What country makes the best beer?

[Sadfield]

Didn't Michael Jackson in his later years start to claim that the USA is the best country in the world to be a beer drinker? It certainly leads the way in a range of more modern styles and I have found there they have the passion, inventiveness and inquisitiveness there to really try to push the boundaries and both in terms of developing new styles and refining and shaping existing ones.

But for me, of all the countries I have visited, the one which takes its beer the most seriously, the one that really elevates it into a cultural staple above all others is Belgium. They have a wide range of styles, of course, but they really excel, in my opinion, at making the really complex beers both well but also consistently. Brewing there is taken so seriously it's almost a religion. It may not be the most innovative modern brewing country but I think it's the country which cares most about beer. The beer lists in cafes, bars and restaurants all over the country read like wine lists do in other parts of the world. Whether it makes the best beer in the world is up for debate (although I think it does) but I think its beer culture helps it take top spot as far as I'm concerned :)

EDIT: I saw bantu1957's comment about Poland and it made me check the poll again. There is an argument for Estonia as a contender. They have an ancient and, in some pockets, continuing tradition of farmhouse brewing and their craft beer scene is spectacular. They might have the greatest number of excellent beers per capita of anywhere in the world!

I think that's the answer to a different, more interesting question, Which country has the best beer culture?

 

[An Ankoù]

A person who created this list has never heard of Poland and Polish beer? Definitely best beers in the whole world. 400 hundred brewerys and thousands of beer types plus of coarse home craft brewerys. Did you guys ever tried polish strong porter made by Żywiec or Tyskie, Żubr, perła lubelska, Okocim and many many more. So why Poland is not on the list?

I've tried Polish beer- not the porter, though. Yes it's OK beer. Haven't seen any of it in France, though.

 

[trummy]

'Haven't come across Big Mountain, but Mont-blanc is undrinkable in any of its manifestations. Expensive, too. I'm genuinely at a loss to understand how they manage to sell the stuff. There are plenty of good beers that are not to my taste, but this just isn't good beer.
Fischer makes a lager "Tradition" which is OK, well chilled, cheap and worth it for the swing top bottles (which they've just stopped doing) but their other beers: an amber and a triple hop are so cloyingly sweet that it's impossible to finish them. The Amber tastes like coca cola. Apart from my single sample bottles, who buys and drinks this stuff. Alsace grows some really good hops it's a shame they can't make beer. It tastes nothing like German beer, by the way.'

Where I was, a village/small town just below Courchival the Spar stocked the range of Mont Blanc and Fisher, and AA is right on the money - dont like Lager much anyway - but I have retained all the swing tops for future good use.

 

[An Ankoù]

Didn't Michael Jackson in his later years start to claim that the USA is the best country in the world to be a beer drinker? It certainly leads the way in a range of more modern styles and I have found there they have the passion, inventiveness and inquisitiveness there to really try to push the boundaries and both in terms of developing new styles and refining and shaping existing ones.

But for me, of all the countries I have visited, the one which takes its beer the most seriously, the one that really elevates it into a cultural staple above all others is Belgium. They have a wide range of styles, of course, but they really excel, in my opinion, at making the really complex beers both well but also consistently. Brewing there is taken so seriously it's almost a religion. It may not be the most innovative modern brewing country but I think it's the country which cares most about beer. The beer lists in cafes, bars and restaurants all over the country read like wine lists do in other parts of the world. Whether it makes the best beer in the world is up for debate (although I think it does) but I think its beer culture helps it take top spot as far as I'm concerned :)

EDIT: I saw bantu1957's comment about Poland and it made me check the poll again. There is an argument for Estonia as a contender. They have an ancient and, in some pockets, continuing tradition of farmhouse brewing and their craft beer scene is spectacular. They might have the greatest number of excellent beers per capita of anywhere in the world!

Yeah, but where does it stop?

While Jackson's comments on the American attitude might be true, it doesn't mean they make the best beer, by any means.
As for Belgium, I can't agree. Just because brewing has a monastic tradition doesn't mean it's taken as a religion. Beer lists? Aren't they to be found in many English bars? On a big chalkboard where the details are updated as every barrel is changed. What about the British tradition of making long and arduous pilgrimages to beer festivals and the fervour with which beer is sampled, ticked and scored on the listing in the festival booklet. There's a lot of gimic in Belgium: every beer having it's own glass might be nice, but it doesn't improve the beer.

 

[bantu1957]

I've tried Polish beer- not the porter, though. Yes it's OK beer. Haven't seen any of it in France, though.

https://renegadebrewing.com/polish-beer/Just have a look at very popular beers

 

[Cheshire Cat]

why isn’t Romulan Ale in the poll they make the best beer in the Galaxy.

 

[St00]

View attachment 67398
why isn’t Romulan Ale in the poll they make the best beer in the Galaxy.

Nothing improves my Dabo game like Romulan Ale.

