The 1000 Best Beers In The World (and where to find them in Calgary)

[VladtheImpaler]

The beer in Prague was superb, but I want to throw out some love for Eastern Africa and China. Those of you who like your beer strong will not appreciate these, but Tusker from Kenya and Xian Jing (sorry, not 100% sure on the spelling) are superb with some nice spicy food...

[SteveToms]

Are there any stores in Calgary that let you pick 6 beers, a pick your own 6 pack deal?

[NiklasSundblad]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

I disagree wholeheartedly. There are many prominent US micros that define their style as Belgian. And just because they can try something unconventional doesn't mean it's good. Like I said before, for every good micro like Lagunitas there are bad/mediocre ones like Rogue, Brooklyn brewery, Moose Drool, etc. There beer is overrated, it's definitely inferior to Canadian beer because quantity doesn't equal quality. The world's best beer is from Europe.

If you think Rogue and Brooklyn are mediocre-bad then I don't really think you have a handle on good beer.

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by NiklasSundblad

If you think Rogue and Brooklyn are mediocre-bad then I don't really think you have a handle on good beer.

Then, professor, tell me what good beer is, please.

[Buzzard]

Thanks for the excellent thread topic.

I love trying awesome new brews. So many on the list I've never heard of. Just thought I'd share one of my favorite beers. Cutthroat ale, by Tree Brewing out of Kelowna. Jeez I love that stuff. I can't describe it like the hard core beer snobs do, but damn it goes down well! I see it's 3rd on beer pals list of best English Pale Ales, so I guess my taste in beer is half ass ok! Grab a 6 & enjoy!

[Cain]

Mmm beer.

My friend and I have made it a mission to have as many new and different types of beers over the last 2 years or so and have tried quite a few in that span (we drink fairly regularly).

I'd disagree adamantly with the notion that canadian beer is better than american. Out of the types I have tried, the american ones are usually better, and more numerous. Both canadian and american mass produced cheap beers are pretty comparable in lack of quality. They kill us in microbreweries though.

That said, I have had a few good canadian ones that I've really enjoyed. I am a huge fan of the Trois Pistoles by Unibroue.

I don't think that the Belgian beers can be beat, at least nothing I have had compares. My favorites among those were the Chimay Blue, Orval and Rocheforte. Still a lot to try though.

I love lists like this! Gives me a whole new motivation to go and blow a lot of money on tasty beers.

[cmyden]

Spreadsheet updated.

Now includes data for 4500 beers or so.

In Excel, do a Data -> Sort and you can see which are the highest rated beers by Country or style.

Beers highlighted in red aren't available in Calgary, or at least aren't imported by Connect Logistics, the 'sole distributor of wines, liqeurs, spirits, and imported beer in Alberta' (according to their website).

I emailed them to ask why a search for 'Unibroue' shows 0 results in their database.

Connect Logistics

Hello, The reason why this unibroue product is indicating this, is because this product is discontinued. Therefore will not show up on the Alberta liguor guide.

Me

Hi Nicole,

That surprises me, you're saying that all of Unibroue's beers have been discontinued ? (Unibroue is a brewery).

I see their beers at all of the Co-Ops, and many other liquor stores in Calgary. It's one of the most popular breweries in Canada.

Thanks for your help either way.

Connect Logistics...

What is one of the cspc's cause I have looked at 8 and they are all discontinued. Which doesn't mean necessarily actually discontinued. They are just not consigned to Connect Logistics. Please let me know when you ask the liquor stores where they order from. I would be interested.

