RIP Anchor Brewing

I tried Killian's more than a few times back in the day, but it always tasted flat to me.

And then once I graduated from brown ale to Guinness, it's been nothing but stout from then on.

 

Killian's was actually the first red ale I had many years ago when I was vacation in Florida (I have never seen it here in Canuckistan). I'm a huge fan of Smithwick's and I had several great reds in Ireland a few years ago and there are some really good craft reds here in Ontario.

 

Olympia was a go-to growing up if you could get your hands on it. So smooth.

 

Clint Eastwood drank it in a lot of his movies too.

 

Guinness. The answer is always Guinness.

 

Exactly. Though some of those potent Russian Imperial Stouts taste mighty fine.

 

Red Hook was an outstanding ESB when it was brewed exclusively in Woodinville (Seattle suburb). Then they sold out, and the quality of the product really regressed.

Sort of like Schiltz in the early 70s. Sold the brand, the new owners used cheaper ingredients and a once-drinkable cheap beer became absolute swill.

 

Used to drink a lot of Red Hook ESB. Was a go-to option. At a recent wedding I attended, there was a bunch of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and I forgot how much I liked that beer. 5.5 ABV, I think, which is a nice sweet spot if you're going to be drinking more than a few.

Had a Voodoo Ranger playing golf about a month ago and was halfway shitfaced by the 7th hole. Can't believe my friend purchased those. Light beer is the way to go on the golf course.

 

I live in the state where Leinie's is brewed and I avoid it like the plague. The original Chippewa Falls swill gave me a crushing headache. Now it's a fake boutique line brewed by MillerCoors. JMHO.

As for a favorite, Spaten Optimator is near the top of my list.

 

I used to go to a Jewish deli and there was a Russian market next door that sold Baltika. The corned beef with liver on rye with a Russian imperial stout was something else.

 

Corned beef with liver on rye? I'm gonna have nightmares about that.

 

Off the top of my head, the only thing on Earth worse would be a slice of Spam on top of it.