If you’ve been reading for awhile, you know that I’m a huge beer girl, and I don’t really love wine (excluding champagne). For whatever reason that tends to surprise people- I get the feeling that if you put bright blonde hair on any girl, it’s assumed that she’s either going to order a Cosmo or a chardonnay. False! You know what they say about assumptions…
I actually keep a list of all the beers I’ve sampled and try to find something new at every bar or restaurant, but I do have a few favorites that I’ll always go for if they’re available. Several of you asked me to do beer reviews a few weeks back, so I thought I’d share my five favorites! Disclaimer: I do not claim to be some kind of beer connoisseur, and to someone who really knows their stuff, I probably sound like a complete moron. I just like to drink it!
Yuengling Lager
I’m a Philadelphian- what do you expect? I didn’t realize that Yuengling beers aren’t available nationwide until a few years ago, because it’s on tap everywhere here. It’s just a good, basic beer, kind of caramelly and crisp. Goes down a bit too easy, actually, if you catch my drift.
Belhaven Lager
This is one of my absolute favorite beers, just because it tastes so unusual to me. I must have a weird palate, because I can always taste cheddar cheese in it, but everyone looks at me like I have three heads when I say that. It can be tricky to find- the ale is more popular.
Lagunitas IPA
I’m gonna jump on the bandwagon here, because everyone likes this. It’s perfect: slightly bitter but not overwhelmingly hoppy, and it’s not too heavy to drink with food like a lot of IPAs can be (to me, at least).
Ommegang Witte
This is one of my favorite lighter beers. It’s really citrusy and crisp, almost sweet, but with a heavier mouthfeel than stuff like Hoegaarden. It goes well with just about anything. (Side note: I loathe the word mouthfeel but can’t find a synonym for it…)
Victory Golden Monkey
This is another local brewery, and my dad is a huge fan. We always have a few bottles of Victory in the fridge, and this is my favorite of their perennial brews. Golden Monkey is pretty high ABV (9.5%), and has a spicy sweetness- it reminds me of sticking cloves in oranges, though that’s not actually what it tastes like. I make zero sense.
What are some of your favorite beers? If you’ve more of a wine person, what types of vino do you like?
I’m not too much of a beer girl- I’m attributing this to the fact that I live in the middle of NOWHERE and cannot get a decent selection of beer- unless you count: Keystone, Bud, Bud Light, Coors, and Coors Light a selection. When I lived in NY and could get my hands on different kinds of beers I liked them A LOT more!
I actually love Coors Light. Such a bro.
Despite being in Italy which is total wine country, I love trying the different European beers. I’d much rather drink beer than wine as well!
We STILL can’t get Yuengling in the Boston area!! Tragedy! We have a friend who brings us a bunch when he visits from New Jersey. My favorites are anything by Pretty Things a local (Somerville, MA) “gypsy” brewing duo. Especially the Jack D’Or. Anything they make is spectacular!
I love the Jack D’Or! The Baby Tree is my favorite of theirs though.
I loooove me some Yuengling…I went to college at Penn so I was used to seeing it everywhere, then when I moved back to New York I was so disappointed to not see it everywhere! Luckily my parents like it too, so sometimes they will pick up a case for me at a beer distributor in the suburbs…I’m also a huge fan of Lagunitas IPA. Then again, I like almost any IPA…
I’ve never had Yuengling or seen it anywhere - I’d love to try it! My favorites are Magic Hat #9 and Ravell (plus, it’s a local brewery with free samples!) and Allagash white.
Magic Hat #9 was the first beer I actually liked. If you like the Allagash you’d love the Ommegang!
I haven’t had Belhaven, but I’m a huge fan of Lagunitas IPA. If you like that one, you might also really enjoy Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale. It’s an American Pale Wheat Ale - a unique find.
I had that in December at a party! It was good- I’m a big fan of wheat beers.
My new obsession is the Raspberry Wheat at Iron Hill
That is one of my favorite summer beers! I love going there when Barnaby’s and Ryan’s are packed.
Lagunitas is my favorite beer! I didnt realize everyone loved it, but it makes sense! Bookmarked this post so I can try all yer faves
Love your beer post! Especially since it includes Lagunitas which is very close to me!
Favorite beer at the moment is Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale.
Most of the beers you listed I’ve never heard of. Must be because I’m on the West Coast.
I think people always assume girls like wine more than beer. Sometimes when I go out to dinner, servers seem surprised when I order an IPA. I love crushing stereotypes.