250 Highest Rated Canadian Beers

St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortel
Unibroue Trois Pistoles
Unibroue La Terrible
Unibroue La Fin du Monde
Unibroue 10
Bieropholie Imperial Stout
Unibroue Édition 2004
Unibroue 17
Unibroue Maudite
Unibroue Édition 2005
Unibroue 11
Mill Street Tankhouse Pale
Alley Kat Olde Deuteronomy Barleywine
St. Ambroise Vintage Ale
Hockley Valley Dark
McAuslan Cream Ale
Unibroue Don De Dieu
Unibroue 15
Unibroue LEphemere Apple
Wellington Iron Duke Imperial Stout
Unibroue 16
Unibroue Eau Benite
Headstrong Pale Ale
Creemore Springs UrBock
Unibroue 1837
Unibroue La Fringante
Scotch Irish Sgt. Majors IPA
Mill Street Coffee Porter
Unibroue Blanche de Chambly
Unibroue Quelque Chose
Unibroue Chambly Noire
Unibroue LEphemere (unflavored)
Creemore Springs Premium Lager
Unibroue Seigneuriale
Mill Street Barley Wine
McAuslan Griffon Extra Pale Blonde Ale
Unibroue Quatre-Centième (400)
Dieu du Ciel Corne du Diable
Dieu du Ciel Rosée dHibiscus
Niagara Falls Eisbock
Upper Canada Dark Ale
Phillips Amnesiac Double IPA
Church Key West Coast Ale
Le Cheval Blanc Blonde dAchouffe
King Brewery Pilsbock
Camerons Auburn Ale
Dieu du Ciel Solstice dHiver
Bieropholie Golding Indian Ale
Trader Joes Vintage Ale 2006
Cidrerie Leo Boutin Pomelle
Wild Rose Imperial IPA
Brutopia India Pale Ale
Au Maître La Route des Indes
Boréale Noire
Unibroue LEphemere Cranberry
Granite Ringwood Ale
Muskoka Cream Ale
Scotch Irish Corporal Punishment
J.R. Brickman Pilsner
Church Key Brave New Wheat
Phillips Black Toque India Dark Ale
Les Trois Mousquetaires 1870 Baltic Porter
Paddock Wood London Porter
Bieropholie Bock Emissaire
LAlchimiste Indian Pale Ale
Picaroons Best Bitter
Phillips Oatmeal Stout
Boréale Blanche
Bieropholie Calumet
St. Ambroise Pale Ale
Paddock Wood Double Double
Dieu du Ciel Voyageur Des Brumes
Charlevoix Vache Folle Milk Stout
Walkerville Classic Amber
Tree Jack in the Bock
Dieu du Ciel Equinoxe Du Printemps
Les Trois Mousquetaires Weizen Bock
Les Trois Mousquetaires Imperial Weizen
Church Key Decadent Chocolate Porter
Okanagan Old English Porter
Verger du Minot Cremant de Pomme du Minot
Les Trois Mousquetaires Siganture Series Oktoberfest Rousse 2008
Upper Canada Rebellion Lager
Alley Kat Radiator
Bièropholie Cascade Plus
Les Trois Mousquetaires Oktoberfest
Trader Joes Vintage Ale 2008
Half Pints Sweet Nikki Brown
Amsterdam Oktoberfest
Nickel Brook Ale
Paddock Wood Bete Noire
Niagara Falls Pale Ale
St-Ambroise Citrouille (Spiced Pumpkin)
Amsterdam Framboise
Bieropholie Cascade
J.R. Brickman Honey Red
Tree Spiced Mid-Winter Ale
Camerons Cream Ale
Vancouver Island Hermannator Ice Bock
Wild Rose Cherry Porter
Dieu du Ciel Rigor Mortis Triple
Castle on King Executioners Ale
Brew Brothers Prairie Steamer Amber Cream Ale
Church Key Flanders Brown Ale
Garrison Imperial Pale Ale
Marché Joannette Rauchweizen
Charlevoix Dominus Vobiscum Hibernus
Dieu du Ciel La Route des Epices
Great Lakes Brewing Devils Pale Ale
Durham Hop Addict
Picaroons Irish Red
Pump House SOB
Pump House Fire Chiefs Red Ale
Lighthouse Race Rocks Amber Ale
Ma Brasserie Projet X Pale Ale
Half Pints Weizen Heimer
Alley Kat Ein Prosit
Paddock Wood Bock
Paddock Wood Czech Mate
Unibroue LEphemere Peach
Charlevoix 8e Jour
LAmère À Boire Cerná Hora
Bedondaine et Bedons Ronds La Reyne Descosse
Propeller Pale Ale
Tree Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale
