Beer
Forty-two handles of the best beers on the planet.
Last Updated: Friday, September 3rd 2010 at 9:21 AM
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Airdale
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Airdale Dark and Stormy
(9.50% abv)
Russian Imperial StoutInspired by brewers back in the 1800’s to win over the Russian Czar, this is the king of stouts, boasting high alcohol by volumes and plenty of malt character. Low to moderate levels of carbonation with huge roasted, chocolate and burnt malt flavours. Often dry. Suggestions of dark fruit and flavors of higher alcohols are quite evident. Hop character can vary from none, to balanced to aggressive.
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Alesmith Brewing Co.
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Alesmith IPA
(7.25% abv)
American IPAA decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale.
An American version of the historical English style.
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Alesmith XPA
(5.00% abv)
American Pale AleOf British origin, this style is now popular worldwide and the use of local ingredients, or imported, produces variances in character from region to region. Generally, expect a good balance of malt and hops. Fruity esters and diacetyl can vary from none to moderate, and bitterness can range from lightly floral to pungent.
American versions tend to be cleaner and hoppier, while British tend to be more malty, buttery, aromatic and balanced.
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Allagash
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Allagash Fluxus Double Wit
(8.70% abv)
WitbierA Belgian Style ale that’s very pale and cloudy in appearance due it being unfiltered and the high level of wheat, and sometimes oats, that’s used in the mash. Always spiced, generally with coriander, orange peel and other odd ball spices or herbs in the back ground. The crispness and slight twang comes from the wheat and the lively level of carbonation. This is one style that many brewers in the US have taken a liking to and have done a very good job of staying to style. Sometimes served with a lemon, but if you truly want to enjoy the untainted subtleties of this style you’ll ask for yours without one.
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Anchor Brewing Co.
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Anchor Liberty
(6.00% abv)
American Pale AleOf British origin, this style is now popular worldwide and the use of local ingredients, or imported, produces variances in character from region to region. Generally, expect a good balance of malt and hops. Fruity esters and diacetyl can vary from none to moderate, and bitterness can range from lightly floral to pungent.
American versions tend to be cleaner and hoppier, while British tend to be more malty, buttery, aromatic and balanced.
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Anchor Porter
(5.60% abv)
American PorterInspired from the now wavering English Porter, the American Porter is the ingenuous creation from that. Thankfully with lots of innovation and originality American brewers have taken this style to a new level. Whether it is highly hopping the brew, using smoked malts, or adding coffee or chocolate to compliment the burnt flavor associated with this style. Some are even barrel aged in Bourbon or whiskey barrels. The hop bitterness range is quite wide but most are balanced. Many are just easy drinking session porters as well.
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Anchor Small Beer
(3.80% abv)
When opening Small Bar, Dennis and I flew to San Francisco to lobby again for Small Beer. Always a staple of ours when going to SF, this is an out-of-balance hoppy li'l beer. Anchor decided to take the 2nd runnings from their barleywine, Old Foghorn, and pitch some yeast to make a hoppy low-ABV pale ale. Waste not, want not. My personal favorite Anchor beer.
American Pale AleOf British origin, this style is now popular worldwide and the use of local ingredients, or imported, produces variances in character from region to region. Generally, expect a good balance of malt and hops. Fruity esters and diacetyl can vary from none to moderate, and bitterness can range from lightly floral to pungent.
American versions tend to be cleaner and hoppier, while British tend to be more malty, buttery, aromatic and balanced.
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Avery Brewing
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Avery Hog Heaven
(9.20% abv)
American Barley WineDespite its name, a Barleywine is very much a beer, albeit a very strong and often intense beer! In fact, it’s one of the strongest of the beer styles. Lively and fruity, sometimes sweet, sometimes bittersweet, but always alcoholic. A brew of this strength and complexity can be a challenge to the palate. Expect anything from an amber to dark brown colored beer, with aromas ranging from intense fruits to intense hops. Body is typically thick, alcohol will definitely be perceived, and flavors can range from dominant fruits to palate smacking, resiny hops.
English varieties are quite different from the American efforts, what sets them apart is usually the American versions are insanely hopped to make for a more bitter and hop flavored brew, typically using American high alpha oil hops. English version tend to be more rounded and balanced between malt and hops, with a slightly lower alcohol content, though this is not always the case.
