From: noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring)
Subject: Recommended Bottled Beers For Beginning Beer Drinkers, Revision 6
Summary: USA only!
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 21:59:03 GMT



*************************************************************
List of Recommended Bottled Beers For Beginning Beer Drinkers
                (Available in the U.S.)
*************************************************************


****************************************************************
Very Important Note:  This list has been revised by categorizing
the beers using Joel Plutchak's system.  If, in your opinion, I
mis-categorized any of these beers, please let me know.
****************************************************************


Revision 6:  17-NOV-92 (In time for Thanksgiving)


Some Important Notes:
********************


1)  If you haven't voted for your favorite(s), send me e-mail.  Your favorite
    does not have to already appear in the list below, nor does it matter
    what category it is in.  (I have a much bigger list of beers with one or
    two votes - maybe your vote will be the one to put your favorite onto
    this list).

2)  If you have already voted, but would like to cast your vote for others
    (even if not shown on the list), then by all means let me know.

3)  I'm not tallying anybody's recommendations that they post to alt.beer
    and rec.food.drink, etc.  You must e-mail me your list for it to count.

4)  If you'd like the complete list (it's now 290 beers), then e-mail me and
    I'll send it to you.  There are many beers that got just one or two
    votes.  This may help you in your voting.



The following list of recommended beers was compiled from the many
contributions of the readers of alt.beer and rec.food.drink.  It's intent is
to help the beginning drinker of finer beers to focus their search on those
that several people have recommended.  At present my criteria for inclusion
of a beer is that at least three different people voted for it.  As the tally
of votes grows with time, I may increase the minimum number of votes for
inclusion on this list;  I intend at this time for the list to be limited to
about 60-70 beers, give or take a few.  The entire list is available from me
via e-mail.

Without such a guide, the beginner is usually overwhelmed by the virtually
endless number of bottled beers in the U.S.  Obviously, this list does not
include those beers that are served strictly at pubs or are highly limited
to a small area or state.  Of course, as a person becomes more acquainted
with what's available, they can then move on to the more esoteric beers
discussed often in alt.beer, and try those available on tap at local pubs
and microbreweries across the country.

Note that with this revision, I implemented Joel Plutchak's system of
categorizing the beers (much thanks, Joel!).  This was done because some of
these categories of beers are so different in flavor than what most Americans
are used to drinking (such as Bud, Coors, etc.), that initially a beginner
quaffer of these beers may not like them at all (this is especially true of
the stouts and porters).  I won't, however, include Joel's critique of the
beers that appear on this list - I'll let him post his companion list and
voice his opinions which, so far, I have found accurate and useful in my
never-ending quest for the "perfect" brew.  I welcome others who are
knowledgeable with the beers appearing in any category to post their
opinions - it would be a useful addenda to the information appearing here,
which again is strictly a tally of favorites of the newsgroup readership 
and nothing more.

If you feel that a beer is mis-categorized, by all means send me e-mail
detailing your reasons.  Most of these were already categorized by Joel in
a prior companion posting, but there are a couple of new ones, and possibly
more in the future.  Of course, you might want to post your opinion on
the proper categorization of that beer to alt.beer, but be prepared for
possibly heated debate on the matter (unless I really misjudged the
category).


*****************************************
IF YOUR FAVORITE BEER IS NOT ON THIS LIST
*****************************************


and you haven't voted for it yet, then by all means send me e-mail.  Maybe it
will be the vote to put it in (I have three beers that I'd like to see on
this list, but they've only received two votes each - one from me and one
from another person).  The only criterion that you should use for voting (other
than that you like it) is that the beer is available in bottles within the U.S.
(or large regions within the U.S.).  If it is found only in a small area or
within one state, please don't vote for it.  I know that this list will not
please everybody, but hey, it's better than nothing.

BTW, if you see any mistakes (spelling, name, etc.) or see anything else that
I should know about, let me know.

Beer Beginners:  begin quaffing!


