??Best Six-Pack, under $12.99??

What are some suggestions for every day drinking?

Needs to be readily available at a place like Binny's. Can be any type.

Boulevard just hit the area - I think 6-packs are just at the $10 level. I haven't had any yet but folks on BA seem really excited to see them in the area. Metropolitan's Krankshaft and Iron Works are stellar examples of their respective styles (Kolsch and an Alt) and come in under $13 (I think). I think Bells and Founders tend to come in at that price-point, as well. Bells' Two-Hearted and Oberon are solid; for Founders, I'm a fan of the Red Rye and Porter, especially. FFF's sixers, I believe, can be found at that price, too.

If you're willing to go cans, Half Acre's current line-up of Gossamer (golden ale), Daisy Cutter (very hop-forward pale) and Over Ale (brown) are great. Typically $9/4-pack of 16oz. cans.

Wow... for me there are too many to narrow it down easily. I'll suggest a handful.

Three Floyds Alpha King (they usually run out fast at Binnys when they get it in) is my favorite normal bottle of beer. It's pretty high alcohol, reasonably bitter, with a pronounced hop character. It's an American Pale Ale technically. But it's sort of Amber in color... just an astounding beer. Some people can't handle the intensity of higher hoppy IBU (bitterness) beers... it's like a shock when you're expecting something like you find at the ball park. So if my Old Style friends want to try one, I give them a short pour and a warning first. Yeah, I'm a beer babysitter. But I learned it from having friends leave full open bottles of amazing beer on the table at the end of the night.

Lagunitas Pils is _my_ best suggestion for "normal beer" for people who aren't into craft brew. It's a perfect little Pilsner, great for barbecues, great for times when you have people coming over who normally do Corona, MGD, etc. It won't offend their delicate uniform and standardized palettes.

Left Hand Milk Stout is the best dark beer that Binny's carries in a 6 pack. The PERFECT beer for chili, spicy food, or just sipping. It's NOT like Guinness. It's NOT like chewing aspirin. It's got a slight sweetness to it, but it's not as intense as an imperial stout. Highly recommended for people who don't think they like dark beer.

Two Brothers Cane and Ebel is a cross between a Pale Ale and a Rye Ale, I believe. It's similarly assertive, compared to Alpha King. And I guess the color in your glass is similar. Great hop and bite. Extremely drink-able beer.

If you want to try something a little interesting, Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale is a brighter tasting pale ale, GREAT served really cold. Really a cool beer. Their Copper Ale goes great with BBQ as well. But it's a little intense for some folks. Two Brothers Bitter End and Resistance beers are both spectacular, too.

Basically, I'm a huge nerd for beer that's memorable. There are dozens of incredible craft brews available in that price range at Binny's. Three Floyds, being an Indiana brewery, and Two Brothers being a western suburban brewery are special for me. They also have no mercy on you. They're not trying to appeal to your sense of what beer is, but rather showing you what they think beer should be.

All of Stone's beers are fantastic. All of Lagunitas' beers are worth trying, with some being AMAZING. Any Three Floyds beer is great. Bells. Founders. Great Lakes. Lakefront. If you can't decide, just find a dude in a maroon polo and tell him what you normally drink, and that you'd be interested in suggestions along those lines, or something totally different, etc.

I think beer is my only hobby, since my career is based on other people's hobbies.

"Best" 6-pack? Best, if of course, subjective and going to depend on what YOU like in a beer - so it's difficult to answer (ale vs. lager? light vs. dark? hop-bomb? etc.).

For MY tastes I'll echo the reco on Bell's Two Hearted. I'd add Two Brothers Heavy Handed. Modus Hoperandi, at $7.99, is a real deal AND is a "real" six-pack (in cans) good for out-and-about locations where glass might present an issue.

There's a lot out there but really need to know more about your likes/dislikes wrt beer.

Thanks for the ideas. That'll give me a start. I used to live in KC, so I am familiar with Boulevard.

I usually drink Gumballhead and SN Pale Ale. Need to try some new things.

So beer geeks must drink A LOT of beer to really have a handle on all that is out there. I maybe go through a six-pack per week, as I also drink wine, bourbon and the occasional cocktail.

I drink any/all styles of beer. The only beer I ever found unpalatable was a Flanders red ale, yikes!.

I wouldn't say I drink that much (errr... ), but it helps to know where to drink -- in particular, try out the bar in the Whole Foods off North Ave. They tend to have a lot of local options and will do flights. Goose Island (Clybourn) and Revolution Brewing both do flights, as well, and while you may not be able to buy in stores what they have on draft, you'll at least get easy exposure to additional styles. For example, if you try Revolution's Riot (Czech-based Pils), you could buy a growler to take home or pick up a six-pack of the Lagunitas Pils like Tape Deck suggested.

I try to avoid buying a bottle of something without trying it somewhere first so I don't get stuck with a six-pack I don't want to finish (Great Lakes' Christmas Ale was a huge miss for me). Some stores will sell single bottles and/or 'make-your-own-six packs', too - Archer Liquors (near Midway) and Armanetti's (Lincoln & Addison) come to mind - and that's a great way to try a variety of things all at once.

If you're currently enjoying Gumballhead and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, something like Two-Hearted, Alpha King and Daisy Cutter are definitely going to be similar, but with more malt and bitterness. Rye-based ales like Cane & Ebel or Red Rye will run a little sweeter (but still maltier than Gumballhead and SN).

