Top 5 Beers

[Fiery Sword]

So Dude's comment yesterday in the Sierra Nevada thread had me thinking last night. I've never quite thought how to rank my favorite commercial beers so it was a bit more challenging than I had expected. No intentions to pirate the thread idea, Dude, you just got me thinking! Here goes:

1 - Sierra Nevada Porter
2 - North Coast Old Stock Ale
3 - Allagash White
4 - Sam Adams Spring Ale (may you rest in peace)
5 - Cape Cod Red Ale

Honerable Mentions - I'm not claiming these are *great*, or even good, beers or anything, but when there is no homebrew or good stuff at a friends house, these cant suffice - provided they are available in a cooler-full of ice:
Corona!
Narragansett!! <i think we need a bigger boat>

Let's hear 'em!

 

[ryser2k]

Man this is tough... I don't think I can pick five. Every time I go buy a case, I get something different. I can say though that if nothing at the store jumps out at me, I fall back on Sam Adams Boston Lager, Magic Hat #9, or Stoudts APA.

 

[Cheesefood]

1. Franziskaner for the Hefe category
2. Wieckse Wit for the Belgian
3. Old English "800" for American Lager
4. Goose Island IPA for the IPA
5. Left Handed Sawtooth for the Amber category

There's probably a bazillion that I would argue with myself for placing in the top 5, but this is what I'll go with for now. I'm surprised I didn't put Newcastle on there, but it's impossible to rank only five. I could do a top 5 for each category.

 

[dougjones31]

Man...this is like asking "what is your favorite sex position"!

Some are better than others at different times. And if you had to do the same all the time, it would get old and you would want something different.:rockin:

 

[Brewpastor]

Man...this is like asking "what is your favorite sex position"!

If that is true, I would know what position I would associate Hefe with!

 

[drinker]

Just a few that come to mind without much thought:

Harpoon IPA
Liberty Ale
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Magic Hat #9
Sam Adams Lager

Not much of a variety available where I live atm. A lot of folks around here drink the usual - Bud and other pilsners and Hurricane...

drinker

 

[AHammer16]

If that is true, I would know what position I would associate Hefe with!

I can answer that, if you want. Although the reply would look like this. : ******ing *****h**** ***** * ***!

 

[Brewtopia]

This is tough because it all depends on my mood. Beers that I always return to though are as follows in no particular order:

Orval
Westvleteren 12
Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze
Pliny the Elder
Boundary Bay IPA

 

[the_bird]

I'd have to really, really think about my top 5 list. One that I KNOW is now on that list, that I just tried this past weekend -

Stone Smoked Porter.

Absolute phenomenal brew, this single-handedly reminded me that yes, I do enjoy a nice porter. Not overwhelming with the smoke flavor, enough so that you know it's there but not so much as to make you think you're drinking a barbeque. Very smooth, I can't even describe it properly. As good a beer as I have ever had in my life.

Picked up another I've been meaning to try that, from what I have heard, have a strong chance at cracking the top 5 (or at least the top 10). Stone 10th Anniversary IPA. I'm sure Arrogant Bastard would be in the top 5, not sure what else.

 

[Buford]

Ones that come to mind:

Fuller's London Porter (easily my favorite porter)
Fuller's ESB
Chimay Blue / Grande Reserve
Smuttynose Robust Porter
North Coast's Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Redhook ESB is pretty good if I don't want to pay the premium for Fuller's ESB. The local shop I usually get beer from doesn't carry Smuttynose Robust Porter separately, you have to get a 12-pack Smuttynose variety box to get it. Eh, their other beer isn't bad and I need the bottles anyway

Now if I'm stuck somewhere where all they have is swill, I'll settle for a Bud Select ot Michelob Ultra. Neither tastes like much of anything so you can get a buzz on without drastically offending your tastebuds. Getting drunk is all swill is really good for, and it can accomplish that cheaply at least. I won't touch Bud Light with a 10 foot pole, though. Nasty stuff.

 

[JayMckeever]

My top 5 is pretty easy.....


1. La Fin du Monde
2. Delirium Tremons
3. Blue Moon
4. Sam Adams Summer/Octoberfest
5. Dogfish Heads Immort Ale

 

[Ogre]

Top 5 is sooooo hard....in no order except #1...
1)Great Lakes Bourbon Barrel Aged Rackhouse Ale (this also qualifies in the "Top 3 Things in my mouth evar!)

2)Three Floyd's Alpha King

3)Founder's Breakfast Stout

4)Stone 10th

5)Great Lakes Conway Irish Ale

The list of runner-ups is a mile long......

 

[Fuggles]

I agree - top five is next to impossible:

1) Trappistes Rochefort
2) Guinness on tap
3) Meantime Porter
4) Titan IPA
5) Schneider-Weisse

But it is too difficult a task - this list could shift depending on time of year, mood, etc.....

