pope wrote:Here are some favs from my travels...
POLAND- EB. Can't compare to Zywiec, which is puke water. A fairly smooth beer.

I used to work with a couple of guys who moved to Chicago from Poland. They didn't feel comfortable living here until they found out they could still buy Zywiec. They said that it didn't taste as good over here as it does in Poland, but they felt a lot better knowing they didn't have to live without it.

Point from Wisconsin is a nearly perfect beer. It is cold, clear and cheap. It is served at draught at the Hop Leaf in Andersonville on Chicago's far north side.

It's nice to see Point get a mention. It's long been my standby. Easy to come by here in Milwaukee - my two favorite haunts, The Cactus Club and Art's Concertina Bar each have it both on tap and in bottles. Discount Liquor has non-returnables by the case for ~$10.

Another good, cheap beer I've encountered lately is Sterling. A very Schlitzy/Black Labely taste. And a fantastic looking can, which includes The Sterling Quality Pledge:

"We know of no beer made with finer ingredients than Sterling. We use choice mountain grown hops. Select 6-row barley and filter pure water to brew this premium beer. These select grains and hops, together with our natural ageing, make Sterling the finest beer obtainable at any price. . . . . Sterling. Pure Sterling."

Quite a pledge considering the stuff costs $3.99 a twelver. [/quote]

quote]
I used to work with a couple of guys who moved to Chicago from Poland. They didn't feel comfortable living here until they found out they could still buy Zywiec. They said that it didn't taste as good over here as it does in Poland, but they felt a lot better knowing they didn't have to live without it.[/quote]

Heh, that's weird. Zywiec was pretty nuch known as the 'lesser' beer while I was over there....

Since Point was mentioned as a good-value, perfectly servicable, regional beer (I've tried it and approved of it in my borscht-belt travels).

I'll add that the east coast is blessed by Yuengling (America's oldest brewery) out of Pottsville, PA. The traditional lager is a great all-purpose beer and a good alternative to pricier import lagers, the porter is not bad at all and serves as a budget Guinness alternative. The kicker - either brew sells for $4.69 US for a sixer.

I'm a fan of ales and stouts so i'll go down my brief list of ones that I hadn't seen mentioned yet. So in no particular order:

1. Celis Bock -- a nice bock from a an American microwbrewer who does Belgian style brews.

2. Dos Equis Amber -- a nice amber lager. I think Corona gives mexican beer a bad name and most places ruin this by serving it with a lime. It's not Corona so it doesn't need a fucking lime as it isn't piss in a bottle.

3. Bemish Stout -- a nice alternative to Guinness. Bemish is the shit.

4. Anchor Steam -- a San Francisco microwbrew.

5. Hoegaarden -- belgian witbier (white ale). A good choice for a summer beverage. Pretty light and refreshing.

6. Rogue Shakespeare Stout -- Rogue brewery makes some interesting varieties. This is up on my list of favorites as an American made stout. They also do a really good chocolate stout.

7. Fullers ESB

...

I'm glad someone mentioned Yeungling since i forgot it. It's definitely my standby cheaper beer that I can aquire at the 7-11 across the street from my house. Also there was a pretty good (from what I can remember) beer that was sold in Missouri called Cook's. I wasn't sure it was brewed but it turns out it's brewed in Indiana. You used to be able to get a case for $11, $1 off on the deposit if you brought your last case of empty bottles back. Not sure if I was just less picky then but I remember it being a decent beer for people on a budget.

i would definitely have to go with

1)kirin lager (sweet, but not over-sweet)

2)killian's irish red

3)red brick - made in a resturaunt/brewery in st. augustine, FL. it was the best.

and bar that charges "import" prices for kirin or killian's sucks. bye!

1. Guinness
2. Tennent's Velvet
3. Anchor Steam's Merry Christmas Happy Newyear Beer
4. I boycott Sierra Nevada

this isn't the way they do it in the UK. i don't know where americans got this, but my sources say it's bogus. just pour the fuckin beer already! and room temp if you please.

alex[/quote]

I was in a few pubs in the U.K. and at St. James Gate Brewery itself and they pretty much stuck to stewie's technique.