Five Reliable Six-Packs
Sometimes I get so wrapped up in The Daily Blackout I forget that good beer exists. It’s unfortunate, but these days, I spend most of my money scouring the city looking for new crap, and there’s not much left over at the end of the week for beer that I actually want to drink. Buying one or two really nice beers is usually out of the question, and that’s okay, because that peppermint schnapps flask ain’t gonna drink itself. But I do have a few beers that I buy regularly, and they’re not terribly expensive either. These are my “go-to” six-packs, reliable choices that never let me down. Each is readily available at your favorite beer supplier (unless you buy your beer at a gas station like Matt does).
Victory Hop Devil
Victory gets a lot of press here on CG, mostly because their beer is consistently good and affordable. Hop Devil is their flagship beer, a nicely balanced IPA that goes with just about anything. I cannot praise it enough, and here’s how highly I think of it: whenever I’m strolling through the store looking for a six-pack, I rarely make it past the Hop Devil. Hop Devil’s big brother, the Hop Wallop, is also very good, but harder to find and pricier, so stick with the Devil. Here in Boston, a sixer is about ten bucks, and believe me, that’s considered cheap.
Avery White Rascal
I’m trying to keep this from becoming an IPA fest, so here’s one of my favorite American witbiers. White Rascal is a deliciously smooth and super fruity, which is something I’m really fond of in a Belgian white. The beer is great, but what’s even better is that it comes in a can. It is, as far as I know, the only Belgian white that you can get in a can (unless you count some shit like Blue Moon). I love cans, and I wish more craft breweries would use them. White Rascal is a bit pricier than Hop Devil, but only by a buck or two. I wouldn’t pay more than 12 dollars for this, and that probably drops the closer you get to Colorado. Also check out Joe’s Pilsner, which is a really good session ale. A six-pack will not last long.
Sixpoint Bengali Tiger
Sixpoint makes a few beers and cans all of them, but my favorite is the Bengali Tiger, and yes, it’s an IPA. They sell them as tallboys in four-packs, so it adds up to a regular six-pack. The Tiger is pretty strong, at least compared to the other beers on this list, so you probably won’t want or need more than four of them anyway. I recommend you pour it into a glass, as this is one of the sexiest beers I’ve ever seen. Vibrant orange and very exciting. They sell for $11.99 here, and I’d gladly pay a bit more. If you live in NYC, I imagine you can find these for considerably less.
Hell or High Watermelon
This one’s a seasonal brew, so don’t expect to see it until April. I don’t usually like fruit beers because when they’re bad, they’re completely undrinkable. Many are too sweet and taste less like beer and more like alcoholic soda. Hell or High Watermelon is pretty much the only one I really like. This is the perfect summertime beer. Light enough for day-drinking, this beer uses the fruit in a very subtle way. The aroma is where you’ll notice it, but it does have a slight watermelon taste to it. Oddly enough, this is one of the few 21st Amendment beers I like. Their IPA is also good, and available in cans, but their other stuff doesn’t do it for me. A six-pack can be had for around ten bucks.
Coors
Yes, I know. I put an adjunct on a list that’s supposed to be about good beer. But sometimes, a really cold and really cheap beer is exactly what I need after a long or stressful day. This big yellow beauty is more than enough when you just want to throw back a frosty brew. I think of it as the McDonalds of the beer world. You know it’s cheap and nasty, but sometimes, you gotta have it. If I’m going to drink cheap beer (for fun, not for TDB), I’ll go with some Banquets. Or PBR. And what’s more American than a six-pack of Coors? You can taste the freedom in every sip. I don’t even know how much it costs because I don’t care. It’s just cheap. Suck one.