Also known as "Wine, wine...," it can also be referred to as "Self-entertainment, our beer list"
I can guarantee that I only had one drink at that moment, but not the next.
The idea to create this content was purely accidental. After drinking a lot, I had to leave some memories aside from the mess. So I borrowed some memories and collected some scattered notes from after drinking, patching them together to create this somewhat guide-like list.
I initially wanted to categorize by style, but it was somewhat difficult to clarify the categories tangled in the beer web; simply dividing by brewing method into lagers and ales seemed a bit arbitrary. So I decided to classify them as "Drink freely," "A few cups," "Sip slowly," and "Consider the taste," based on drinkability. I do not consider myself a craft beer connoisseur, and I have no advantage in professionalism or drinking capacity, so please be sure to add your own judgment and thoughts to view this list more appropriately.
Although the beer list should clearly reflect a person's taste preferences, I will first list my own taste perception points. My plus points are high bitterness and strong, noticeable flavor stimulation; however, due to my heightened sensitivity to acidity, my minus points are excessive sourness and overly sweet products. In terms of style, fruit puree products, sour wheat, saison, and gueuze are not in my good zone.
Unless otherwise specified, all the mentioned beers are judged based on canned versions. Due to habits and preferences, even though I fully understand the superiority of draft beer, I rarely find the time to enjoy a few drinks steadily in a tavern. My main expenses on beverages come from convenience store light beers, quick delivery, and six-pack cans from distributors.
Viewing Tips#
This list should never be considered as purchasing advice for individuals lacking full civil capacity.
Even though I hope to keep this guide humorous, light-hearted, and enjoyable overall, I must take a serious tone before we begin and sternly warn you, the reader, that alcohol should not occupy a category in human entertainment choices.
If you have never touched alcohol and hope to understand things you have not tried throughout your life through this article, I sincerely wish and hope that, apart from small attempts during special occasions or specific events, you maintain a standard of keeping alcohol at a distance, never too close. Not drinking will not make life lose its vibrant colors, but drinking may not necessarily add any brilliance.
If you have a fondness for beer, using it to relieve boredom, or if you are a enthusiast hoping to challenge more beer flavors, I hope you can find one or two bottles in this list that satisfy your taste. Craft beer has developed over the years, and its popularity in the country has steadily increased. While it is hard to say whether this is good or bad, we now have a fairly broad and deep selection in brewing. It might be worth spending some money to enjoy better options, but reducing overall intake is always beneficial.
If you are drinking to the point of near alcoholism, or like me, have completely entrusted your emotions to this addictive substance that harms life and deprives will, while I do not feel qualified to advise anyone to quit drinking, I do have considerable experience with the destruction caused by alcohol. The lost lifespan may seem insignificant, but the consequences of long-term dependence are not immediately foreseeable.
In summary, drink less, don't drink.
Most of the data in this article comes from "UnTapped," and data not found here was sourced from the internet.
Taste indications and evaluations are entirely subjective to me, and apart from price factors, no objective components are mixed in.
"Drink Freely" Category#
Drink freely, as the name suggests, this category will include my personal favorite staples or categories that I often repurchase. They may not truly qualify as "craft beer," and their flavors might struggle to meet the standards of appreciation.
Heineken Classic#
Beer may be cheap, but it’s a bit unlikely for beer to be cheap. In this era where beer prices are rising endlessly, Heineken stands out among "convenience store beers" or "industrial lagers," using unadulterated ingredients, with a sufficiently stimulating sandy mouthfeel, good alcohol suppression, and a wheat aftertaste, successfully becoming my staple choice.
Tsingtao White Beer#
A trendy wine that gained some popularity in 2021-22, and while it is trendy, the quality of the beer itself can live up to this wave. In a beer priced not higher than some light beers from big brands, the rich banana and clove flavors, along with a moderately comfortable orange acidity, are enough to excite. However, if viewed critically, the not-so-rich malt aroma and body, along with somewhat mixed flavors, can detract from its appeal. But if we weigh the price, we might as well raise our tolerance significantly.
Guinness Stout#
Just like the pleasant visual effect brought by Guinness's signature "nitrogen flow," drinking Guinness is also a delightful experience. The smooth, delicate, soft, and creamy body, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, roasted wheat, and toffee, allows me to taste the expected flavors and quality of a stout every time I drink it. However, it can be said that while it receives high praise, it must also be pointed out that Guinness's overall style is like the "basic model" of stouts, where various flavors ultimately feel a bit bland, and the balance of bitterness makes the wateriness in the later stages more pronounced.
Beijing Machine Popcorn Butter Lager#
An interesting entertainment-type beverage, hard not to associate with a well-known series' butter beer, with a strong popcorn aroma, and a mouthfeel of buttery sweetness combined with occasional wheat notes, making it very easy to drink, suitable for gatherings.
