What country has the best beer?

Obviously, there's no correct answer. As I wrote this it's Friday evening and I'm enjoying a Stella Artois, in honor of my recent trip to Belgium. But while there, I avoided any of the mass-produced beers. I became fond of a craft beer that was 9.5% alcohol.

Asked my hubby, he said Czech Republic, and we’ve been to Belgium.

Thanks to your husband.
We need more opinions on this vital question.

Belgium! Great dark beers.

Thanks to Barbara and Marika for their replies..

Forum experts must have conducted intensive in-country research on this important question.

Belgiumnetherlands
Stella Artois does not count as It too mass produced.

Yeah, I realized I was asking for it if I mentioned Stella.
On a recent trip to (you-know-where), I went so far beyond that beer, so I think I understand what you're saying. It's just the only one at the local store.

More opinions? C'mon, forget sights, hotels & restaurants--this is important.

The best beer I ever had is called "Beagle" from the town of Ushuaia in Argentine Patagonia. Apparently they use glacial water from Tierra del Fuego with Patagonian hops along with German and Belgian malts to produce a wonderful Cream Stout. I think what made it taste so good was that I was totally unprepared to find a beer of such high quality at the "end of the world" :)

Carlos, thanks for the tip.

This out of Quebec
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22/34/

Great website, thank you Jazz+Travels.

A starting point is "best ale" or "best larger". If you taste runs to bitter IPAs, a Pils or Märzen may disappoint no matter how well made. And if you are a porter/stout drinker, a pale larger like Stella Artois may seem like a lawnmower beer.

That said, the best beers seem to be the ones quaffed after a long bike ride or ski.

I should not have even mentioned the beer I mentioned previously. Once I was in the country of (you-know-where), I learned there is so much beer beyond that, and it all needs to be explored.

I vote for Pilsner Urquell (Czechia) which seems to travel well, but I prefer whatever is the most local, local brew, wherever I am. Although I think Kölsch is my favorite experience, but you have to be there. Sometimes its the time and place more than the actual drink.

Best beer experience-Guinness!

We are getting some good opinions here!

What European country has the best beer?

And once the answer to this question is determined, maybe we can get the answer to this favorite, 'when is the best time to buy airline tickets?' and then ' should I wear a money belt?'

I would say Czech Republic/Czechia and Germany, although Czechia would come first for me because it offers better value (high quality and inexpensive)

The best beer by country would be Belgium. It's not the liveliest country, however.
We found the beer in Prague to be just about as good.
And needless to say, German beer is nectar of the gods. They have the great beer halls.
We were also very pleased to find the beer in Estonia to be fantastic.
U.S. beer is perhaps the worst in the modern world. We only drink when in Europe.

U.S. beer is perhaps the worst in the modern world.

No way by a long shot. There are countless excellent craft beer throughout the US from every region. Compare that with, say Peroni (sorry, Italy!).

Stella Artois = Budweiser

Frankly a lot more going on beerwise in the US vs Europe. So much experimentation, US really eclipses Europe in beer. You need to travel domestically!

These are good opinions. I'm learning.....

U.S. beer is perhaps the worst in the modern world.

this is totally out of touch with what is going on currently
great beer halls is matter of personal taste. I find It is very touristy that whole German beer as quality thing drinking out of a giant stein acting lively

U.S. beer is perhaps the worst in the modern world.

Alabama is behind the times with only 6 craft breweries. Travel west and experience micro and craft breweries. California is home to 287 craft breweries, Oregon 156 and Washington 157. Colorado is home to 182 craft breweries and even Utah is home to 21 craft breweries. https://www.beermonthclub.com/brewpub

https://www.craftbeer.com/beer/what-is-craft-beer

Trying to define craft beer is a difficult task, as beer can be very
subjective and personal experience.

As a nation, the U.S. now has more beer styles (150+) and brands
(20,000+) to choose from than any other market in the world. As of
early 2018, more than 6,000 breweries are responsible for the beer
brands available in the U.S.

Based on the post immediately above, looks like Oregon is pretty high up on the US list as having a lot of craft breweries per capita (based state population). Somehow...that doesn't surprise me.
But back to Europe.

