Beers for the Post-College Young Professional
Icehouse. Red Dog. Keystone. Even Burger – yes there is a beer called Burger. I’ve had them all. But those days are gone now. Since the glorious whatever-in-a-beer-bong college days have passed, I have been on a quest to find tasty new beers. Here’s three to try.
1. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. This was the beer that opened my eyes to the world of tasty beer. It is ultra-hoppy and packs a punch with 5.6% alcohol by volume (which is pretty stiff for American beers).
2. Guinness. This is a classic. Many a beer snob have damaged its reputation with their incessant blathering about it, but don’t be put off by them. This is good stuff. It’s gotta be poured properly and it gets better the closer you get to Dublin. In my experience, the best way to get a good Guinness in the states is to buy the big cans of it and dump them into a big pint glass without stopping. Guinness is not a “heavy” beer, it’s actually very light (only 125 calories). The only downside is the relatively low alcohol by volume, only 4%. Guinness is a stout.
Hint: Guiness + Sierra Nevada Pale Ale makes an outstanding black & tan.
3. Sierra Nevada Porter. Ok, I have a soft spot for Sierra Nevada. I think their beer is fantastic. If you find the Pale Ale is too hoppy, then try the Porter. It is very smooth and still packs a pretty good punch at 5.6% alcohol by volume.
Most microbrews make pale ales, stouts and porters. These are a nice change of pace from all the american lager’s (Budweiser, Coors, Miller, etc…) we here in the states are used to drinking. So go out there and have a beer adventure night! Try something new.
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My personal favorite now is Yuengling. The Lite version is good too. I like it because it’s usually about the same price as Bud/Miller but it’s got so much more taste.
Magic Hat #9 is phenomenal. Also, the myth of American Beers being lower quality or less alcohol than German or other European countries is quickly becoming a flat out myth. The micro-brew movement in this country has produced beers of far superior taste than you will ever find in Europe.
You must be on the east coast
I wish we could get Yuengling at all in the Midwest or West, let alone for the same price as Bud/Miller.
Great alternative brews in the Midwest include Leinie’s and any local microbrews. The ones I have found to be good in the West include Manny’s, Mac and Jack’s, and Henry Weinhard’s.
I agree that Sierra Nevada is a great beer. Glad to see Magic Hat is represented here too (I know, I’m homer since Magic Hat is brewed in VT), but while I like most of Magic Hats brews, the #9 is most definitely their best. Some other good VT microbrews are Long Trail and Otter Creek, and if you ever find yourself in the Green Mountain state, order a Switchback, which can only be found on tap in VT.
Anheuser-Busch has a Winter Bourbon Cask Ale that is quite good too, and widely distributed unlike some other bourbon beers that are nearly impossible to find.
Another of my favorites is Honey Brown, yes an East Coast brewed beer but also widely available, from High Falls Brewing Company out of Rochester, NY.
Another good brand: Dogfish Head. They make a good IPA and I believe they have a decent stout as well.
Red Hook is another brewery that offers some variety, a good blonde ale in the summer and an ESB year-round.
Using a pale ale for a black and tan???? Intriguing…