Lost Coast Fog Cutter Double IPA#
Fog Cutter is a very suitable IPA for beginners. It has a strong and intense flavor performance at a reasonable price point, with a bitterness that clings to the throat and constricts the esophagus, leaving a lasting impression.
"A Few Cups" Category#
In this category, we officially step into the realm of craft beer. The flavors become richer, and prices steadily increase, with most excellent staple choices found in this classification.
Brewing Dog Punk IPA#
My first IPA, but unfortunately purchased from a clearance section of a store, which led to a strong oxidized flavor that gave me a harsh first lesson in craft beer—oxidation is a dual killer of taste and flavor. However, it also left me with an excellent first impression of the entire IPA category.
Punk IPA is by no means the ultimate choice; if I were to evaluate it now, I could certainly point out issues such as insufficient aroma, too light body, and a short aftertaste. But as an IPA that can be enjoyed in large gulps, it has succeeded in helping people distinguish the differences between a high-level brewing product and mass-produced lagers, which means that with each subsequent exploration of categories, I can continuously reinforce my impression of a quality IPA, or even quality beer. It can be called a great merit.
Schneider No. 5 Our Hops Multi-Hopped Wheat#
What should a standard craft beer look like? I intended to start with this, but ultimately decided to change it to "What should a standard beer look like?" Schneider No. 5 is a product worthy of this crown, showcasing the precision of Germans in this wheat bock. The refreshing hop aroma that fills the air upon opening, the slightly weak sandy mouthfeel, the just-right carbonation, and the restrained yet clear alcohol sensation sweep across the taste buds along with a mild bitterness; the aftertaste brings forth the wheat sweetness and the aromatic layers of hops after the bitterness fades.
A beer that can only be described as "beer."
18 Jump East Lake Double Dry Hopped#
The upgraded version of Jump East Lake refreshed annually by 18, I have only tried the tenth anniversary, and I am still waiting for a good opportunity to purchase the eleventh anniversary since I have found better IPA staples. I must admit that as a signature product of a local brewery, along with the name "Jump East Lake," while I do not agree with the entertainment aspect of the previously "Everyone's East Lake" art project leading to performance art phenomena, it naturally gives me a sense of familiarity culturally.
The original "Jump East Lake" is a typical and standard IPA flavor style, while the annually limited double dry-hopped version represents 18's flavor exploration for that year. This makes each year's double dry-hopped version something to look forward to, and 18 will always deliver a stable flavor performance.
Burp Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout#
Peanut, milk, nuts, smooth sweetness, layered bitterness—a delicate dessert-style stout, a love letter for stout beginners.
Big Nine Fluid Fruit Puree Berliner Sour Wheat#
A lethal amount of fruit juice added, from opening the can to washing the glass, the rich cherry and mulberry aromas linger. Not to exaggerate, but my first sip didn't even taste any different from NFC juice, but after half a glass, the slight tingling alcohol sensation on the tip of the tongue will remind you that this is a fermented product with a proper alcohol content. Although I am not fond of the fruit puree category, I also acknowledge that everyone has moments when they need such a light product to soothe their soul.
Jinlan Sisters Mud Cake Imperial Stout#
For an imperial stout, the body of the mud cake is a bit too light, but its flavor performance makes up for it. Sweet chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, bread... the performance of the mud cake is just as expected by those who focus on the performance of tech products and the ingredients of cosmetics, being a "value-for-money" or even "cost-effective" stout that can set basic expectations based on the ingredient list. However, for friends hoping for some small surprises in flavor, the mud cake may feel a bit too conservative and moderate.
Cow Beer Hall Imperial Salt Sea Salt Gose#
The most popular product from Cow Beer Hall. Using the evaluation of Tsingtao White above, when the body can bear the reputation, popularity is not necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps due to the salty flavor, the acidity of Imperial Salt is at the most balanced point I can accept, making it a sour beer that I can also enjoy, but because of this, I have found it difficult to try its double version.
"Sip Slowly" Category#
More complex flavors, more subtle taste sensations, and a heavier flavor orientation. We have entered the deeper realm of craft beer.
Schneider No. 9 Ice Distilled Bock#
A perfect application of concentration technology in the beer field, the sweet aroma of malt juice is further purified under ice distillation, while the imagined sticky malt texture is surprisingly broken by the dry and crisp body. When I first tasted it, I was left speechless, and for hours afterward, I could only describe its complex tonality and layering with the word "playful."
Toppling Goliath King of the Dinosaurs#
The most favorable product of the craft beer trend, after the price drop, it has become a staple in my heart. The interesting point about this beer is that different batches have different body sensations. But its unchanging, bold refreshment and strong tropical fruit flavors run through it all.