Late in the game here - YES! Oregon !

We used to brew our own in OR, So Cal, VA, and BC. Moved back in the mid-90'S. Best beer ever, and thanks to the https://www.mcmenamins.com/, along with a brewpub on every corner, there is no need to do that anymore.

Just came back from a weekend in Bend, Oregon. We filled growlers everywhere.

...craft breweries per capita (state population).

Oregon in 5th in per capita per pop over 21. (Alabama second from the bottom, just above Missisipi).
https://www.statista.com/statistics/319978/craft-beer-breweries-per-capita-in-the-us-by-state/

This statistic depicts the craft beer breweries per capita in the
United States in 2017, by state. Vermont had 11.5 craft breweries per
100,000 people aged 21 years and older that year. The leading five
states in craft breweries per capita were rounded off by Montana,
Maine, Oregon and Colorado.

Beer in Germany was good, but not as good as Oregon. Beer in Italy - not so good, but the wine was excellent.

Sorry, but we can have 100 different brews within a 25 mile radius from home. Creative, and we do have the biggest brew fest west of the Mississippi the last weekend in July,

Yeah...growlers!

Best beer...Germany has by far the best beer, light and dark, such as Dortmund beers, Herforder Pils, Bavarian beers, Schultheiss, Berliner Weisse, Düsseldorf Altbier, north German Pils, such as Jevers, the various Beck's, Flensburger much more preferable than beers from Belgium, Czechia, Holland, etc.

The US having the worst beer...well, I don't know about that since I totally lay off of it. I don't drink any of it anymore anyway , craft beers or the standard ones. I thought Sweden"s beer was pretty bad, I don't care for beer in Austria either.

I thought for a long time that Guinness was supreme and then I went to Belgium.

Brugge (Bruges) says that the city's beer establishments have about four hundred different beers. And most of the beer types have a distinctive glass for each one--I didn't believe that until I was recently there. Now admittedly I didn't try all four hundred, but each beer that I did have, well they did, in fact, come with their own distinctive glass.

Q: What European country has the best beer?

A: Whatever country you're in at the moment.

Life is short. Make the best of it.

Q: What European country has the best beer?

A: Whatever country you're in at the moment.

Life is short. Make the best of it.
you got it spot on david.
I spend around 30 days a year in the Czech Republic, and most of that time i spend seeking out new bars and micro breweries tasting loads of great beer and would say that the Czechs have some of the best beer in the world but their range of beer styles is limited.it is getting a great deal better and there is a huge move to IPA's and APA's and they tend to be very good but I have had some bloody awful ones,also sour beers are making a mark but i can;t stand them.
For sheer variety of styles then Belguim wins but I just find their beer too heavy and often too strong to be able to enjoy a session of them and as for their fruit beers you can keep them i just don't like them. As to Stella I think it is a really crap version of a Pilsner Style beer, taste proper pilsner then taste that stuff,no way will you go back to stella.
My own country of Scotland has some amazing beers and like many other countries there are some great small breweries out there producing stuff that is just superb. Stay away from the multi national brands and seek out stuff from the craft and smaller breweries and wherever you are in the world you will find great beer.

Fin du Monde, like so many Quebec brews, is very high-octane. I prefer the St. Ambroise pale ale at a more reasonable alcohol level and with pure hops tang. Not true to form, it is more muscular than its sibling India Pale Ale. But there's lots more to drink in Quebec and all across Canada. Many specialty brews are angling for attention with unusual ingredients -- pumpkin, unfortunately, at this time of year. For those who savour bitter and sour, North American craft beers are more robust than their European ancestors. And they are everywhere -- my county in Southwestern Ontario counts at least 10 craft beer operations, with several more coming, and you could easily drink your way across the country and up to the sub-Arctic. Well, 'easily' might not quite describe the challenges, but craft beer is everywhere
On final, snobbish note about Fin du Monde: Its maker, Unibroue, has lost a little bit of its authenticity now it is indirectly owned by Sapporo.

I suspect the answer to this depends on taste and preferences. I've tried the beer in many countries in Europe and it's all good, but my favourite is still a pint of Guinness. That's not to say that the other beer is inferior, just that Guinness is what I prefer.

