Help with beer Not from USA

I'm not sure about Michigan but this one and series are all pretty great and pretty easy to find the 12 and 16 here in Texas. The 30 and 45 however are pricey and much more limited.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/323/41037/

Founders Backwoods Bastard is beyond incredible since you are in Michigan.

 

Anything from Weihenstephan(er) or Aying(er) would be great, classic examples of foreign dominated styles. And they should be very easy to obtain and CHEAP!

 

As for as England goes, Samuel Smith's and Fuller's are great. Weihenstephaner from Germany is brilliant. Belgium I'd recommend Delirium Tremens but the U.S. has a lot more different Belgian beers than other imports.

 

I just want you to know that you have the best username I've seen so far. Nicely done.

 

Thank you sir

 

Michigan alone is a helluva beer state, with all kinds of imports available. Brit beers are easily found, particularly Sam Smith stuff (try the Taddy Porter), although their organic line is pretty lame, and some Wychwood varieties. Belgiums seem to be ubiquitous as do various German brands (See previous posts). Try some of the many beer fests this year, particularly the World Expo of Beer in Frankenmuth May 16 & 17 (Plug!). Samples of more common foreign beers are available. I used to go two nights to drink; now I work as needed Friday and drink Sat.

 

Schneider Weisse Aventinus is one of the best beers in the world, relatively cheap ($3-4), and very easy to find everywhere I've ever lived. Its a great place to start.

 

Do you get any Innis and Gunn up in your neck of the woods?

 

UK beers - I'm afraid the best the UK has to offer doesn't make it over here. This is due to a) a lot of what the UK has to offer is best in cask format (what does come over here tends to be bottles - the same beer in a bottle is often a shadow of its cask cousin), and b) a lot of the smaller, better breweries don't export to the US.

In these threads a lot of people are going to recommend Sam Smiths. Their beers are not bad. A couple are even fairly decent - but please don't get the impression that SS represents the upper echelon of UK brewing - it doesn't come close.

Not sure about MI, but in NYC I can quite often pick up several beers by Thornbridge, and more recently, Tim Taylor Landlord. If you see any of them, they are worth a shot.

But I'm afraid the best bet (applies very strongly to Germany too, and to a lesser extent, Belgium) - save up and travel there.

 

Look at the latest version of the Beers of Fame. Since the criteria has changed and been expanded to 250 beers many foreign beers have popped up.

Besides the other great suggestions I highly recommend Unibroue. La Fin du Monde, Trois Pistoles, Maudite, and Don de Dieu are all on the BoF plus Grand Reserve 17 is worth having. I first had these when they came in a 6 pack sampler. You should also explore the beers from the Trappist monasteries plus St Bernardus, Duvel, and Van Steenberge (Piraat and Gulden Draak).

 

I second the vote for trying the offerings from St. Bernardus. I think you should try Prior 8 and Abt 12, and see how they compare, as they are similar in taste profile, but substantially different in product. St. Bernardus has a lot of great offerings and are easy to get around me. Abt 12 is often compared to Westy XII.

I also really like Rochefort 8 and 10, and you can compare those side-by-side pretty easily to get a similar understanding of what you like and don't like.

Finally, I see you have a pretty good cellar going. Throw a bottle of Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van de keizer Blauw in there for two years or so and open it up then. It'll blow your mind.

 

Technically, Unibroue isn't from Europe [like the OP asked]... but they do make excellent Belgium-style beers! Trois Pistoles in particular is one of my personal top 10 favorite beers.

 

Check out the best of, and best of lists from other countries on this site for some ideas. UK brews are also in English they aren't hard to figure out

There's no myths here, just a bounty of knowledge and info in the search engines and lists to guide you. Check it out.

Unibroue while not from Europe is still technically foreign (Canada, owned by Sapporo/Sleeman {Japan} ), but their beers are often highly available in most stores, and for a foreign import pretty reasonable in price also.

 

To name a few European I'd go with Samuel Smith Wells & Young's Ltd from England , Evil Twin and Mikkeller ApS from Denmark and From Germany I love Warsteiner , Spaten/Franziskaner, and Weihenstephaner hope that helps

 

Thread Title: Help with beer Not from USA

You either suck at geography or reading comprehension (or both). Foreign does not equal Europe.

 

Make sure if you're buying foreign beer you go to a smaller mom and pop liquor store that specializes in craft beer and moves a lot of it. Pick your foreigners from coolers and try to avoid the shelves unless they look newly stocked. Most German and English beers are best consumed as fresh as possible. A good portion of Belgians and Trappists age nicely so it's not that critical to pick them up that fresh but it's better that they not be that warm or exposed to too much light.

Most big box liquor spots sit on beers for too long to risk picking up foreigns. As for brands that are good, just look at the beers of fame list and you will find more than enough clues as to what beers/ brands to look for.

 

I would also recommend anything from Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel. They ship a lot to the US and you may be able to find Péché Mortel or Aphrodisiaque.

 

La Fin Du Monde
Duvel
Celebrator

3 of my favorites and all pretty easy to get your hands on.

 

Belgian Trappist Ales - look for the Authentic Trappist logo
Westmalle, Chimay, Rochefort, La Trappe, Orval, Achel
All very rich and boozy, will warm you from the inside!