Five Beers to Discover
Published: 03/03/2011 at Richard Gonzalez
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Ale or Pilsner? Stout or Lager? Microbrew or Light? Beer, it’s been around since way before they came up with the 'changing your whole latitude' statement. Kings drank beer rather then relinquishing that title to the beer they consumed. Some reports have beer being enjoyed since the 5th century - and that is quite a time before your grandparents-grandparents where twinkles in their grandparents eyes. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been quoted as saying, "Milk is for babies, adults drink beer" - and who in their right mind would argue with The Governator? I have been enjoying this 'nectar from the gods' for somewhere north of 15 years now, and I keep discovering new and interesting flavors that have been shipped to my local package store. I have put together 5 beers that have, in one way or another, become more then just a passing phase. Sadly, some of these beers are not available in every store or bar, making my taste buds crave them that much more. 5. Samuel Adams - Massachusetts. The winner of multiple awards really doesn't impress me - my palate isn't that well defined that I can tell which region of the world the hops are picked from. What I do know is that Jim Koch knows how to brew a tasty brew. I may have this on my list based on some sort of home-town bias, but since my departure from Beantown it has sprung up everywhere...so I might not be alone in my assessment. They have over 13 different flavors, and they are available just about everywhere. 4. Smithwicks - Ireland. An Irish red style ale, this was originally brewed in Kilkeny all they way back in 1710. Pronounced (smit-icks) I first discovered this beer, of all places, in a beer tasting up in Orlando, Florida. I called it by the how it is spelled and got a strange look from the Irish barmaid - they really take the name of their beer seriously. Anyway, I didn't see this beer for a very long time in my local watering hole...its good to see that has changed. 3. (Tie) Guinness – Ireland & Boddingtons – England. I have to admit, it took me quite a while to learn why anyone in their right mind would like to drink a Guinness (mud, as I remember referring to it). I didn't think that anyone could drink a beer where if you stuck a spoon in the middle of the glass, you could not see it through the outside. Boddingtons was simply the next progression step for me after discovering that Guinness tastes more like chocolate milk then mud. Get these beers in the can and they have these little widgets that assist in pouring the perfect head of beer. Leave it to the Europeans to think of everything. 2. Longboard Island Lager - Hawaii. This very well might be the youngest beer on my list. The Kona Brewing Company started brewing back in 1995 and has exploded to be the second of my favorite beers. Their website refers to them as being 'Paradise in a bottle' and they damn well just might be. I have not had the pleasure of discovering the 50th state, but if I did, I would imagine that the taste of the island can be found in this beer. Unbeknownst to me, they have 5 different beers, but sadly I have only tried two of them (Island Lager and Fire Rock Pale Ale). The latter I have tried is a typical pale ale that I'm not to keen on, but the Island Lager is one that I keep an eye out for. And the #1 beer on my list... 1. St. Bernardus ABT12 - Belgium. One word comes to mind when I drink this beer - AMAZING! I have been drinking beer since a few years before I turned 21 (thanks dad for allowing me to share your Busch beer) and I have never had a beer quite like this one. Admittedly, I thought that this was one of the beers that have been around since the earth's hardening process, but it has only been around since 1946. I found this beer totally by accident while surfing on the internet. A package store that sells every beer imaginable had a 4 pack of the stuff and, after parting with $15 for the four, I was hooked. What makes it good is that they can take a very high quantity of alcohol (10.5%) and disguise it. The brewers over there in Belgium know what they are doing. A lot of people that I have spoken too have never heard of this beer, so you might have a very hard time finding it...but when you do, you will open your beer experience to dizzying heights.
