How do you define "go to beer"?

I suddenly remember who you are. Welcome back.

 

My definition of a go-to beer;

“I’ve been in this liquor store, staring at this tap list or standing in front of my fridge with the door open for 15 minutes: fuck it I’m just getting a Tropicalia.”

 

Replace Guinness with Snake River Zonker Stout and we are a match. ; Except when Anchor Steam is in town, which it currently is not. Again

 

When you are happy.

 

For me a go-to beer has the qualities:

• When I am done drinking that beer I very much want to drink a second (and often times a third)
• Preferably available in larger packs (e.g., 12-pack or larger)
• Tastes like beer and not like drinking pastry, etc.

Since last year the exemplary go-to beer for me has been Victory Classic Lager which they describe as being an Easy Drinkin' Lager.

I have purchased something like four 15-packs of this beer last year and two 15-packs (so far) this year.

Cheers!

 

My criteria are similar to Horzempa's post above.
History of my "go to" beers
1968-1972 (Portland, OR; San Diego) no strong preference
1973-1975 (San Diego) Falstaff's Ballantine Ale (acknowledged in my dissertation)
1975-77 (chicago) Pabst Andeker and Huber Augsburger
1977-81 (NY exurbs) McSorley's Ale (brewed by Ortlieb)
1982-95 (NY) no big preference
1996-2015 (NY) Blue Point ESB, Pale Ale, or Rasta Rye
2015-today (NY) Montauk Driftwood when available or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

 

Go to beer, a beer that I choose when nothing else piques my interest. It's compiicated...
(XY)/V where x equals a brewery I love, y equals a beer style I love and V equals value. This is all contingent on my having had it before. If I hadn't had it that equation is a ticking algorithm.

 

My criteria are similar. I call my go-to beer a "desert island" beer -- something I could drink indefinitely if I was forced to choose just one.

 

Consistent in quality and accessible beer that I have often:

Beachwood Amalgamator, Madewest Hazy, Alesmith Speedway, Lindeman's Cuvee Renee, Trader Joe's Plzner...

 

If I had availability Bodhizafa, Johnny Utah, and Lucille would definitely be my go to’s as well. Excellent choice.

 

Haha, as big of a Short's guy I am, my go-to is Two Hearted as well, or Norm's Raggedy Ass.

I would define "go-to" beer as the one you grab when you're faced with a hundred choices and twenty seconds to decide.

 

I've heard good things about Jungle Jim's. I might have to plan a little side trip while I'm in C'bus next week.

 

It has been over 3 years since I was out your way and I am STILL grumpy about not having tried Georgetown's beers. I did drink a lot of bale breaker though so that's cool.

 

Bells Lager of the Lakes
DFH 60 min
Dortmunder Gold
Sierra Nevada Torpedo

 

Here in the Pittsburgh area you can always find Two Hearted and Headhunter, my two go to.

 

Another vote for Hamms. Third Space Happy Place pale ale as well. Consistent and available at a fair price.

 

Go to is a beer that you buy most often, and don’t get tired of it. That you can find most places. A beer that when there are “better” options you will still buy it on occasion. When nothing interesting or fresh is available you can always count on.

for me it’s Swami’s IPA. I can always find it fresh, I am drink multiples, I don’t get tired of it, and it always sounds good. A plus, is when I grocery shop I can always get it at Trader Joe’s or Sprouts for $12 and it’s fresh.

 

Go to beer = Most often purchased

 

This seems like the easy answer. The go to beer is the one that’s always in the fridge. The dinner beer. The lawnmower beer. The grill beer.