The consensus appears to be that, like many things, the best beer is a matter of personal preference.

The European country that has the best beer is, in my opinion, England or the UK to be more precise. But of course it's entirely subjective because a lot comes down to what type of beer you prefer. Continental Europe produces mainly lager type beers and that's a type I find relatively boring. German beers have always been quite limited in variety in my opinion likewise Czech beers. France, Italy, Spain etc are better at making wine. Belgium has a good beer culture however I don't like sour beers or ones that are too high in alcohol and Belgium produces too many of these for my liking, my wife once brought back a random selection of ten Belgian beers for me and I didn't like a single one!

The UK produces such a wide range of beers and the number of small craft breweries is expanding at an incredible rate (although I doubt if it's sustainable). Much of the beer being produced currently is in the currently defined IPA style (highly hopped with new world citrusy hops) rather than the original definition of IPA and this is what I enjoy drinking the most. It's also why I rate the US as one of the top beer producing countries once you overlook the abomination of Budweiser/Coors et al.

Saying that, on a hot summers day I will gladly quaff any cold beer before I become more discerning.

We lived in Augsburg, Germany for four years and did Oktoberfest three times. Bavaria is not to be beat. However, Czech and Belgian beer are right up there. British dark beer and Irish Guinness are right in the pack.

Most mainline US beers are not up to par, but I do like Samuel Adams. Also, there are many excellent microbrews around the country.

"Saying that, on a hot summers day I will gladly quaff any cold beer before I become more discerning."

Yes, I think where you are makes a big difference and no doubt has historically (but less so now), affected the beers brewed in different European climates, including which ingredients are more prevalent. One of life's great pleasures is a cold English winter when the rain is lashing down outside, but you're inside a cosy pub, next to a roaring fire and drinking bitter. But that wouldn't be my preferred drink in a Spanish summer when it's 100°F just in the shade. Then even an ice cold Cruzcampo is more welcome. Understandably, it was an Ice Cold (Carlsburg) in Alex that John Mills craved, not a Sussex Best

Germany has a reputation for great beer. It is undeserved. Today, German beer is dominated by 1 style, and is quite boring. There is more interesting beer in Minnesota than in Germany.

The US has the best beer culture at this time. Europe is hidebound and moribund in beer terms.

Czech Republic hands down. Since they have the highest per capita consumption in Europe, they should know. And it also has lower prices than western Europe prices. The best for less, how can you go wrong.

Some may find it surprising to hear that Spain is Europe’s 4th largest producer of beer, after Germany, UK and Poland. While there are some pretty low quality stuff, here is some of the better Spanish beers to look out for:

Estrella Damm Inedit - 4.8%
Created in conjunction with Ferran Adriá the famed chef from el Bulli, this one has a creamy texture with a hint of coriander and orange.

Ámbar Export Tres Maltas - 7%
From Zaragoza in the north, this one is also full-bodied and creamy with a distinct floral flavor.

Alhambra Reserva 1925 - 6.4%
A great beer from Granada, its sweet and bitter at the same time with an aroma of caramelized fruit.

Voll-Damm Doble Malta - 7.2%
A very hoppy Märzenbier style beer, full bodied and characterized by its pungent yet rich bitterness, this one's from Barcelona.

Continental Europe produces mainly lager type beers and that's a type
I find relatively boring. German beers have always been quite limited
in variety in my opinion likewise Czech beers.

At least Germany also offers quite a few top-fermented beers, like Berliner Weiße, Alt, Kölsch, Bock, Malz, Porter, Rauch and Goße, but most of them are a regional thing and cannot be found in Bavaria, the region most foreign tourists visit and associate with German beer culture.

Great beers in Europe, especially with the smaller breweries. But, I don't have to travel to Europe to enjoy craft beers as there are seemingly one nano/microbrewery for every 10 people in Montana...equaling the ratio of real estate agents. Once the shakeout begins, you'll easily acquire a house and brewery and then also drink beers with former real estate agents....their careers started as bartenders.

