I thought I'd start out these discussions (and test them out) by asking, what is your favorite beer? Believe me, you don't have to commit to it, and it can change in five minutes, but right now...if you had to choose, what would you say is your favorite beer?
I would have to say that my heart belongs to Guinness. Sweet, dark, foamy nectar of the Gods. This beer is a home, a comfortable book by the fire. Strange though that all my other favorites are so heavy on hops. If I smell a forest as I am sticking my nose down a pint, I'm pretty damned pleased.
My loves change with the seasons. Spatan Oktoberfest is a favorite when it's available, and it is!! But I am counting the days until Abita Mardi Gras Bock is available in January...
It's a long way from home now (Flagstaff, AZ), but I drank it regularly when I lived in the fine Beer City of Milwaukee....Riverwest Stein Beer....Lakefront Brewing Co....been around since 1986 or so....originally started by two brothers (one was a police officer at the time). Milwaukee has a pretty liberal attitude when it comes to beer and is worth a stop if you are in the midwest. I drink alot of different beers...this beer remains fresh in my memory.
Legend Lager is just superb. My beer vocabulary is limited- for now!- but I'm going to figure out how to describe this beer, which is brewed in my hometown of Richmond, VA
I would have to say right now my favorite is Shiner Bock. I fell for it last spring on a trip to Texas, and they have just recently begun distributing to Indiana.....yay!!!! I am somewhat new to craft and microbrews, so I'm slowly putting together my list of faves. Shiner, though, is my go to beer by far.
I'll second the love of Orval. How they get that much depth and complexity out of a 6.9abv I'll never know. I even had to buy the Orval glass just to geek out on it that much more.
Second place may be a tie between RR Consecration and the cask of Arrogant Bastard I had recently that had been hopped with Columbus hops. Greenest, piney-est thing I've tasted all year. You could practically taste the chlorophyll.
Pliny the Elder is pure ambrosia IMO. It's a beautiful double IPA from Russian River in CA. Stone Ruination is also right up there. Can't go wrong with Chimay White or Orval.
What a GREAT time to be into fine ale!
My favorite right now is the Triple White Sage, made by Craftsman Brewery in Pasadena. I have only seen their beers at a few places, which leads me to believe they only sell kegs to bars and restaurants (i.e. no bottles). PS I'm new to Beer for Chicks and I'm so glad it exists!