Best Beer in WDW

[WDW_bn_dt_gb]

Brocktoon-PLEASE tell me it ‘aint so….Spaten (Optimator) is no longer available in Germany? We were there for Thanksgiving and they didn’t offer it because THEY said they had holiday beer imported and had tents set up to taste different beers, which I did, but none were as well rounded as Spaten!

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

DH makes beer himself (so he is super picky) and his favorite things is to "Drink Around the World" at Epcot!

 

[Rose&Crown]

I do enjoy the brewery @ Boardwalk, but it is all produced by Biersch, not exactly a microbrew.

Owned by Gordon Biersch, brewed on site, and is decent especially considering where you are. Service is pretty lame and it attracts all the conventioners late

 

[Rose&Crown]

I'm pretty sure it's brewed on site, but it's a Gordon Biersch chain, so they probably have regid recipies they need to brew by. I'm not sure if they are allowed to brew any experimental batches now and then? Their beers aren't horrible, and for people trying new styles it think Big River is a good introduction. But, they play it very safe and there's probably nothing to find at Big River that would be considered a huge find

I have had a cask beer there in the past, but the cask is usually not pouring, it is on the back bar and was never offered, i had to ask.

 

[Rose&Crown]

I think I'm pretty lucky, geographically. We live near the Finger Lakes, which as well as having tons of small wineries, has a ton of very small breweries. Some of the favorites I've tried in local restaurants / pubs aren't available for retail outside going to the brewery itself. Like my current obsession - Naked Dove Windblown Ale. It's absolutely amazing! As is the Ithaca Brewing Co. Flower Power & the Southern Tier Phinn & Matt's Extraordinary Ale. Looking at my list, it looks like I'm a Pale Ale kinda gal. Is that sort of a normal jumping off point? I know with wine, I started with pretty easy drinkers & moved on from there.

Do you have any recommendations on Pale Ales in WDW for me?

Limited:

Big River as stated usually has a pale ale and a slightly hoppy red ale
Dogfish 60 minute IPA (too grainy for me) is in just about every lounge
Kona Fire Rock which is no big deal since AB started distributing them
Blue Zoo has a decent selection (short walk from Epcot International Gateway)
Wave has been mostly a disappointment, started with 4 beers from Orlando Brewing which were mediocre, since it hads changed, offered Wolavers (Otter Creek) last time- they try to stay organic

Basically, drink around the countries and enjoy the local unexciting beers in a happy atomsphere.

If you like tequila (and even if you don't) hit cava del tequilla in Mexico.

 

[Rose&Crown]

My husband had a beer in every country @ Epcot & his fav was Japan's beer.Not sure what it was but it was his fav. I had champagne/bubbly wine, whatever each country had. My fav was in Italy Rose Regale. MY #1 FAVORITE glass of wine I have ever had. It's desert wine & they give you a chocolate w/ it. Tastes like chocolate covered rasberries & it's awesome. My husband got it for me on Valentine's day.

Kirin Ichiban

 

[Rose&Crown]

Ah, beer lovers unite for a common cause. I agree with the statement that WDW is a beer lovers wasteland for the most part. Since AB/InBev have bought up a lot of my second tier choices(Hoegarden, Bass and even now Goose Island) there aren't a lot of choices left. I wish they would get a permanent booth in the Canada pavilion at Epcot to have the Unibroue products. Trois Pistoles is one of my absolute favorites. I don't recall seeing any of the DFH brews anywhere but I'm hoping that info is correct. We usually settle for mixed drinks, wine or one of the German offerings at Epcot. At AK we tried the Safari Amber(not sure who makes it)and it was drinkable(probably helped that it was hotter than you know what there). We are also avid homebrewers so are very hard to please when it comes to beer.

Unibroue beers in the past have been at the outside stand, last few trips moosehead, moosehead light, and Labatts Blue. Pouring a belgian style beer into a plastic cup mad for lots of foam and the servers didn't know that wetting the cup would help. Also, Maudite or Fin du Monde in 85-100 degree heat can get old quick.

As others have said, they also offer Moosehead Pale Ale in the restaurant. What Canada needs is to take that wasted space above the gift shop and put in a bar!!

 

[Rose&Crown]

If anything I think Germany has stepped up, 4 beers you don't see everyday, all are decent. How many times do you see Hovel Alt on tap??

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...taurant/biergarten-restaurant-menu-drinks.pdf

Eating heavy german food with a liter of spaten optimator is a chore, but on cooler nights, a glass outside was welcome.

