You love beer. I love beer. But do you know if your guests love beer? If you're facing a big crowd with lots of different tastes, here are five great brews to have in the fridge.
• Sam Adams Lager
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
• Rogue Dead Guy Ale
• Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA
• Oskar Blues Ten Fiddy Imperial Stout
The idea here is to hit a range of tastes. Sam Adams is the "safe" beer: most people recognize it, like it, and will drink it if their favorite beer isn't around. The Sierra Nevada pale ale and Rogue's Dead Guy are also fairly familiar, but push the edges a little. The pale ale will appeal to folks who like bitter beers while Dead Guy is sweeter and maltier.
The last two are for your beer lovers or folks wanting to try something different. They might be a little extreme for people who usually drink Corona and Bud Lite, but you'll make your guests who like more intense beer flavors very happy. You could really replace these two with any new, favorite, extreme, or otherwise mind-blowing beer you've recently discovered.
Which five beers would you recommend having on-hand for a crowd of mixed beer drinkers?
Related: Saison to Gueuze: Best Beers for Wine Lovers
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I'd also recommend St. Pauli Girl - it's inexpensive but pretty good.
I love these posts.
While I like them both, I'd probably swap out the SNPA or Dead Guy for a hefeweizen (Franziskaner would be my choice, widely available and inexpensive). A bit "exotic" yet extremely approachable and refreshing, and an option for those who like lighter beers without much bitterness.
I stick with local beers -- Abita Amber and seasonal strawberry, Tin Roof, Covington Ale. Louisiana has great beer!
The Boyfriend has a rule that there always must be two "levels" of beer in the fridge when we have a party. The first level consists of "showoff' beers-- a few trendy, delicious microbrews (we live in Wisconsin, so there are lots to choose from, but we especially love O'So brewery's Night Train Porter and Furthermore's Knot Stock, we usually also stock an "easy" beer like Spotted Cow). The second level is for when the party gets rolling and no one's going to be paying attention to the brew in their bottle-- this usually means PBR.
Rahr & Sons Ugly Pug Black Lager - Flavorful enough for dark beer fans but light enough for casual drinkers.
If the drinkers are big beer fans, I'll break out something different like Brewdog's Hardcore IPA or Jester King Black Metal Imperial Stout. Or something I home brewed.
Some good ideas mentioned. I'll add Stella Artois, Pacifico, Old Speckled Hen, Dos Equis, Heineken, Spaten, Fischer, Carlsberg, Miller Lite
a little off-topic, but ....it's funny how beer tastes change. a bud light hasn't been in our fridge for a LONG time, but when we were in college it was the "nice" beer (busch and natural light being the staples at most house-parties...)
and the article is right... sam adams for bud-light drinkers, then keep a few for fellow beer-lovers
(i'd also throw in a red and a white wine for those who don't drink beer at all... those people don't know what they're missing!!)
I would have to lean towards regional beers too.
I live in Texas so Shiner Bock would *have* to replace the Sam Adams. I'd throw in a blonde ale as a lot of people tend to like it (Southern Star or Real Ale). Rahr & Sons Scottish Ale for the people who like malt. Sierra Nevada pale ale is good but not over the top for the hops lovers. And then something flavored for people to try... Shiner's seasonal (ginger grapefruit beer) from last year got people talking.
If I was entertaining people heavily into craft beers, I'd make them all bring a six pack of something they love. You'd get a pretty interesting mix of good stuff.
I always like to have Samuel Smith's Organic Lager on hand. It's always a crowd pleaser even for those who are not huge beer fans.
Any Boulevard Smokestack Series. My favorites are Sixth Glass and Tank 7.
Bell's Best Brown and Oberon. Short's Bellaire Brown. Stone Arrogant Bastard. Newcastle Brown for a house beer.
I always bring Session to parties. I think there was a post previously on what a good party beer it is too.
My husband and I were in charge of beer for my mom's birthday a couple years ago, and she continues to remind us that some of our choices are still in the fridge because nobody she knows would drink any of the dark beer we chose. I don't know if it is regional, generational, or what, but I've never failed so badly at buying party beer.
I would definitely add in a lighter lager like Yuengling or Spaten. A lot of light beer drinkers I know won't even touch Sam Adams Boston Lager.
My rule of thumb is to always have at least one lager, one ale and one dark beer. I heartily agree with everyone who showcases interesting local beers.
My 5 would be Dogfishhead 90 minute IPA, Climax Brewery Nut Brown Ale, Brooklyn Lager, Flying Fish Seasonal, and a Lambic.
@Verily, I'm hanging out with you. Iron Thistle for your friends? You are awesome.
I love seeing all the regional beers! Microbrews are gaining. =)