Best Beer Buys: Top Recommendations For Beer Lovers

With the rise of craft beer, the options for beer lovers are proliferating like never before. From IPAs to stouts, light beers to low-carb options, there's a wide variety of suds to choose from. The best beer for you will depend on your preferences and the season. For example, you might opt for a light and refreshing lager in the summer, while a rich stout could hit the spot during the cooler months.

If you're looking for a beer that's widely available, you might want to opt for a grocery store beer. These beers are usually lighter and more affordable, and you can grab them while doing your grocery shopping or a beer run. However, not all grocery store beers are created equal, so it's worth checking out reviews before you buy.

If you're feeling more adventurous, you could seek out a limited-edition brew or a beer that's only released once a year. Or, if you want to try something new without sacrificing taste, you could go for a craft beer.

Whatever your preference, there's a beer out there to suit your taste.

Best beers for summer

Summer beers are typically light, refreshing, and crisp. They are not too heavy or high in alcohol content, making them perfect for sipping in the heat or while enjoying outdoor activities. While any beer is acceptable to drink year-round, some beers are better suited to the summer season due to their flavour profiles and lower alcohol content.

Oberon by Bell's Brewery

This wheat ale is a popular choice for summer, especially in the Midwest. It has a mid-range ABV of 5.8% and a thick, creamy head. Oberon is a citrusy delight, often garnished with an orange slice, making it a refreshing choice for hot summer days.

Kona Big Wave Golden Ale

Kona Big Wave Golden Ale is an excellent option for beach drinking. It is brewed with Citra and Galaxy hops, giving it a fruity and juicy taste and aroma while remaining light and easy to drink.

Montauk Summer Ale

Montauk Summer Ale is a well-balanced beer with caramel malt and wheat. It has a flavourful body and a 5.6% ABV. While it is a seasonal beer, many wish it were available year-round.

Mexican Lager

Mexican Lager is a light and crisp beer with notes of citrus and honey. It is perfect for summer and can be enjoyed with or without a lime. This beer is internationally associated with warm weather, the beach, and good times.

Founders All Day IPA

While lagers and pilsners are more commonly associated with summer, IPAs can also be enjoyable during the warmer months. Founders All Day IPA has a 4.7% ABV and a clean finish that is not overly hoppy, making it a great choice for summer activities.

Bell's Light Hearted Ale

Bell's Light Hearted Ale is a session IPA that is flavorful, easy to drink, and only 3.7% ABV. It is a perfect option for those who want a lower-alcohol alternative to Bell's popular Two Hearted Ale, which has a higher ABV of 7%.

Westbrook Key Lime Pie Gose

This beer is a unique take on a key lime pie, with a creamy mouthfeel and subtle lime flavour. It has a 4.0% ABV and is a great choice for those who want a beer that is both delicious and refreshing.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. Mexican Lager with Lime

This Mexican lager is brewed with real lime peel and purée, sparing you the step of adding a lime wedge. It received high praise from tasters, who found it refreshing and perfect for the beach.

Sierra Nevada Summerfest

Sierra Nevada's Summerfest is a crisp and refreshing pilsner, perfect for hot summer days. It received high ratings from tasters, who wished it was available year-round.

Allagash White

Allagash White is a classic Belgian-style witbier with notes of wheat, spice, and orange. It has a 5.2% ABV and is a great choice for those who want a well-balanced and refreshing beer during the summer.

In conclusion, there are many excellent beers to enjoy during the summer. The best summer beers are those that are light, refreshing, and not too heavy or high in alcohol content. So, grab a cooler, fill it with your favourite summer beers, and enjoy the warm weather!

Best beers for winter

As the cold weather sets in, the bright and refreshing beers of summer are replaced by those offering warmth and comfort. Winter beers tend to be darker and heavier-bodied, often with higher alcohol content, to help you stay warm by the fireplace. From rich and malty stouts to spiced and hoppy ales, there's a winter beer for every palate. Here is a selection of the best beers to try this winter:

Scotch Ale (Wee Heavys)

Scotch ales are top-fermented brews that were originally served in small quantities in nineteenth-century Scotland, hence the nickname "wee heavy". This style is boiled extensively, creating toasty caramelisation and sweet, full-bodied flavours. Scotch ales often have a higher alcohol content, making them perfect for cold winter days. They pair well with gamey meats, spicy foods, and creamy desserts. Try Founders Brewing Company's Dirty Bastard (8.5% ABV) or Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company's Mountain Man Strong Ale (6.8% ABV).

