Comments on: How to pick the best 25 beers in the world

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:37:39 +0000

I had never seen MJ’s list before. I see it was published in 1982. Given the evolution in beer and beer styles, as well as the explosion in American Craft Brewing creativity, I wonder how his list would be different if he were around to do it again.

By: beer school » Blog Archive » the top 25 beer lists to top all the top 25 beer lists

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:57:37 +0000

[...] guy) over at appellationbeer.com made a list to help us make lists of things. here’s the link to that. but it was the quote at the top that got me thinking. that’s right, I’ve never made a [...]

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:07:26 +0000

I enjoy reading people’s Favorite 25 beer list. I hate reading people’s Top 25 beer list. (Again, like Alan, I agree with you.) But as a newish drinker (compared to many of those who have commented before me), I like to see what others recommend. Maybe I will try it. If it is good, it is good. I will try it once. Heck it might only be good enough to have while eating wings, but it might be that special beer to be drank on a special day. I want people to give me a list so I can be introduced to more, and when I see it, remember that I should try it.

But please, no Top 25 lists.

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:19:27 +0000

I was concurring with you on bestestness, just elaborating. And how sweet the modest gem. One southern Polish beer from near the Bohemian border had in 1991 is my 50 cent equivalent.

You know, it is not that I am solely value based in my thinking but I am starting to think that there is no one best structure of analysis for beer pleasure and conviviality. Each basis, each starting point for beer like style, value, objective taste, pairing, historical truth are all partial and to a degree tangential yet also illustrative.

By: Stan Hieronymus

Stan Hieronymus — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:15:51 +0000

Alan, if you read the last paragraph it should be clear that I find “best” elusive.

But I think that if you feel compelled to pick a favorite 10 or 25 or 1001 it is difficult enough without citing price and adding an extra equation to compute “best value.” Talk about subjective.

That said, in writing the post I almost pointed to Kout na Šumave Svetlý Ležák, which might be the best pilsner I’ve ever had and cost us 80 U.S. cents per half liter in the Czech countryside last year. Of course there is the expense of getting there . . .

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:23:00 +0000

“Price. Not part of the discussion.” This makes the rest meaningless. Overpricing underwhelms and undermines. Beer consumption is, after all, a commercial activity which includes (wonder of wonders) a buyer making a decision.

Besides that, “best” is meaningless. It’s meaninglessness itself. It’s like “top” or “foremost” in that respect. Why not have “my favorite 25″ or “25 from Ohio you may well like” or even “25 beers you should try if money was not an object” … but that last one is still hard to imagine. Beer that is part of a rip off laughs at you. Beer should not laugh at you.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:19:04 +0000

Whenever I have been asked what my favorite beer(s) is(are) I have to ask in what the context is for drinking this beer. While I am not a huge fan of trying to perfectly match beer and food, there are plenty of beers I won’t drink with dinner and some I only drink with food. Alternatively, am I in some dive bar where I am excited that PBR is on the list or am I at a real “beer bar” where I am going to order Cuvee Rene. Maybe I just over think things though.

By: Sean Inman

Sean Inman — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:21:37 +0000

Top 10 (or 20 or 30) lists are only created to generate discussion. Whether that discussion stays within the bounds of civil discourse is another matter. I prefer to stay away from lists because they breed second guessing. If I really enjoy a beer like Mikkeller Nelson, but I don’t see it ranked as high as I believe it should be then the doubt creeps in. Conversely, if I ever have the fortune of opening up a Dark Lord and if it doesn’t set the choirs of angels singing, then my palate becomes suspect.

Maybe we need to change the terminology. Instead of Top whatever, how about benchmark?

By: Bill Aimonetti

Bill Aimonetti — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:47:39 +0000

I have always thought that the perfect tee shirt for beer festivals and serious tastings would say “Palates Are Like Assholes”

By: Lew Bryson

Lew Bryson — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:48:17 +0000

For God’s sake, Jeff, Stan, this one’s easy. I’ve got a gun to my head and the triggerman wants the 25 best beers in the world? The first 25 beers I think of, there you go, where’s the exit, thank you very much BYE!