Recommend me a Beer for my BBQ

[chefwong]

Not much of a beer drinker.
Any Brooklynnites/NYC'ers in the house.

Throwing a BBQ and just need to pick up a couple cases to throw in the cooler.

I was thinking I would just mix it up with Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Indian Pale Ale and Stella.
Seems the locals tend to like this at the bar ;-)

[Sambossanova]

reaplace the stella with a hoegarden and you should be good. If you want to step it up a notch, teh allagash white would be a good beer.

[pitu]

Mixed Brooklyn Brewery is good -- I'd recommend a case of their wheat beer, Brooklyn Weisse along with the IPA.
A lot of people who don't love beer love this one (including me) - it's a Bavarian style wheat (I see that was discussed a bit above...)

[Poindexter]

Second the "all-Brooklyn" suggestion, but I'd make it: Pilsner, Pennant Ale (my personal favorite; closest thing they do to a pale ale) and Brown Ale.

[chuckl]

Interesting comments all. I tend to like the blast of taste you get from an IPA, but I'd be the first to admit my tastes are not representative of most people. We've had some wheat beer here that might go well with your Q, 21st amendment sticks a slice of watermelon in theirs. It's pretty light and might appeal to those with Coors taste.

[MVNYC]

I am both a native NYer and Brooklynite. For a BBQ, I would suggest getting a mixed group of Brooklyn beers. The Brown, Summer Ale, Pilsener, IPA and Lager are all good choices. I am not too bigof a fan of their Weiss Beer, I would get a couple of sixers of Weihenstepahner or Paulener Hefeweizen instead.

also you could pick up some Blue Point, either the IPA or Toasted Lager are good choices and I am sure some will like the Blueberry beer too. I don't but someone might and it doesnt taste as artificial as others in the category.

If you really want places with good beer selections, go to Bierkraft or Eagle Provisions in Park Slope. Both will blow your mind.

[Buckethead]

Brooklyn's IPA is good, but I like their Brown Ale better. Keep the lager, dump the Stella and get a case of a good pilsner, Victory Prima Pils is pretty good and pretty widely available. I'm sure Brooklyn's Pilsner is good too, I've never had it but I like every beer of theirs I've had. You could get the Brown Ale, Lager, and Pilsner and make it an all-Brooklyn affair.

[Kenji]

IPAs are perfect for barbecue, and I quite like Brooklyn's East India IPA. My favorite IPAs these days are the variations on the IPA theme made by Great Divide of CO., which might take a bit of hunting. Sierra Nevada's newish bottled IPA should be good with barbecued foods.

Stella is faddish for some reason. It's vile (it tastes like a malt liquor -- only it doesn't have the kick). It reminds me of how Corona, another wretched and completely unmeritorious beer became trendy on the west coast in the 80s.

[Doghouse Reilly]

If you can get some of Six Points' IPA I would recommend it. When I was in NYC last spring every joint in town was out of it. Hopefully they've been able to replenish their stocks of this wonderful beverage.

[MVNYC]

Sixpoint IPA is a great choice. They are a talented brewery

[chefwong]

Thanks Chuck.

Beers is like talking a whole different language but the local shop carries a wide variety.
Not looking to throw a keg in my trunk ;-)

Don't mind the extra expense of good beer, as I appreciate good food in general ;-)
What about Hitachino ? Or Magic Hat. Just some of the brands I recall seeing in the store.

[brentk]

A good German hefeweizen would make a nice addition this time of year. Weihenstephaner, Schneider, Paulaner and Franziskaner are all names you should be able to find locally.

[JessKidden]

And Brooklyn Brewery also makes a nice hefeweizen, Brooklyner Weisse. I'd go for a selection of Brooklyn beers- they don't make an "amber" (maybe chuckl was thinking of their very nice Brown Ale) but as a replacement for the Stella, the Brooklyn Pilsner would be a good addition as would the current seasonal, the Summer Ale.

[niquejim]

And Brooklyn Brewery also makes a nice hefeweizen, Brooklyner Weisse

I thougth that was a Berliner Weisse, and while good it may be a little sour for the unprepared.

[JessKidden]

When I first heard the name, I thought the Brooklyner was going to be a Berliner Weisse, too (and was disappointed when it wasn't), but it's not according to the brewery http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/beer/
and, of course, there's no lactic acid bacteria fermentation.

[Josh]

Brooklyn Lager is great, but make sure to get some brown ales.

I'd avoid IPA (hoppy flavors are bitter and astringent, and will fight with sweet sauce). Anything with elements of sweetness will be a better complement to the sauces and condiments you normally see at a BBQ. Wheat beers are good, brown ales, Belgian witbier. Stuff like that.

[barleywino]

Along these lines I would get some J.W.Lees Harvest Ale, aged in Lagavullin casks (they also offer in other casks like Calvados). Great smoky sweetness (and 11% ABV iirc) to go with your BBQ. At ~$9 per bottle you probably won't be getting a case though. Thomas Hardy ale is an alternative if you can't find the JW Lees.

[niquejim]

"Not much of a beer drinker.
Any Brooklynnites/NYC'ers in the house."

I'm sorry but those are not beers for someone who admits they are not much of a beer drinker..
I would love, it but think about who you are responding to.
Buy what your friends like and screw the responders who try to feed you s#$t.
I would love most of the beers mentioned, but for a BBQ I always have Bud lite (or the like) for those that don't like beer with a lot of flavor.