Most Barleywines can be cellared for years and typically age like wine.
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Avery Out of Bounds Stout
(5.50% abv)
American StoutInspired from English & Irish Stouts, the American Stout is the ingenuous creation from that. Thankfully with lots of innovation and originality American brewers have taken this style to a new level. Whether it is highly hopping the brew or adding coffee or chocolate to compliment the roasted flavors associated with this style. Some are even barrel aged in Bourbon or whiskey barrels. The hop bitterness range is quite wide but most are balanced. Many are just easy drinking session stouts as well.
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Avery The Kaiser
(9.30% abv)
Märzen / OktoberfestBefore refrigeration, it was nearly impossible to brew beer in the summer due to the hot weather and bacterial infections. Brewing ended with the coming of spring, and began again in the fall. Most were brewed in March (Märzen). These brews were kept in cold storage over the spring and summer months, or brewed at a higher gravity, so they’d keep. Märzenbier is full-bodied, rich, toasty, typically dark copper in colour with a medium to high alcohol content.
The common Munich Oktoberfest beer served at Wies’n (the location at which Munich celebrates its Oktoberfest) contains only 4.5& alcohol by volume, is dark/copper in color, has a mild hop profile and is typically labeled as a Bavarian Märzenbier in style.
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Avery White Rascal
(5.50% abv)
WitbierA Belgian Style ale that’s very pale and cloudy in appearance due it being unfiltered and the high level of wheat, and sometimes oats, that’s used in the mash. Always spiced, generally with coriander, orange peel and other odd ball spices or herbs in the back ground. The crispness and slight twang comes from the wheat and the lively level of carbonation. This is one style that many brewers in the US have taken a liking to and have done a very good job of staying to style. Sometimes served with a lemon, but if you truly want to enjoy the untainted subtleties of this style you’ll ask for yours without one.
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Ballast Point Brewing Co.
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Ballast Point Brother Levonian Saison
(5.50% abv)
SaisonSaisons are sturdy farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Close to being an endangered style, though there has been a revival in the US.
This is a very complex style, many are very fruit in the aroma and flavor. Look for earthy yeast tones, mild to moderate tartness. Lot of spice and with a medium bitterness. They tend to be semi-dry with many only having touch of sweetness.
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Ballast Pt Black Marlin
(6.00% abv)
American PorterInspired from the now wavering English Porter, the American Porter is the ingenuous creation from that. Thankfully with lots of innovation and originality American brewers have taken this style to a new level. Whether it is highly hopping the brew, using smoked malts, or adding coffee or chocolate to compliment the burnt flavor associated with this style. Some are even barrel aged in Bourbon or whiskey barrels. The hop bitterness range is quite wide but most are balanced. Many are just easy drinking session porters as well.
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Ballast Pt Sculpin
(7.00% abv)
American IPAA decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale.
An American version of the historical English style.
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Ballast Pt Yellowtail
(5.00% abv)
KölschFirst only brewed in Köln, Germany, now many American brewpubs and a hand full of breweries have created their own version of this obscure style. Light to medium in body with a very pale color, hop bitterness is medium to slightly assertive. A somewhat vinous (grape-y from malts) and dry flavor make up the rest.
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Bear Republic Brewing Co.
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Bear Republic Racer 5
(7.00% abv)
American IPAA decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale.
An American version of the historical English style.
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Brasserie d’Achouffe
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Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel
(9.00% abv)
Belgian IPAInspired by the American India Pale Ale (IPA) and Double IPA, more and more Belgian brewers are brewing hoppy pale colored ales for the US market (like Chouffe & Urthel), and there's been an increase of Belgian IPAs being brewed by American brewers. Generally, Belgian IPAs are considered too hoppy by Belgian beer drinkers.
Various malts are used, but the beers of the style are finished with Belgian yeast strains (bottle-conditioned) and the hops employed tend to be American. You'll generally find a cleaner bitterness vs. American styles, and a pronounced dry edge (very Belgian), often akin to an IPA crossed with a Belgian Tripel. Alcohol by volume is on the high side. Many examples are quite cloudy, and feature tight lacing, excellent retention, and fantastic billowy heads that mesmerize (thanks, in part, to the hops).