Le Cheval Blanc Blonde
Mike Duggan #9 IPA
Creemore Springs Kellerbier
Wellington County Ale
Le Cheval Blanc Brune dAchouffe
Picaroons Dooryard Summer Ale
Moxies Big Life Euro
Cidrerie Michel Jodoin Rubis de Glace
Black Oak Organic Oktoberfest
Half Pints Weizenbock
Les Brasseurs De Montréal Chi Orientale
Driftwood White Bark Ale
Clocktower Wisharts Bitter
Yukon Lead Dog Ale
Muskoka Hefe Weissbier
Cannery Blackberry Porter
Wellington Iron Duke Strong Ale
Charlevoix Vobiscum Ambree
Tin Whistle Rattlesnake ESB
Half Pints The Father
Brasseurs et Frères La Récidive
Boréale Brassin Festif
Durham ESB
Dieu du Ciel Vaisseau Des Songes
La Lièvre IPA
Half Pints Oktoberfest Lager
Hart Dragons Breath Ale
Olde Stone Or Dubh Stout
Great Western Brewhouse Light
LAmère À Boire Bière de Mars
Scotch Irish Vanilla Bean Porter
Phillips Double Barrel Scotch Ale
Les Brasseurs de Montreal Ghost town
Fort Garry Pale Ale
Tree Pale Ale
Helm American Pale Ale
Half Pints Pothole Porter
Les Trois Mousquetaires Noire
Propeller London Porter
Nelson Paddywhack IPA
Neustadt Scottish Ale
Hart Amber Ale
Les Trois Mousquetaires La Festive
True North Wunder Weisse
Great Lakes Brewing Winter Ale
Propeller ESB
Bushwakker Palliser Porter
Black Oak Nutcracker
Les Trois Mousquetaires S.S. Rauchbier
Sleeman Honey Brown Lager
Mill Street India Pale Ale
Beaus All Natural Lugtread Ale
Paddock Wood Xocolatl Porter
Seigneuriale Réserve
Phillips Grow Hop
Cidrerie Bilodeau Le Petit Bonheur
Granville Island Merry Monks Dopplebock
Howe Sound Garibaldi Honey Ale
Scotch Irish Santa Claws Christmas Cake Porter
Wild Rose Alberta Crude Oatmeal Stout
Tree Weizen Bock Wheat Ale
Creemore Springs Traditional Pilsner
Half Pint Little Scrapper India Pale Ale
Central City Red Racer Classic Pale Ale
La Barberie Blonde aux Chardonnay
La Lièvre IPA Impériale
Carlsberg Elephant Red
Le Trou du Diable Sang-dEncre
Grizzly Paw Moose Knuckle Winter Stout
Le Bilboquet Corriveau
Bushwakker Last Mountain Lager
Big Rock Assiniboine
Hop Nouveau
Okanagan Mild Dark
Grand River Ploegers Vlaams Rood
McAuslan Apricot Wheat Ale
True North Copper Altbier
Les Trois Mousquetaires Milady
Niagara Falls Olde Jack Strong Ale
King Brewery Pilsner
Yukon Arctic Red
Heritage Dark Lager
Brasseurs et Frères La Récompense
Yukon Aroma Borealis Herbal Cream Ale
Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion Almost Pale Ale
Schoune La Rebs Ale
Old Yale Sergeants IPA
Au Maître Brasseur LAltesse
La Chouape Ambrée Amère
Unibroue St. Hubert
Au Maître Pomdher Hutt
Cidrerie Michel Jodoin Le Pédoncule Sec
LAlchimiste Weizen
Bushwakker Bombay IPA
Neustadt Springs Porter
Molson Old Style Pilsner
Phillips Dirty Squirrel Hazelnut Brown
Buckerfields Extra IPA
Les Trois Mousquetaires Signature Series Oktoberfest Blonde 2008
Driftwood Blackstone Porter
Le Bilboquet MacKroken Flower
Granville Island Christmas Ale
Crannog Back Hand of God Stout
Black Oak Pale Ale
McAuslan Scotch Ale
Alley Kat Full Moon Pale Ale
True North India Pale Ale
Tree Honeycomb Pilsner
Nelson Faceplant Winter Ale
Tin Whistle Cherry Chocolate Porter
Great Lakes Brewing Orange Peel Ale
Durham Blak Katt
Scotch Irish Session Ale (Dry Hop Border Bitter)
Multi-Brasses Saint-Pierre Noire
Série Signature Alt Secrète
Bushwakker Sodbuster Brown
Moosehead Premium Dry
Brick Bock
Brewsters Blue Monk Barleywine
Dieu du Ciel Grande Messe
Durham Signature Ale
Amsterdam Autumn Ale
Alley Kat Fireside Mild



