cost as premium macros. It's distributed widely enough that you can get it on draft at most music festivals, concerts, etc, here in Chicago.

Very underrated IPA, IMO.

 

[remilard]

I don't think the IPAs on the East Coast are any more variable than the West Coast. I think the West Coast IPAs that get distributed widely often fit a stereotype but if you spend some time in California there is some variety. The midwest probably has the best variety in IPAs because we are influenced by both.

Rogue over the years has basically made several dozen different IPAs, many of them of varying degrees of darkness and they have used lots of different hops (eg, all crystal in Brutal Bitter). I think just Rogue can claim a wider range of IPAs than most states on the East Coast.

 

[bh10]

Russian Rivers- Pliny the Elder /thread.

 

[HomeBrewMan]

Not sure about greatest beer of all time, but Adnams innovation beer is the best "discovered" beer I had in the last 12 months

 

[schweaty]

Russian Rivers- Pliny the Elder /thread.

I was thinking the same thing. I had a Pliny for the first time during the Christmas beer exchange and it was wonderful.

 

[Casey27]

Long Hammer catches a lot of flack, but try this...forget the IPA label. Think of it as a nice pale ale with 1-2% extra alcohol. The IBUs are only in the 30s after all - fine for a pale ale. I prefer that over the numerous mediocre IPAs that pack 60+ IBUs. Long Hammer is light bodied and not too sweet or malty. Very smooth. It even has a nice little citrusy hop aroma out of a bottle. And at 6.5%, it does not skimp on the alcohol if that is what you are after. I generally am not a Redhook fan because there are so many better beers here in the PNW, but Long Hammer is just fine when you want a bomber of pale ale from the corner store.

But the greatest...Pliny the Elder is probably my best beer experience. Consecration is a close second though!

 

[goose1873]

my newest keg of bells two-hearted...naughty

 

[payton34]

bell's hopslam

 

[eddie]

Is Pabst Blue Ribbon. All you haters...(****)

+1 internet

 

[bob1852]

Long Hammer catches a lot of flack, but try this...forget the IPA label. Think of it as a nice pale ale with 1-2% extra alcohol. The IBUs are only in the 30s after all - fine for a pale ale. I prefer that over the numerous mediocre IPAs that pack 60+ IBUs. Long Hammer is light bodied and not too sweet or malty. Very smooth. It even has a nice little citrusy hop aroma out of a bottle. And at 6.5%, it does not skimp on the alcohol if that is what you are after. I generally am not a Redhook fan because there are so many better beers here in the PNW, but Long Hammer is just fine when you want a bomber of pale ale from the corner store.

That's probably the best write up I've seen on Longhammer. I love it personally, but it is what it is - basically an Imperial Pale Ale. The dryness helps you think the IBUs are higher than they are.

 

[Beermaker]

I am thinking the Russian River Supplication.

 

[cmoon]

I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but the great IPA's are in Cali. Hands down.

There may be an exception.

And of course, don't forget Dogfish Head.

 

[Zamial]

But the IPA scene has become crazy huge and just when you think no more room can be had, there is another one to try!

 

[cmoon]

You'll want to avoid Widmer

To make clear, this was a response to people afraid of breweries partially owned by AB. To make remilard's point, check out this beauty from Widmer:

Nelson Imperial IPA

For me, the best bang for buck is probably gonna be something like Sierra Nevada's Torpedo, or some other seasonal from them. This doesn't mean it is the best, but Torpedo sells for about $1/bottle, sometimes less, and is better than about any mid-priced, widely available beers I can think of.

Definitely not my favorite beer though.

 

[binkman]

Boulevard Wheat. I know it's not the best beer out there, but for me it was the first non-AB beer I ever drank and I've been hooked on good beer ever since.

 

[TravisT]

I've really started to enjoy "red IPAs". maybe it just has a bit more malt flavor that i enjoy. One thing i am finding out is that most beers over 9%abv i tent not to enjoy as much, most of them i can taste the "hot" alcohol flavor.

i really enjoy
most rogue beer(newport OR)
avery brewing (boulder, CO)
DFH 60 min

on a side not I find that I really have to be in the mood to drink a IPA to really appreciate it. I've have a IPA one day and loved it and have the same beer another day, and not so much.

 

[binkman]

on a side not i find that i really have to be in the mood to drink a ipa to really appreciate it. I've have a ipa one day and loved it and have the same beer another day, and not so much.

+1

 

[bluemoose]

on a side not I find that I really have to be in the mood to drink a IPA to really appreciate it. I've have a IPA one day and loved it and have the same beer another day, and not so much.

Have you considered what it is paired with? One of the most important things I find when drinking a flavorful beer is making sure I pair it with something complimentary. Sure, I drink em out in the garage too, but your perception of the beer changes depending on what accompanies it. That is why you can have two beers from the same batch that taste different, (not the only reason though) a day or two apart.

Try it. Spicy, sweet, tart, bitter all give the beer you are drinking something different.

 

[prrriiide]

Sweetwater IPA, in a bottle. It's different on tap and not as good. Great bitterness, and a nice citrus bomb on the finish.

 

[Yankeehillbrewer]

There may be an exception.

And of course, don't forget Dogfish Head.

Haven't had it so I can't comment, but I did recently have DFH 60 Minute in the bottle and DFH 90 Minute on tap. While both are excellent beers, I stand by my statement.