DRINKING BUDDIES

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Top Ten Beers - Part One

I can guarantee that I won't be able to make an update on the wines until after Thanksgiving.  This week has been completely insane.  But the good news is that I'm finally able to make my post about my Top Ten Favorite Beers of all time.  Some you may have heard of and I know I've mentioned one or two here before.  They should be easily available in your area unless you live in one of those third world countries like Nebraska.
So grab your favorite beer and enjoy with me while I burn through my list of one of mankind's greatest inventions.

#10 - Young's Double Chocolate Stout
I am not one for Stout or Porters.  This is probably one of the only exceptions I make because it isn't as heavy as some of the other options out there.  One really strange thing about Young's though, is that I always prefer the can to the bottle.  Not only is the price a factor ($1.99 per can / $5.99 per bottle, both 16oz), but for some odd reason the taste is actually superior.  The roasted chocolate malt is kinda a foreign thing to some people but more or less, it is a dark or raw cocoa taste as opposed to a Hershey bar.  This is a pretty good pub drink and pairs perfectly with loaded French Fries or Buffalo Wings!

#9 - Shiner Bohemian Black Lager
From Shiner, Texas, Shiner Bock is one of the great beers I got to grow up close around and the other beers in the Shiner line have caught my attention as well.  The Commemorator Ale was released as their 100th anniversary brew and was phenomenal, but unfortunately like all goods things, it came to an end.  The Shiner Black Lager however is one I could always rely on.  First brewed in 2006, the Shiner Black has become one of their flagships beers alongside the Bock, Blonde, Heffeweisen, and current year Pilsner.  Like most Schwarzbiers of its type, the Black Lager has great robust sweetened coffee and dark bitter chocolate.  Most people fail to see the difference between Black Beers and Stouts and Porters, but the answer is in the hops and complexity of the malted barley.  All in all Shiner Bohemian Black is a damn good beer that is easy to grab in the South and great with any type of spicy BBQ.  Not half bad at a crawfish boil either!

#8 - Grolsch Premium Pilsner a.k.a. Grolsch Premium Lager
It's hard to say whether or not this is a Pilsner.  According to the formula and craftsmanship, it is; but then again it cannot be classified as a true Pilsner because it hails from the Netherlands as opposed to a true Pils which hails from Pilsen, Czech Republic.  This is good news because typically I hate Pilsners!  Grolsch is one of those nostalgic beers to me.  Some people's daddy would give them a sip of Budweiser or Old Milwaukee or something, but mine gave me Grolsch.  Famous for its green bottle and hingetop design, this is the ultimate lager in a few senses.  The mild balance of hops and malts are pleasing and light, but the lager was originally designed with preservation in mind.  Being able to seal it for a later date, this really is a TRUE lager.  Pilsner or Lager, either way, this is a good brew.  Great with vegetable dishes and soups.

#7 - Dos Equis Ambar Lager
sometimes you need to take a break from Domestics and European beers.  Believe or not, there are other places in the world that make beer too!  Dos Equis is a pretty common beer, especially if you eat at Mexican restaurants every other day like I do.  It is an awesome beer on tap with just a slight twist of lime.  And obviously it pairs well with any kind of Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine.  Medium bodied, mildly hoppy, and a good toasted aftertaste.  Not much can be said about this great Mexican beer, but at least its all good.

#6 - Flying Dog In-Heat Wheat
Flying Dog is known fairly well for its nice balance of serious and downright insane.  But these guys really do a great job of brewing beer to the truest of traditions and styles.  Made of German Perle Hops and gentle white wheat (and Munich Malt as well), it is a deep wheat beer that drinks with the smoothness of a sweet tea.  The quality of beer that Flying Dog produces is fine enough to where its leftover wort is sent over to a  distillery in Colorado where a new frontier "Bourbon" is being pumped out at $50 a liter.  A good summertime beer that is just as easily adaptable to any season.  Pairs well with grilled chicken and fresh salads.

That's about the extent of content I can bring you for right now but i promise after Thanksgiving I will not only bring you the second half of my beer list but I'll start up the wine list too.  Hang in there with me.  This whole "work" thing is messing up my drinking time....

Bon Boire!

17 comments:

  1. All the beer you listed are great, but I still don't think Grolsch should be in any top10. I do like this beer, but there are some aromas missing. Maybe it's only me and my stouts... haha

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  2. That has been one of my favorite pictures on the internet ever since I first saw it ;_;

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  3. I can't wait til I'm 21 so I can drink some of the finest beer :)

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  4. I am at Mexico and dos equis tastes really good :D
    But there is this Nochebuena beer that is on sale only in this season and it tastes awesome!!

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  5. mmmmm choccolate..... stouuuuuuttttt.
    (said like homer simpson)

    nice blog man! following
    chek mine!

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  6. good list, there's a couple of those i haven't tried.

    most of the beer i drink is from microbreweries because it's good and cheap, but i always have some grolsch, stella, carlsburg, etc in my fridge

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  7. Draft Grolsch is a wonderful thing. Next time you're in London, go to Chinatown and wash down some salty, spicy food with pints of Grolsch at de Hems.

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  8. I don't remember what it was called, but there was a pumpkin ale in Dallas that was so amazing. Meh, keeps me in the holiday spirit (no pun intended) to remember the good beers I use to drink.

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  9. Dude, that Dos Equis picture has me CRACKIN' UP !!!

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  10. too bad we haven't got that variety of beers here in austria!

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  11. Young's Double Chocolate Stout is some gooooooood beer.

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  12. I love me some Shiner Black. I love chewing my beer.

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