ASK me something about beer - Part 1
Hey guys! If you are following us on social media, you notice our series of posts about common questions around beer. I will start to colapse some of the posts here, always trying to expand a little bit, as I believe here we have a more reader public.
As I explained in the first post, the inspiration came from following many beer influencers and observing they answer a lot of such questions with DEPENDS!
Maybe, many people think “beer geeks” dive in the beer world because of a favorite style, or because of a favorite beer, brand or etcs. However, most beer lovers are not really loyal to a style or a brand, but what make us fell in love is exactly the opposite: the never ending discovery of beers. That's why we love a BrewVenture! But also, it is what makes very hard for us to pick one single style, one single brand, or even one single beer destination
To explore such subjects I decided to create this series of posts explaining why, at least for me, the answer is depends. In part 1, we will be answering the question about what is my favorite beer, and what is my favorite beer style. Let’s dive!
What is my favorite beer? (images merely ilustrative above 😜)
It DEPENDS! To be honest, I don’t even remember the first mind-blowing beer I ever had. Growing up with supermarket lagers, it was probably a Guinness at some Irish pub in Porto Alegre (Brazil), back in 2008? Or maybe a Kaiserdom brought from Rivera? haha Funny, but really hard to say.
I remember names like ERDINGER Weissbräu, Delírium Trémens, or Leffe showing up early on, but I was likely introduced first to local beers like Eisenbahn (Since 2002!). Once I dove into the beer world, I could never stick to ONE favorite. Sure, I have beers that make me think twice before ordering anything else, but calling one a favorite? Not really. It’s a dynamic journey, always evolving.
Still, here are three beers that stood out for different reasons:
The Classic – Pilsner Urquell, but not just any. I’m talking about the unfiltered version straight from the wooden maturation vessel during the brewery tour in Plzeň. I feared it might be a tourist trap, but nope (they’re trapping tourists in Prague!) Those who make it to Plzeň are rewarded with something truly special. Balanced, round, flavorful... almost impossible to describe. More on that in the Czech leg of the BrewVenture1.
The Old Friend – Cerveja Barona Robust Porter. A source of comfort during nearly 8 of my 10 years in Portugal. I revisited it many times, including during my last holiday trip. Its combination of roasted coffee-like and dark chocolate is perfect, never disappoints.
The Surprise – Saltitud, a collab between Utopia craft beer and Solo Your Cretan Craft Beer. I tried it right when it launched at Utopia Taproom est. 2023 and kept going back. And I’m the kind of person who always wants to try something new. But Saltitude got me by the smooth mouthfeel. Also, they always handed you a small dark chocolate piece to pair, a whole experience! Felt warmer than the best hot chocolate. A winter favorite!
As you can tell, two of my picks are recent. And no, I still don’t have a favorite—it all DEPENDS! The quest for the “best” beer never ends. Preferences change, evolve, and get replaced. Two of these are Porters—does that mean it's my favorite style? You might already know the answer... but, let’s answer this question properly.
What is my favorite beer style?
It depends! ‘Come on, you mentioned two Porters in the last question — that must be your favorite.’
Maybe… during winter. I do drink more dark beers in colder months. But right now, inside my place in Greece, it’s 27ºC. Do I want something warm and cozy like a smooth Porter? No way.
So, no, I don’t have one favorite style — I’m pretty seasonal.
And honestly, I believe great beers exist across all styles: Sours, Flanders Reds, Hazy IPAs, Munich Helles, Imperial Stouts, Vienna Lagers, Dark Milds… you name it.
That curiosity to try new beers extends to discovering new styles too. According to BJCP guidelines, I’ve still never had an Australian Sparkling Ale for instance. (Australian Brewventure, anyone?🙋♂️)
The sad part? The market decides a lot. We live in the age of hop-driven beers. IPAs and all their cousins — Hazy, Black, Cold, etc. — often dominate 50–70% of the taps at bars. So it’s no surprise that, according to my Untappd data, over 50% of my check-ins are IPA-related.
Is that my favorite style? HELL NO.
But it’s what’s available. In hot weather, I usually go for IPAs and Sours — because they’re there. Lately, I’ve been loving simpler styles like Munich Helles and Bohemian Pilsners. But fresh, well-poured examples? Hard to find.
Thankfully, I have my safe places — like 3 Brothers Brews, right on the seafront with an amazing sunset view. Last time, I had their Kellerbier, Bohemian Pilsner, and Dark Lager. Honestly? I could’ve stayed all night drinking any of them.
So yeah — no need to pick just one style when you can find great beer in almost all of them.
As you can see, it all depends! Favorite beer, favorite style, it is not something steady. Some say our palate is constantly evolving and it is up to us to keep challenging it! I trully believe on that, and I will keep sharing my journey. Hope you enjoy! Cheers!
