Few things make ITF’s blood boil more than a shoddily-constructed, inconsistent, poorly-explained “best of” list. You should have heard my reaction to Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists List, or 500 Greatest Songs list (or really, any list put out by them). You’re honestly left wondering, “What were they thinking?”
Before going any further dear monkeys, I’m well aware that our media is not to be trusted with anything, let alone something as important as a Top 15 list of the World’s Best Beer. But see it and weep, ladies and gentlemen: http://www.cnbc.com/id/46327587
Let’s get this out of the way first: It’s supposed to be the world’s best BEERS. Not the world’s best STOUTS. It ought to be a lot more heterogenous, both in terms of location and style. Surely there has to be a best-in-class for genres of beer like porters, IPAs, wheat beers, ambers, etc.
And although the Belgian Trappist monks definitely know what they’re doing, US companies are the undisputed leaders of the craft beer genre. If CNBC is going to start by declaring us the champs of one of the only alcohol markets that’s still growing appreciably, but then have the top 5 dominated by European entries, something’s up.
Not to mention how many of these are either limited edition, impossible to find, or are available only on certain days. I consider myself a fairly serious beer aficionado, but even I’ve never heard of most of these. Bottom line is, this is an incredibly restrictive and unsatisfying list.
But of course, ITF doesn’t want to just grouse and moan without offering a constructive alternative. Since I’m sure you’re all wondering, yes—here are 15 of my favorite American craft beers in no particular order. I’m not a beer snob, I swear, but I’ll take any of these fine brews any day of the week. I honestly think there’s something in here for everybody.
McSorley’s Dark
McSorley’s Light
Ommegang Rare Vos
Blue Point White IPA
Abita Turbodog
Allagash Four/Quadrupel
Wolaver’s Oatmeal Stout
Founder’s Centennial IPA
Shipyard Export Ale
Shipyard Monkey Fist IPA
Allagash White
Lagunitas Czech-Style Pilsner
Blue Point Toasted Lager
Weyerbacher Verboten
Southampton Biere De Mars
I’d like to thank the city of Prague, the state of Maine, and especially life itself for giving me a fondness for good beer….and great, now I’m thirsty. There’s a reason I’m a Happy Hour social chair!
What’s your favorite beer or brewery of choice? Any other counter-lists to CNBC? I know we have some serious beer drinkers on WSO, so don’t be shy!
Wow, you surely know how to live it up, MLS~
Thank you for reminding me of what I already know, MLF.
Currently rocking a leopard bikini on the beach, lovely day and we're going to order some BEER. Your thread is just in time :)
Nothing is worse than a beer snob.
Wine is classy.
I like beer, but the ranking systems kind of confuse me, there's a huge spectrum of personal preferences. Personally, I like Guinness, Heineken, Franziskaner, or Miller Lt. and shots of Jameson.
Yes, and only slightly less absurd than Vodka snobsI did the American Craft Beer Festival in Boston last weekend. Literally heaven on earth. The biggest hit there: http://www.lawsonsfinest.com/
^^ Never did understand the fascination with beer. Maybe I'm uncultured?
No, you're not uncultured. But you may be missing out. I recommend it! You won't be sorry!
Although the list is heavily populated with Imperial Stouts, they did get a few of them right. Westvleteren 12, Founders KBS, Rochefort 10 and Pliny the Younger all deserve to be on that list. The Weasel Shit Beer is actually very good, but I'm not sure how appropriate it is to put it on the list.
The fact is your list is just as biased. Two beers from McSorleys (Why if you weren't a fanboy would you have that there!) and the rest are ones you like personally.
That's exactly the point--i admitted those were just my personal favorites, and I'm biased towards places I've actually been to (hence McSorley's, Shipyard, and Ommegang).
Ever been to Half Pint or Houston Hall in the West Village area ITF? I think you would like these places, start many of my nights in them, awesome beer selection at the former and original stuff at the latter. Houston Hall has 32 oz mugs too which are awesome...
I don't really have favorite beer because I almost always try something different every time, but not a fan of IPAs personally.
Fat Tire- New Belgium Brewery. Not sure if it is distributed on the east coast, but get your hands on some if you can!
Gomez, it hasn't made its way up to NYC yet.
It is brewed in Colorado, and has been very popular out that way for a long time. Fat Tire alone is worth a trip out west.