Barleywine

Barleywines are strong ales characterised by high alcohol content, a bittersweet taste, and a rich mouthfeel. Despite the name, they don't contain any wine, but earned the moniker due to their complex flavours. American barleywines are intensely hopped, while English varieties offer a more balanced combination of malt and hops. They pair well with charcuterie boards. Recommended barleywines include Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot Barleywine (9.6% ABV) and Revolution Brewing's Straight Jacket (15% ABV).

Russian Imperial Stout

Often referred to as the king of stouts, Russian Imperial Stouts are top-fermenting ales with high alcohol content, low carbonation, and toasted, malty flavours. They usually feature notes of dark fruit and little to no hop character. Try them with oysters, chocolate, and soft cheeses. Notable examples include North Coast Brewing Company's Old Rasputin (9% ABV) and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Narwhal Imperial Stout (10.2% ABV).

Baltic Porter

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Western European brewers created robust porters to be shipped across the North Sea to the Baltic regions. Baltic porters are top-fermenting ales with a smoky, roasted, malty character and a full-bodied mouthfeel. They pair well with barbecued meats, stews, and semi-hard cheeses. Recommended Baltic porters include Jack's Abby Brewing's Barrel-Aged Framinghammer (12% ABV) and Browar Fortuna's Komes Baltic Porter (9% ABV).

Doppelbock

Bock beer is a German-style lager with a strong malt flavour. Doppelbock, which means double bock, has even more malt and a fuller body. This style was originally brewed by monks for nourishment during fasting periods. Doppelbocks often have the suffix "-ator" in their name, like Troeg's Troegenator. They pair well with red meat, pork, and sharp cheeses. Recommended doppelbocks include Augustiner-Brau's Maximator (7.5% ABV) and Bell's Brewery's Consecrator (8% ABV).

Winter Warmers

Winter warmers are top-fermenting ales with malty, sweet flavours and a balanced hop character. They are often blended with spices, such as English strong ales and spiced Wassail beers. They pair well with poultry, baked goods, and seasonal winter fruits. Try Samuel Smith Old Brewery's Winter Welcome Ale (6% ABV) or Deschutes Brewery's Jubelale (6.7% ABV).

Best beers for food pairings

Beer and food pairings have become increasingly popular, with beer sommeliers popping up in major cities and beer-and-food tasting events multiplying. Beer has an amazing capacity to pair with all kinds of foods, and may even be more food-friendly than wine. This is because beer has more room for flavour variety, with beermakers able to experiment with barley, hops, yeast, as well as spices, nuts, chocolate, fruits, and vegetables.

When pairing beer and food, it's important to match the food's flavours with the flavours of the beer. There are four guidelines for food and beer pairing:

• Contrast: Pick a beer or dish with one strong, dominant flavour, such as sweet, rich, or oily. An example of a good contrast pairing is oysters and stout.
• Complement: Complementing flavours is a simple way to make a delicious food and beer pairing. Match rich foods with beers that have a heavy and rich flavour, like stouts or porters.
• Cleanse: Beer can serve as a palate cleanser, which works well with dishes that have bold or intense flavours, such as spicy food or rich fried foods.
• Avoid Overpowering Flavours: Keep in mind the levels of flavour in your food and beer. Medium and dark beers have a rich and powerful flavour that can overpower certain types of food, such as salmon.

• Light lagers: Spicy food, burgers, and salads. Light lagers are ideal for pairing with spicy dishes but can be paired with almost any type of food.
• Wheat beers: Spicy food and fruity desserts. Wheat beers are very versatile and can be paired with a range of foods.
• India pale ales (IPAs): Steak, barbecue, and Mexican food. IPAs have a bitter flavour that can help to cut down the spices in the food.
• Amber ales: Pizza, fried food, and smoked pork. Amber ales have a dry and crisp finish, making them excellent for cleansing the palate.
• Dark lagers: Pizza, burgers, and hearty stews. Dark lagers are popular in Europe and complement traditional hearty dishes.
• Brown ales: Sausage, sushi, and fish. Brown ales are versatile and pair well with almost anything, especially the rich chocolate and nutty flavours in foods.
• Porters: Seafood, coffee-flavoured desserts, and game meats. Porters have a rich and deep flavour, so they are best paired with foods that have a similar taste and texture.
• Stouts: Chocolate desserts, shellfish, and Mexican food. The chocolatey flavour and low alcohol content of stouts make them a perfect pairing for many kinds of desserts.

