What beers do you think best represent—and are most typical of—the countries they come from? These don't necessarily have to be your favorite beers, although they very well might be. What I'm looking for is a good listing of beers that typify or even personify a country's overall brewing traditions and styles. For extra points, explain why. Pick any countries you like, and list as many beers as you want from each country; no point trying to enforce some arbitrary limit. I'm limiting my choices to the U.S., Belgium, and Germany because I've probably had more beers from these countries than any other. The only rule is, you have to have actually tasted the beers you list. Cheers! My lists: United States Bell's Two Hearted Ale Russian River Pliny the Elder Alchemist Heady Topper Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Three Floyds Zombie Dust Founders Porter FW Parabola Founders KBS Stone Russian Imperial Stout Belgium Orval Trappistes Rochefort 10 Trappistes Rochefort 8 Westmalle Tripel Duvel Saison Dupont Chimay Blue Westvleteren 12 Germany Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Ayinger Celebrator Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen Schneider Aventinus
USA: SNPA (set the bar for the C-hop APA and, by extension, the IPA and DIPA) Bell's (their proprietary yeast strain and Two Hearted raised the bar set by SN) Belgium: Orval (a Trappist, PA, Brett, age-able, subtly brilliant and uncategorizable beer) Germany: Augustiner Helles (the essence of beer's basic, yet infinitely mutable, elements of malt, hops, yeast, and water) Universe: Schlenkerla Maerzen ("experimental," extreme, yet simultaneously possessing an underlying, understated, and, yes, sublimely quintessential German style; plus the only beer I know where #6 tastes better than #5)
Austria: Smichlaus Czech Republic: Primator Maibock Pilsner Urquell Germany: Weihenstephaner Kristallweissebier Weihenstephaner Hefeweissebier Schneider Aventinus Weihenstephaner Original Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest-Maerzen Kulmbacher Eisbock United States: Two-Hearted Bell's Black Note Pliny the Elder Consecration Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Thirsty Dog Siberian Night Three Floyds Zombie Dust Belgium: Cantillon Classic Gueuze Hanssens Oudbeitje Cuvee van de Kaizer - Blauw Westvleteren 8 Rochefort 10 (probably the best overall) Saison Dupont Tripel Karmeliet
BMC aside, for USA it has to be Sam Adams. Surprised no one mentioned it yet. Now, what it should be? That's a whole different story. Not saying I have anything against Sam Adams, but there are definitely better beers. Sierra Nevada and Great Lakes should definitely be up there IMO. For Belgium, I think you can honestly say Westvleteren 12. Sure, it's the quintessential beer geek beer, but even non-beer-focused sources have recognized the mystique of this brew.
I'll give this a try, and maybe somebody will learn something from this list Australia: Coopers Best Extra Stout Little Creatures Pale Ale Belgium: Cantillon Classic Gueuze Chimay Blue DeuS Duvel Hoegaarden Orval Rochefort 10 Rodenbach Grand Cru Saison Dupont Tripel Karmeliet Brazil: Baden Baden Red Ale Bamberg Rauchbier Colorado Indica Eisenbahn Dunkel Eisenbahn Lust Prestige Falke Monasterium Wäls Quadruppel Canada: La Fin du Monde Maudite Péché Mortel Propeller ESB Rosée d'Hibiscus Red Racer IPA St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout Czech Republic: Budweiser Budvar Pilsner Urquell Denmark: Beer Geek Breakfast Olfabrikken Porter Germany: Aecht Schlenkerla Marzen Aventinus Ayinger Celebrator Erdinger Weissbier Paulaner Oktoberfest Paulaner Salvator Spaten Lager Uerige Sticke Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Netherlands: Hel & Verdoemenis La Trappe Quadruppel New Zealand: Epic Armageddon Moa Noir United Kingdom: Fuller's ESB Fuller's London Pride J.W. Lees Harvest Ale Meantime Coffee Porter Old Peculiar Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale Traquair Jacobite Young's Double Chocolate Stout United States: 90 Minute IPA Anchor Steam Beer Arrogant Bastard Ale Allagash White Bourbon County Stout Old Rasputin Prima Pils Rogue Hazelnut Brown Sam Adams Boston Lager Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Three Philosophers
UK Adnam's Southwold Bitter Elgood's Black Dog Mild Fuller's London Porter Worthington White Shield (now owned by Coors) Fuller's ESB Bateman's XXXB All good exemplars of British styles. But to be fully appreciated they must be on well kept cask. Bottled versions are OK but lack a lot of flavours and complexity.
I don't think its fair it depends. I look for standards in the so called "styles". My favs are not yours....Though your Belgium list is good until chimay hits....but there so many other great belgain beers. so many and yea one assume you had them to list them, other wise its a really silly post.