Have you tried any other New Belgium beers? Fat Tire is good, but some of their others (1554, some from the Lips of Faith series, etc.) are better.
Also, Lefthand's Nitro Milk Stout has to be in the running for the best Colorado beer.
natty light, hands down
Always go icehouse instead. Same price (or less) and 2% stronger ABV (5.5% vs. 3.5%).
Yeah I'll just grab a 30 of Natty and be perfectly fine
Edit: Wizard^
DuffMT I was there as well, awesome time and great stuff there
You are ranting about a list put together by a news organization that doesn't know the head of a donkey from its ass, yet you are mad about the list? Look at the source.
These are my favorite breweries:
Delirium - Belgium Surly - Minneapolis Bell's - Kalamazoo, MI Abita - New Orleans Founders - Grand Rapids, MI
My favorite style is the Saison.
I actually emailed the national sales manager at Bell's offering to place a special order for Two Hearted Ale to Manhattan. I'm not talking a few cases, I'm talking enough to supply a group of guys for months. He responded that he appreciated my enthusiasm but they didn't have the resources at this time to distribute in New York and can only sell through their licensed distributors.
Damn I didn't realize that Bell's had such a local distribution. I had the two hearted ale when I was back home in Ann Arbor last month and wasn't sure if I would be able to get it throughout the country.
Damn state liquor laws!
Saison Dupont is a great beer. It is a nice farmhouse ale which is perfect for summer. Also, Old Rasputin is a jet black imperial that will stand up to the best of them. Anything by the St. Bernadus (spelling?) abbey is a must drink as well. I am a Milwaukee boy so I have a great craft environment here and we do enjoy our beer. In my fridge right now is a really solid scotch ale from Kewanakee Brewery in Michigan that is top notch.
BTW, I think making any sort of "Best" list for beer is kind of absurd. Everyone has different preferences and palates. Most of my favorite beers are dark and strong and that is offputting to some. Very subjective.
St. Bernardus ABT 12 needs to be on there. One of the most consistent, popular beers readily available
OP, you are right that CNBC may not know beer, but you clearly know it less with your suggestions of Wolvaers, Blue Point, and Shipyard being towards the top. Yes, those are great intro beers, but they are no where near in the same class as the three floyds dark lord, BCBS', Hopslams, Westy 12s, or just about any beer on that list. If you have a liking for the craft beer scene, I highly suggest checking out beer advocate or ratebeer.
I've only had the lagunitas from your list (which I enjoyed). I'm not a beer snob but then again, I'm surprised at how much I've changed from my Coors Light days. I'll try anything with "Belgium" and >8% on the label.
No love for Hofbrau Maibock? I'm not a beer guy myself, but Maibock floored my taste buds.
Also, wine snobs are the worst.
There must be a mistake. I don't see Old Milwaukee on this list.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/bLEjxSpvR9g
Augustiner Maximator. The only place I've been able to find it is in German beer halls. Anybody else ever have it?
For those that are reading this and believe that this thread is full of alcoholics, think again. The kind of beer that you like reflects the content of your character. Any girl that enjoys sitting down for a few beers with you is wife material. Beer connoisseurs aren't drinking just for the drunken haze, but as a subtle projection of their self-image. If you can sit down and have a few beers with that VP and MD you're trying to brown-nose for that analyst stint, he'll remember you.
Flesh, as someone who just started a blog, you might as well know how this game is played.
Guy in CNBC blog pit gets shit on by his boss for not producing enough. Boss wants something edgy but sanitized. Blogger Googles "Worlds most obscure beers". Makes a list and plagiarizes existing reviews. Hands it in 20 minutes later. Blogger's boss attacks the guy the next desk over.
Welcome to for profit blogging. One plagiarized piece of shit blog post that took 20 minutes to produce gets compiled into a slideshow that garners 16 pageviews per reader. Cha-Ching!
That option is there only because Henry took SOOO much shit for SOOO long about the constant slideshows. Plus I think advertisers are finally waking up to the fact that pageviews are not a very valuable metric.
Being that I am my own boss on headofmetal....does not apply. ;)
speaking of beer, i'm going to live among the monks at the Westvleteren Brewery inside the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren in the Belgian municipality of Vleteren this coming October, should be fun, hope they have wifi
"Jealous" doesn't even begin to describe it...
