Choosing The Perfect Beer: A Guide To Buying

With the rise of craft beer, the options for beer lovers are proliferating like never before. From mainstream lagers to cult-status IPAs, innovative craft stouts, and more, there's a beer for every taste. But with so many choices, how do you know which beer to buy? Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect brew.

Best beers for a Christmas party

Christmas is a time for celebration, and what better way to celebrate than with a few festive beers? Whether you're looking for something classic or something a little more adventurous, here are some excellent options to get your Christmas party started:

Classic Beers

These beers are tried and true, and are sure to please a range of tastes.

• Miller High Life American Lager Beer – This American classic has been around since 1903 and is a key piece of American beer history. It's a simple, satisfying, light and crisp golden pilsner-style beer.
• Guinness Draught Stout – This iconic Irish stout has been brewed in Dublin for nearly 250 years and is the quintessential stout, with its smooth and roasty dark beer and creamy foam.
• Pilsner Urquell – This Czech classic is crafted in Plzen and is the style's best-known and best-loved iteration. It's made with soft water, which gives it a nice, round finish.
• Newcastle Brown Ale – This English beer has been brewed since 1927 and is a reliable, light and bready option with touches of nuttiness and dried fruit.

Adventurous Beers

If you're feeling a little more adventurous, try these unique and interesting beers:

• Peace Tree Blonde Fatale Belgian-Style Blonde Ale – This Iowa beer is a well-balanced Belgian blonde with notes of fruit, hops and citrus. At 8.5% ABV, it packs a punch.
• Estrella Inedit Damm – This Spanish lager is a collaboration between a Michelin-starred chef and Damm’s master brewers. It's a food-friendly, light-bodied lager with hints of coriander and orange peel, resulting in a clean and creamy beer with a touch of fruity sweetness and spice.
• Bell's Oberon American Wheat Ale – This Michigan-brewed beer is an American take on wheat beers, playing up the wheatiness with subtle fruit aromas and a touch of spice from the hops.
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery SeaQuench Ale – This session sour is a great summer beer, with a fine line between a gose and a hardcore sour. It's refreshing, with a salty, wheaty, and citrusy flavour.
• St. Bernardus Abt 12 – This Belgian quadrupel-style beer is strong (10.5% ABV) yet smooth, with rich dark notes of raisins, plum and cherry, balanced with the bitterness of noble hops.

So, whether you're sticking to the classics or branching out, these beers are sure to get your Christmas party started. Cheers!

Best beers for a summer barbecue

When it comes to summer barbecues, there are endless options for beer pairings to complement your meal. Here are some recommendations to elevate your barbecue experience:

Lagers

Lagers are a refreshing choice for a hot summer day. A crisp and easy-drinking lager like Miller High Life, often regarded as a classic American beer, can be a perfect companion for your barbecue. Its simplicity and familiarity make it a crowd favourite. If you're looking for something with a bit more character, the Longboard Island Lager by Kona Brewing Co. is an easy-to-gulp brew with gentle notes of toasted grains and a touch of nectarine and lemon blossom honey. For a unique twist on the traditional lager, try the Schofferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen, a refreshing German wheat beer with a fruity twist of grapefruit.

Pilsners

Pilsners are versatile and can be enjoyed on their own or paired with a variety of barbecue dishes. The classic Pilsner Urquell, crafted in the Czech Republic, is renowned for its soft water finish and has been a beloved favourite for decades. For something more experimental, the Kernza Pils Perennial Grain Beer by Patagonia Provisions and Dogfish Head is worth trying, as it offers savoury lemon pith notes with a hint of nuttiness.

IPAs

India Pale Ales (IPAs) offer a wide range of flavours and can be a great match for barbecued foods. The Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA, a classic West Coast-style IPA, stands out with its earthiness, resin notes, and unexpected hints of Honey Smacks cereal. For a more citrusy option, the Shipyard Monkey Fist IPA from Shipyard Brewing Co. delivers a strong citrusy aroma and a well-balanced blend of sweetness and bitterness. If you're feeling adventurous, the Voodoo Ranger IPA or the Cigar City Jai Alai IPA will add some bold flavours to your barbecue experience.

Stouts

For those who want to indulge in a richer, more decadent beer, stouts are an excellent choice. The North Coast Brewing Co.'s Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, with its deep flavours of chocolate-coated malt balls, toasted vanilla, and espresso, is a perfect match for a well-marbled steak. If you're craving something sweet, the Roak Brewing Co.'s Bourbon Barrel Aged French Toast Devil Dog Oatmeal Stout lives up to its name, offering sweet maple, vanilla, and French toast flavours that can even serve as dessert.

Wheat Beers

Wheat beers can be a refreshing option for a summer barbecue, especially when paired with grilled dishes. The Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen, an American wheat beer, offers a dry, clean taste with subtle lemony hints. For a fruitier take on wheat beer, the Bell's Oberon American Wheat Ale from Bell's Brewery showcases subtle fruit aromas and a touch of spice from the hops.

So, whether you're grilling meat, fish, or vegetables, these beer styles and recommendations will surely enhance your summer barbecue experience.

Best beers for a student budget

When you're a student, money can be tight, and it's important to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to buying beer. Here are some of the best beers that will quench your thirst without breaking the bank:

One great option for students is to look for domestic, mainstream beers. While they may not be the most exotic or craft-oriented options, these beers are usually very reasonably priced and widely available. For example, a 6-pack of Budweiser or Miller High Life can often be found for under $10, and these beers are refreshing and easy to drink. Similarly, Coors Light or Pabst Blue Ribbon are often affordable and widely available, making them great choices for student gatherings or parties. These beers may not be the most complex in terms of flavor, but they are reliable and can be paired with just about any food.