Highest Rated Common Beers That You Can Find In Many Pubs/Restaurants in Calgary

Beer - Rating (# of Ratings)

Guinness Draught - 3.8 (198)
Creemore Premium Lager - 3.6 (27)
Newcastle Brown - 3.4 (189)
Harp Lager - 3.3 (120)
Sleemans Honey Brown - 3.3 (37)
Steam Whistle - 3.3 (17)
Molson Old Style Pilsner - 3.3 (16)
Stella - 3.2 (155)
Rickards Red - 3.0 (29)
Rickards Honeybrown - 3.0 (20)
Big Rock Warthog - 3.0 (18)
Rickards White - 3.0 (13)
Wild Rose Brown - 3.0 (5)
Wild Rose Wraspberry - 3.0 (3)
Big Rock Grasshopper - 2.9 (21)
Big Rock Traditional - 2.9 (16)
Alexander Keiths - 2.7 (45)
Kokanee Gold - 2.7 (9)
Heineken - 2.6 (198)
Molson Canadian - 2.6 (93)
Strongbow Ciber - 2.6 (32)
Kokanee - 2.5 (40)
Corona - 2.3 (218)
MGD - 2.3 (137)
Budweiser - 1.9 (285)
Coor's Light - 1.8 (226)

[BurningYears]

Originally Posted by Cain

Mmm beer.

My friend and I have made it a mission to have as many new and different types of beers over the last 2 years or so and have tried quite a few in that span (we drink fairly regularly).

I'd disagree adamantly with the notion that canadian beer is better than american. Out of the types I have tried, the american ones are usually better, and more numerous. Both canadian and american mass produced cheap beers are pretty comparable in lack of quality. They kill us in microbreweries though.

That said, I have had a few good canadian ones that I've really enjoyed. I am a huge fan of the Trois Pistoles by Unibroue.

I don't think that the Belgian beers can be beat, at least nothing I have had compares. My favorites among those were the Chimay Blue, Orval and Rocheforte. Still a lot to try though.

I love lists like this! Gives me a whole new motivation to go and blow a lot of money on tasty beers.

my favorites hands down!
good job

[Komskies]

Anyone ever tried the Granville Island Winter Ale? Super delicious beer with a chocolaty aftertaste.

[cmyden]

A few years ago I had a 'World Of Beers' party. It was pretty fun, everyone was assigned a different country.

Here are the highest rated beers from each country, that are available in Calgary stores...

Australia
Coopers Best Extra Stout

Austria
Castle Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier

Belgium
Rochefort Trappistes 10

Canada
St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout

Czech Republic
Budweiser Budvarceske (Czechvar)

Denmark
Tuborg Gold

England
Fullers London Porter

Estonia
Saku Original Lager

Germany
Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock

Ireland
Guinness

Italy
Birra Moretti

Japan
Asahi Black

Mexico
Negra Modelo

Montenegro
Niksicko Tamno

Netherlands
Grolsch Premium Weizen

Scotland
Traquair House Ale

Trinidad & Tobago
Royal Extra Stout


Countries with beer that can be found in Calgary, but the beers aren't very highly rated...

Poland
Zywiec

Russia
Baltica 3

Singapore
Tiger

Slovakia
Golden Pheasant

South Africa
Castle Lager

Ukraine
Obolon

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Suave

This site is your friend. Just type in what kind of liquor you want and it will tell you which stores get it (though it might not necessarily be in stock). It will even tell you which store closest to you caries it.

Thanks for that, I really developed a liking for this kind of Beer when I was down in San Francisco last summer:



Didn't realize you could get them here but found a few places off that list.

