Why an Iconic Czech Pilsner Is the Ultimate Grail Beer

ABV: 5.2%
Beer Style: Witbier
Availability: National, year-round
“My favorite everyday beer is Allagash White. I live in Maine (where Allagash is brewed) and Allagash’s flagship White is available pretty much everywhere. Its ubiquity makes it an easy candidate for an everyday beer and its superb balance of flavor and drinkability make it a pleasure to enjoy day after day.”

ABV: 4.4%
Beer Style: Czech Pilsner
Availability: International, year-round
“The best ‘grail’ beer that comes to mind is the unfiltered Pilsner Urquell that is served straight from the barrels in the underground labyrinth of the brewery’s old lagering caves in Pilsen, Czech Republic. I recently traveled to the Czech Republic and had many incredible beers and beer experiences, but the taste (and the setting) of that glass of pilsner was something that I will never forget. The young beer was still cloudy and exploding with classic Saaz hop aroma and flavor atop a doughy yeast character and soft carbonation from the cask conditioning. That’s my kind of hoppy hazy beer!”

ABV: 8.1%
Beer Style: Baltic Porter
Availability: Local, seasonal
“I was in New York City recently and my favorite beer of the trip was Threes Brewing’s Voluntary Exile. This strong black lager is the brewery’s take on a Baltic Porter. The beer has the rich malt character and smooth body that one would hope for in an excellent Baltic Porter, but their version also had a smoky undertone that I was not expecting and made the experience for me that much more enjoyable.”