From the first deviation off the path of Macro beer into the brave new world of craft beer, the adventure of tasting new beers never grows old, as there is an insatiable desire in the creative appetite of craft brewers to avoid staleness at all costs. Great breweries are always adding to their line-up great seasonal, special release, and collaborative brews with other brewers.
For guys like you and I, this keeps the beer romance HOT. Our local beer stores almost always have something yet to be tasted, a new twist on an old favorite, or something that eve pushes the boundaries of what might be considered beer.
I myself often find myself attempting not to bring home a familiar brew. But there are times when I just want something familiar. Here are a few beers that I never mind going back for.
What can you say bad about three philosophers. For an American Belgian Style Ale, this brew is robust, complex, and balanced, and unlike many others in it’s category. No matter how many times I drink it, while enjoying the fine liquid, you may mistake me for Bob from the movie “What About Bob” while he is enjoying dinner.
I love barley wines. If done right, the rich sweet flavor soothes the soul. I am quite critical of American barleywines, as I feel they “Americanize” the style too much. Either there are way too many malt varieties in the grain bill, or the barleywine is way over hopped. I think Bell’s nails the style in a unique way.
Yes, I said 60 Minute, not 90 Minute. Why? Sometimes I want to have more than one or two beers in a sitting, and I just can’t do it with the 90 minute. As far as IPA’s go, I have always found Dogfish Head’s 60 minute IPA to be a well balanced American IPA.
Ayinger Brau-Weisse and Celebrator:
These common place beers are just classics that hold a special place in my heart. I am not a guy who is bent on seasonal drinking (although I love seasonal beers and the change of beer seasons). You may find me sipping a Celebrator in June or a Brau-Weisse in Febraury and enjoying them just the same. I f I am short on time at the beer store, I may just pick up a few of these.
I am only intentionally scratching the surface here because I do not want this to be just another lame list floating about the blog world, and the truth is, I really want to know what beers our readers go back to time and time again. The people that make up the craft culture are as unique and diverse as the beer at the center.
So lay it on us…what are your “Go To Beers?”
I tend to gravitate towards old favorites from breweries in the west. Probably because I live in Idaho, and I can get them. first Is Descutes Black Butte Porter, a good daily drinker with a good balance. Nest is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, a goot IPA style that isn’t a hop bomb. Finally I’d say Rogue Dead guy ale. Again, good balance and a nice creamy mouth feel. Goes great with a steak too.
-Don
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Nice line up! And I totally agree with your opening sentiments. My go-to beers are most defintely Surly Furious, Summit EPA, Schells Stout and Bells Two Hearted. All such great beers and readily available I often find myself taking them for granted. Cheers!
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I have a few go-to’s. One is Full Sail Session red (or black). Great, easy drinking beer plus I get to play rock-paper-scissors. My other is Green Flash West Coast IPA. A nice, big aromatic IPA to tide me over.
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@Don…I forgot about Dead Guy. Here in rusty Toledo, OH you can only buy good beer at 5 or six different out of the way locations if I’m in a bind, I can go down the street to the grocery store. The selection sucks, but they DO have dead guy. It has a nice fruity quality
@Derek…Two hearted is another one that could have made my list. It is a great pale ale with a complex hop make up. I have never had surly…doesn’t show up in these parts.
@Sean…I have had neither of those, but hope to some day. My beer distribution isn’t the greatest here, and my budget is too tight to trade all the time.
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Founders Breakfast Stout, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale and
Dogfish Head Burton Baton .. For my east coast beers anyways!
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This is a tough one! In reality, there’s always a good variety in the fridge as a result of our beer exchanges, so I don’t really have go-to beers of late! In theory, I I’d agree with the Dead Guy, maybe a nice Milk Stout like Left Hand’s and a nice German wheat like Erdinger.
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Goose Island Honkers Ale, Erie’s Railbender, Aventinus, Dales….Two Hearted (when I can get it).
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Aventinus is definitely one of mine. Ayinger Brau-Weisse and Celebrator. Dark Horse brews and plenty of Bell’s stuff.
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When I think of the go to beers I think of what I tend to pick up when going over a friends house. Most of the time these are session beers for me. I also tend to get something that others might enjoy as well. I usually go with Yuengling Lager, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Anchor Porter, Victory Prima Pils or Rogue Dead Guy.
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@Mutineer…just had a Breakfast stout a week ago…I always go back to it!
@Scott…when I go to the store I try to hit across styles like that, especially if I’m gettting go to beers
@beer scientist…Dark Horse…interesting. I do like their stuff…great session beers, you just don’t here the craft beer world talk about them much.
@Mike Loves Beer…A lot of people seem to go for Dead Guy. I think session beers need to be emphasized a bit. It seems the craft beer world is a bit infatuated with imperials (which I do love!) at the moment.
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Depends on where I am…
Out here in the, I tend towards the Deschutes lineup. If I can’t make up my mind, I’ll grab something from them because I know it’s good. But if I’m looking towards a foreign beer, I usually grab something from Schneider and Sohn.
Back home in Texas, it’s the same for the foreign beer, but I do Shiner Bock, especially on tap. Not great, but satisfying.
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We always have Victory Stor. King Stout on hand (my wife’s favorite) and I usually have a Stone IPA or Arrogant Bastard on hand as well. I’ve also recently discovered Dale’s Pale Ale in the can which i’m currently enamored with (possibly due to the novelty of good beer from a can).
But more an more, I’ve kept a variety of beers on hand and try not to double back too often.
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Crooked Tree IPA is one of my favorite IPA’s. So good, and I can find it pretty easily around here.
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Look for the Double when it comes out. Looks like you are catching up on some reading.
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My new go to brew since moving to Austin is a the brown ale from the locals at Real Ale Brewery – http://www.realalebrewing.com/
Pure unfiltered and unpasteurized…awesome. And it’s 7 bucks for a six pack!
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Vince, I’m in Houston right now and have been drinking some Saint Arnold. In fact, I’m doing a write up of the brewery right now.
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Real Ale in Blanco, TX = good stuff… I like their Rye
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Should have picked up some of that stuff. I really didn’t see too much Texas stuff outside Saint Arnold. I did pick up a Pine Belt Pale that was pretty decent.
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