Your favorite beer.

[Ninjabob27]

    Well, dudes, I find I have a confession to make. I am basically a beer-novice. In college, I was free to peruse a wide selection of liquor. Wasn't too crazy about vodka straight-up, but I'd happily give the Caucasian a chance. Absolutely loved rum, and I found Jack Daniels to be most enjoyable. So yeah, I do enjoy alcohol quite a bit, haha.

    But then there was beer... While I had a huge variety of liquor, the selection of beer was limited to Bud Light at every party I attended. Wanted beer? Bud Light was your only choice. I gave it a shot and thought I'd just drank piss 

    At first I figured that just meant beer wasn't my thing, but then I learned about how Budweiser and the other big American beers were supposedly the worst beer you could get in the world. Of course, that told me that I'd been short-changed. However, now there was a new dilemma: How will I know what beer is the better beer to buy? I'd be happy to get into the beer-scene, but I'd love to hear your recommendations. So let's hear it. What's your beer of choice, dudes?

[DigitalBuddha]

 

[Rev. Gary (revgms)]

I pretty much drank it all back when I was being all alcoholic like, I quit for 7 years and only recently started having a pop or two. No drama, I am just neither a drinker nor non-drinker now, just where I want to be.

That said, yeah Bud Lite is worse than septic weasel piss, don't doit. Guinness was a fave along with Bass. There are too many micro brews that are too local to get into them in any real fashion that would help you. It would also help if we could narrow down your "type" of beer, stout, ale, pilsner ect.

Almost any import will treat you well, for domestics Sam Adams isn't bad, they have a few offerings that I dig. In the summer heat I like Red Stripe and Corona, but my year round go to beers are Guinness, Bass and Sam's. This is with local micros aside.

[Dudehartha]

As Digital Buddha stated, there are far too many to list, but check out ratebeer .com for an idea about imports. I'm really fond of Fuller's 1845 and almost anything Belgian myself.


I live in Portland Oregon, nicknamed beervana for all the local microbrews, but they tend to be a bit hoppy for me. But if you like hoppy beers, check out offerings by Deschutes Brewery, Rogue, Full Sail, Ninkasa.

[milnie]

I hardly drink alcohol any more but Guinness gets my vote. Especially when drunk in Ireland. It really does taste better.

[Hominid]

I've tasted probably over 100 different beers from the world over, and have traveled some, always drinking local micro-brewery wherever I was. My recommendation is to always go local. They don't have to pasteurize and add preservatives, all of which hurt the flavor. So, that said, There's a plethora of beer types to choose from. There's light, medium, and dark, made from either barley or wheat. The grades of darkness come from how long the grains are roasted, if at all. Google the difference between lager and ale; I won't bore you here...

There's lots more to say, but a middle of the road one to start with an IPA (India Pale Ale). It's slightly complex without grabbing you by the shirt collar.

If you lived near me, I'd say that the best beer around is my own. 

[RevKHyler]

I love a dry Irish stout or Rollling Rock but I'm a gin&tonic or rum-n-coke Dude myself.  Too many good local breweries within walking distance to choose just one.

[BrotherShamus]

Totally agree about the rum dude. As for beer I like landshark lager quite a bit.

[MindAbiding]

Dude, I agree with all those who said local is the way to go.  You can't be spending your hours on shitty beer-- life goes on, man.  Can you give us a frame of reference?  Whereabouts in the US are you?  Then I and other dudes can give you some notes on the local brew.

[Ninjabob27]

Thanks for the great feedback, dudes 

To answer y'alls question, I am living in central Virginia. I'm not entirely sure what the local-brew scene is like around here. And thanks for your suggestions so far, I've heard great things about Guinness and Landshark, so I'll definitely have to give them a shot, as well as your other great recommendations l-)

[MindAbiding]

Heavy Seas Brewery (out of Baltimore) has a really good IPA (Pirate Eye), which you should be able to get in Virginia.  I also like Sweet Water (out of Atlanta), which we get in N.C., and I assume you can get there.  Also, any micros out of the west are probably going to be good -- Full Sail (from my native Oregon) is great, and usually available widely.

Enjoy!

[Abideist]

Dales Pale ale immediately comes to mind.
http://www.oskarblues.com/the-brews/dales-pale-ale

Also love Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada, and when I'm feeling saucy I enjoy Magic Hat #9

One of the most unique and albeit hard to find beers I've had the pleasure of having was Dogfish Heads Midas Touch, sort of a mead.

Some other very well crafted beers come from local breweries, Pensacola Bay Brewery(FL), Rahr & Sons Brewery(TX), and Sprecher(WI) are just a few of my favorites.

(Sweet Water's 420, and IPA are excellent I agree, I think you can get Abita in Virginia, try a turbo dog or purple haze)

BEER!

[DigitalBuddha]

  Old proverb; "its not what you drink that counts, its who you drink with" .......

[Hominid]

Took me a few secs to catch on what was in her hand...

[DigitalBuddha]

Took me a few secs to catch on what was in her hand...

Fuckin' eh!