 

[Sadfield]

View attachment 67398
why isn’t Romulan Ale in the poll they make the best beer in the Galaxy.

Needs more carbonation and about 5% Wheat in the grist to sort that head retention.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

This is also out of this world.

 

[An Ankoù]

I'll stick with the good old, tried and tested Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster if you don't mind. You know where you stand having your brains smashed out with a gold brick.

 

[St00]

I'll stick with the good old, tried and tested Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster if you don't mind. You know where you stand having your brains smashed out with a gold brick.

It's the only real defence against the Vorgon poetry

 

[An Ankoù]

It's the only real defence against the Vorgon poetry

Does Bojo's inane rambling count as Vogon poetry I wonder, Mr Speaker.

 

[St00]

Does Bojo's inane rambling count as Vogon poetry I wonder, Mr Speaker.

No, because you can escape Vogon poetry. . . .

 

[Big_Eight]

I see Japan's git a tick and I wonder if I'm missing something. I know Kirin and Asahi (made under licence in Italy and Germany) and my Greg Hughes rice lager is better by a mile.

Kirin owns both New Belgium (known for Voodoo Ranger, Fat Tire) and they recently acquired Bell's (known for Bell's Two Hearted). Kirin is a big player in the beverage industry. I believe they own some Australian assets as well.

 

[Paul7189]

A person who created this list has never heard of Poland and Polish beer? Definitely best beers in the whole world. 400 hundred brewerys and thousands of beer types plus of coarse home craft brewerys. Did you guys ever tried polish strong porter made by Żywiec or Tyskie, Żubr, perła lubelska, Okocim and many many more. So why Poland is not on the list?

The list was taken from a google search for the best brewing countries and a few added on when mentioned by members. I will add Poland for you!

 

[An Ankoù]

Well thus thread has inspired me to have another taste of Lancelot beers especially their Bonnets Rouges. Thus is a red beer. Red because its mixed with elderberry concentrate. Not overly convinced by the beer, but we get liafs of elderberries so in the autumn, I can feel an experiment coming on.

 

[Rodcx500z]

The best beer in the world is wait for it, user upper ale buy a country mile

 

[Brew_DD2]

Didn't Michael Jackson in his later years start to claim that the USA is the best country in the world to be a beer drinker? It certainly leads the way in a range of more modern styles and I have found there they have the passion, inventiveness and inquisitiveness there to really try to push the boundaries and both in terms of developing new styles and refining and shaping existing ones.

But for me, of all the countries I have visited, the one which takes its beer the most seriously, the one that really elevates it into a cultural staple above all others is Belgium. They have a wide range of styles, of course, but they really excel, in my opinion, at making the really complex beers both well but also consistently. Brewing there is taken so seriously it's almost a religion. It may not be the most innovative modern brewing country but I think it's the country which cares most about beer. The beer lists in cafes, bars and restaurants all over the country read like wine lists do in other parts of the world. Whether it makes the best beer in the world is up for debate (although I think it does) but I think its beer culture helps it take top spot as far as I'm concerned :)

EDIT: I saw bantu1957's comment about Poland and it made me check the poll again. There is an argument for Estonia as a contender. They have an ancient and, in some pockets, continuing tradition of farmhouse brewing and their craft beer scene is spectacular. They might have the greatest number of excellent beers per capita of anywhere in the world!

Great post

 

[Agentgonzo]

BTW, I’m still wondering where I actually wrote that Stella Artois (a really popular drink in France in the 1980’s) was manufactured there!

You mentioned it in France, then mentioned "other French beers", from which I inferred (obviously incorrectly) that you meant Stella was French. Apologies.

(And yes, it's pretty crap IMO. Even Jupiler is better than Stella).

 

[Dutto]

….. especially their Bonnets Rouges. Thus is a red beer. Red because its mixed with elderberry concentrate. ….. I can feel an experiment coming on.

That brought back memories!

My Granddad had a system when he retired. It was:

• Lunchtime = Miners Welfare.
• Evening = Miners Welfare.

He kept this up for many years then one day he announced at 12 noon “I’m off to bed!” and did the same that evening; and for the next TWO MONTHS became teetotal!

The family was aghast and were mightily relieved when, in early December
that year, he announced he was “off to the Welfare” and resumed his normal routine.

Now comes the reason for the tale!

My Grandmother couldn’t climb the stairs ‘cos of ulcerated legs so come Christmas she said to one of my cousins “John, nip upstairs. At the back of your Grandads bed you will find loads of Elderberry Wine. Pick a couple of bottles dated the year before last and bring them down for me.”

John returned with a tooth-mug stained a deep purple and the words “Sorry Granny, but every bottle is empty!”

Teetotal? Ha!! The old bugger just turned off his hearing aid and sat there with a beatific smile on his face!

Elderberry Wine or anything else made from them can taste delicious!

Enjoy!
:hat: