I have no doubt that beer will be a recurring theme in my blog posts. While I am by no means a beer expert, I certainly consider myself to be a connoisseur of good beer. With that in mind I would like to make my first official blog post a beer list.
Over the years (since turing 21 of course) I've consumed my fair share of oat sodas. I've sloshed my way through many a case of cheap college beer and enjoyed every drop of a microbrew or european import. I've sipped on pints of hand crafted brews at local breweries and I've poured pitcher upon pitcher of grog at many a bar or bowling alley. So here they are, in no particular order, my top five favorite beers.
1. Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) - For some reason I always get odd glances from party store clerks and bar tenders when I purchase PBR. If they are older than 40 this glance is usually followed with some silly comment about how they used to drink a lot of PBR "back in the day." I've always enjoyed this simple American Lager. It has a crisp, refreshing taste that goes down great with salty popcorn or a good hotdog. The price is fantastic and there is something very retro about drinking a beer that most people thought didn't exist any more.
2. Bell's Oberon - I don't think I would be allowed back into Kalamazoo without including this beer on the list. I remember a time in my life when I hadn't ever had Oberon... It was a sad time filled with way too much mountain dew. Fortunately, those days are behind me. This beer is like summer in a bottle. The hint of citrus and that unmistakable cloudy orange color make this beer one of Kalamazoo's finest exports.
3. New Holland Poet Stout - This is the stout that got me hooked on Oatmeal Stouts. The beer is as black as night and as thick and chewy as a hearty bowl of oatmeal. It has wonderful hints of dark chocolate and espresso and a velvety smooth texture that make this beer a meal in itself. If I could only drink one beer it would be this one.
4. Founders Pale Ale - I am a huge fan of Pale Ales, particularly the Indian brand. This beer is a more recent discovery but it has quickly risen to the top of my list. It has a perfect balance of bitter and sweet and it is light enough to drink with just about anything. I've found a bleu cheese cajun burger to be the best compliment to this beer though. I've lived in Grand Rapids for 7 years now but I've only recently discovered the wonders of Founders Brewing Company. I am certain this is not their finest creation, but it is a damn good beer.
5. Bell's Porter - I've got a thing for Bell's beer. I think that because my band used to rehearse across the street from the brewery must have something to do with my bias toward Bell's. Either that or they just make great beer. I was first introduced to the porter by my dad and uncle. I had recently turned 21 and was down visiting my folks. We made a trip to the famous Bell's beer garden and I was told that when you go to Bell's you always get the Porter. I followed the rule and was treated to something truly amazing. The beer was dark and robust but it was not heavy like a stout or a wheat ale. It danced across my tongue exciting my tastebuds and I've made sure to follow that rule of ordering the porter every time I visit Bell's.
Before I sign off I should let you know the answer to yesterday's trivia question - Illinois and Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and New York and New Jersey. I find it very interesting that three out of the four states that start with the letter "I" are right next to each other. I also find it interesting that there are four states that start with the letter "I." Do you know what the most common first letter for a state is?
Post your favorite beers in the comments and see if you can figure out the answer to todays question without looking at a map. Cheers!
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