Belgian IPA is still very much a style in development.
Belgian Strong Pale AleLike a Belgian Pale Ale, the strong versions will also be pale to golden in color. What sets them apart is a much high alcohol content, that can range from hidden to spicy to devastatingly present. Expect a complex and powerful ale, yet delicate with rounded flavors and big, billowy, rocky, white head. Hop and malt character can vary, most are fruity and quite hoppy, but hop flavor and aroma will generally be within the low range and artfully balanced.
Duvel is the quintessential example of this style, and many others have tried to imitate it with similar references to the devil.
Belgian Strong Dark AleOn the same path as the Belgian Dark Ale but obviously higher in alcohol with more of an all around character. The alcohol character can be deceivingly hidden or can be very bold and in your face. Look for lots of complexity within a delicate palate. Hop and malt character can vary, most are fruity and some many have mild dark malt flavors. Phenols will range from minimal to high and most will be light on the hops. All in all most are spicy and alcoholic.
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Brasserie Dupont
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Dupont Foret Saison Organic
(7.50% abv)
SaisonSaisons are sturdy farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Close to being an endangered style, though there has been a revival in the US.
This is a very complex style, many are very fruit in the aroma and flavor. Look for earthy yeast tones, mild to moderate tartness. Lot of spice and with a medium bitterness. They tend to be semi-dry with many only having touch of sweetness.
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Brewery Huyghe NV
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Delirium Nocturnum
(8.50% abv)
Belgian Strong Dark AleOn the same path as the Belgian Dark Ale but obviously higher in alcohol with more of an all around character. The alcohol character can be deceivingly hidden or can be very bold and in your face. Look for lots of complexity within a delicate palate. Hop and malt character can vary, most are fruity and some many have mild dark malt flavors. Phenols will range from minimal to high and most will be light on the hops. All in all most are spicy and alcoholic.
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Brouwerij Bockor N.V.
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Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge
(5.50% abv)
Flanders Red AleA Flanders Red, are commonly referred to as the "red" beers of West Flanders. Belgian Red Beers are typically light-bodied brews with reddish-brown colors. They are infamous for their distinct sharp, fruity, sour and tart flavours which are created by special yeast strains. Very complex beers, they are produced under the age old tradition of long-term cask aging in oak, and the blending of young and old beers.
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Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat
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Duvel Green
(6.80% abv)
Belgian Pale AleBelgian Pales consume the Belgian brewing scene, and were initially brewed to compete with Pilseners during the WWII time frame. They differ from other regional Pale Ale varieties, by traditionally being less bitter, using aged hops for a delicate hop finish, and boasting sweetish to toasty malt overtones. They should be decanted properly, leaving the yeast in the bottle. This will showcase their brilliant color range from pale straw yellow to amber hues. Most will be crowned with thick, clinging, rocky white heads. Flavors and aromas will vary. Some have natural spice characters from yeast and hops, while others are spiced.
There’s a recent growing trend to make much more "hoppy" Pale Ales, to entice the US market and its hopheads. See De Ranke XX Bitter.
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Maredsous 8
(8.00% abv)
Belgian Strong Pale AleLike a Belgian Pale Ale, the strong versions will also be pale to golden in color. What sets them apart is a much high alcohol content, that can range from hidden to spicy to devastatingly present. Expect a complex and powerful ale, yet delicate with rounded flavors and big, billowy, rocky, white head. Hop and malt character can vary, most are fruity and quite hoppy, but hop flavor and aroma will generally be within the low range and artfully balanced.
Duvel is the quintessential example of this style, and many others have tried to imitate it with similar references to the devil.
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Chimay
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Chimay White
(8.00% abv)
TripelThe name "Tripel" actually stems from part of the brewing process, in which brewers use up to three times the amount of malt than a standard Trappist "Simple." Traditionally, Tripels are bright yellow to gold in color, which is a shade or two darker than the average Pilsener. Head should be big, dense and creamy. Aroma and flavor runs along complex, spicy phenolic, powdery yeast, fruity/estery with a sweet finish. Sweetness comes from both the pale malts and the higher alcohol. Bitterness is up there for a beer with such a light body for its strength, but at times is barely perceived amongst the even balance of malts and hops. The lighter body comes from the use of Belgian candy sugar (up to 25% sucrose), which not only lightens the body, but also adds complex alcoholic aromas and flavors. Small amounts of spices are sometimes added as well.
