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The Blog of an (ex) Bartender Gone Terribly Wrong

I compiled this list some years back - there may be a few that you feel are missing either because they’re your own personal favorite(s) or because they’re newly arrived on the scene. I had worked in bar and restaurant management and bartending for about 18 years when my best friend told me he wanted me to come in as an expert consultant, and to manage the pre-opening phase of his business. We were in an area where there were already approximately ten to fifteen drinking establishments lined up and down the street all boasting a mish-mash of “100 Imported Draft and Bottled Beers”. I thus decided to put together a top notch “world’s best beers” list based on my own knowledge and experience and the recommendations of world renowned beer tasting experts.

This list includes beers, ales, stouts, porters, lambics, iambics, guezes etc. . Here it is. You can’t get most of these imports everywhere, so be glad if you can just find five or ten of them in a one hour driving radius from where you live.

Aass Jubilee (Lager); Draamen, Norway (7.8)
Aass Jule OL - Lager; Draamen, Norway (9)
Abita Turbo Dog Dark Ale; Abita Springs, Lousiana (7.6)
Adalscott Malt Liquor; Schiltigheim France (8.4)
AEgean Hellas (Lager); Atalanti, Greece (8.4)
Agulia Imperial Ale; Madrid, Spain (7.6)
Alaskan Amber Alt; Juneau, Alaska (7.6)
Alamaza Pilsener; Beiruit, Lebanon (7.8)
Anchor Porter; San Francisco, California (8)
Anchor Steam; San Francisco, California (7.8)
Anchor Steam Wheat Draft; San Francisco, California (7.6)
Anderson Valley Barney Flat Oatmeal Stout; Boonville, California (8)
Anderson Valley’s Deep Ender Dark Porter; Boonville California (7.6)
Artevelde Ale; Melle/Ghent, Belgium (8.2)
Ayinger Dunkles Ur-Weisse; Aying, Germany (8)
Ayinger Oktoberfest Märzen (Lager); Aying, Germany (7.8)
Ballintine India Pale Ale (7.6); Fort Wayne, Indiana
Bandersnatch Milk Stout (Draft) (8); Tempe, Arizona
Barbar Belgian Honey Ale; Belgium
Barril Clara Pilsener (Draft) (7.6); Mexico City, Mexico
Barril Oscura (8); Mexico City, Mexico
Bass Pale Ale (7.6); Burton-on-Trent, England
Bateman’s Dark Victory Ale; Waynefleet, England (7.6)
Bellhaven Scottish Ale (8); Dunbar, Scottland
Bieckert Especial Pilsener; Antartida, Argentina (8.4)
Big Rock Royal Coachman Dry Ale; Calgary, Alberta, Canada (mp)
Bintang Pilsener (7.8); Surabaya, Indonesia
Blanche de Bruges Wheat (7.8); Bruges, Belgium
Boulevard Bully Porter (7.6); Kansas City, Missouri
Brahma Pilsener; Rio de Jenero, Brazil (7.6)
Bridgeport Old Knuckelhead Barley Wine Style Ale (8) ; Portland, Oregon
Brigand Belgian Ale (7.6); Ingelmunster, Belgium
Buckerfields Swan Oatmeal Stout (7.6); Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Cardinal Lager (8); Fribourg, Switzerland
Catamount Porter (7.6); White River Junction, Vermont
Celis White Hefe-Weizen (8); Austin, Texas
Chicago’s Big Shoulders Porter (8); Chicago, Illinois
Chimay Peres Trappistes Ale Premiere (Red Label); Chimay Abbey, Belgium (9.4)
