Always interesting to see what folks drink and as someone who gains a significant amount of my income from such things I have my opinions.
Something that is interesting industry wide right now is that beer is getting old as most beer has a shelf life and must be disposed of after a certain length of time.. Or if I were buying any beer at this time I would be checking the date code on the can as some is getting old.. The best beer is the beer that gets consumed or if it gets drank it is not destine for my stills - then a few years in med char oak barrels.. Been running a lot and I mean a lot of beer through stills lately (as it is free) distilled beer turns out pretty good after 4 years in a barrel w lots of herbal accents to compliment the oak char and varied malt bill.. Also folks seem to buy it and the bartenders or wait "mixologists" in places men seem to ware man buns buy it up like hotcakes so I will keep makin it lol...
So for me I like fresh beer like pulled directly off a bright tank or canned today off the line fresh as freshness trumps brand most of the time for me.
I dont buy beer much as we trade it in the industry but here are a few that I pay retail for and would recommend.
Cumbre - elevation IPA is one of the best IPA's anywhere as well as their stout those NM boys know what they are doing
Avery - Tweak, uncle jacks, or any of their 18% abv beers as they are barrel aged a few years and it is not easy getting 18-20% abv in a beer.
Bells - hop slam as well others
Founders - has a bunch great knowledgeable guys that produce great beer
Carvers - small brewery in durango Co and they do not package beer have to get it in house but worth it
Casey - In Glenwood springs Co does some cool stuff as well if you like sours and fruit almost a wine but a beer!
Eddyline in Buena Vista = Did a hell of a cherry porter and aged it in once used whisky barrels that then went back and had more whisky aged in them both the whisky and porter were amazing small batch very hard to find (as it was my idea and recipe so had to throw that one in) the barrel aged Java stout is also great if you can ever find it, also the Crank Yanker IPA is selling out all over Colorado right now
SKA - mexican lager = like your corona and pacifico but better and made in durango Co
Melvin - amazing place and vibe those wyo guys have and the 2x4 dipa they make is my go to there
Funny but I only drink maybe one night every other week as I get older I just dont drink much and lately my go to has been the Cumbre as we have a keg that is getting old so it is the right thing to do lol.
V