Style-defining beers?

Surely it should be Courage Russian Stout. That was the original, after all.

 

I also love Deschutes Hop in the Dark, but thats not year round so SSR gets my vote too.

 

Sublimely Self Righteous is the best Black IPA in my opinion
Russian River Supplication is the best definition of sour/American wild
FW Parabola clinches the imperial stout category for me
West Coast IPA is hard for me to say but there's two local breweries that clinch that to me. San Tan Hopshock or Dragoon IPA.
Pliny is in there too but I'd say that fits as the best DIPA

 

That's like saying a Rottweiler isn't a dog.
What does the PA in IPA stand for? Pale Ale is simply beer brewed predominately from pale malt.It includes many so-called styles.
The only beer which actually defines a style is Fuller's ESB , the one which started it all. But ESB isn't a style at all anyway, just a bitter at the stronger end of the spectrum.

 

No it isn't. Almost every beer is brewed predominately from pale malt. Pale Ale is a specific tradition of beer brewing originating in Britain. It includes pale ale, India pale ale, bitter, best bitter, ESB and double IPA, but not mild ale, strong ale, porter or any originally foreign styles.

 

That's where the name originated, to distinguish it from brews made with brown or dark malt. It's incorrect to call foreign styles (unless modelled on British brewing) as ales because these are specific to the UK.There is a common misconception that ales are sinply top fermented beers; this breaks down on detailed examination.

 

Westmalle Tripel
Duvel (Belgian Strong Pale Ale)
Thomas Hardy's Ale (English Barley Wine - even though it's no longer available)

 

I consider Thomas Hardy an Old Ale myself.

 

A lot of good choices. I'd add:

Two-Hearted - Midwest IPA
Edmund Fitzgerald - Porter
Fourth Dementia - Old Ale

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a standard pale ale to me

 

BSDA - Gulden Draak
American Porter - Edmund Fitzgerald
English Porter - Old Engine Oil/Taddy Porter
Old Ale - HOTD Adam
Dopplebock - Korbinian
German Pilsener - Konig

 

Saison dupont
St peters cream stout
Deschutes mirror pond
Llagunitas lil sumpin sumpin
St lupulin
Petrus oud bruin
Abt 12
Funkwerks white
EDIT
Modus hoperandi

 

I'd have to go with Surly SYX for dry-hopped American strong red ales aged in 6 types of wood.

 

Rogue Voodoo Maple Bacon Donut - Target practice

 

Edmund Fitzgerald is the quintessential porter. Hands down still the best.
American Oktoberfest is Thirsty Dog Barktoberfest, German is still Hacker-Pschorr.

Im opening one here soon. #800 on untappd.

 

Aecht Schlenkerla Märzen for a Märzen/Oktoberfest. Duh!

 

Alpha King for Pale Ales
Gumballhead for wheats

 

Pale Ale- Sam's Boston Ale hard to beat
American Wheat- Boulevard
IPA- price and availability Torpedo
DIPA- Pliny the Elder. I've never had anything that quite compares.
Stout. Hard choice. FBS and Raspy are superb.
Pils- Urquell, Noble and Summerfest.

 

Hefeweizen: Paulaner, Franziskaner, Weihenstephaner
Saison: Saison DuPont
Czech Pilsner: Staropramen, Pilsner Urquell
RIS: Old Rasputin
Tripel: Chimay White
Belgian Pale Ale: Orval
American Pale Ale: Sierra Nevada