That's interesting. I've always loved a good Guiness, but lately have been trying to develop my palate for IPAs and their bitter hoppiness. IIPAs and triple (yikes) IPAs seem a bit out of my league at the moment, but I certainly won't shy away if presented with the opportunity.

Don't try Victory Hop Wallop. Bitter to the point of being almost undrinkable (by itself at least). Awful.

I have to say that this is pretty good. I split one with monitor the last time I was in NYC and we were both impressed with it.

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William R. Sanders
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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

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Fin du Monde is good.

Just had St. Bernardus ABT 12 Special Edition a couple weeks ago, was very good, but not worth the price premium.

My two cents.....

Augustiner Helles from Munich (my all-time favorite beer by the liter)
Stiegl
Tegernseer Bräuhaus Helles (from Bavaria)
Fuller's London Pride (good session beer)
Fuller's ESB (though not such a good session beer)
Weihenstephan Original Helles
Theakston's XB

For me, it's Guinness, Smithwick's, Anchor Steam and Rogue Dead Guy Ale.

In order:

Antarctica - Brazil
Beer Lao - Laos/Thailand
Asahi, Sapporo, or Kirin
Budweiser
OB Lager - Korea
Heineken

and my least favorite Belgian beer is Budweiser

I am a Guinness man through & through...:-)

How lucky you are to discover one of Britain's very best beers - a true classic.

Here's another one of my favourites which you'll find on sale in a few pubs
( have a look at their directory ).

www.hopback.co.uk/

The GFB is a great session beer, the Crop Circle is excellent and the Summer Lightning should be approached with great care as it is deceptively strong.

I like Leffe Blonde, Kirin, Tsing Tao, Kokanee and I think it was Hofbrau.....

Amazingly, "success" in the form of volume and wide distribution, and the scary ingredient of ownership by Gambrinus, the guy(s) who made Corona (once a sort of generic Mexican beer, no lime, for lime went to steel-canned Tecate) a household name, has not seemed to harm the little Spoetzl brewwery in Shiner, Texas.

Not "craft beers", simply good honest products. I'm still a fan of Shiner Bock, find "Black" enjoyable, and look forward to "100 Commemerator"

(this = La Fin du Monde)

When I lived in GLS* there was a small "grocery" around the corner where the local malt beverage connoisseurs stocked up on Bud Lite and Olde English before the midnight ethanol sale cutoff. Much to my surprise, the store had a nice stock of La Fin du Monde, Maudite, Duvel, Maredsous, and a few other nice brews at very reasonable prices ($6 or $7 for a 750mL Unibroue). Over the course of a year or so I emptied his stock. The owner was a bit disappointed when I told him I was moving. :D

*: Moved out a few months before the Gulf rinse cycle.

Grabbed a 750 of Delerium Noel tonight...didn't try it yet though. Will report back when I do :)

Yes, I was quite happy when they let Spoetzel do their thing and just help them out with their distribution. ;)

I like Shiner Bock and Shiner Black just fine. Not a fan of hefeweizens in general, so their other attempts have not tempted me to try them...Shiner Blonde, Shiner Helles, etc.

Anyway, the verdict on Shiner 100 Commemorator is in and I like it. I went to the Flying Saucer this weekend to taste Spaten Optimator as a comparison, and while I'm sure Spaten is not threatened by this local Texas product, it stands up well, IMHO. Not as much alcohol as Optimator, but stronger and darker than Shiner Bock.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

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Ah, now here's a thread.

Here in the UK - I'd prefer a decent bitter, Batham's is good or Landlord. Perhaps the odd pint of Mild to remind me of my misspent youth in Black Country pubs.

In Belgium, there's such a wonderful choice - something trappist in the winter like an Orval, Gueuze in the summer - but not a peche lambic in the Mort Subite unless I want to be called a tapette:D

In Germany, go with the local beer (except in Bankfurt where Binder is vile). Sion Kolsch is always welcome and Paulaner Dunkel in Munich.

In the Czech Republic - dark Budvar and dark Gambrinus rule.

In Australia - Crown Lager or Toohey's Old. Avoid the XXXX even in Brisvegas.

As for America, well, it's gotten a lot better. The wider availability of Shiner Bock, Fat Tire and Sam Adams are good things, but if pressed I'll enjoy a Rolling Rock.

Had my very first craft beer ever this year and discovered I really liked it. So since then I have been trying a lot of local breweries. I am still pretty new at it and haven't tried all that many varieties but so far my favorite is Deschutes Black Butte Porter. I haven't really acquired a taste for the IPAs yet.

