Top 10 Summer Brews - Mad Beer Man Style

Stile E. Coyote, our intrepid Men's Style Examiner, just revealed to the world his "definitive guide to stylish summer brews."  See the picture to the right? That's an early version of his Top 10. Stile's in the "stylish" black ball cap being demonstrative about his choices. He changed his mind after some convincing.  As for his real, final list... not bad for a wardrobe fixing fashionista. Except for one "little" thing. How can you put a Carlsberg Lager on the same list as a Saison Dupont?

Blasphemy!

Sorry Stile... and no disrespect towards anyone who likes Carlsberg, but this lager from Denmark is the European macro-brew equivalent to a Budweiser. On the opposite end of the beer spectrum we have Dupont's Saison, which is bottled magnificence! So you show that you have some stylish taste by picking the Dupont, along with Sam Adams and a few other wonderful craft brews -- but Carlsberg?!  Come on!

As everyone knows (or should), beer lists are based solely on the personal preference of the individual writing them -- much like every "best of" list ever created.  For instance, I can't stand the super hoppy American beers (IPAs, Double IPAs, "hop monsters," etc.).  I don't get them, and I don't get the whole fascination with them. Frankly, a super hopped beer tastes like a prison riot in a landfill.  But that's me.  I'm a Hefe-a-holic, I like fruit in my beer (yes, I'm secure enough in my manhood to admit it), and Belgian ales light my fire.

With that, I offer my own Top 10 list.  Yes, it's from a bonafide beer geek and not a style savant, but do you really want style over substance when it comes to your beer?  Feel free to comment on it, tell me yours, or butcher it if you want... but you better bring your A-game up into this brew house.
 
Franziskaner Dunkel Weiss
This is my favorite beer. Period.  Doesn't matter the season.  If this German Weiss is on tap, I'm drinking it.

Schlafly No. 15
This phenomenal beer (an amber-colored ale with a delightful wheaty flavor and a fruity, spicy finish) from St. Louis brewery Schlafly was just introduced to me by a fellow Aleuminati member, The Beer Philosopher. This, along with several other of its offerings, is drinkable all summer long.

Widmer Hefeweizen
This was my very first craft beer. "The one" that kick started my craft beer obsession. It's a classic American wheat.

Russian River Supplication
Perhaps the single best beer made in America.  Period.  Vinnie and Natalie's use of Brettanomyces (a wild yeast also known as Brett) in this brown ale aged in French oak Pinot Noir barrels is nothing short of magnificent.

La Carcole Ambree
A Belgian Strong Ale that is smooth and "chewy" at the same time.  Much like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, not in taste -- in the perfect combination of flavors!

Pyramid Apricot Weizen
At one time this Weizen (from one of my favorite breweries) was all I ever slugged.  Yup, I got cracked on for being a big workout dude drinking what many call a "girlie" beer.  But that stopped quickly enough.

Great Divide Belgian IPA
Yup, Belgian yeast strains combined with just the right smack of hops.  WOW!  This special release brew is only available at the brewery, sometimes. I almost didn't put it on the list because it's so hard to get your hands on, but since I was just introduced to this beer last weekend -- and the great taste still tantalizes my taste buds -- I had to add it. Next time you're in Denver, swing by the Great Divide Brewery and try to coax Brian Dunn into giving you some.

BridgePort Haymaker
Just the right amount of hops from this Oregon brewery. They get the fine line that exists between artfully flavoring the beer with hops and making you feel like you've just been violated.  This really is "sunshine in a bottle." 

Tommyknocker Jack Whacker Wheat
Probably the least tasty of this batch, but I throw out big props to one of my favorite Colorado Wheats.  This is a true session beer, especially during the summer.

Erdinger Weissbier
Erdinger makes the second best Hefeweizen (after the above mentioned Franziskaner) on the planet.  As they should since not only are they German, but "the world's largest wheat beer brewery."


Topics: great divide brewing , Top 10 Summer Brews , Franziskaner , Schlafly , Widmer , Russian River Brewnig , La Carcole , Pyramid , Tommyknocker , Erdinger , The Beer Philosopher , Aleuminati