Every European country has good beer, and don't forget the UK...a hand drawn draft will make you wonder why German beers get so much attention... 10 or 12 pints of Guinness will make you wonder why it's good for you. A whiskey chaser will make you forget why you asked why.
Differentiate styles to get to the answer..are you talking about lagers, pilsners, wheat beers, dark beers??? What?
All of the said, hands down, Belgium is the best for styles, innovation, taste, variety....to properly enjoy it you must go from bar to bar from South to North and try each one in it's proper glass....and don't forget the ones that are served only in bottles..you need to try all of those.
Stella is not one of the good beers and there are no beers worth drinking in the Netherlands, unless they are Belgian.

I'm with David and others, whatever country I happen to be in when the desire strikes has the best beer.

If you just visit Bavaria, chances are you won't find or be offered German beers from up north or central Germany...the various types of Becks (Becks Gold,), Einbecker, König Pilsener, Warsteiner Pils, Berliner Kindl, Bosch Pils, Jevers, Herforder Pils, DAB and a host of other Dortmunder Biere, Radeberger from the Dresden area, or Flensburger Pils, Köstritzer/ Thüringen, Schlösser Alt, etc There is also "Doppelbock" and "Schwarzbier"

In my experience, the Czech Republic. One impressive thing that I noted, in wandering around Prague, you’ll encounter many bars with brewery signs over the entry, and each different one will accompany the name with “since 1536”, “since 1528”, “since 1554” and so on. For an American, that continuous history was impressive indeed!

One impressive thing that I noted, in wandering around Prague, you’ll
encounter many bars with brewery signs over the entry, and each
different one will accompany the name with “since 1536”, “since 1528”,
“since 1554” and so on. For an American, that continuous history was
impressive indeed!

They don't have a continuous history. Usually it just means that beer brewing was documented in this house, but in the Middle Ages and later almost everyone brewed beer. These early "mico breweries" died out 1) when rules became stricter, 2) industrial brewing developed in the 19th century, and 3) with the Communist nationalizations and expulsions after 1945. Usually these new microbreweries are not older that 20 years.

I agree with Martin, I have been travelling to Prague for over 25 years and some of these micro breweries have only been around less than 10 years, last month I visited a new place out in the Liben area of the city which was great. there are very few places that have been brewing beer continuously for the time they suggest.

OK, but the signs I was seeing corresponded to the major Czech brands of beer, and did not seem to be micro-breweries.

I'm with David and others, whatever country I happen to be in when the
desire strikes has the best beer.

Another vote here!
But U.S.. beer being the worst in the modern world? This is the long list of craft breweries JUST in my state:

https://www.mncraftbrew.org/find-a-brewery/

Stopping into the local craft tap rooms is something we do on every U.S. trip, and we collect glassware from the faves. Running out of room for them, though!

Had MANY happy Beer O'clocks in Belgium.

Alhambra Reserva 1925 - 6.4%
A great beer from Granada, its sweet and bitter at the same time with an aroma of caramelized fruit.

I had this on a recent trip to Andalusia and was pleasantly surprised. Spain is more of a wine country, but the Alhambra Reserva 1925 is a very good beer.

@nathanboley8 Glad you liked it! As you mentioned, while Spain is mostly known as a wine country, there are some real gems in terms of Spanish beer too :)

A lot of it is going to be a matter of what your taste in beer is. For instance, Germany and beer are closely related in the rest of the world's mind, and a lot is made of Reinheitsgebot, the German beer purity law, as proof of Germany's superiority in beer. However, Reinheitsgebot wasn't really intended to protect the quality of beer, it was meant to protect bread making and the cost of bread, the staple food of the German people back then, by limiting the amount of wheat and rye that went into beer production (obviously, a few already-popular styles like hefeweizen were exempted). Really, rather than making German beer better, it make German beer less diverse, causing the extinction of a lot of presumably interesting styles. It didn't do this alone, the popularity of the lagering method of producing beers contributed to this as well. Lager beers, as opposed to ale, are bottom fermented and cool temperatures, while ales are top-fermented at warmer temperatures. Generally lagering results in very crisp, clean-drinking beers, while ales tend to have the potential to develop a wider variety of esters that contribute to more complex flavors. Lagered beers spread in popularity throughout Germany, in the 19th Century, leading to the further extinction of most top-fermented German beer styles, except in little pockets like Cologne's Kolsch style and Dusseldorf area's altbier (literally "old beer", reflecting that it was made in the old style from before lagered beer's rise in popularity). Sorry for the history/science lesson, but I'm a homebrewer so I dig this stuff.