Magic Hat #9 (Vermont)
Belhaven Scottish Ale (Scotland, duh)
Surly Furious (Minnesota)

and for "everyday" drinkability (and wide distribution), either Killian's Irish Red or Newcastle Brown Ale. Guinness if I'm hungry. ;)

I'll stop there... :D

I've always been a fan of fruit flavored beers: Pyramid Apricot Ale, Abita Purple Haze, Sam Adams Cherry Wheat. I've lately taken quite a shine to Sweetwater Blue.

An excellent strategy -- and I think we've turned Starwood Lurker into a full-fledged beer geek. Thanks for the comparative review, too.

It's snowing here today so I prepared for it last night by emptying a couple bottles of Dogfish Head's Burton Baton. It makes a marvelous match for winter weather, in my opinion.

I've recently been enjoying various Goose Island beers - Mild Winter and their Pale Ale. Pretty good stuff.

I need to add Krusovice dark beer to my list.

Enjoyed some in FRA this past weekend. I was surprised to see a czech beer on draft in an otherwise very German restaurant.

They had that on the fire sale list at Flying Saucer last weekend. After tasting it, I understood why...it is some serious rat piss of a beer. :D The only consolation for me was getting one beer closer to having my own plate on the wall...and getting this one out of the way. ;)

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

I think I've tried 3 Abita products, not including their bottled water, and enjoyed them all. I'm not a light beer fan, but found their version quite acceptable. I guess one man's rat piss is another man's champagne. :D

LOL. No doubt about that. I have to say that I was really surprised as I had found Abita's other offerings to at least be palatable: i.e., Turbo Dog and a mighty fine root beer.

But, if I'm going for a lambic or fruit ale in the future, I'm sticking to Lindeman's. ^

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

New Castle & Sam Adam's Seasonal Octoberfest :D

Great stuff. Cassis is my fav, but oddly enough it rates badly compared to their others (on Beer Advocate, etc.)

Give Dogfish Fort a try. Perhaps it's a sign of alcoholism that I like an 18% alcohol beer that comes only in 750mL bottles (too much for one; gotta share); for some reason I really like it.

Budweiser Select

saku (from estonia). now, if only i could find it in the united states!

Fuller's London Pride. Tastes Ok from the bottle, tastes exceptional from a hand pump on a cold winter day or by the Thames on a summers day.

That was one of four assorted bottles I grabbed as I left Somerset in December. I recall enjoying it. I'd love to try it from the tap. Of the 4, the only one left is a Morrissey Fox Blonde Ale. Perhaps I'll enjoy it with the game tonight.

I gotta stay local... my faves:

1. Victory Golden Monkey
2. Troegenator

Honorable mention: Victory St Victorious, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, Founders Breakfast Stout, New Belgium Fat Tire, Sly Fox Christmas Ale

To try: Dogfish Head Theobroma

I like almost all of Abita's offerings (the Pecan Ale being the exception) but, of course, as an LSU alum, they have the extra bonus of bringing back lots of happy memories from my years in Baton Rouge whenever I see them in a bar or supermarket around the country (which is increasingly happening!)

sounds like you're from the Philadelphia area........

Augustiner Helles
Tegernseer Helles

London Pride
Boddingtons

Sam Adams

Singha

Becks
Keiths

My two favorites are Blue Moon and Fat Tire

I had a Blue Moon at the Sheraton in Tarrytown last summer. Don't think I could make a habit of it, but nice during hot weather. Fat Tire is one of my favorites as well.

Tried a New Belgium 2 Below last week, which was nice. But, I have to say that the Avery Cask-Conditioned IPA I had yesterday is probably one of the best brews I've ever tasted.

Yeah, the beer nerdiness continues... ;)

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Oh, don't make me choose......I would have to say a two-way tie between Stella and Kokanee Gold.

Mmmmmm.........

I managed to get to Avery for a tour and tasting in December, if you're ever near Boulder, CO, stop by the tap room at least. They are open every day but Monday.

I haven't made it to New Belgium yet, but they are a little further north, in Ft. Collins, CO, and also have a tap room and tours.

And just to round things out, here are some other breweries with tap rooms, tours, and/or tastings in the Denver area (Ft. Collins Brewery is the only one where I haven't tried some of their offerings. Coors is about what you'd expect, the rest all have beers that I would seek out again).

Great Divide - Denver
Left Hand Brewing - Longmont
Boulder Beer - Boulder
Odell Brewing - Ft. Collins
Ft. Collins Brewery - Ft. Collins
Coors - Golden