[Josh]

Who's feeding feces? The guy asked for good beer for BBQ, that's what people are suggesting. We're supposed to pretend that Bud Lite is good for anything other than getting people wasted without the burden of flavor?

[niquejim]

Read his post and the post above.
While I would like the beers, not everyone likes IPA's or similar.
His mix looks good for a diverse group.
I'm not feeding feces, just telling the truth.

[Josh]

I agree with you there. I actually suggest he *avoid* IPA for that very reason. But English brown ale is very approachable beer. I've given that to people who claim not to like beer and they've enjoyed it.

[imhungryletseat]

Brooklyn does have a mixed 12 pack and Saranac also has a summer 12 pack. In keeping with the New York theme, Bluepoint has their toasted lager and that is a tasty beer. That will give you a variety of good beers that won't break the bank.
You will always have your bud drinkers (I have no idea why) so you can pick up some bud to appease them

[niquejim]

Sorry if I sounded harsh(PUI), but most of my friends don't like anything but Bud-lite or Coors-lite and will not try anything else(more good beer for me). Many friends tell me they don't like the taste of hops, which is odd because so many hops throw off so many different flavors.
That's why I said his mix looked good.

An English brown would be good as would an East coast pale ale.

[barleywino]

most of the people i've offered JW Lees Harvest ale to (both beer and non-beer people) find it very drinkable and approachable, for some it's a revelation. Most common reaction is "wow". Those who find Brooklyn Monster ale too hoppy or Bud too much like pisswater would probably find an English-style barleywine like JW Lees more to their liking, especially with BBQ. If the OP wanted to bring Bud for his friends, he wouldn't have posted his inquiry here.

[niquejim]

He was asking if his selection looked good
"I was thinking I would just mix it up with Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Indian Pale Ale and Stella.
Seems the locals tend to like this at the bar ;-)"
and I was responding that it looks good for a non beer drinkers.

I love English Barleywine, but have yet to have anyone else try it and like it, or even finish one!!

[Buckethead]

I like barleywine quite a lot, but it's not really a good summer BBQ beer.

[barleywino]

i think the Lagavullin cask, with its smokiness, would be a good exception to the barleywine-in-winter rule, but everybody has their own preferences

[Josh]

Rogue Chipotle ale would be another great choice along those lines.

[MVNYC]

To be honest I think the JW Lees Lagavulin Cask is one of the last beers I would want to drink on a hot NY day at a BBQ. That is more of a fireside cold weather sipper to me.

[barleywino]

i suppose it depends whether you're in the mood for something refreshing like a grapefruity IPA or weissbier, or something big, warming and substantial. something to cut through the heaviness of a BBQ, or something to complement it. sort of like, some will drink only (say) lemonade in the summer, while others will drink only (say) chocolate milk. or drinking white wine versus red wine. I took some JW Lees to a BBQ last summer and it went over quite well. Then again, the BBQ was in (sunny) Seattle, not hot and muggy NYC ;) (where i used to spend numerous sweaty summer afternoons escaping the heat at the Ginger Man)

[MVNYC]

yeah the heat and humidity would preclude me from enjoying the JW Lees. It warms you as you drink it, the opposite effect I want to achieve with a summer beveridge. To cut through the heaviness of a bbq i would want something effervescent and crisp. A Kolsch, Pilsener or Pale Ale is the way to go in my book. The only barleywine i could see drinking would be Old foghorn.

I tend to drink seasonally, even with the AC cranked up I probably wouldnt be in the mood for an Imperial Stout. Heavily malted beers tend to weigh you down and warm you up. The same reason I eat lighter in the summer.

[ted]

I wouldn't do a barleywine, period. That said, the one at the light end of the spectrum is Young's Old Nick. It's only ~7%ABV.

I tend to like hoppy IPAs with spicy food. And I cringe every time one of the food rag ninnies recommends another boring lager as a pairing for spicy summer food.

[Josh]

That's because the food rag ninnies know nothing about beer, so they just regurgitate what they've read elsewhere.

[barleywino]

NOt a fan of Young's Old Nick, period. But I do like Foghorn (when you can find it). I agree on avoiding lager.

[Josh]

If I was looking for something palate cleansing and refreshing to have with BBQ, my first thought would be to reach for a witbier. A much more harmonious match for that kind of food than lager, IMO.

[Kenji]

If a US microbrewer were to release something with Old Nick's stats, they probably wouldn't even call it a barleywine. They'd call it a strong ale or some such. Compared to Bigfoot or Old Horizontal, ON is a true lightweight.

I've heard that Anchor has reformulated and boosted the ABV of Old Foghorn in recent years to keep it competitive.

[chuckl]

I think you've got it covered with some select brews that cover a good range. I'm no expert on what's available there, but I've been pleasantly surprised with the beer from Brooklyn. And I found the IPA quite acceptable. Bay Area brewers are pushing the limits with what's feasible with IPAs and double IPAs, and I predict that the IPA style will become more popular as more people are exposed to it. The Brooklyn IPA was very nice and refreshing. If your crew really like one style or another, I might suggest getting a keg, if possible. Nothing like good beer fresh in a chilled keg. But if you're going for variety, I'd stick ith what you've got except I'd ditch Stella. It's Michelob in a chi chi bottle. If Brooklyn makes an amber, which I think they do, you might want to get that instead. I'd be curious to hear from others about the micro brew scene in NY and the east.