I like good beers, but I'm a little bit of a sissy that I don't typically love the real heavy beers.
The one exception I make to that is Three Floyds Dark Lord. Has anyone had this? It is difficult to get and only released one day a year, but this beer has changed me forever. I will be waiting in line with the dirty hipsters to get it next year.
The heavy IPAs with the menacing names can be an acquired taste, so don't worry if you don't like them right away. You can ease into them by enjoying a good pilsner. When I first tried Pilsner Urquell, I hated it--not good for the first time drinker, but now I love it.
These aren't bad. Maybe not the best 15 ever, a bit stout heavy, and as much as I love Bell's, it doesn't need to be there twice but this list inspires nowhere near the level of outrage in me that would be required to motivate a post as long as the OP.
If a couple of the stouts were replaced with cask ales and a good pilsner or lager was mixed in I would have no problem with this list.
Deviant Dale's IPA - Oskar Blues White Rascal - Avery Brewing Co Berry Weiss - Leinenkugel's Coors Banquet - Coors
-my completely unbiased list
Coors Banquet?...Seriously...?
Key Light FTW
Dale's Pale Ale is my favorite. I might have to go pick up a sixer tonight.
oh and my 5 favorite beers off the top of my head:
Guinness Pyramid Hefeweizen (seattle) Mac and Jacks African Amber Ale (seattle) Hoegaarden Patagonia Weisse (argentina)
Also, for larger distribution, Yuengling is my pick. Still waiting for the old man to die so they can start distributing east of PA.
Yuengling is pretty good bang for the buck. A solid choice if you must drink more commercial beer.
The Aussie craft brewing scene is thriving. If any of you get the chance to go Down Under, might I suggest: Fat Yak Little Creatures Pale Ale James Squire Golden Ale Stone & Wood Pacific Ale
And no we don't drink Foster's.
I couldn't afford craft brews when I was doing my semester abroad in Australia, but even your guys' standard beers (VB, Toohey's, etc) are pretty decent.
Schaefer: "The one beer to have when you're having more than one." Always appreciated their honesty.
The Hispanic blood in me says Presidente, Corona, or bust.
Nice thread.
Big IPA fan (Sierra Nevada Torpedo anyone?) so the notable from the CNBC list is Pliney the Younger. It's brewed and sold the first couple weeks of February and is absolute nectar. If your an IPA fan and on the west coast come February, you really should make it out there.
Man I feel pretty ignorant now. I really know none of these beers, save one or two
This danish gypsy brewery called Mikkeller is absolutely amazing. If you ever go to Copenhagen you should check out their bar. The Beer Geek Breakfast stout is my personal favourite. Nøgne Ø also makes some very good beer. Scandi brewers are the shit
No offense but a list with the top beers in the world without even one beer from Germany is just a joke!
No Dogfish Head fans? Weird. I love their brews.
I'm a total beer snob/junkie. I keep my beer fridge stocked at all times.
Currently working on some Sierra Nevada Hoptimum, Founders Double Trouble, tons of stouts in bombers (stone IRS, Stone espresso IRS, St. Arnold Pumkinator, etc.) I have a lot more in there, just don't know off the top of my head.
Enjoying a Founder's Centennial IPa as we speak. Well played, good sir. :)
...
Most of you have shitty neo-fratboy taste in beer. OP included.
Some beers worth drinking: Green Flash West Coast IPA, Green Flash Double Stout, Green Flash Palate Wrecker, (basically anything from Green Flash), Ballast Point Sculpin, Ballast Point Big Eye, Ballast Point Victory at Sea, (Basically anything from Ballast Point), Bear Republic Racer 5, Bear Republic Hop Rod, Left Hand Imperial Stout, Stone Smoked Porter....I could go on.
Ouch, my soul...
I like your list, but don't be a beer hipster.
Totally see where you're coming from. I'm not a snob to the point where I'll scoff at MGD or Bud Light if that's all someone keeps in their house. I know how to be a gracious guest. But I also go out of my way to drink good beer when and where possible.
Well played mrb87. You are a west coast boy huh? I got love for Green Flash, Bear Republic, Stone, and go ahead and add Lagunitas in there.
Not a West Coast boy but I love extreme taste -- super hoppy IPAs and super deep, roasty stouts/porters. Not to mention 8-10pct ABV.
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