Top 10 Classics

I can't answer that I think so many advocates have so many answers and I think our diversity is what binds us. I can't say "xyx" beers make you an advocate it's personal if bud light lead you to rolling rock, led you to this beer it's amazing just welcome to the great community.

 

I'll bite. From my (comparatively) limited experience:

St. Bernardus Abt 12
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
Sierra Nevada Torpedo
Ayinger Celebrator
New Belgium LaFolie
Hofbrau, Ayinger, or Spaten Oktoberfest
Anchor Steam
Goose Island Honkers Ale
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
New Belgium Abbey Ale

 

Aren't these lists usually Top Five?

1. Tankova Czech pivo
2. UK cask ale
3. Bayerischer Anstich German lager (ober- and untergaerig)
4. Unblended Belgian Lambic
5. Ultra-fresh U.S. (D)IPA

 

Founders Breakfast stout
Lagunitas Sucks
Old Chub
Two Hearted ale
Dancing Man Wheat
Parabola
Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Bigfoot
Victory at sea
Monks cafe

While I don't think all these beers are the best of each style, they are all good starters to get a beer lover into each style.

 

Anchor Steam and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale would have to be on there for the American list.

 

..man after my own heart.. heh. (Which is to say: nice list. The ones I HAVEN'T tried are going on mine. Thanks )

 

1. Victory Prima Pils
2. Rochefort 10
3. Sculpin
4. Union Jack
5. Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze
6. Allagash White
7. Bourbon County Brand Stout
8. Ten Fidy
9. Edmund Fitz
10. Bigfoot
11. La Fin du Monde
12. Smuttynose Old Brown Dog
13. Hennepin *edit: Sofie (I had this first)
14. Paulaner Salvator
15. Weihenstephaner Hefe
and of course
(insert your fave IIPA here) Heady/DirtWolf/Pliny/etc.

Just basically listed the beers that were my defining introduction to each of their respective styles... the ones that made me explore the style further. Yeah, all 10 (yup, I only listed 10) are my classics for a newcomer looking to really dive into a diverse range of styles.

 

Two hearted
FBS
Hopslam
Sierra Nevada pale ale
Boston Lager
Brown shugga
Oberon
Stones Russian imperial stout
Celebration
Edmund Fitzgerald porter

All readily available in most markets and all good to excellent beers

 

On the other hand, this IS BA, so if the question was asked THIS week:

1. Pliny the Younger
2. King Henry
3. ANY BA Mexican Cake
4. Grande Negro
5. Pirate Bomb!
6. HF anything
7. Coffee Abraxas
8. Dirt Wolf
9. Atrial
10. West Ashley

ok. now you're in.

(*edit- these were trivial beers, of course)

 

What beers should you drink before you can become a beer advocate?

Stop chasing hype and invest in your local market. Go to a brewery around you and drink everything they have. Thats how you become a beer advocate.

 

preach!

 

Pretty sure he didnt mean it like what beers do you need to try to be in the club. More of a what are the essential must try beers.

 

I'm aware of what he meant and didn't meant to come across as harsh or misunderstanding. Just trying to lay on some beerosophical (trademark pending) advice about investing in your local market. I just have a different approach to what it takes to be a "beer advocate." The best way to advocate for beer is to invest in your local market.

 

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Anchor Steam
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
North Coast Old Rasputin
Stone Ruination
Goose Island BCBS
Founders Breakfast Stout
Stone Arrogant Bastard
Ballast Point Sculpin
Schlitz

And, obviously....these are all American beers. Considering the world's stage of beers...this list could easily be 50+

 

If you're talking about "classics" shouldn't that mean the best beer, but with some history to it? A beer only brewed 5 years or less doesn't fit into the "classic" category for me. Needs to be generally regarded as one of the best representations of a style for a considerable amount of time, even if it's not the popular new kid on the block.