Best beers for IPA lovers

If you're an IPA lover, you're in luck! There are plenty of options to choose from, whether you're looking for something classic or a creative modern twist. Here are some of the best beers for IPA lovers to try:

Hitachino Nest Classic Ale

This beer has flavour notes of bittersweet, spice, and hints of cedar. It's a great choice for a hot summer day and pairs well with sushi and classic Alsatian dishes.

Magnolia Brewing Co. Proving Ground IPA

With flavour notes of brightly bitter grapefruit, evergreen, and malt, this IPA is a great discovery for those travelling to Houston. It's described as a "bright, crisp, and absolutely delicious" West Coast-style IPA.

Interboro Premiere IPA

This IPA has flavour notes of tropical fruit, melon, and citrus. It's described as a straightforward and classic East Coast-style IPA that's super refreshing and perfect for enjoying on a sunny afternoon.

Kern River Citra Double IPA

If you're looking for an IPA with sweet citrus flavours, the Kern River Citra Double IPA is a great choice. It's described as exploding with sweet citrus flavours and is a great example of a double IPA.

Maine Beer Company Lunch

This IPA from Maine Beer Company is a genius combination of flavours and textures. Each sip is said to be a progression of flavour experiences, starting with citrus, then pine, then crisp, toasty malt, and finishing with a crisp bitterness and lasting citrus notes.

Russian River Pliny The Elder

No IPA list is complete without the Russian River Pliny The Elder. It's a benchmark for the double IPA style and has stood the test of time. It has fresh aromatics of citrus blossoms and pine trees, with a firm bitterness and a dry finish.

Burial Brewing Surf Wax IPA

This IPA is great for a warm day, with hoppy high notes and a refreshing quality that makes it perfect for drinking while soaking up the sun.

The Alchemist Brewing Heady Topper

The Alchemist Brewing Heady Topper is a hazy, New England-style double IPA that packs a punch. It has a nice, hazy straw colour and aromas of citrus, pine, and floral notes. It's well-balanced and has a cult-like following.

Bell's Two Hearted Ale

Bell's Two Hearted Ale is a top-rated IPA with hundreds of five-star reviews highlighting its full flavour and nice hop balance. It's a great choice for those who enjoy a craft beer.

Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale

This IPA is a great choice if you're looking for a hint of bitterness, as it's full of flavour with a smooth and soft palate and a hoppy finish. It's also easily available at any liquor store.

Old Nation M-43 N.E. IPA

The Old Nation M-43 is a delicious hazy IPA with a wide variety of hops for a bolder flavour and tropical citrus accents to mellow out the bite.

Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA

This IPA is widely available at most retailers and is a great choice for IPA lovers, with lots of flavour, consistency, and a balance that's not too bitter or too juicy.

Best beers for stout lovers

If you're a stout lover, there are some fantastic beers out there to satisfy your taste buds. Here are some of the best options to look out for:

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout: This iconic Irish brew is a must-try for any stout enthusiast. It's a full-bodied, creamy stout with a rich, dark colour and a subtle sweetness that balances the roasted malt flavours.

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp Stout: For something a little different, Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp Stout is a collaboration brew that's packed with flavour. It's a robust stout with notes of coffee and chocolate, balanced by a subtle hop bitterness.

Founders Breakfast Stout: This beer lives up to its name as it is the perfect breakfast companion. It's a complex, full-flavoured stout with intense notes of coffee and chocolate, making it a decadent and indulgent choice.

Bell's Brewery Expedition Stout: This brew is a bold, intense stout with a high ABV that will warm you from the inside out. It's packed with flavours of dark chocolate and roasted malts, with a hint of fruit, making it a perfect after-dinner treat.

The Brew Kettle Black Jack Stout: The award-winning stout is an absolute standout. It's smooth and creamy, with flavours of roasted barley and a hint of sweetness. Its balanced and easy-to-drink nature makes it a go-to choice for stout lovers.

Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout: This highly-rated stout is a classic example of the style. It's bold and complex, with flavours of dark fruit and roasted malts, and a hint of hop bitterness, making it perfect for sipping and savouring.

So, there you have it—a selection of the best beers to satisfy your stout cravings. Whether you're after a classic Irish stout, a bold Russian imperial, or something unique, these beers are sure to impress.

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