“I like beer; it makes me a jolly good fellow…”

– Tom T. Hall

I enjoy a good beer every now and then. I do not drink to excess; indeed, a six-pack can often last me up to a month or more. But I have come to appreciate a good beer with certain foods such as steak, hamburgers or bratwurst.

In my opinion, beer is an acquired taste. For someone accustomed to water, coffee, tea and soft drinks, their first beer can be a very unpleasant experience. Beer is never sweet. Really, beer isn’t all that good. But once the taste for beer has been acquired, it can then be enjoyed with various foods as I have mentioned above.

Over the last decade I have grown to appreciate many imported beers, as well as a few domestics. Up until this time I basically only drank Budweiser. Budweiser is no longer on my list of go-to beers. I will say that I only like lagers and some pilsners – absolutely no dark beers or IPAs for me!

Like most people, I have my favorites. I am going to share some of those favorites with you, in alphabetical order, and then I invite you to share your favorites as well by using the “Leave a Reply” function at the end of this post.

Czechvar

When I mentioned “Budweiser” above, I was referring to the product made by Anheuser-Busch. There is another Budweiser, made in the Czech Republic – Budweiser Budvar. Since A-B owns the rights to the Budweiser name in North America, though, it is sold here as Czechvar.

Dos Equis

To paraphrase the old Dos Equis TV commercials: I don’t always drink Mexican beer. But when I do, it’s usually Dos Equis. A very smooth beer which goes great with Mexican food or even domestic steak or hamburgers.

Heineken

One of the first beers I tried other than Budweiser, this Dutch import has become one of the beers I find myself going back to again and again.

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

Every spring I look forward to the availability of Leinenkugel Summer Shandy. It is a combination of weiss beer and lemonade flavor. A delicious and refreshing mixture. It goes away in the fall but comes back every spring.

Leinenkugel’s Original (lager) and Honey Weiss beers are also good choices.

Narragansett Lager

Founded in 1890, Narragansett Brewing Company sold out to Falstaff in 1965 and eventually suffered the same fate as Falstaff. In 2005 the brand was purchased by new investors and brought back. They now distribute throughout the eastern USA (including Indiana). I found Narragansett to be exceptionally smooth.

St. Pauli Girl

Technically not an import as it is brewed in St. Louis, St. Pauli Girl is nevertheless based on a German lager of the same name. I find it to be a smooth beer, and it goes well with various meats.

Warsteiner Pilsner

This German import is a bit on the bitter side but still enjoyable. Naturally, it goes well with bratwurst or other German foods.

Yuengling Golden Pilsner

The label says “Refreshing & Smooth Beer”. And indeed it is. Yuengling Golden Pilsner is one of the smoothest beers I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

Yuengling Traditional Lager

It has been said by folks in Pennsylvania that if you went into a bar in that state and asked for a “lager”, you would be served Yuengling. Folks attending the Kutztown radio swap meet (who did not live in Pennsylvania) were first introduced to this beer, as was I, upon their first visit to the town. I wasn’t really crazy about Yuengling Traditional Lager at first but the taste sort of grew on me. It is now one of my favorite domestic beers.

Now you’ve had the opportunity to read about many of my favorite beers. Let me know which ones you prefer using the “Leave a Reply’ box below.