Tripels are actually notoriously alcoholic, yet the best crafted ones hide this character quite evil-like and deceivingly, making them sipping beers.
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Coronado Brewing Company
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Coronado Idiot
(8.50% abv)
American Double IPATake an India Pale Ale and feed it steroids, ergo the term Double IPA. Although open to the same interpretation as its sister styles, you should expect something robust, malty, alcoholic and with a hop profile that might rip your tongue out. The Imperial usage comes from Russian Imperial stout, a style of strong stout originally brewed in England for the Russian Imperial Court of the late 1700s. Its application to an unrelated style makes little sense to many, so Double IPA is quickly becoming the preferred name.
You can thank west coast American brewers for this somewhat reactionary style. "Thanks!"
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Coronado Nutter Brown
(4.80% abv)
English Brown AleSpawned from the Mild Ale, Brown Ales tend to be maltier and sweeter on the palate, with a fuller body. Color can range from reddish brown to dark brown. Some versions will lean towards fruity esters, while others tend to be drier with nutty characters. All seem to have a low hop aroma and bitterness.
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Deschutes Brewery
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Deschutes Hop in the Dark CDA
(6.50% abv)
BLACK IPACreated by Jeff Bagby of Pizza Port in celebration of San Diego's Top Shelf beer bar "The Liar's Club" as their widely loved 7th Anniversary Ale. Black like a stout/porter but delicious/hoppy and as flavorful as our world reknown San Diego IPA's!
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Deschutes Twilight
(5.00% abv)
American Pale AleOf British origin, this style is now popular worldwide and the use of local ingredients, or imported, produces variances in character from region to region. Generally, expect a good balance of malt and hops. Fruity esters and diacetyl can vary from none to moderate, and bitterness can range from lightly floral to pungent.
American versions tend to be cleaner and hoppier, while British tend to be more malty, buttery, aromatic and balanced.
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DogFish Head
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DogFish Head 90 Minute
(9.00% abv)
American Double IPATake an India Pale Ale and feed it steroids, ergo the term Double IPA. Although open to the same interpretation as its sister styles, you should expect something robust, malty, alcoholic and with a hop profile that might rip your tongue out. The Imperial usage comes from Russian Imperial stout, a style of strong stout originally brewed in England for the Russian Imperial Court of the late 1700s. Its application to an unrelated style makes little sense to many, so Double IPA is quickly becoming the preferred name.
You can thank west coast American brewers for this somewhat reactionary style. "Thanks!"
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Green Flash Brewing Co.
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Green Flash Imperial IPA
(9.00% abv)
American Double IPATake an India Pale Ale and feed it steroids, ergo the term Double IPA. Although open to the same interpretation as its sister styles, you should expect something robust, malty, alcoholic and with a hop profile that might rip your tongue out. The Imperial usage comes from Russian Imperial stout, a style of strong stout originally brewed in England for the Russian Imperial Court of the late 1700s. Its application to an unrelated style makes little sense to many, so Double IPA is quickly becoming the preferred name.
You can thank west coast American brewers for this somewhat reactionary style. "Thanks!"
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Green Flash Brewing Co.
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Green Flash Summer Saison
(4.30% abv)
SaisonSaisons are sturdy farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Close to being an endangered style, though there has been a revival in the US.
This is a very complex style, many are very fruit in the aroma and flavor. Look for earthy yeast tones, mild to moderate tartness. Lot of spice and with a medium bitterness. They tend to be semi-dry with many only having touch of sweetness.
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Green Flash West Coast IPA
(7.00% abv)
American IPAA decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American pale ale.
An American version of the historical English style.
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Karl Strauss
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Karl Strauss Catacomb Black Lager
(5.30% abv)
Black LagerBlack Lager is a new hybrid of beer and a play on the german schwarzbier. The style tends to bit a bit more hoppy then a schwarz.Unlike other dark beers, like porters or stouts, which are not overly bitter with burnt and roasted malt characteristics that the others tend to depend on. Instead, hops are used for a good portion of the bitterness. Very refreshing and soul lifting beers, they also make a great alternative for the Winter. Especially when you are looking for a lighter beer, but one with depth of colour and taste.
