This is truly a question for which YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) because it is ultimately a subjective judgement what is "best". Do you like stouts and porters? Wheat beers? Belgian lambics? IPAs?

Asking what's the best beer is like asking what's the best food. Personally, at different times I'm in the mood for different styles of beer, just as sometimes I want a steak and other times I'd select seafood.

So I'll bow to the wisdom of Fred Eckhardt; Fred is universally acknowledged by his fellow reporters on the beer beat (and, if you didn't know, I get paid to write about beer for a couple of magazines) as the dean of American beer writers, as well as the man who literally wrote the book on sake -- his name's on the title page of the most-cited English-language guide to that beverage.

Well into his 80s, Fred is still covering stories better than most of us ever could while devoting himself to fine foods, delicious drinks and intelligent and beautiful women -- which is why so many of us who know him say we want to grow up to be Fred Eckhardt.

Anyway, as you might imagine considering his resume and reputation, Fred is frequently asked "what's the best beer?"

His stock answer:

"The one in front of me."