Coopersmith’s Horsetooth Stout (8); Ft. Collins, Colorado
Coopersmith’s Punjabi India Pale Ale (7.6); Ft. Collins, Colorado
Corsendonk Monk’s Brown Ale; Sigillum Monestary, Belgium (7.6)
Corsendonk Monk’s Pale Ale; Sigillum Monestary, Belgium (8)
Damm Pilsener; Barcelona/Valencia, Spain
Dillon’s Six Shooter Red Ale; Chatsworth, California (7.6)
Douglas Scotch Brand Ale (7.8); Antwerp, Belgium
Duffy’s Ale (Draft) (8.2); Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Duvel Ale; Breendonk, Belgium (5.8)
Edelweiss Kristallklar Weizenbier; Salzburg, Austria (8)
EKU Dark Hefe Weisbier (7.6); Kulmbach, Germany
Erdinger Weissbier Dunkel; Erding, Germany (8)
Erdinger Weissbier Hefetrub; Erding, Germany (8.8)
Erdinger Weizenbock; Erding, Germany (7.6)
Eske’s Bock; Taos, New Mexico (7.6)
Ettaler Kloster Dunkeltaller (9); Ettal, Germany
Felinfoel Double Dragon Ale (8.2); Llanelli, Wales
Felinfoel Dragon Ale (8); Llanelli, Wales
Felinfoel Hercules Ale (8); Llanelli, Wales
Felinfoel Welsch Ale (7.8); Llanelli, Wales
Fuller’s London Pride Ale (7.6); London, England
Gouden Carolus Ale (7.8); Mechelen, Belgium
Grant’s Imperial Stout (8.4); Yakima, Washington
Grant’s Spiced Ale (7.8); Yakima, Washington
Granville Island Bock (8.4); Vancouver, Canada
Grimbergen Double Ale (8); Waterloo, Belgium
Guiness Extra Stout (7.6); Dublin, Ireland
Guiness Pub Draft (7.8); Dublin, Ireland
Hale’s IPA Draft (8.8); Colville, Washington
Hansa Dark Pilsener (8.2); Bergen, Norway
Huanan (Lager) (7.6); Guangzhou, China
Jindao (Lager) (8); Qingdao, China
Kaiserdom Extra Dry Lager (7.8); Bamberg, Germany
Kaiserdom Rauchbier (Smoked Bavarian Beer) (7.8); Bamberg, Germany
Kirin Draft Pilsener (7.8); Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Kirin Dry Draft Pilsener (8); Tokyo, Japan
Kirin Ichiban Malt Liquor (8); Tokyo, Japan
Kirin Beer (7.8); Tokyo, Japan
Kiwi Lager (8); Timara, New Zealand
Labatt Classic Lager (7.6); Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Landskron Pils; Radeberg, Germany (7.6)
Leon de Oro Cerveza Especial (Lager) (7.6); Antartida, Argentina
Liefmans Kriekbier (7.8) ; Oudenaarde, Belgium
Mackeson XXX Stout (8.2); London, England
MacTarnahan’s Scottish Ale (7.6); Portland, Oregon
Maisel’s Hefeweisse (8); Bayreuth, Germany
Manhattan Extra Stout (Draft) (8); New York, New York
Manhattan Winter Warmer Ale (Draft, Annual) (7.6); New York, New York
Maredsous Abbey Ale; Denee, Belgium (8.2)
Maui Lager (7.8); Maui, Hawaii
McEwan’s Export Indian Pale Ale; Edinburgh, Scottland (8)
McEwan’s Scotch Ale; Edinburgh, Scottland (7.6)
McFarland Golden Fire Ale; Milan, Italy (7.8)
Messina Pilsener; Milan, Italy (4.2)
Millstream Lager (7.6); Amana, Iowa
New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale; Ft. Collins, Colorado (7.8)
New England Holiday Ale (Annual); Norwalk Connecticut (8)
Old Australia Stout (7); Thebarton, South Australia, Australia
Old Columbia Black’s Beach Extra Dark Porter (Draft); San Diego, California (8)
Old Detroit Amber Ale; Frankenmuth, Michigan (7.6)
Old Peculiar Ale; Mascham, England (7.6)