Jon Noring

P.S., unless this list substantially changes because of lively voting, I will
not repost an update until sometime in January 1993.



Finally, the List (the number of votes is in parenthesis)
*********************************************************


LAGERS:

These are beers brewed with bottom-fermenting lager yeasts, but *aren't*
seasonal brews like bock, Octoberfest, etc.  These are the beers that most
Americans are familiar with, but with better flavor than from the U.S.
megabreweries.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager (14)
Dominion Lager (7)
Fosters Lager (7)
Capital Gartenbrau (4)
Grolsch Lager (3)
Harp Lager (3)
Henry Weinhard's (3)
Leinenkugel (3)  (yup, it got three votes so far)
Negra Modello (3)
Red Stripe (3)
Tsingtao (3)



PILSNER:

A distinctive style of light lager;  not to be confused with so-called
pilsners brewed by US megabreweries.  I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE BOTTLED (TRUE)
PILSNERS IN THIS CATEGORY - SURELY THERE MUST BE OTHER GOOD ONES OUT THERE!

Pilsner Urquell (13)  (Notorious for spoiling, make sure it is fresh)
Aass Pilsner (3)
Bitburger Pilsner (3)
Warsteiner Pilsner (3)



BASIC ALES:

These are beers brewed with top-fermenting ale yeasts.  Included are pale ales,
which are generally hoppier, fruitier, and lightier-bodied than the standard
English-style ale like Bass.   Also included are the ambers, since most ambers
appear to be ales;  ambers generally are slightly darker and have more body
than pale ales.  Again, the specialty brews have been left out.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (25)
Anchor Steam (21)
Bass Ale (14)
Red Tail Ale (13)
Pete's Wicked Ale (11)
Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale (10)
Full Sail Amber Ale (7)
Watney's Red Barrel (7)
Anchor Liberty Ale (6)
New Amsterdam Amber Beer (6)
Samuel Adams Boston Ale (6)
Ballard Bitter (5)
Fuller's ESB (5)
Old Peculier (5)
Red Hook Ale (5)
Whitbread Ale (5)
Albany Amber (4)
Dock Street Philadelphia Amber (4)
Geary Pale Ale (4)
Newcastle Brown Ale (4)
Ballantine India Pale Ale (3)
Double Diamond Ale (3)
Harpoon Golden Ale (3)
Red Hook ESB (3)



STOUTS/PORTERS:

The really dark stuff, usually ales.  Vary in character from bitter through
sweet, from smooth through coarse.  Many beginners used to American beers
from the U.S. megabreweries may not initially like these beers, but give them
a chance.

Guinness Stout (16)
Yuengling Porter (9)
Anchor Porter (8)
Grant's Imperial Stout (7)
Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout (7)
Mackeson Triple Stout (5)
Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout (3)
Black Hawk Stout (3)
Guinness Draft (3)
Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter (3)
Sierra Nevada Porter (3)



BARLEY WINES:

Very high-alcohol beers (generally 6-11% alcohol), brewed with special yeast
which doesn't get pickled at the high alcohol levels.  Can have very complex
qualities.  Not everybody's cup of tea, but worth a try.

Anchor Old Foghorn (7)  (not currently available in bottles)
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Ale (6)
Old Nick (3)



SPECIALTY BEERS:

This is a catch-all category.  Beers can either be just a different (maltier,
lighter) version of the brewery's standard product, a completely different
style, a fruit-flavored or spiced beer, etc.  Also, put in this category are
beers which don't really have much in common taste-wise with those in the
above lists.

Samuel Adams Double Bock (12)
Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (10)
Duvel (7)
Samuel Adams Oktoberfest (7)
Chimay Blue/Grande Reserve (6)
Chimay Red (6)
Samuel Adams Winter Lager (5)
Sierra Nevada Stout (5)
Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock (4)
Spaten Oktoberfest (4)
Orval (3)
Sierra Nevada Pale Bock (3)
Spaten Optimator (3)
Westmalle Tripel (3)


*** end of list.  Happy quaffing! ***



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