Below is a video from Nate Lanier of Tree House Brewing where he discusses his five bucket list beers which got me thinking about what I would place on a bucket list. I will provide my list which is as much about the brewery/location. I will not list 1-5 so in no specific order: The original Pilsner beer I had the pleasure of touring the Pilsner Urquell brewery (Plzeňský Prazdroj) in Pilsen, CZ and a highlight of that tour was drinking the cellar brewed version of Pilsner Urquell (which is unfiltered and unpasteurized). I thought that beer was most excellent! Below is a photo of Jacob pouring me my beer directly from the lagering tank. Cantillion This was also a brewery/beer mentioned by Nate in his video. I have had the pleasure of drinking a couple/few brands of Cantillion but one brand I have yet to try is Fou Foune. That specific brand is on my personal bucket list. Hill Farmstead Last summer I had the pleasure of fulfilling one of my bucket list items: visiting Hill Farmstead. I drank a couple of beers there with a Pilsner (Poetica, photo below) being one of them. I also purchased 2 four-packs of hoppy beer to go, Double Motueka and Society & Solitude #4, which I discussed in NBW threads: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-weekend-217.678445/#post-8046925 https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-weekend-219.678564/#post-8054360 I have yet to drink a Hill Farmstead beer that I didn’t think was very good and a number of brands which I think are excellent/outstanding. From my experience & perspective you can’t go wrong picking any of the brands at the brewery. Russian River I am fortunate that Russian River distributes draft beer in my (Philly) area and I have had the pleasure to drink many pints of both Pliny the Elder and Blind Pig (both mentioned by Nate in his video) and my personal favorite of the two is Pliny the Elder. On my bucket list is to visit the Russian River brewery and drink Pliny the Younger at the source. I have enjoyed the few times I had draft Pliny the Younger at local to me craft beer bars but going to the brewery to drink this specific beer would be special for me. Timothy Taylor Landlord I am a fan of cask ales and on a couple of occasions I have had Tmothy Landlord (once on cask and once bottled) but that was a very looong time ago. On my bucket list is a visit to the UK to drink Timothy Taylor Landlord in a cozy British pub. So, what are the five beers/places on your bucket list? Cheers! P.S. For those of you who are not fans of Nate Lanier, please don’t bother watching the below video; just respond to the OP above.
Love that you have to state this now. So far as currently made beers, there's nothing that I HAVE to have. I've drank a lot of really good beers, and have come to realize that a lot of the time how you remember the beer is more a factor of the experience than the actual beer itself. That being said, I would love to have Pretty Things 1855 EIP again.
That's a list I could certainly live with. My list would include Cantillon and Westvleteren for sure, as well as Samuel Smith's Old Brewery in Tadcaster. Throw in Pilsner Urquell and that leaves only my wild-card pick: Nunavut Brewing, Iqaluit, NU, Canada. Like Jack says, it's about the locations as much as anything, especially Nunavut. @PapaGoose03
Well it's coming down to one of us is going to have to get a pilot's license with qualifications for floats or skis for landing. I don't think I can drive that far. My bucket list: 1. Okay, I'll list something from Nunavit Brewing. 2. Mother of All Storms. 3. That scarce coffee stout from Toppling Goliath, whatever its name it. 4. Black Betty, or whatever its name was before being reincarnated under a different name when the brewer went to (or started) another New England brewery. 5. I'm curious about Timothy Taylor Landlord, so I'll finish with that one.
No problem, wouldn't have anyway. He don't need my nickel. I think I've probably had what I would put on my Beer Bucket List: Various Loons, Various 3F, Westy 12, St. Bernardus 12, Deus, and many American craft brews that I've longed for.
That one is outstanding. I'd love to try it on cask sometime, but I'd probably have to cross the pond to make it happen.
I had it on cask at a local (Philly) Real Ale festival but that was quite some time ago. Yeah, a visit to the UK is your (our) best bet. Cheers!
Had it cask at the Dandy Lion in Philly once. I think I'd prefer to have it in Britain where it may be a bit fresher.
My wife has always wanted to visit London, so we're going to have a London stop on the way to Munich. So why not, they have a great beer experience too. I had a trip planned when COVID hit, so I just have to update it a bit.
I don't mind Nate's list. From his point of view, I get it. I think you'll probably find that his opinions probably line-up with a lot of people that got into beer when he did. Mine? I'll go with: Keesmann Herren Pils Mort Subite Oud Gueuze (from the clay pitcher, of course) La Cumbre Elevated IPA Great Divide Yeti Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer
Interesting question, and used to think of this a lot more than I do these days. So, obviously money is no object, so in no particular order- Pliney the Younger at the brewery. KBBS, preferably at the brewery. (Y’all may notice a pattern here) Almost any beer at the Cantillon brewery/taphouse. Guinness at St. James Gate. Pilsner from the original brewery, or at least a close proximity. Cheers!
In no particular order either: -Sip of Sunshine. Often posted in the WBAYDN thread by a bunch of fair connoisseurs. -KBBS. This one is rated/reviewed really high here and I trust the community best judgement. -Any beer from Maine Co be it Lunch, whatever else. -Clown Shoes as a brewery, heard many great things until I get to sip on one of theirs. -Edmund Fitzgerald, Great Lakes Brewing. A porter that could likely tickle my fancy. Also love the song from Gordon Lightfoot. That is all.
Nate’s list used to be similar to mine. But with the exception of Younger and Landlord cask I’ve had them all. @Domingo Herren Pils is another. For beers I haven’t tried (specifically at the source), I think overall just visiting Bamberg, Cologne/Dusseldorf, and London will complete my list.
Kind of like when people ask me "what's your favorite beer?" I have 2 lists. There's the anything goes list where 2/3 of the items aren't available outside of a specific place/time and there's the list of items people can actually buy without too much trouble. Some items are always going to be at least a little regional, though.
I think, by this time, I have already completed my bucket list. My taste buds and aroma faculties have faded over time. My energy to travel is reduced. The craft beer market has moved away from my preferences. New experiences won't make the impact that early tastings did. Here are five, that tasted best in the year indicated. Canned Ballantine XXX (~1972, Newark)*, bottle Anchor Steam (~1972), Cask Bridgeport Stout (~2000)*, draft Pilsener Urquell (~1980)*, draft Blue Point ESB (~2000). Those with (*) were tasted only once or twice. Some of the brands fell in distinction after the date mentioned. Ballantine XXX ale and Pilsener Uquell definitely dropped over the years.
I don't have a bucket list anymore. I've had all the rare stuff I can think of. I'm not saying I don't still chase, but I really only chase things I have access to. That said, I'm driving six hours this weekend just to get beer from a brewery. One way. And driving back that same day.