Oldenberg Weisse; Ft. Mitchel, Kentucky (7.8)
Paulaner Alt Mncher (7.8); Munich, Germany
Paulaner Oktoberfest Lager (7.6); Munich, Germany
Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock (8); Munich, Germany
Pete’s Wicked Ale; New Orm, Minnesoda (7.6)
Pilsener (8); Quito, Ecuador
Prestige Stout; Port au Prince, Haiti (8)
Raffo (Pilsener); Rome, Italy (7.8)
Red Hook Blackhook Porter (8); Seattle, Washingon
Bringnes Export Pale Pilsener; Oslo, Norway (8)
Rio Bravo Estephan Dark Porter (Draft) (8.2); Albequerque, New Mexico
Rio Bravo High Dessert Pale Ale (Draft) (8.4); Albequerque, New Mexico
Rio Bravo O’Keefe Dry Irish Stout (8); Albequerque, New Mexico
Ritterbr„u Pale Lager; Dortmund, Germany (8)
Rogue Maierbach Ale; Newport, Oregon (7.8)
Rogue Red Ale; Newport, Oregon (8.8)
Rogue Shakespear Stout; Newport, Oregon (9)
Royal Guard Pilsener; Santiago, Chile (7.6)
Royal Oak Pale Ale; Dorchester, England (8.8)
Samual Adams Triple Bock (9.4); Brewed at Bronco Winery in Ceres California or the Boson Brewing Company
Samual Smith’s Oatmeal Stout; Tadcaster, England (8)
Smual Smith’s Imperial Stout; Tadcaster, England (8)
Samual Smith’s Lager; Tadcaster, England (8)
San Miguel Dark Pilsener (8.8); Manila, Phillipines
Sante Fe Rubia Especial (Lager) (7.8); Sante Fe, Argentina
Sapporo Black Malt Liquor (8); Tokyo, Japan
Sapporo Black Malt Liquor (8.2); Tokyo, Japan (Japanese market only)
Saranak Black & Tan Stout/Lager; Utica, New York (7.6)
Schlafley Oatmeal Stout (Draft); St. Louis, Missouri (8)
Schutzenberger Jubilator Bock (7.6); Schildigheim, France
Siam Ale; Bangkok, Thailand (7.6)
Southwark Premium Pilsener; Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (8.2)
Spartan Lager (8); Atalanti, Greece
St. Stands Amber Alt (7.6); Modesto, California
St. Stands Dark Alt (7.8); Modesto, California
Staropramin Pilsener (7.8); Praag, Chechoslovakia
Steendonk White Ale; Breendonk, Belgium (7.8)
Steinlager Pilsener; Auckland, New Zealand (7.6)
Sun Valley Holiday Ale (Annual); Halley, Idaho (7.8)
Sun Valley White Cloud Ale; Halley, Idaho (7)
Tijuca (Pilsener) (7); Belem, Brazil
Traquair House Ale (8.2); Innerleithen, Scottland
Tusker Premium Lager; Nairobi, Kenya (8.6)
Upper Canada Rebellion Malt Liquor (7.6); Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Warsteiner Pilsener (7.8); Warstein, Germany
Watney’s Cream Stout; London, England (7.8)
Watney’s Red Barrel Lager; London, England (7.8)
Waihenstephan Export Dunkel; Freising, Germany (8.2)
Waihenstephan Weizen Bier; Freising, Germany (7)
Westmalle Trappist Ale (8.6); Abbey of Westmalle, Belgium
Whitbread Ale (Draft) (7.8); London, Sheffield, England
Widmer Festbier Lager (Annual); Tigard, Oregon (7.6)
Witkap-Pater Singel Abbey Ale; (8) Ninove, Belgium
Xingu Black Beer (Stout/Lager) (9); Cacador, Brazil
Young’s Oatmeal Stout; London, England (8.6)
Young’s Old Nick Christmas Ale (Annual); London, England (7.8)
Young’s Winter Ale (Annual); London, England (8-8.6)
Yuchan Pilsner; Beijing, China (8)
Yuengling Porter (8.2); Pottsville, Pennslyvania