If you're looking for something a little more unique, some craft breweries offer excellent beers at affordable prices. For instance, Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is a classic choice that is widely available and usually reasonably priced. It has a refreshing hoppy flavor and is a great introduction to the world of craft beer. Similarly, Samuel Adams Boston Lager is a well-crafted beer that is often available in stores at a student-friendly price point. These craft beers offer a bit more character and flavor than the mainstream options and are a great way to explore the world of craft brewing without spending a fortune.

Another way to save money on beer is to buy in bulk. Many stores offer discounts on beer when purchased in larger quantities. For example, a 12-pack or case of beer may be more cost-effective than buying single bottles or 6-packs. This can be a great option if you're stocking up for a party or event, or if you simply want to ensure you have a steady supply of beer for the week or month. Some stores may also offer discounts for students, so be sure to ask about any promotions or specials they may be running.

Lastly, keep an eye out for sales and discounts. Many stores will have periodic sales on beer, and this can be a great time to stock up. Seasonal beers, for example, are often discounted after their respective season, so you can snag some great deals if you don't mind drinking a winter ale in the spring. Additionally, some stores may offer loyalty programs or rewards systems that can provide additional discounts or perks. By combining these strategies, students can enjoy a variety of tasty beers without sacrificing their entire budget.

Best beers for beer lovers who want to try something new

Beer lovers looking to try something new should consider the following options:

Peace Tree Blonde Fatale Belgian-Style Blonde Ale

This Iowa beer is the absolute favourite of Darian Everding, Product and Talent Development Specialist at London Underground in Ames, Iowa. With 8.5% ABV, it is well-balanced and walks the walk.

Estrella Inedit Damm

This is a light-bodied lager from Spain's Damm Brewery. It is food-friendly and cleverly combines a malted barley pilsner and ale-style wheat beer. It is accented with coriander and orange peel, making it clean and creamy, with a touch of fruity sweetness and spice.

Lagunitas DayTime IPA

This is a high-grade craft IPA that is also light on carbs. It is easy-drinking, hoppy, balanced, and bursting with citrus and tropical fruit. With only 4% ABV, it is the ideal fresh summer beer.

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier

This is one of the oldest existing breweries today, dating back 1,000 years. Their golden wheat beer is a dream pairing for an old-school Bavarian veal sausage and cheese, although it is also versatile enough to pair with seafood. It is full-bodied and has claimed a chest full of international awards. It enjoys full-bodied flavours of banana with a touch of clove, all while maintaining its smoothness and refreshment.

Toppling Goliath King Sue

This Iowa brew is highly prized for its abundance of citrus and hazy appearance. With 7.8% ABV, it is a tasty, high-ABV brew.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery SeaQuench Ale

This is Darian Everding's ultimate summer beer. It is a session sour that walks the fine line between gose (a salty, wheaty golden beer) and hardcore sour. It is refreshing, with a citrusy, salty electric buzz that will leave you tingly.

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout

This is Darian Everding's go-to when she is craving a stout. She likes her stouts rich, slightly sweet and not too roasty-toasty, and this one hits all the right notes. It is certified organic and vegan- and vegetarian-friendly. With 5% ABV, it is a more moderate option that she can reach for year-round.

Best beers for a beer novice

If you're new to the world of beer, it can be a little daunting to know where to start. There are so many different types of beer, and it can be hard to know which ones you might like. Here are some tips and recommendations to help you get started on your beer journey.

First of all, it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with the different types of beer. There are lagers, IPAs, stouts, wheat beers, and many more. Each type has its own unique characteristics and flavours, so it's worth doing some research to figure out what sounds good to you.

When you're just starting out, it's best to keep things simple. Go for well-known, classic beers that have stood the test of time. For example, Miller High Life is an American lager that has been around since 1903 and is a key piece of American beer history. It's a simple, refreshing beer that even craft beer and cocktail enthusiasts count as their mainstream brew of choice. Another classic is Newcastle Brown Ale, which has been brewed in England since 1927. It's a reliable, light and bready beer with touches of nuttiness and dried fruit.

If you want to branch out a little, but stick to something straightforward, a German wheat beer like Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier is a good option. It's one of the oldest existing breweries in the world, dating back to 1040. Their wheat beer is full-bodied, with flavours of banana and a touch of clove. Or, if you want to try an IPA, which stands for India Pale Ale, you could try Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It's a good gateway into the world of IPAs, with its piney, citrusy hop character.

When you're buying beer, it's important to check the dates. Beer is best when it's fresh, so look for the "bottled on" or "best by" date and try to avoid anything that's too old. It's also a good idea to buy beer that's been stored in the fridge, especially IPAs, as the hop oils that give the beer its fruity, piney flavour can lose their potency if stored at room temperature.

Finally, don't be afraid to experiment and try new things. Beer tasting flights or mix-your-own six-packs can be a great way to sample different styles and figure out what you like. You can also ask for recommendations from the staff at your local bottle shop or grocery store – they might even have some special beers stored in the back for curious customers!

So, there you have it – a few tips and suggestions to help you get started on your beer journey. Remember to keep it simple, fresh and classic, and don't be afraid to branch out and try new things. Cheers!

Frequently asked questions