beers to serve to your Friend who Claims to be a Beer Snob

I came across this title of an article I was reading today and I thought I'd share it with the forum. I am by no means a beer expert, but I know there are some real beer afficianados on the forum. I thought it would be interesting to get comments on these brews, favorable or not. So all of the beer experts, let's get your evaluation.

ALLAGASH TRIPEL Portland, Maine 9% APV

BRASSERIE LEBBE L'AMALTHEE Villfranque, France 6% APV

BROOKLYN LOCAL Brooklyn N.Y. 9% APV

DUCHESSE DE BOURGOGNE Vichete, Belgium 6.2% ABV

GOOSE ISLAND MATILDA Chicago, Ill. 7% ABV

HAIR OF THE DOG BLUE DOT Portland, Ore. 7% APV

LE BALADIN XYAUYU Piozzo, Italy 13% APV

LOST ABBEY RED BARN ALE San Marcos, Calif. 6.7 % APV

STONE ARROGANT BASTARD Escondido, Calf. 7.2 % APV

PLINY THE ELDER Santa Rosa, Calf. 8% APV


I am looking forward to the comments.

I would replace the Stone Arrogant Bastard with the 13th Anniversary . To a snob ArBar is standard fare.

replace Goose island Matilda with either New Holland Black Tulip Trippel Ale or Bornem Trippel (personally think they are both better than Belgian pale Ales) If you want a true Belgian pale ale go with Affligem, for a Berlgian IPA go with Piratt

Which Brooklyn Local 1 or 2?

Add Ayinger jaurhundert Bier

my 2cents

I don't claim to be a beer snob but I'd say this is a pretty solid list. I've never had the French beer. Sounds intriguing though. I love Lost Abbey though I've never had the Red Barn. Amazing that an Italian beer made this list, but no Germans or Czechs!

I'd probably add a Gueuze, Cantillon maybe, or Drei Fonteinen.
A Jolly Pumpkin. An Avery. A Troegs.
Definitely a St. Bernardus (probably the Abt 12). Also Orval.
La Folie. Fantom. Hennepin. God there are so many good beers...

Hmm, what else? Browning's Resurrection Stout.

The Mathilda though an A-B/InBev affiliated product is really good IMO.

I think I'm going to go have a beer right now!

I think the term beer snob is the best example of an oxymoron there is. I think the/your term beer aficionado makes much more sense. Just put a beer, any beer, in front of me and let me taste it. I'm either going to like it or not. To each his own. I don't and I doubt most beer aficionados really want to get deeply involved in speaking of floral, citrus, or fruit notes (I love my Hops). I think the beauty of beer vs. wine is the casualness of beer. The lack of pretentiousness is what makes beer so awesome.

I'm sure all the beers listed are on or near the top of someone's list and not in the top ten of others.

Who needs to be a beer expert anyway? Just keep trying new beers every chance you get. Experiences are knowledge.

good list Justin

i would also eliminate the Stone, because of the commonality of the beer among beer geeks
and toss the Goose because of the AB/Bud/InBev association (although the beer itself is better than anything else offered by Goose, way overpriced though)


i also have never had the French or the Italian on your list

so my four replacements to that list

NABC Thunderfoot - may a better stout never pass my lips
I need the St Bernardus 12, Rochefort 10 area covered in my list as well
Something funky like the Rodenbach Grand Cru,Ommegang Ommegeddon (or smokey like the Schlenkerla s)
A hoppy midwestern wonder like Hoptimus from NABC, Hopslam from Bells, or Double Trouble from Founders

and the Dulle Teve would add one more

now, i'm thirsty

good list Justin

I thought we were just commenting on the posted list.

Like I said earlier, I'm really not one for deciding what beers are the best, but here are some of my favorites. I tend to try something I have never had every time I'm drinking beer.

Three Floyds: Alpha King
Bells: Two Hearted
Sierra Nevada: Bigfoot Barley Wine, Torpedo, Pale Ale
Alaska Brewing: Smoked Porter
Fullers: Fuller's E.S.B.
NABC: Elector, Bob's Old 15-B, Community Dark
BBC: Nut Brown Ale
Anderson Valley: Boont Amber, Hop Ottin' IPA
Rogue: Dry Hopped St. Rogue Red

First of all, I'd like to say that I am a Beer Geek. Beer snob has a certain negativity to it that I don't dig on. Anyway, if we are talking about serious Beer Geeks, there are a few beers I'd add to the list.
First would be Surly Furious out of MN. It my favorite American IPA of all time. No beer geek list would be complete without some Three Floyds. Take your pick of many great beers they do. Although, BrooDoo (Their Harvest Ale) and Apocalypse Cow are my #1 & #2 from. Also add Founder's Red's Rye Pale Ale. From out west, I'd keep Hair of the Dog, but switch it from Blue Dot to either Adam or Fred. Deschutes Black Butte Porter is another favorite. Port Brewing out of San Diego (I believe) does an amazing array of hopped up West Coast Style beers, so go for Hop 15 or Wipeout IPA. Then we should talk about Russian River. First of all, keep Pliny the Elder because it is fantastic. But, we would need to include at least one of their sours, as that is what they are really known for. So, I'd go with Supplication. Brown Ale aged with Cherries in freshly dumped Pinot Noir barrels for 18 months. Ridiculously good. As for your list, skip Arrogant Bastard, like Matthew said. But, I'd go with Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale. Its a Black ale hopped up to IPA levels. It is truly sublime. Finally, while I like the Duchesse, I'd go with La Folie like Shawn suggested, or Rochefort Grand Cru. Monk's Cafe is also a nice Flemish Ale. I don't know if this actually hit what you were asking for, but I sure enjoyed writing it. I need a beer.