Don't get me wrong, Germany brews a lot of excellent beers, and there is a surprising amount of diversity of styles within the limitations of the lager method, like marzens (the famous Oktoberfest beers), dunkels, doppelbocks, etc. But there isn't the diversity of flavor profiles that can be found in other countries, and one country in particular, my favorite beer country (even though it's down the list for me as an overall destination) - Belgium. You've got the blonde ales that have the crispness of a pils(ner) but with more complexity. Then you've got the Trappist ales and other ales many that are almost red wine-like in their body and flavor complexity (or maybe even more complex thatn red wines), you've got saisons, whits (white wheat beers), the brown beers, then there are all the sour beers like lambics and guezes and fruited kriecks. For sure flavor diversity, no other country can match Belgium. I consider it the best beer country in the world.

Good explanation on German beers and their perceived lack of diversity relative to other beers of other countries but that presupposes you want diversity in beer in the first place.

Germany and Czech Republic are two of the best beer countries. Germany for the darker beers and Czech Republic for the pilsners. My tastes have changed over the years and a Czech pilsner is probably my favorite style of beer. Poland was a surprisingly good beer country on our trip there earlier this year. Northeastern Germany was a little more Czech-like in terms of beers during our spring trip. Another great beer country is Ireland for stouts. I have not had as great beer experiences in England despite the strong pub culture there, as much as I love traveling in England. The main thing I remember about beer in Belgium is that the beers were expensive and small, around 10 ounces. I much prefer places that serve a proper full pint, or half liter. (To be fair, this was based upon a short stay in Bruges and it might be better off the tourist track).

I have had as great beer experiences in England despite the strong pub culture there, as much as I love traveling in England

I'm assuming you meant to write "I have not had as great beer experiences in England"? If so I believe it would have been due to the pubs you may have visited. Most pubs are owned by breweries and they are very controlling over what beers can be sold in their pubs, unsurprisingly mainly their beers with a few mass produced, insipid lagers thrown in. A lot of what these big breweries produce tends to be quite boring and 'safe'. The best beer being made in the UK is by small, independent breweries (much like anywhere else) and you'll find these beers in shops, from the breweries themselves and in the few pubs that focus on such beers. These pubs are becoming more common, I can think of a few pubs in Portsmouth that were sold by the brewery because they were no profitable and taken on by someone free to stock whatever beer they want. Consequently these pubs have increased their trade and become busy once more.

To have a good beer experience in a British pub you need to seek out those independent pubs free from brewery control.

There is no wrong answer to this very important question - everyone’s tastes are different. This Rick Steves podcast tries to answer the question with a panel of four European beer experts:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/beer-in-europe/id364276202?i=1000088002917&mt=2

JC: How do you tell if it is a brewery-controlled pub vs an independent one? Are breweries labeled in some manner? In 2017, we were in Birkenhead, at a pub called Gallagher's, which is a regimental pub. All the beers had odd names, like Duck's Neck or something. They all seemed local. I really enjoyed them. Liverpool tied Southhampton, unfortunately.

I've usually found the best beers in England are at a brewery tour. I loved Fuller's brewery tour and somehow their beer never tastes as good as in the tasting room.

"JC: How do you tell if it is a brewery-controlled pub vs an independent one? Are breweries labeled in some manner? In 2017, we were in Birkenhead, at a pub called Gallagher's, which is a regimental pub. All the beers had odd names, like Duck's Neck or something. They all seemed local. I really enjoyed them. Liverpool tied Southhampton, unfortunately."

The independent pubs are those called "freehouses". No, it does not mean the beer is free, but that the pub is free from control of a brewery.

JC: How do you tell if it is a brewery-controlled pub vs an independent one?

