I am not going to write about Westvleteren 12. I am not going to write about how Queen’s Quay sold out in 4 minutes, moving 112 six packs at $76 each. I am not going to write about all this, because a lot of other people will. Westvleteren 12 is a great beer, world class, no doubt. I’ve had it a few times, and have always been impressed. It’s a beer that every beer lover should try. But I’m not writing about that.
I often get asked, “What’s the best beer you’ve ever had?” This is an interesting question, as it’s not “what’s your favourite beer?”, a much easier to answer question. I also don’t hear this question as being “what’s the best-made beer you’ve ever had?”. It’s not strictly about the brewer’s craft. How does one rate a beer, in terms that can then identify it as “best”? There are numerous judging standards, like the BJCP, which are a great start. Ratebeer.com and BeerAdvocate.com are user-rated beer databases, which rely entirely on (ideally) objective quantitative measures. Is the colour right? What about the aroma? etc. They are generally number-based, and fairly easy to use, if, say, judging a homebrew contest.
Cask beer at Castro’s in my Georgian-vintage pewter mug is at least 78% better than the same beer served in glass anywhere else.
But to me, this is missing a huge part of what beer is. It is not simply a fermented beverage that provides you with some nutritional value and also intoxicates you. Beer is a social and cultural experience. It can be political. It can be an emotional response. Drinking a beer often includes other people. None of these things really equate in the numbers game. “I give this bottle of Chimay Blue 6/8 in culture, for my sense of participating in history”. See what I mean?
I have had technically exceptional beers in the wrong setting, and while I was able to appreciate the excellence of the beer, the over-all experience wasn’t outstanding. I have also had mediocre beers in excellent settings and would rate them high on the “best-o-metre”.
So, how about that question of the “best beer”? Here’s my top three, in no particular order, and you might be surprised:
After not having seen my best friend, Andrew, for 2 years, the first pint of Guinness with him in The Crown Liquor Saloon in his hometown of Belfast, accompanied by a dozen Irish oysters was nothing short of sublime. Why? Guinness is good beer, but not necessarily an outstanding stout. But with the right people, in the right setting, with the right food, it was beyond incredible.
A few months ago, after finally picking up the used car we bought (after heaps of false-starts, hiccups, and general nonsense), Erika and I settled down on the couch with a bottle of DeuS by Bosteels, a chunk of Monforte Dairy sheep’s milk cheese, and some fruit and crackers. Again, perfect company, perfect food, and a perfect beer, all in reward for a lot of hard effort. A perfect evening.
On August 5th 2008, my son was born, after a pretty difficult labour/delivery. Erika was a rockstar and further cemented her right to the title “awesomest woman I know”. After being up all night for the labour, we both slept a bit during the day (her more than me, obviously), but I was just beat when I kissed her and Ben goodnight and headed home after dinner. I got home, checked some emails, and settled down with a cigar and a beer, specifically, a bottle of Mill Street Barleywine, the 2003 vintage that I had cellared for 5 years. In this case I was alone, but the decadence of the incredibly complex beer, and the sense that my world had just changed for the best, in the best way possible, lined up so that I will probably remember drinking that beer, long after I’ve forgotten my first pet’s name or what street I live on.
The best beer doesn’t have to be ultra-rare or expensive, it doesn’t have to even be “cool” or “craft”. It’s bestness (yes, it’s a word now), has as much to do with where you are at, physically, emotionally, etc, as it does with what it actually is.
So let me ask you: What’s the best beer you’ve ever had?
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