Ten Great Beers You Must Try

By Ryan Matty

There are beers for all seasons, beers for all occasions.  Nothing beats sharing good times and good beers with great friends.

After visiting dozens of breweries and brew-fests, and bellying up to countless bars, I’ve drank plenty of noteworthy brews. Below is a list of ten that you have to try.

I’m not going to lie, as a Pennsylvania resident, I have a slight bias to my local PA breweries.

But hey, I’m not saying these ten beers are the best in the world, I’m just saying that they are some of my favorites and for good reason: they are incredible.

What are you waiting for? Read the list, call your friends, and get down to the pub.

Ten Great Beers You Must Experience Now:

1. Dogfish Head 90/120 minute IPA. No other IPA has the superb balance of a malty and sweet backbone with the perfect hop kick. Both of these beers are delicious, but sip them carefully as they are tremendously high in alcohol. Milton DE’s Dogfish Head Craft Brewery produces unique and tasty brews, so the “off-centered” brewery’s products are worth checking out.
2. Southern Tier Pumpking Imperial Ale. Southern Tier has been making some great beer since its inception in 2004. This pumpkin ale from the Lakewood, NY brewery, at 7.9% ABV, should be sipped in a goblet in order to appreciate its full quintessential fall flavors. With subtle hints of toasted pumpkin and spices, the beer is smooth in the mouth and has a wonderful hop presence to crisp up the finish.
3. New Belgium Fat Tire. Based out of Fort Collins, CO, this beer is the uber-sustainable brewery’s flagship offering. With a biscuit-like malty body, the beer is impeccably balanced with the perfect amount of hops. If you are a fan of amber ales, this is one of the best examples of the style along with Newport Storm Hurricane or Long Trail Ale.
4. Brooklyn Brown Ale. The name says it all. Brooklyn, NY’s Brooklyn Brown Ale is a tasty American brown ale style. With caramel and nutty flavors, this beer is certainly worthy of a taste. Also, Brooklyn’s brewmaster, Garret Oliver, holds celebrity status in the craft beer industry, as does Dogfish Head’s Sam Caligone.
5. Victory MoonGlow Weizenbock. This heavily carbonated dark and strong wheat beer pairs perfectly with some good cheese. Downingtown, PA’s finest, Victory, is most famous for its Hop Devil IPA, but Moonglow is a “fly under the radar” offering. If you like wheat beer, this one is worth a try, but be prepared as it most certainly has some intense flavors of banana and clove. A word of caution though: pour slowly if pouring from the bottle since it is heavily carbonated.
6. Lancaster Brewing Company Milk Stout. Simply put, this beer is dessert in a glass. Lancaster, PA, well known for its heavy Amish population, should also be known for Lancaster Brewing Company. This milk stout, a quintessential example of the style, is sweet and not hoppy at all. The beer is incredibly smooth and one should drink this beer after it has been sitting at room temperature for about 20 minutes to really appreciate its flavor. Looking for a twist? Try mixing this beer with Lancaster’s Strawberry Wheat for an interesting blend of tastes.
7. Sly Fox Rauchbier. Good luck finding this, but this gold-medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival is like drinking a campfire. I know that sounds harsh, but it is a compliment. The smoky overtones dominate the taste of this ale. The whole experience of drinking Rauchbier reminds me of sitting at a campsite with friends and a roaring fire blazing in the background. Phoenixville and Royersford, PA’s gem of a brewery is Sly Fox. The brewery has always been my go-to staple for a refreshing brew and a quick bite to eat.
8. Belfast Bay Lobster Ale. Every sip of Belfast Bay’s Lobster Ale reaffirms my love of New England. The giant lobster claw tap handle sparked my interest right away. After finishing my pint, I wanted another, but I had to leave for an event, but the beer is definitely quaffable. It has a slight hop bite at the end, but the beautiful red-brown color and smooth mouthfeel make for an incredible drinking experience.
9. Samuel Adams Summer Ale/Octoberfest. Now I am torn here. I want to make these separate entries, but I have to leave room for one more amazing beer. These are two styles that epitomize the seasons. A hot summer day is to a cold Sam Summer Ale as a crisp fall afternoon is to a cold Sam Octoberfest. Boston’s Samuel Adams generally makes top notch beers, some of them pretty extreme, but these are 2 of my favorite seasonals of all time from any brewery.
10. Chimay- Red Label. What beer list is complete without a Belgian beer? Chimay is a wonderful example of what Belgian beer is. Brewed by monks in the Trappist style, flavors of clove and banana dominate the balanced and refreshing brew. Drink this from a goblet to experience everything it offers.

I am always excited to try new and different beers. What do you recommend? Comment below.

Always a science person, Ryan Matty works as an Analytical chemist at a major Biotechnology Company. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Environmental Science and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Environmental Science. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys golfing, lifting weights, hiking, flag football, company softball, watching Steelers football, camping, and jogging. He tries to be green so he practices what he preaches. He drives a VW Golf TDI and eats a healthy, organic diet. In addition, Ryan loves good beer and what the craft brewing industry has done in the last 25 years. His favorite season is Autumn.

Read Ryan’s article, “Ten Reasons Why Pumpkins Make Autumn Great“.