It's quite difficult. Some chains are obvious, such as Wetherspoons, Fullers etc others are more difficult. You'll see many pubs with the name of a brewery written in tiles around the pub but these are old and most of the breweries no longer exist. The only way of knowing is by research, local knowledge or simply stepping inside and look at the selections offered. If the bar consists of just a handful of pumps and a couple of taps for lager then you can be confident that it's a brewery controlled one. If you find one with a lot more pumps, perhaps some tapped barrels behind and a fridge full of various cans and bottles and usually a blackboard displaying the beers currently on offer then you can be confident that it's an independent one.

I'm happy to see there are many erudite comments on this important travel topic.

Czech Republic followed closely by Germany - Bavaria. Price in C.R. is much lower. IMHO the best is Pilsner Urquell, the second is Bernard from small town Humpolec (also C.R.) Belgian beers are without any doubt the most diverse but far from the best. Most of them don't even taste like a beer. You would think that for example Pilsner Urquell tastes the same no matter which pub you drink it in. Well, it is not so. The best beer I ever drank anywhere was Pilsner Urquell in the pub U hrocha in Prague.

I generally order the local product because fresh is a factor.

The best beer IMO is a Guinness served in Ireland. I don't particularly like dark beers but a fresh Guinness is the best beer I've had to date.

Before my first trip to Ireland a bunch of friends said, "You have to have a Guinness." I'd had Guinness here in the U.S. and didn't really like it. They told me it's completely different there, and they were right.

"Good explanation on German beers and their perceived lack of diversity relative to other beers of other countries but that presupposes you want diversity in beer in the first place."

Well, if you don't want diversity in beer, you can still get the "international style" pils/pilsner in Belgium, too, especially in Stella Artois, which is pretty much the Budweiser of Europe, and just ignore all the diverse, spectacular beers Belgium has to offer, so I'd still say that Belgium has the best beer in Europe.

I don't care for Stella Artois, overrated, had it a few times in Northern France since it is served just about everywhere, eg in the Nord Pas-de-Calais. A number of Belgian beers are served all over Northern France, such as Leffe,

A German Pils is more preferable anytime, if I want a Pils in the first place, even though there are differences.

Belgium for me

The country with the best beer has to be wherever I am, ' cause they just knew I was coming to sample their local brews. :)

American beer has long gotten beaten up as being bad. Then Inbev bought AB, and craft beers in the States exploded. The US has a style and taste for just about every type of beer drinker - you just have to look for and find them.

I'm a real ale guy, so I am somewhat partial to the UK. That said, German and Czech beer are both to die for, and Belgium is magnifique.

What beer I like best typically depends on time of year and mood. My general mantra, though, is to try what the locals drink and enjoy.

I am going back to Prague next week and to a beer festival that is specialising in Autumn, winter and Christmas beers from around the Czech Republic and beyond. I shall have fun sampling a few.
https://www.pbfest.cz/

My general mantra, though, is to try what the locals drink and enjoy.

I tried that in France and all I ended up with was Kronenbourg.

Try that in many of the pubs in England and unfortunately you'll risk drinking Fosters.

Popularity is not always an indication of quality.

I enjoy tap beer with the food of the country I’m in. I do not drink beer in the states.
Guinness in Dublin
Any beer in Belgium paired with what I’m eating.
Heineken in Amsterdam
Super Bock in Portugal
1664 in Paris
Estrella Galicia in Spain

Not about a European beer but I thought the beer lovers out there might enjoy this video of people tasting some Oregon craft brews.

Re above post, last week I was enjoying Portland craft beer.

In Northern France one sees anywhere where beer is sold signs for Stella Artois, Leffe, Heineken, Pelforth, Kanterbräu, ...not just Kronenburg.

The individual taverns, bars do list these beers in their drink menu, sometimes even the German beer, " DAB Export"....very good stuff.

If you are lucky enough and live in Seattle or nearby you can go to Queen Anne Beerhall and have Pilsner Urquell on tap. Unfortunately much more expensive than in the Czech Republic. Or you can have Czech beer brewed in Ballard. They are using Czech recipe, Czech barley and Czech hops.