"Consider the Taste" Category#
Although this category should serve as a certification column to showcase my expertise, I do not believe my drinking capacity is sufficient to comment on the mountain of beers, and I actually find it quite difficult to consume products from this section as frequently as the previous three categories, even occasionally feels like a luxury. Therefore, I will only record the high-priced products I have tasted here. If you see this, it is not hard to find that price undoubtedly has an absolute positive effect on my taste, and I will generously admit this—money always makes a sound, even if it’s a crisp sound that slaps the face.
Tree House Julius#
As a prominent name in the craft beer field, the once terrifying price and the god-like reputation are hard to express. I was fortunate to get a can of Julius early in my entry period, and the collision of blended hops and the fusion of fruity flavors almost established my evaluation standards for craft beer, which still influences me today. Now, with the comprehensive expansion of e-commerce platforms, prices have dropped significantly, and as a small luxury for special occasions or important days, I am also happy to generously spend to enjoy its charm.
3 Fonteinen Oude Gueuze#
The most complex and extreme sour beer I have tasted. Due to my low tolerance for sourness, the first sip with its well-tested sour rag flavor made me feel like my entire taste was tightened. However, it does not burn the stomach after swallowing; for sour lovers, Oude Gueuze should hit the balance point that stimulates the taste buds, but for me, it is still a bit overly stimulating.
Glow 18 Collaborative Brew Orange Series Hazy Double IPA#
Note: This beer may no longer be produced.
Joint products from two breweries often oscillate between creativity and quality. The sour craft beer from Dao Brewing and Cow Beer Hall once shocked me just by its name (I firmly believe that if I have the fortune to taste it, it would definitely be worth adding to the "Rising Thoughts" list).
The Orange Series is the most exemplary orange-flavored hazy beer I have ever had. It brings an incredible experience to the drinker: a balanced, appropriate, and clear acidity leads the way, with a rich orange aroma and a slightly delayed hop aroma, accompanied by a balanced and rhythmic explosion of different ingredients, almost capturing the senses the moment it hits the taste buds. The Orange Series perfectly makes one unwilling to miss any of its flavor expressions, even though I indeed do not favor sourness.
Bubble Lab Lightning Storm Triple Hazy#
Note: This beer may no longer be produced.
As a limited product, Lightning Storm is arguably the most stimulating product from Bubble Lab, with spicy and vigorous hops, rich and intense fruit flavors, and a lingering aftertaste in the nasal cavity. It is regrettable that as a special product, it is hard to have a chance for repurchase.
"Rising Thoughts" Category#
This category is an exception, including some confusing products I have tasted; "confusion" is the absolute key here, whether it be price, flavor, or a funny story I experienced.
Bianjing Chenpi White Beer#
This bottle was a chance discovery in a discount freezer during my outing in 2023, purchased at a uniquely low price (around four yuan). The rich aroma of orange peel and slight bitterness immediately reminded me of Suntory's orange peel oolong—a drink I particularly liked at the time. However, just like the extremely polarized reviews of orange peel oolong, the slight bitterness and dryness brought by this complex flavor, along with the somewhat strange aftertaste, are likely to vary from person to person.
18 Punk City Quadruple IPA#
Before encountering Punk City, I could never have imagined that a beer could collapse with just a slight warming. 15% alcohol is not high in the beverage evaluation system, but 18's control over the alcohol content and sensation in this product is nearly non-existent, making it harder to swallow than some 40-50% spirits when not completely chilled.
However, while ice eliminates the alcohol sensation, it inevitably leads to another problem—the drinker will completely lose the ability to appreciate the flavor. And quadruple dry-hopping is unsurprisingly "extremely heavy," leaving the final flavor direction with only the overwhelmingly strong bitterness that is not masked by the cold sensation. And if it gets to this point... why not just have some pure grain liquor?
Author's Afterword#
With the remnants of alcohol and the night, the planning of this list is slowly progressing. Every time I finish writing about a beer, it reminds me of certain forgotten stories before, during, and after drinking. I recall fingers cut by pull tabs and the dull sour feeling in my stomach; I remember collapsing on the bathroom floor, violently vomiting, and confessing in front of a utility pole; I also remember the ugly sight of moving like a stray dog along the wall. Ultimately, the comfort that alcohol brings me is like the notification sound of a successful electronic payment; it is no different from the last time, but the deducted amount, the lost life, and the forever lost spirit are all permanently gone.
I hope alcohol can always serve as a condiment in friends' lives. I also hope everyone can move towards a life without physical pain and a soul without turmoil, gaining happiness—a precious sentiment.