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Lightning Brewing
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Lightning Fulminator
(8.50% abv)
DoppelbockDouble Bocks or Doppelbocks are huge beers with enough malt packed in them to consider them a meal in its self. Generally having a very full-bodied flavor and darker than other bocks with a higher level of alcohol also. The range in color from dark amber to nearly black. Dark versions may have slight chocolate or roasted characters.
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Napa Smith
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Napa Smith Amber Ale
(5.75% abv)
American Amber / Red AlePrimarily a catch all for any beer less than a Dark Ale in color, ranging from amber (duh) to deep red hues. This style of beer tends to focus on the malts, but hop character can range from low to high. Expect a balanced beer, with toasted malt characters and a light fruitiness in most examples. The range can run from a basic ale, to American brewers who brew faux-Oktoberfest style beers that are actually ales instead of lagers.
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New Belgium Brewing Co.
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New Belgium Hoptober
(6.00% abv)
American Blonde AleMore or less a creation from the craft-brewery movement, and also reminiscent of the German style Kölsch. Pale straw to deep gold for color. Usually an all malt brew, well attenuated with a lightly malty palate. Most have a subdued fruitiness. Hop character is of the noble variety, or similar, leaving a light to medium bitterness. A balanced beer, light bodied and sometimes lager like.
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Rogue Brewery
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Rogue Dead Guy
(6.60% abv)
BockThe origins of Bock beer are quite uncharted. Back in medieval days German monasteries would brew a strong beer for sustenance during their Lenten fasts. Some believe the name Bock came from the shortening of Einbeck thus "beck" to "bock." Others believe it is more of a pagan or old world influence that the beer was only to be brewed during the sign of the Capricorn goat and that "bock" means goat in German. Basically this beer was a symbol of better times to come and moving away from winter.
As for the beer itself in modern day, it is a bottom fermenting lager that generally takes extra months of lagering (cold storage) to smooth out such a strong brew. Bock beer in general is stronger than your typical lager, more of a robust malt character with a dark amber to brown hue. Hop bitterness can be assertive enough to balance though must not get in the way of the malt flavor, most are only lightly hopped.
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Rogue Hazelnut Brown
(6.20% abv)
American Brown AleSpawned from the English Brown Ale, the American version can simply use American ingredients. Many other version may have additions of coffee or nuts. This style also encompasses "Dark Ales". The bitterness and hop flavor has a wide range and the alcohol is not limited to the average either.
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St James Gate
Irish Dry StoutOne of the most common stouts, Dry Irish Stout tend to have light-ish bodies to keep them on the highly drinkable side. They’re usually a lower carbonation brew and served on a nitro system for that creamy, masking effect. Bitterness comes from both roasted barley and a generous dose of hops, though the roasted character will be more noticeable. Examples of the style are, of course, the big three, Murphy’s, Beamish, and Guinness, however there are many American brewed Dry Stouts that are comparable, if not better.
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Stone Brewing Co.
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Stone Cali-Belgique IPA
(6.90% abv)
Belgian IPAInspired by the American India Pale Ale (IPA) and Double IPA, more and more Belgian brewers are brewing hoppy pale colored ales for the US market (like Chouffe & Urthel), and there's been an increase of Belgian IPAs being brewed by American brewers. Generally, Belgian IPAs are considered too hoppy by Belgian beer drinkers.
Various malts are used, but the beers of the style are finished with Belgian yeast strains (bottle-conditioned) and the hops employed tend to be American. You'll generally find a cleaner bitterness vs. American styles, and a pronounced dry edge (very Belgian), often akin to an IPA crossed with a Belgian Tripel. Alcohol by volume is on the high side. Many examples are quite cloudy, and feature tight lacing, excellent retention, and fantastic billowy heads that mesmerize (thanks, in part, to the hops).
Belgian IPA is still very much a style in development.
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Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale
(7.20% abv)
American Strong AleCatch all style category for beers from 7.0 percent alcohol by volume and above, Some may even be as high as 25% abv. Characteristics will greatly vary, some have similarities to Barley-wines and Old Ales. Barrel aging is certainly not out of the question.
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Taunton Cider Company, The
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BlackThorn Cider
(6.00% abv)
Last Updated: Friday, September 3rd 2010 at 9:21 AM