Agree with above. I drink beer and worked in a microbrewery in college. Probably the least likely to get left is the bud/coorslight/corona. That said, I dislike hoppy beer and often drink Newcastle brown when out.
Our Costco has a great beer and wine rep who is usually in the department. I give him my parameters and he guides me. They often have variety packs from different breweries. My go to is usually the variety pack of Firestone Walker beer or a box of their 805 variety. Samuel Adams is what we brought to a Super Bowl party.
Costco and Trader Joe are good for beer. Costco sometimes has a variety pack from Sam Adams but that usually includes some IPA. H and I dislike IPA, our favorite is Simpler Times Lager available at TJ’s- around 6% alcohol but smooth, mellow and inexpensive . It’s only available in cans though which some people don’t like. Other widely available favorites are Spaten (TJ’s) and Amber Bock (Michelob). As mentioned above, you can’t go wrong with something like Corona (available at Costco) and light beers always go fast at a party.
Perhaps someday I will be able to get beer and wine at Costco! Not yet in PA, but at least some grocery stores can sell beer now. My go-to every day beer is Yuengling
Not an IPA fan here either - just checked to see what we have ( have entertained a lot lately ) Stella, Harp, Modelo,
Plilsner Urquel, Heineken Light, Coors Light – these all seem to go over well. In the summer we definitely add in Corona. I like Sam Adams, too.
I say Sam Adams regular because many of the seasonal brews have very distinctive tastes (pumpkin anyone?) which are great but not a universal taste. My party list is a slightly dark beer (Sams/Yuengling), a light color (Stella/Urquel) and a “light one” usually Heineken Light. Not a fan of IPA…
If you know what food is being served–Mexican or Italian say you can get beer that goes with it. Corona for Mexican, Stella for Italian.
I like beer but am not a wine drinker–I would hate to be stuck making decisions about wine for a party!
We have eleven micro breweries within one/two miles of our house.
They fill growlers at the drug store!
I think the guests tastes may depend on what’s available.
I like IPA’s, I also like bitter, ( which isn’t) and pale ales.
Deschutes, is my favorite for bottled beer. I think they have it at Costco.
You may also want to get a gluten free or hard cider.
Well, Stella is a Belgian beer, but I agree that it would go well with Italian food; it’s very versatile!
I agree about no ales or IPAs. Negra Modelo is a good choice, darker color but not a dark flavor, and kind of fancy with foil on the neck. If you are anywhere near CA Trumer Pils is a fresh, light colored pilsener brewed in Berkeley. Corona is always a safe bet for parties and cheap. I have a tough time buying German beer here around Seattle, usually tastes 6 months old.
Admittedly, I used to drink Genesee and Keystone just so nobody would steal my beer.
Sam Adams is a nice safe choice.
Fat Tire is also great
Beyond that-- if you let us know the region, I suspect we can give you a good list.
re Exotic: At our last party it was only the exotic beers that got drunk. Since I don’t by p*sswater beers, I’ve been enjoying what was left
Actually, I find it kind of odd that they would assign non beer drinkers to bring beer. I usually tell people to just bring beer or wine when I’m trying to be nice and not impose any particular effort on them, as it’s easy to just swing by the store and grab something—that will always be consumed. Easier than asking someone to make a salad or a dish. But I doubt I’d ask someone who doesn’t drink the stuff to bring it.
However, are you the only one bringing beer? Generally, no matter what I tell people to bring, they will often bring a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer also. I doubt you’ll be the only one providing it.
I would echo Yuengling - it is unusual enough (outside PA) that it will be new to a lot of people (or familiar to Pennsylvanians!) but still mild and pleasant enough that just about everyone will drink it.
Sam Adams is also good - better than the cheap beers but still broadly palatable.
Don’t bring Bud/Miller/Coors. Don’t be that person. Friends don’t let friends drink awful beer.
Stella is from Belgium, and is about as good a choice as Sam Adams, but I hate calling it a “Belgian” - that term is often used to describe a family of sour ales, often VERY expensive, that are the mirror opposite of IPA’s.
“Don’t bring Bud/Miller/Coors. Don’t be that person. Friends don’t let friends drink awful beer.”
I agree. Unless it is specifically requested, you don’t want to bring the toilet water (even though some people tend to like that stuff). Once a family member left a bunch of Miller Light at our house (what they liked), and we just couldn’t get rid of that garbage. Nobody wanted it, and I think it was in our pantry for years, until we were finally able to give it away. Was thinking about taking it to a food bank.
Hunt - I was also going to suggest Fat Tire. It seems to have wide appeal. New Belgium brewery is near us, but I’ve heard it is available many places. in US.
Stella is Belgiuam Budweiser. If you want a Belgian get St Bernardus, or Chimay, or Corsendonk
Surprised how many people on here DON’T like IPA’s! But if I couldn’t have an IPA, I would go with a Yuengling or a Pilsner, perhaps even a Corona, but never a Coors or a Bud (light or other)!
Alaskan Amber is a favorite of mine, although it is only distributed in the West, upper Midwest and Southwestern states. Good recommendations already given for nationally distributed beers. I’ll just add Blue Moon Winter Abbey.
The opposite of an IPA? The best I could answer that would be maybe a low hoppiness stout. This is the season for it.
What kind of price range are you looking at? You might try Founders Imperial Stout or Breakfast Stout. Breakfast stout is out of season now but you might still find some lingering supply around. I’m not sure about the extent but it should be all over the Midwest at the very least. Should be about $10-$11/4-pack. A favorite year-round widely available beer of mine is Dragon’s Milk from New Holland which is a bourbon barrel aged stout, price is about $8/bomber, $15/4-pack.
Another good option might be Speedway stout. It’s a bit expensive (like $12/bomber I think) but it should be available almost everywhere (It’s available in the Midwest and the brewery is in California) and is pretty good.
I’ll just add, most beers are only available in small portions of the country, so you should say where you are to get better advice.
I find the comments about what a Belgian beer is supposed to be rather amusing. Stella is indeed a Budweiser type of beer as it is the common cafė beer in many countries. Not especially fancy. The Leuven based company is a vast conglomerate that has absorbed many competitors. The acquisition of AB has reinforced the introduction of various very popular Euro brands.
As far as choices to a party that might NOT have beer fans, I would definitely stay away from overly strong fllavors such as Pale Ale or Stout as many find them quite nasty. Hunt’s recommendation was good. For a bit of exotic taste that is still mild, Leffe and Hoegaerden or Duvel are great choices. Affordable and great tasting.
St Bernardus, the poorer cousin of King Westvleteren, and Chimay are more expensive and a bit of an acquired taste. For a bit of a surprise, a sweet beer such as the Lindemans Raspberry Lambic might please a refined palate at a higher price point.
I’d still bring 1/2 of the typical US or Mexican beer. Fancier beers are subject to the taste of very different palates.
Depending on the number of people, it might make sense to have some weaker beers (there’s been various recommendations) and some stronger. I promise, beer drinkers will appreciate having something more interesting than fat tire.