The Top 10 Beers of the Decade

Can it really be done? With all the different beers and taste buds that exist, is it really possible to narrow this list down to only 10? Is it reasonable to even make such an attempt? Maybe it is and maybe it is not. Beer is the most popular informal social drink in the world. Most beer drinkers are not judges or connoisseurs. They are just regular individuals that enjoy having a great time with a great drink every now and then.

Most beer drinkers can care less about a best beer list. That is because when it comes to beer, the best one is the one that they are holding in their hand at the moment. There is no popularity contest when it comes to beer. The best beer is the one that has a good taste to the person who is drinking it.

However, there have been beers that have been in demand over and over again. They have stood the test of time and have been desired by people with discriminating tastes. Beer drinkers are loyal. When they find a beer they like, they usually stick to it. The beers in this list have been known to make loyal beer drinkers stray from their normal beer drinking pattern.

Here are the top 10 beers and breweries of the decade

1. Grupo Modelo Brewery - Corona Extra & Corona Light - The beer that goes great with a lemon and lime. Corona is a pale lager with a strong smooth great taste. The flavor seems to be enhanced when you add a lemon or a lime to it. Not sure who the first person was to do this but whoever it was made history. When you order a Corona, you are almost expected to ask for a lime. Corona Light has the same flavor with less strength. This is one light beer that does not sacrifice taste for the sake of being less filling.

2. Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma Brewery - Dos Equis Special Lager - The beer with the XX trademark. A bottle with an X on it used to mean poison. But do not worry, this brew is far from poisonous. This is a special lager with a taste that is a bit richer than Corona Extra. However, this beer does not usually get paired with lemons or limes. The flavor is fairly light and it goes down smooth. Goes well with light spicy poultry dishes.

3. Miller Brewing Company - Miller Genuine Draft - Miller Genuine Draft is a premium lager with great drink-ability. It has a taste that is richer and smoother than most popular American beers on the market. It is made by using a cold filtered process which helps it retain its flavor. It is a fun beer to drink if you are searching for a leveled out taste. Not too strong and not too weak.

4. Rock Art Brewery - Vermonster - This beer has not necessarily made the list because of its taste. Even though this American barleywine has plenty of satisfied drinkers, it is best known for the dispute it had with Monster Energy Drink.

The owners of Monster wanted Rock Art Brewery to change the name of its beer because they claimed it was too close to the name "Monster". They felt that Rock Art Brewery was infringing on their copyright. Rock Art Brewery decided to fight this claim. They refused to back down and in the end, they were able to keep the name of their beer. A classic David and Goliath story. Small brewery vs. big brewery. Small brewery 1, Big brewery 0.

5. Boston Beer Company - Samuel Adams Boston Lager & Cherry Wheat - The most famous micro brewer in America. I don't know if they can be called micro anymore. However, Samuel Adams is known for being the underdog of popular American beers. Their beers are very rich and flavorful with excellent aromas. They are made from very fine ingredients and it is apparent in the taste. Boston Lager & Cherry Wheat are two beers that should be on any beer drinkers list. They carry so much flavor that they can almost be compared to fruit beverages.

6. Guinness Brewery - Guinness Stout & Guinness Draught - This stout beer is not for the light beer drinker. It has a very strong rich taste with a powerful malt flavor. Not too much carbon in the beer but the bitterness makes it hard to drink if you are used to light beers. The draught goes down smoother but has the same rich bitter flavor as the stout. This is a beer that you will either love or hate. If you are used to strong, flavorful beers, this beer is for you.

7. Heineken International, The Netherlands - Heineken Pilsner - One of the most popular social imported drinks in the club and bar scene. Heineken pours out dark brown with slight transparency. It has a noticeable bite with a good rich flavor. This beer is perfect for the person who likes to sip. Not so good for the person who likes to down a cold one fast. This beer goes well with spicy Caribbean foods.

8. Desnoes & Geddes Ltd - Red Stripe - This beer is a Jamaican lager with nice drinkability. It has a slight sweet taste with moderate carbonation. It feels very light on the palate even though it is not a light beer. There is no strong aftertaste and it goes down fairly smooth. Goes well with pretty much any dish because the taste of the beer will not overpower your meal.

9. Scottish & Newcastle - Newcastle Brown Ale - This beer has a sweet smell that favors malt and syrup. The taste is very pleasant. It goes down smooth without too much carbonation. It has a dark brown color but its flavor is not overpowering. It is not bitter and does not leave a bad taste in your mouth like some dark beers. Highly recommended for the person who wants to make a transition from light to dark beers.

10. AB InBev - Stella Artois - This is a pale lager that is known for its drinkability. It is probably one of the best imported beers to drink with a pizza. It has a light golden color with a very faint scent. This beer does not have a lot of carbonation but it has a very rich & flavorful taste. It can be compared to a light beer but it has a bit more substance than your average light beer and it doesn't feel as if anything is missing. This is a very unique beer. Highly recommended for light beer drinkers.