The Best Beers in America

My Guide to Beer

There is already a lot of very good, comprehensive information about beer on the web. So there is not much point in trying to duplicate that effort here. I suggest taking a look at The Real Beer Page.

But if you don't want to do a lot of research or experimentation (which can be fun, despite the risk of drinking a lot of crud before you find the truly great beers), here's a shortcut. This is a list of my favorite American beers. Most of these beers are from the Northwest, since that is the premier brewing region of the U.S. (and my own regional bias may be somewhat of a factor as well). But if you stick to these, you can't go wrong.

Red Hook E.S.B. - An all time favorite.
Samuel Adams Boston Lager - This is the beer that first made me realize that beer could actually taste good. And for that, I will be eternally grateful (even though they have now sold out and started making a light beer).
Grant's Scottish Ale - One of my favorite styles of beer is the scottish ale. And Grant's Brewery, in Yakima, Washington makes just about the best that I've had. A little bit heavier than the other scottish ale on the list (see McTarhahan's below), this is a beer that will put hair on your chest.
Pyramid Apricot Ale - I don't usually like fruit flavored beers. Often they come across as too gimmicky. And usually they are either too sweet, or they just don't taste very good. But this one is a very noteworthy exception. Unlike most other fruit and beer combinations, this one works. The beer and apricot flavors really complement each other well, without one overpowering the other. The result is an amazingly delicious and refreshing beer. At a summer barbeque, maybe with some grilled salmon, this would be the perfect beverage.
Alaskan Smoked Porter - Now here is a beer with a really powerful, smoky flavor. It's only available around the holidays, and you probably wouldn't want to drink it on a hot summer day anyway. But in the middle of winter, preferably while sitting in a pub in front of a fire, nothing beats it.
Alaskan Amber Ale - Quite possibly my favorite, especially for accompanying a meal. When I'm looking for a great flavor that won't overpower the taste of the food, more often than not I'll end up with a pint of this fine brew.
Widmer Hefeweisen - The first hefewiesen I ever had, and still my favorite.
McTarnahan's Ale (Portland Brewing Company) - Another great example of the scottish ale style.
Maritime Pacific Nightwatch - Hard to find, even in Seattle, so I make sure to have a pint whenever I see it.

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