Will grab a case or two for the Flames games this weekend.

[604flames]

Originally Posted by Komskies

Anyone ever tried the Granville Island Winter Ale? Super delicious beer with a chocolaty aftertaste.

I just wish they sold it in 12s.

[cmyden]

So last night we had a 'Beer & Cheese' party, and not to pat myself on the back, but it was a pretty big success.

If anyone wants to throw one, but doesn't feel like doing all the research/planning, I'll make it easy for you...

1. The invitation

WHO/WHAT/WHERE/WHEN

and then ...

WHY: Why? It's beer & cheese, that's why! Just in queso you haven't heard, this party is going to brie so gouda. You mozza come!

You're sure to havarti a great time, even Monterey Jack has already RSVPed!

Ok, I've milked this for all it's worth. Something is fonduementally wrong here. I've created a muenster. This needs to stop beaufort it gets out of hand.

Seriously, I'm feta up.

Please RSVP by [date] so we know how much cheese to buy!


2. For the cheese, go to Alberta Cheese Company

http://www.albertacheese.com/

They are a cheese manufacturer in Calgary, and they also import food products. Their retail outlet is open from 7AM-2:30PM

Lots of good cheese, at good prices. Lots of places/restauarants in town buy their cheese from here and mark it up.

Can also try Costco.

Which cheeses to buy? Here's the ones we picked, and what the party goers thought...

Brie <-- good
Camembert <-- better than the brie
White Cheddar <-- good
Gouda <-- gooda
Swiss <-- fine
Emmental <-- same as swiss, probably didn't need both
Provoleta <-- big hit
Honey Goat Cheese <-- big hit
Irish Porter Ale Cheddar <-- hit and miss, some really liked it
Oka <-- big hit
Havarti with Jalapeno <-- fine
Smoked Cheddar <-- hit and miss

You need about 1-2 ounces of cheese per person (about 50g).

For 18 people I think it cost us about $120 for the cheese.


3. Ok, now which beers to match them up with? We did a little Googling to see which types of beers are best paired with each cheese, and then matched them with the highest rated beers on BeerPal that were available in Calgary.

We came up with this list, and each guest was assigned one of them to bring...

Leffe Blonde <-- lot of people liked

Pilsner Urquell <-- so-so to good reviews

Rogue American Amber <-- not many liked

Pyramid Apricot Weizen <-- lot of people liked

Erdinger Dunkel <-- lot of people liked

Duchese de Bourgogne <-- had a weird vinegary taste at the beginning, but decent
aftertaste

Unibroue Blanche de Chambly <-- average, some liked

Rogue Hazelnut Brown <-- some really liked it, others didn't like it at all

Unibroue Apple <-- tasted just like Blanche de Chambly, not 'appley' enough

Fullers London Porter <-- not many liked, but then, a lot of people don't like porter

Schneider Weisse Original <-- good, lot of people liked

Rogue Chipotle <-- not a hit

Lindemans Lambic Kriek <-- good

Dogfish Head 90 Minute <-- not many liked


4. Pairing them up...

We printed out information cards showing why each beer was paired with which cheese. Just print, fold, and put them next to each beer/cheese combo.

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/amberalewithgouda.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/amberale...kedcheddar.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/belgianb...rcamembert.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/darkeralewithoka.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/dunkelwithgruyere.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/fruitbee...goatcheese.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/hefeweizenwithhavarti.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/palealewithprovoleta.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/pilsnerwithwhitecheddar.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/porterwi...tercheddar.bmp

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/witbierwithemmental.bmp

and one explaining why beer & cheese is better than wine & cheese...

http://www.ingle73.com/beer/beerandcheeseisbetter.bmp


5. Preparation

Buy some plastic containers from Co-Op ($2 each) to hold the beers. Layout the beers & cheese in their appropriate pairings. Put the info card beside them.

Put the cheese on cutting boards with knifes, etc. Throw in some grapes and bread as well. Pour lots of ice in the plastic containers to keep the beer cold.

Oh and the Raincoast crisps from any grocery store are pretty good for crackers.

cM