In Canada Budweiser + variants and Coors are both pretty strong-selling brands, but not priced at a premium over domestics like Canadian or Labatt Blue. I've been in Europe for the past 8 months though and the only American beer I've seen is Budweiser. What did surprise me is that Carling, which is a Canadian value brand, is the best selling beer in the UK. Stella Artois, which is a premium brand in North America, is an average one in Europe, and priced at a lower price than Budweiser. Corona is priced at a premium; it's evident their marketing has worked here as well. To sum up yes, marketing has convinced us of a lot of things. Carling in Canada is considered crap and here in the UK they fawn over it. Very weird considering that Carling is a Canadian beer.
In Mexico, I see in the stores Budweiser and coors light, I see a lot of ads of coors, coors light on the TV, but I dont see budweiser ads a lot. American beers are expensive here, so people just buy Mexican beer (there is a lot more brands than corona, btw).
Well, I brew my own beer. And I love it! But otherwise, as a Irishman I gotta say,,, Nothing better!!!
Have you been to their brewpub in Petaluma? I am most fond of their Hop Stoopid but I really enjoy all of their beers. Lagunitas and Bear Republic are both mighty fine breweries in Nor Cal.
I love Hop Stoopid too; same with Bear Republic. Haven't been to their brewpub... didn't know they had one. Many thanks!
The brewpub is pretty new. My wife and I went there last summer and they were in the process of putting in the bar (it was just plywood when we went) and they were grilling sausages/burgers on a grill in a beer garden. We haven't been since but they told us the plan was to put in a full menu. It's a shame that Petaluma is just a bit out of the way for us in Davis, it's easy to hit up Bear Republic or the Russian River Brewery if we're going to the Sonoma area but we have to make a special trip if we want to go to Petaluma.
This. Don't drink anymore, but when I did... Also loved Blue Moon, and the two of these beers together, very nice!! Dark side of the Moon!!!
yeah, I have to say a constant best for me is Duvel. It has it all for me. I do try to sneak in a bottle of Chimay when I get some extra cash though. I think I know what Wine people go through when I'm starring wide eyed through a fat glass of Chimay.
I have several replies in this thread going back to the original publish date. However, I don't remember mentioning this: Anchor Liberty Ale is one of my favorites. Always has been. Today is a strange day: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/26/BUOD1D55P1.DTL I hope this ends well. It rarely does...
You are right on target on both counts man, I still remember the first time I tried Duvel and was blown away.
I usually prefer Czech pilsners. My father usually buys Pilsner Urquell and while I really didn't appreciate it first, I probably would rank it as the best of the more affordable options that are widely available here (Finland). Out of the international big brands, I don't like Budweiser, Heineken or Foster's. For some reason I like Stella Artois. Corona or Sol I can drink in the summer when I'm feeling extra douchebaggery From the American beers, I've kinda gotten into some of the Samuel Adams's recently, though they are stupidly expensive here. Chimay (preferably Blue) is awesome too. Out of the other well known darker beers, I usually go for Kozel Velkopopovicky, Litovel, or Guinness (another that my father used to buy) etc.
Budweiser is the only one you see everywhere, and some chinese company has (had?) a license to make PBR for awhile too. None of the good stuff gets exported. if you go to a beer bar in Belgium or somewhere else that specializes in beer, they'll have like a few bottles of Sierra Nevada or Sam Adams as their most exotic American offering.
http://www.specialtybeer.com/beer,index,echt_kriekenbier.html Had this particular beer while I was in Vancouver. Quite possibly the best beer I've ever had.
Beer depends entirely on the occasion. For example, I would celebrate a special occasion with Chimay. But I probably wouldn't drink Chimay at an Astros game. It would somehow seem wrong.
During the winter it's Santa Fe Nut Brown Ale. Any other time Miller High Life is good enough for me.
You know, the word on the street is that these guys are pretty dedicated to the history, but yeah, I am skeptical too. I'm hoping they really did want to save Anchor before it was bought by Coors or some other Swill-meister (which was inevitable.)
Brewed locally in Conroe ... I tried this based off of a waiter recommendation not long ago and it was very tasty. I haven't had the chance or the occasion to look to see where to pick it up, but I'm guessing most local liquor stores might carry it. http://www.southernstarbrewery.com/SSBBeers.asp
