How many go-to beers do you have?

my go to is usually whatever Shorts Brewing has out at the time. aside from that Two Hearted or Odd Side Citra, Breakfast Stout, Centennial, All Day, Oberon, Various Bells Stouts, DRIPA growler, Jolly Pumpkin stuff.

 

Whatever is on sale from one of the larger craft breweries around here. Often times 6-packs from the breweries like Deschutes, Sierra Nevada, Anchor, and New Belgium are on sale for $7 or $8 so they make for great fridge stockers.

 

Always have at least a few different go to IPAs (at least 80% of what I drink) on hand at all times, some of which are only available seasonally. Thankfully there's no shortage of great IPAs out there so the fridge is constantly well stocked.

 

I could probably be described as a ticker/hoarder. I usually won't buy the same beer twice but I'm sitting on a lot of Sucaba, Parabola, Eclipse and RR sours...

 

Beers I always have in my fridge living in Chicago suburbs.

1. Anti Hero
2. La Fin du Monde
3. Weihenstephaner Hefe
4. A DIPA from Pipeworks / Spiteful / Only Child

 

Says the guy looking to trade

 

Recently I've only been buying whatever bottles SARA has available, I keep one for myself and the rest for trade. It makes hunting a lot easier. I love having such an awesome brewery down the street.

 

Pretty much one - Anchor Steam.

 

Goose Island India Pale Ale, Bells Two Hearted, Bells Amber Ale, Dogfishhead Aprihop when in season, Goose Island Harvest Ale when in season. I've been known to buy enough Harvest Ale to take me all the way through winter.

 

Gee... I have a long list of go-tos. I will often take a 12 that's on sale if it's any good, but will no longer buy Long Trail or Otter Creek. So, let's start with Victory mixed 12 (Golden Monkey, Headwaters, Prima and Hop Devil, all would be go-tos on their own if they were cheaper), SN Torpedo 12 (not worth buying in smaller quantities), Old Rasputin, FBS, pretty much any Ommegang or Unibroue under $13 (750 or 4x12). Duvel 750, Orval. Sharing a case with others, I'll settle for a Harpoon or Sam Adams 24, pretty much any mix other than summer or the straight IPA case (Harpoon) or Boston Ale (if I can find it). 20 years ago, it would have been Bass IPA, Grolsch Amber pints, Negra Modelo and Moosehead, all by the case. After almost two decades of buying very little beer (mostly wine consumption over that period), I don't think I would get any of those, except Grolsch for the bottles to recycle for home brewing, but it's also hard to find, unlike its green sibling. The only one from that period I would still consider is Pilsner Urquell, but it would have to be damn fresh and properly stored.

 

Goose Island India Pale Ale and Honkers Ale
Two Brothers Cane & Ebel
Lagunitas Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin'

I used to buy gallons of Mild Winter and Oatmeal Stout from Goose Island, but I guess I was the only one. Now they're gone.

 

I usually vary my purchases. Beers I drink more Stone IPA, Anchor Porter, Union Jack, Racer 5 and Schlitz. If Alesmith put their IPA in a six pack it would be my hands down goto.

 

I do like to try other stuff, but these are the staples, something from this list is in my fridge at any given time:

Southern Tier IPA or Harvest if it's late summer or fall
Sierra Nevada Torpedo - pounder cans
Yuengling Traditional Lager cans
Saranac if they have a good variety pack out (summer looks pretty good to me, will probably get that soon)

 

My go to's that are always in my fridge....

1. Sun King Osiris (IN)
2. Flat 12 Half Cycle (IN)
3. Daredevil Lift Off (IN)
4. SN PA

 

Real Ale Devil's Backbone, DFH 60, Sierra Nevada Torpedo--1 6pk. each in the fridge fairly routinely.

 

Go to IPAs of present...

Odell IPA
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed (hitting the most)
SN Torpedo
Lagunitas Sucks (if I can find it)


Pale Ale? Kona Fire Rock (My all time favorite)

Saison? Boulevard Tank 7 (My all time favorite)

Barleywine? Bigfoot (My all time favorite)

Stout? Varies

Porter? Varies

 

Odell Myrcenary and IPA
Deschutes Fresh Squeezed and Red Chair
Lagunitas Lil Sumpin
Bells Two Hearted
Founders Breakfast Stout
Surly Furious and Coffee Bender

I always will have at least half of those beers in my fridge at all times.

 

Viking Blod

 

I don't have any "Go To's" but I have a few "Fall Backs."

SNPA, Torpedo, and Two Hearted. Depending on where I'm at.