06-29-2004, 12:11 PM
I think it depends a lot on the situation you're in. Drinking the local or national beer is usually the best for me. I would never (well almost never) touch a Guiness, except when I'm in Ireland. Same for the english bitters, the half warm light brownish stuff with usually only 3 to 4 % alcohol, absolutely disgusting, but when I'm in a pub in london I drink that, and no Heineken.
Anyway, if you're in the US you have to rely a bit more on imported beer, so I will not give a list of small brewery's of which you will not find the beer anyway.
For pilsener, I would go with dutch or german stuff. Dutch is usually easier going, german often more bitter, but much more character. (for dutch try Heineken (everywhere) Grolsch, Brand, Hertog Jan))
On warm days I like Ice-beer, we don't have it a lot, but in the US it is very popular, it does not have a lot of taste but drinks away very easily, and is very refreshing, I also like Miller (MGD) which is cold filtered so a bit ike ice beer (I believe).
In winter it is more time for the bit heavier ones (especially with cold weather). Here we have a lot of belgian and dutch "special" beers. Things like "trappist" beers (there are 5 belgian and 1 dutch official brewerys) very high quality, and going up to 11.5 % alcohol (look for that name, if you find it, buy it). And than other "abbey" beers. Most of them are brewed in a big factory nowadays, but date back to 100s of years ago, just try them and see for yourself, you are bound to like a few of them at least. :P
Nowadays you have literally thousands of small breweries and brands of beer just in Holland/Belgium/ Germany. I often go to "beer cafe's" where they sell 30 to 40 different kinds and depending on my mood I will pick my favorite of the night :D
Cheers.
Anyway, if you're in the US you have to rely a bit more on imported beer, so I will not give a list of small brewery's of which you will not find the beer anyway.
For pilsener, I would go with dutch or german stuff. Dutch is usually easier going, german often more bitter, but much more character. (for dutch try Heineken (everywhere) Grolsch, Brand, Hertog Jan))
On warm days I like Ice-beer, we don't have it a lot, but in the US it is very popular, it does not have a lot of taste but drinks away very easily, and is very refreshing, I also like Miller (MGD) which is cold filtered so a bit ike ice beer (I believe).
In winter it is more time for the bit heavier ones (especially with cold weather). Here we have a lot of belgian and dutch "special" beers. Things like "trappist" beers (there are 5 belgian and 1 dutch official brewerys) very high quality, and going up to 11.5 % alcohol (look for that name, if you find it, buy it). And than other "abbey" beers. Most of them are brewed in a big factory nowadays, but date back to 100s of years ago, just try them and see for yourself, you are bound to like a few of them at least. :P
Nowadays you have literally thousands of small breweries and brands of beer just in Holland/Belgium/ Germany. I often go to "beer cafe's" where they sell 30 to 40 different kinds and depending on my mood I will pick my favorite of the night :D
Cheers.