Beer is good – so are tunes. Here’s my current top 10 beers and the music I’m most interested in lately by artist.
First the good stuff – the beer. For those who read my earlier post, you’ll notice a few differences:
- Long Trail Ale (served on draft at the Ye Olde Tavern, Manchester, VT USA): in my hunble opinion the best beer in America, but only here. In a bottle it wouldn’t make the list. At the brewery maybe, but at this specific place it is a magical experience.
- Riverhorse Special Ale (served on draft at the Lambertville Station, Lambertville, NJ USA: nearly the same as above, but a couple of steps down.
- HopFish India Pale Ale: In a bottle from Flying Fish Brewing. This is the best IPA I’ve ever had in a bottle. It breaks into my list at #3. An excellent beer. Its the only botted beer I have in my list.
- Hacker-Pschorr (well conditioned and settled out): a fantastic beer when server correctly. Clean and crisp – it is everything Budweiser was meant to be and is not.
- Guinness Extra Stout (only on draft): well what can I say? Its a great beer – try to get it in Europe.
- Bass Ale (on draft at the Pig n’ Whistle, Manhattan NYC): The Bass at the PnW is fantastic – the hops are magnificent. I have no explanation for why the Bass is better here than anywhere else, but it is.
- Keizer Karel – Charles Quint (preferably in Antwerp at De Pelgrom or De Grootte Ganz): a mid-alcohol Belgian classic. There are few better things than a few of these on the Groen Platz in Antwerp on a summer evening. If you’re in De Grootte Ganz make sure you say “arrrggghhh” a few times
- Samuel Adams Boston Lager (on draft in my house!): Ok – so I have a home kegging system. A cold Sam in the afternoon with a keg fresh from Boston. Mmmmm…
- Anchor Steam (San Francisco – draft only): Another specialty beer best consumed on its native turf. Dark and malty, but also not too filling. Anchor is an American original for beer so get it and enjoy.
- Fullers’ ESB (draft only, Inn of the Hawke, Lambertville NJ): A great deep and hoppy ale with a ton of character.
What about the music? I won’t go into detail. If you don’t know the names…google works.
- The Who
- Pink Floyd
- Offspring
- Puddle of Mud
- AC/DC
- Weezer
- Smashing Pumpkins
- The Ramones
- U2
- Foo Fighters
- Rise Against

9 comments
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December 28, 2008 at 2:38 am
Setting up a Complete JBoss Stack on Fedora 10 « Tarn Aeluin
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March 1, 2009 at 6:47 am
Mike
Just passing by.Btw, you website have great content!
April 8, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Mark
Jeff, what’s your take on Beamish? I enjoyed that more than Guiness while in Ireland late last year. I’ve only seen it in cans here and can’t bring myself to try it.
Also, Riverhorse rocks. As does Anchor Steam (came to know that I lived in SF). They also distill a gin, Junipero, and a bourbon, Old Potrero, named after Potrero Hill section of SF where the Anchor Steam brewery is.
Cheers!
April 9, 2009 at 1:26 am
Beren
I’m not big on any stout in a can. I’ve had Beamish in Europe, but I guess I’m still a Guinness fan.
Here in the states I’ve had some good US stouts lately. Rock Bottom in King of Prussia has a good stout right now that is aged in a bourbon barrel. Pretty nice.
I didn’t know about this Anchor bourbon – that sounds interesting…although technically I don’t think it can be a bourbon unless it is made in Kentucky. Definitely sounds interesting – is there a plcae to buy it on the east coast?
There are a lot of really good beer places here in PA – Issac Newton’s in Newtown and the General Lafayette Inn are two of my favorites. Porterhouse in Lahaska is also pretty good…if you are ever in the ears I’m always up for a beer.
April 9, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Mark
You are correct, sir. It would be Old Potrero whiskey. Unless it’s distilled in Bourbon County, it ain’t bourbon. And I believe the Joe Canal’s in the Mercer Mall on Route 1 in Lawrenceville, NJ, carries both the gin and whiskey. Believe that’s the only place I’ve seen it.
June 14, 2009 at 1:14 am
Dave
You need a spot for any Victory beer, replace the Sam with Yuengling (you’re in Pennsylvania now) and try the Dogfish Head IPA, I promise you won’t go back.
June 14, 2009 at 1:25 am
Beren
Oh well- I’m not a big Yeungling fan…its ok and all, but not top tier. Dogfish is good stuff, but this is a tough list and I don’t see it breaking in. IMHO Flying Fish HopFish is about as good as it gets with American IPA’s.
August 4, 2009 at 9:02 am
Ruben
Kaizer Karel should be Keizer Karel (in dutch).
Great content!
August 5, 2009 at 10:38 am
Beren
Thanks Ruben – for some reason my spell checker didn’t get that one. It has been about 2 years since I was in Belgium. Maybe a sign it has been too long?
Soon I will post an addition for my “top 10 watering holes” – best places for beer on my list.