Oldies But Goodies - a Classics Appreciation Thread (2023)

When I was relatively new to craft, I had a bartender run through what the nine or so beers on tap were: “such-and-such is a bitter IPA; such-and-such is really easy-drinking stout; and Hoegaarden’s for posers.”

 

Do you even like cats, or do you just pretend to like cats to be cool?

 

Two Hearted is a constant in my fridge except for the two months where Celebration replaces it.

 

I don't know how well regarded people think of Saint Arnold, but they have been around Houston for nearly 30 years, and I really enjoy their beers. Their first was Amber. I have only lived in town a little over 15 years now, but Amber is one I have always enjoyed and had around. It is basically the definition of balance, and a classic in the area IMO.

I use to always get North Coast Red Seal as well. When I was in the mood for a slightly bigger body, and more bitter finish it was Red Seal, if I wanted more balance it was Saint Arnold Amber. I hardly ever see Red Seal anymore though.

 

Scores aren't everything

 

What a great opener. Red seal was one of the first craft beers that I gave a high rating to. I've had it a few times since. It's still good but my inexperience probably caused me to rate it higher. But still holds a special place in my craft beer heart.

 

Dude if I could give you a thousand thumbs up I would. This is gold. Exactly what I was drinking when I first got into craft

 

Bell's is definitely one of the breweries that would be on the shortlist if someone told me I had to pick a single (widely available) brewery to only drink their beer.

I have a few vintages of Expedition Stout in my cellar, and currently working through a six pack of Kalamazoo Stout. A great flavorful "regular strength" stout - big roasty flavors, some balancing hops, drier finish, medium to fuller bodied.

 

Hate the new label.sorry

 

Since OP mentioned international beers, and I don’t see this one mentioned (unless I’m blind)….
It’s hard for me to think of a beer more deserving of “classic” status than Orval. Undeniably iconic down to its bottle shape and the charming little story behind the logo. If I could only drink one beer for the rest of my life, I would be perfectly content just buying Orval by the case and cellar them, cracking one every few months or so.

 

These are my favorite classic beers (20 years + available regularly today) I want to buy when I come across them in the store. Would make an excellent 30 Pack, and a list I wish I had when I broke into craft beer.

• American Adjunct Lager
  • Schlitz (Owned by Pabst, contract brewed by MillerCoors Location(s) ???)
• American Barleywine
  • Sierra Nevada Bigfoot (Chico, California)
• American Imperial Stout
  • Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout (Chicago, Illinois)
• American IPA
  • AleSmith IPA (San Diego, California)
  • Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA (Paso Robles, California)
• American Pale Ale
  • 3 Floyds Zombie Dust (Munster, Indiana)
  • Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (Chico, California)
• American Porter
  • 3 Floyds Alpha Klaus Christmas Porter (Munster, Indiana)
• American Stout
  • Deschutes Obsidian Stout (Bend, Oregon)
• Belgian Dark Strong Ale
  • Chimay Bleue (Chimay, Belgium)
    
  • Trappistes Rochefort 8 (Rochefort, Belgium)
• Belgian Pale Ale
  • Orval Trappist Ale (Villers-devant-Orval, Belgium)
  • Unibroue Trois Pistoles (Quebec, Canada)
• Doppelbock
  • Ayinger Celebrator (Aying, Germany)
• English Bitter
  • Coniston Bluebird Bitter (Coniston, England)
  • Fuller's London Pride (London, England)
• English Porter
  • Samuel Smith Taddy Porter (Tadcaster, England)
• Foreign / Export Stout
  • Guinness Foreign Extra Stout (Dublin, Ireland)
• Fruit Lambic
  • Cantillon Saint Lamvinus (Brussels, Belgium)
• Gueuze
  • Cantillon Gueuze Lambic (Brussels, Belgium)
  • Girardin Gueuze 1882 (Black Label) (Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle, Belgium)
• Imperial IPA
  • Russian River Pliny The Elder (Santa Rosa, California)
• Quadrupel
  • St. Bernardus Abt 12 (Watou, Belgium)
  • Trappistes Rochefort 10 (Rochefort, Belgium)
• Robust Porter
  • Founders Porter (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
• Russian Imperial Stout
  • North Coast Old Rasputin (Fort Bragg, California)
• Tripel
  • Van Steenberge Tripel Van De Garre (Ertvelde, Belgium)
  • Unibroue La Fin Du Monde (Quebec, Canada)
• Winter Warmer
  • Anchor Our Special Ale (Anchor Christmas Ale) (San Francisco, California)
• Witbier
  • Allagash White (Portland, Maine)

 

Looks like you accidentally shifted Chimay Blue down a category bullet.

 

I first drank Anchor Steam in 1976 in a bar on the wharf "watching the ships roll in", just like Otis Redding.

 

Besides the excellent beers already mentioned, I nominate Alaskan Smoked Porter. If that isn't considered a classic, well...

 

You're right. And I would include Duvel.

 

Same with Trois Pistoles, definitely a Dark beer.