And if you keep seeking out new styles, you may one day come around on that Flanders red ale! If had tried Madame Rose from Goose even a year ago, I would not have been able to finish it. Give me a glass today and I'll call it one of the best things ever.

teatpuller wrote:Thanks for the ideas. That'll give me a start. I used to live in KC, so I am familiar with Boulevard.

I usually drink Gumballhead and SN Pale Ale. Need to try some new things.

So beer geeks must drink A LOT of beer to really have a handle on all that is out there. I maybe go through a six-pack per week, as I also drink wine, bourbon and the occasional cocktail.

I drink any/all styles of beer. The only beer I ever found unpalatable was a Flanders red ale, yikes!.

Much like taste, the term "alot' is subjective! Funny thing is I don't drink alot at home, it is a thing I do socially, it just happens to be that I take my socail obligations seriously...

As far as the Flanders red, ymmmm .... though I do admit they aren't for everyone.

SSDD

danimalarkey wrote:I wouldn't say I drink that much (errr... ), but it helps to know where to drink -- in particular, try out the bar in the Whole Foods off North Ave. They tend to have a lot of local options and will do flights. Goose Island (Clybourn) and Revolution Brewing both do flights, as well, and while you may not be able to buy in stores what they have on draft, you'll at least get easy exposure to additional styles. For example, if you try Revolution's Riot (Czech-based Pils), you could buy a growler to take home or pick up a six-pack of the Lagunitas Pils like Tape Deck suggested.

I try to avoid buying a bottle of something without trying it somewhere first so I don't get stuck with a six-pack I don't want to finish (Great Lakes' Christmas Ale was a huge miss for me). Some stores will sell single bottles and/or 'make-your-own-six packs', too - Archer Liquors (near Midway) and Armanetti's (Lincoln & Addison) come to mind - and that's a great way to try a variety of things all at once.

If you're currently enjoying Gumballhead and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, something like Two-Hearted, Alpha King and Daisy Cutter are definitely going to be similar, but with more malt and bitterness. Rye-based ales like Cane & Ebel or Red Rye will run a little sweeter (but still maltier than Gumballhead and SN).

And if you keep seeking out new styles, you may one day come around on that Flanders red ale! If had tried Madame Rose from Goose even a year ago, I would not have been able to finish it. Give me a glass today and I'll call it one of the best things ever.

To add some other great options for trying numerous different beers, you can stop by Haymarket, which does 4oz tasting portions of their brews as well as their guest drafts. These are an exact prorated amount based on the pint price, so for example a beer that goes for $6 a pint will run you $1.50 for the 4oz tasting size. Bangers & Lace also does tasters, but theirs are more like 2oz and they are $2, although the six-pack of tasters (not sure if this is limited to the beers designated the "six pack" of taps or if it's just a price for six samples) is $9. 32 taps to choose from there.

So a six pack for $13.01 is definitely out?

For every day drinking beers I generally think of beers that I can keep drinking one after another for awhile. While I love some of the beers mentioned above (i.e. Two Hearted, Cane and Ebel) I generally just drink one or two of those at a time due to their bitterness and high alcohol content (I also like to spend less than $9/6 pack for my day to day beer). The beers that I drink a lot of tend to be a bit milder, and change seasonally. I buy MANY different beers, but the ones I buy by the case or keg regularly are:

Two Brothers Domaine DuPage - a really easy drinking beer that has a good balance of sweet malty body and hoppiness for my tastes. I like it quite a bit for cooking as well, and use it for braising and reduction sauces frequently. It's mostly a Fall and Winter beer for me.

Guinness - It's Guinness, enough said. Low in alcohol and you can drink it all day long. You can live on a daily diet of 42 Guinness and a multi-vitamin. Also good for many winter cooking recipes. I always have at least a couple in my beer fridge (if not a full case).

Gumballhead, Oberon, Krankshaft - I always have at least one of these beers in my fridge in the Spring and Summer. Nice warm weather beers.

Einbecker Maibock - My Spring go to beer. Very well balanced and easy drinking.

Trois Pistoles, Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock - Good strong depth of winter beers.

Red Seal - My favorite amber beer, works well in summer and fall.

In general I like to always have a variety of beers around, with the selection tilting towards heavy in the winter and lighter in the summer.

Attrill wrote:Trois Pistoles, Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock - Good strong depth of winter beers.

Interesting. I'd always associated Dopplebocks with Lent and, therefore, Spring. I do like Celebrator, though, regardless of which season it is!

Look for Finch's Cut Throat to arrive on shelves soon, and in a few months Revolution's Anti-Hero IPA, Bottom Up Belgian Wit and Eugene Porter. Both new Chicago production breweries.

I had some of the Finch's last night at Hop Leaf (on tap) and it was very good.

If you like IPAs, I recommend New Belgium's Ranger IPA (which now comes in 12-packs too). It's a super-solid, strong-tasting but not over-the-top example of the style that showcases the lovely aroma and taste of the more flowery hops, rather than the copper-and-pine profile that characterizes many of the IPAs on the market (and almost every Lagunitas beer). (Sorry, that last accusation might have been too strong. :-p)

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold. Maybe not the "best", but I can't seem to get enough of it. So, I'll say it's a very good 6-pack under $12.99.