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The 50 best beers

In search of the perfect pint? Toby Green presents the experts’ guide to crisp and clear lagers, hoppy ales and brilliant bitters

Monday, 26 October 2009

BITTER Hook Norton Old Hooky 'This often-overlooked beer is a classic example of an English bitter,' says Zak Avery. 'Copper-brown in colour, with lots of toasted biscuity malt, dried fruit and a hoppy spiciness in the finish, Old Hooky is complex and drinkable in equal measures.' BreweryHook Norton Brewery (www.hooknortonbrewery.co.uk) How much �1.66 4.6% ABV - 500ml

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This panel

Roger Protz is a contributing editor for beer-pages.com;

Pete Brownis the author of ‘Hops and Glory’;

Zak Avery runs a beer events firm (thebeerboy.co.uk);

Jeff Evans is the author of the ‘Good Bottled Beer Guide’

>>Click the image for list

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Black Sheep brewed near Malham in Yorkshire is a serious omission.

Posted by David | 30.03.10, 13:36 GMT

To not include at least one of the excellent Brooklyn Lager products? I've been to the Brooklin Brewery (NY) and sampled several of their different draught products. Sensational micro-brewed beer.
Up there with the Belgians.

Posted by John Kyle | 19.11.09, 18:02 GMT

How about a 50 WORST BEERS List?

Posted by Keith | 13.11.09, 22:35 GMT

Hey, where's the Canadian Breweries!? Dozens upon Dozens of breweries that I am sure can break this list...

Posted by Pepher | 01.11.09, 15:31 GMT

Definitely some great beers here, though I've never had most of the English ones.

Orval, Saison DuPont, Rochefort 10, and the three German hefes listed (Schneider, Weihenstephaner, and Franziskaner) are all excellent beers.

I'm definitely not a fan of some of the others listed, though. Sam Adams, for example, is a beer I've never been able to appreciate

Posted by Daniel | 29.10.09, 15:47 GMT

Here in Aus my current favourites are actually Scottish from the Harvistoun brewery - Schiehallion (a lager with a hint of grapefruit) and Bitter and Twisted - and only $4 for 500 mls...

Posted by Niall | 29.10.09, 11:38 GMT

What of all the great African Beers.... Tusker, White Cap, Castle, Ndovu, Nile Special, Safari, Lion, etc etc. evryone deserves a place on that list unless its about fashion and not drinkabilty!

Posted by Bob Thompson | 29.10.09, 10:03 GMT

Here in Vermont there are some great local beers.
Long Trail, Otter Creek , Magic Hat. And in Pennsylvania there are small breweries which brew some delicious beers Yeungling etc.
As for Harp. Don't drink it. I can't believe it comes from the same company that makes Guinness, the real king.

Posted by toadstool | 28.10.09, 01:21 GMT

Jelen Pivo - a beer that you can find around the south east of Europe.. Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, etc.

By far the best beer I've ever binged on.

Posted by P Wilson | 28.10.09, 00:55 GMT

Sam Adams is on this list, which, in my opinion, waters down the other 49.
Give me an Upper Canada Pale Ale any day.

Posted by tommy hall | 27.10.09, 22:06 GMT

i agree with Damian!!! Harp is tasteless dire stuff.

Posted by stephen | 27.10.09, 16:54 GMT

I was in Romania, They have this beer called 'Ursus' with a picture of a bear wearing a crown on the label with 'King of Beers' written below. The taste of the beer is very crisp and the clarity of the beer is good probably because it is made with good aquality water source. Goes down really well! (especially when the temperature was 42 Degrees C) too well in fact! I would like to nominate this beer. Myfriends consider me to be a bit of a beer monster, and I have tavelled around a good bit across Europe and America - nothing comes close to Ursis in my opinion.

Posted by Tony | 27.10.09, 13:54 GMT