I’ve had the Mirror Pond twice, and I’m not really a big fan, which is surprising because I like most pale ales! You have to try Yuengling if you ever see it on the West Coast!
I love Blue Moon. It’s the first (legal) beer that I ordered once I turned 21 and I’ve been loyal ever since!
Love Blue Moon too. It’s my go-to at places with a small selection!
I love beer too! I have been loving IPAs recently, especially Dogfish Head 60 min and 90 min IPA. I’ve never tried Lagunitas, but I am very curious about it now….
Have you had the 120 Minute IPA? It’s REALLY hard to find but SO incredible. 18% ABV but doesn’t taste super alcoholic.
You know you and I have pretty similar tastes in brews. That monkey one sounds really good! You know…I’ll be in Philly the first weekend of March all by my lonesome and could use a hot date one night.
I’d love to see you when you’re here! We can get a beer
the summer after I turned 22, I decided to ditch the bad brews and start to look for beers that were actually delicious. something I could sip when not playing a drinking game in a frat house. there are some great microbreweries in Vermont, but I found most of Magic Hat’s brews to be a little too bitter for me. it took me a while to grow fond of IPAs. when I went abroad this fall, I fell in love with wheat beers. and I learned that ANYTHING tastes a million times better from the tap, especially when it’s poured a few miles away from where it’s brewed. I made a point to try the local beers wherever I went (Pilsner Urquell in Prague, Heineken in Amsterdam) and while I definitely liked some more than others, I grew to prefer most of them over a mixed drink when I went out. unfortunately, Copenhagen’s local brew of Carslberg tasted like Bud or Coors but it cost $5 a bottle.
your recommendation of Ommegang sounds like something I would LOVE and I will definitely try to source it so I can sample it!
Haha, I’ve had Carlsberg and I still liked it. My taste isn’t very refined, because I don’t find Coors Light to be too bad either…
I have to be REALLY in the mood to choose beer over wine. my favorite wines are any pinot noir or tempranillo, cupcake sauvignon blanc (with seafood), and bex riesling.
yum.
I’ll admit, I once bought the Cupcake wine just because of the name!
I got my dad witte for father’s day last year, and he liked it! I’m a fan of dogfish head (especially the 90 minute IPA), arrogant bastard (and other stone beers), and I’m newly into banana bread beer—you need to try it. It is amazing!
The kind they sell at Whole Foods? I thought it was so interesting when I tried it! If you like the Dogfish Head 90 Minute, you should try to find the 120 Minute- it’s insane. And Arrogant Bastard is one of my dad’s favorites, though I never have it alone because the bottle is so huge for such a high ABV!
I LOVE this post Gabriela! I am such a beer girl and I always get the weirdest reaction. It’s always my go-to. I’ll usually only have wine if I’m at a small get together, but I never order it out. I even find it tough to take the liquor route too. Not a vodka fan at all, but I can handle whiskey. In any event, beer always wins out. I just tried the Magic Hat Spring Vinyl (jumping the gun-think so!) and it was pretty tasty!!
It’s never too early for spring beers
I am NOT a beer girl! I’ve tried and tried to like it, but this past weekend proved to me that I just don’t and probably never will! I’m more of a cocktail girl
Haha, I used to be a cocktail girl too. I think beer is one of the biggest acquired tastes- when I first started drinking my freshman year of college I couldn’t stand it, but two years later I started to love it! Though I have to say, I wasn’t super impressed by British beers when I was there in May…
I hate beer. In college at parties, I’d rather stay sober than drink beer. It’s just not my thing. Wine, yes. Champagne, YES.
I wish I could like beer…it would have saved me so much money over the years but something about the taste..can’t do it.
My most favorite beer in the world is Kasteel Rogue, it’s a Belgian brew made with cherries and it is SO delicious! It’s also 10%, so I only need a few.
I’ve had the Kasteel Cru, which is the champagne brew. I liked it!
I love wine. Mostly reds, not sweet ones. But do like a good beer now and then, my fav is Fat Tire.
Ooh, I’m a big fan of Yuengling too. We’ve got it in Memphis/Nashville pretty much anywhere. Fun post! You make me want to try the others. I am way more of a wine drinker though, but every so often a big glass of cool beer sounds so good.
Golden Monkey is one of my very favorite beers! Tasty and strong, just the way I like it. Love belgians! Beer girls unite
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oh how i love some golden monkey! but i have to be careful not to overindulge in these on a work night. because one too many can really be over board. but sometimes they are just too good to say no to ONE more…