The list of runner-ups is huge.

 

[Torchiest]

These aren't in any particular order; I can't get that detailed. I just know I love them!

1) Schneider Aventinus (99)
2) Unibroue Trois Pistoles (99)
3) Young's Double Chocolate Stout (96)
4) Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA (99)
5) Anchor Porter (99)

 

[dibby33]

Orkney Dark Island
Theaksons Old Peculiar
Traquair (all of them!)
Bitter and Twisted (for the summers day) - lager and lime basically
Cascade Blonde

again, way to many to list and it does depend on the season / temperature and the occasion (if any)

 

[zoebisch01]

Gee wiz that is tough, plus it really depends on what mood I am in. Plus to a large degree if I am eating food with it. But thus far...

(no particular order)

Ommegang Abbey Ale
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
Optimator
Franziskaner Dunkel
Hennepin

I think that is probably about right for my tastes. I have a half case of the Weihenstephaner Hefe Weiss and a half case of the original lager in my car (friend picked it up for me), so that should be a good tasting. I tend to lean toward the maltier beers, lower IBU. Although again it depends on the season, what I am doing, phase of the moon, etc. Plus the way I usually 'try' a new beer is by the case lol. So it takes a while to get to different stuff, and the local distributor for all the Spaten products practically gives it away @$24 so it is hard to deviate. It is always in the back of my mind..."You can try Joe Blows new brew for $5 more, or stick with ole faithful....".

 

[Orfy]

Will these three do for now?

And yes they will be gone by the time you read this. (In fact I'm on the last now)

 

[dibby33]

Will these three do for now?

And yes they will be gone by the time you read this. (In fact I'm on the last now)

Nice to see the bottle of hobgoblin again - been a while. I used to live in Edinburgh and I am now in Tasmania 14,000 miles away from all of those tasty beers. Have one for me please!

 

[Orfy]

I will.

I'm on the Goblin as I type.

Cheers

 

[dibby33]

I will.

I'm on the Goblin as I type.

Cheers

Damm I miss the ales in the UK. Tasmanians just really go for the cold fizzy pop, the colder the better

 

[psymn]

Reading the posts above led me to revise my list.

In no particular order:

Duchess de bourgeone (SP?)
Saison Dupont
Hobgoblin
Sam Adams Boston Lager
Fr&#252;h K&#246;lsch

I'm sure there is an IPA worth mentioning, but i have 40 bottles of Belgian beer in my fridge (Christmas come early!), and only one bottle of IPA.

Come to think of it, the IPA is brewed in Belgium too!

Matt

 

[Gabe]

Lagunitas IPA
Stone's Ruination
Bear R. Racer 5
Lagunitas Red Ale
My 90 schilling !

 

[Toilet Rocker]

I tried...I cannot narrow it down at all...

 

[Yuri_Rage]

I'm gonna give this one a try - it'll be tough!

1. Hoegaarden
2. Anchor Porter
3. Saranac Caramel Porter
4. Dead Guy Ale
5. Stone IPA / EDIT: Dogfish Head 60 Min IPA (can't make up my mind...)

Hmm...that's close, I think. There are sooo many good beers to choose from. Anything from Chimay, Rogue, and Stone tend to be damn good, and I miss being able to get Alaska Brewing Co. beers.

 

[fshnne1]

well this is a old post but I thought I should bring it back,
1. moosedrool
2. blackdog
3. samadams okt
4. redhook
5. Miller light (gotta throw that one in for the fishing trips, and hot day bbqs)

 

[skeeordye11]

Dogfish Head 60 (&90)
Stone IPA
Magic Hat #9
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale
Southern Tier Hop Sun (Probably most have never heard of this)

America F*** Yeah!!!

 

[Toilet Rocker]

Westmalle Tripel
DFH Chickory Stout
Weyerbacher - Insanity
Great Divide - Oak-Aged Yeti Stout
Weinstephan Hefewiesen

 

[ScoutMan]

1. Bear Naked Amber (Great Northern Brewing)
2. Powder Hound (Big Sky Brewing)
3. Moose Drool (Big Sky Brewing)
4. Doryman's Dark Ale (Pelican Brewing Co)
5. Hazlenut Brown Nectar (Rouge)

 

[silver02ws6]

Stone 10th IPA

is probably my 1 2 and 3 favorite beers.

Sierra nevada Pale Ale
Sam Adams Boston Lager
Arogant bastard Ale
newcastle brown ale

 

[Fiery Sword]

Allright.....completely proving that this is a silly, uncalculatable crapshoot I've changed my original top 5. So sue me.

1 - Sierra Nevada Porter
2 - North Coast Old Stock Ale
3 - Dead Guy Ale (motherf*CKER this is good.)
4 - Allagash White
5 - Lindemans peach lambic (call me a fancypants.....then try to replicate this stuff. maybe i like my pants fancy. )