I compiled this list after reading several beer encyclopedias and then (the fun part) tasting a good percentage of these. I did not stop there though. I also interviewed a few micro-brewers in Manhattan (Heartland Brewery and another on the upper west side of Manhattan, I’ve forgotten the exact street address.) as well as the managers at The Ginger Man, Burp Castle & Brewskies (famous beer pubs in Manhattan) to get some of the names of their small importers/distributors who would carry these brands - they were most helpful. I also befriended the owners of a few of the smaller distributors, one of whom was German, and they were very helpful to me finding out about why certain beers are available in one area of the country, but not another. States vary in how easily distributors can get various beers.

For example, in New York State the law requires that each beer must be re-registered annually and a five dollar fee paid. Distributors don’t like doing this work and unless the beer is super-popular they don’t bother - even if the beer is the best in the world. In New Jersey, however, once a beer is registered it remains registered for as many years as the label on the bottle does not change appearance. Once the label changes appearance then it must be re-registered with the State of New Jersey liquor authority. Hence, there are more fine imported beers available in the state of New Jersey than there are in the state of New York. Your state may have almost nothing available. Florida, for instance has very little going on in some of the less populated counties.

Hernando county used to have a so called “Belgian” micro-brewery which I wrote a piece on tearing it a new asshole for being a phony Belgian brewery. They didn’t carry any bottled beers - no Lambics, Iambics - nothing Belgian - and they boasted a Belgian style Ale using “rare Czhecoslovakian Sasz hops”. First, let me tell you, Sasz hops are famous in Pilsner Urquell, which is a lager NOT an ale.

Lager beers are not the same as Ales. Lagers are brewed at lower temperatures using a special strain of yeast that still thrives at these temperatures. The yeast sinks to the bottom of the fermenting brew and works slowly requiring about ten days to complete the fermentation process, thus they are known as bottom fermenters.

Ales, on the other hand, ferment more quickly and at a higher temperature and thus the bubbling fermentation process causes the yeasts to rise to the top. They are top fermenters.

Today there are all kinds of easy beer brewing kits with hops pellets, packaged yeasts, you name it. This stuff is great for dedicated hobbyists. I used to ferment my own Mead. To those of you who haven’t brewed anything, that’s an ancient form of wine made with honey instead of grapes. I like to think that Mead is more natural overall than home brewed beer or home fermented wine because there is no processed powder used as the base. For beer, if you’re not in charge of the whole process of sprouting your grain (creating malt) to get the maltose (grain-sugar eaten by the yeast), or for wine if you’re not viewing the grapes to choose which baskets, clusters or bunches are being used, then you’re really not in charge of the process. With honey, all you have to deal with is honey - and you can pick and choose from local bee-farmers honey. The only choice to be made is in the yeast (packaged but alive) - and for good high alcohol content Mead champagne yeast works best.

The point I’m making here is that although I’m sure there will be many home “Beer Brewing Experts” out there who will disagree with me regarding the Belgian beer place I was talking about above that used lager hops from Czechoslovakia in their top fermented ale while calling it “Belgian” style - Kit brewing does not make one an expert in anything but kit brewing using consistently high quality pre-packaged base products. Thery’re kits. Guaranteed to work. Anyone who thinks he or she can go in one step from kit brewing to becoming brewmaster at a major production brewery (or even a microbrewery) is nuts. Anyway, a few weeks after I told one of management at the Belgian place what I thought of their Sazs/Ale and the guy argued with me over this point, they went out of business and closed their doors forever.

I had applied there to make some extra money a few years earlier. It was like a scene out of “Groundhog Day”. I walked in and asked to see the menu. I didn’t see any Belgian beers listed, so I asked the manager/hostess if they had any Lambics. She gave me a blank stare. I asked her if they had any Iambics. Again, she gave me that same blank stare. Then she told me to hold on, she would ask the cook.

A few months later I went back - this time there was another manager on duty. He was also ignorant of all things having to do with Belgian brews. I could not believe that this place was staying in business with such ignoramuses working there - and with a big sign boasting that they were a Belgian brewery run by a family that had been in brewing since the 1500’s.

I can only guess that the family brewers were home brewers just like everyone else back in those days, and the restaurant/micro-brewery had built a reputation based on old great-great-great-great-great grandpa’s beer recipe someone found in an old shoe box up in the attic.

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