First time I went, Becks was pretty much it.

 

[Leota]

Well, I didn't miss much..... suffering some sort of tummy troubles & wasn't up to beers..... In fact, now they're talking gluten intolerance, pretty much queers the beers.....

Bummer....just after discovering how delicious craft brew is & now I might not be able to enjoy it anymore? That is a cruel, cruel joke......

 

[Brocktoon]

Well, I didn't miss much..... suffering some sort of tummy troubles & wasn't up to beers..... In fact, now they're talking gluten intolerance, pretty much queers the beers.....

Bummer....just after discovering how delicious craft brew is & now I might not be able to enjoy it anymore? That is a cruel, cruel joke......

D'OH! Hopefully everything works out for you

If it does turn out that you have a gluten sensitvity, the good news is that craft brewed gluten-free beer is starting to get more popular. I'm not saying you'll get the great range and quality of true brews, but some of the styles are more drinkable than the standard mass produced stuff. Most of the gluten free beer is made with sorghum and millet instead of barley and wheat. Again, it definately tastes diffrent, but it's better than nothing.

The gluten free from Greens (UK) and Lake Front (USA) have been some of the better I've tried. I've recently seen some bottles from Bard's Tale which is a US all gluten free brewery, but I haven't tried them yet.

 

[Leota]

I was checking out the gluten-free beers at the store yesterday in anticipation of feeling like a cold one (hopefully soon!) They do stock Bard's. I think there were 3 or 4 other ones too (our grocery store is really big on the gluten-free thing)

Too bad you weren't close by, I have a bunch of Ithaca beers - Casca-zilla & Flower Power that I'd hate to see go to waste.... my neighbors will be happy tho.

 

[ricktib]

Surprised this wasn't mentioned, but my all-time favorite is the "Safari Amber" that's brewed especially for WDW by one of the major beer makers. It can be found at AK, AKL, and at the Outpost in Epcot.

Looking forward to several of these in a couple of weeks.

 

[si-am]

Surprised this wasn't mentioned, but my all-time favorite is the "Safari Amber" that's brewed especially for WDW by one of the major beer makers. It can be found at AK, AKL, and at the Outpost in Epcot.

Looking forward to several of these in a couple of weeks.

I always thought that was Amber Bock with a different name.

 

[Isaiah55.1]

for all the good input. I'm looking forward to trying out some of the highly recommended brews on our next trip.

 

[snels]

We love the Safari Amber served at Animal Kingdom.

 

[DefLepard]

A good beer in Epcot is "Casa Beer" at the Morocco pavilion

 

[Rose&Crown]

Surprised this wasn't mentioned, but my all-time favorite is the "Safari Amber" that's brewed especially for WDW by one of the major beer makers. It can be found at AK, AKL, and at the Outpost in Epcot.

Looking forward to several of these in a couple of weeks.

Safari Amber is relabelled Michelob Amber Bock, name is good and probably tastes better at Animal Kingdom, but is nothing special. Try Tusker at the DAWA bar although the bottles are no longer 16oz, or hit the Yak & Yeti for some other brews (get a bar seat and you will not want to leave).

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.ID=473#menu

With the global consolidation of beer, unfortunately
Fosters is brewed in Canada
Kirin Ichiban is brewed under contract in US
Sapporo is brewed in US, maybe Canada

 

[xipetotec]

I used to be in pursuit of a really good wine with dinner, but for some reason, I have really gotten into our local microbrews.

Where in WDW are the best beers? I know Germany has a good choice. How are the beers at Big River? The food doesn't appeal to me too much tho. Does the Wave have some good beers, preferably micro / artisanal? Any other ideas?

We really enjoy the beers at Big River. And the bonus is if it's a nice day, you can sit right out on the boardwalk while you dine/drink. Sometimes, they even have beer "on cask" ... though not often it seems. Other than that, Epcot is the only real place you'll find great beers, namely at Le Cellier and Germany. I specify Le Cellier because I think OUTSIDE at Canada they only sell like Molson or Labbatt or something ( which is comparable to Budweiser ). But inside you'll find Unibroue belgian style microbrews.

 

[jiminyfan]

and to us there is only one Yuengling.

I am surprised no one said it before.

Actually, It does stand up to a lot of the others mentioned before. I haven't found any one on property I could recommend as the best.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I saw something called Budweiser the other day--the King of Beers the fellow told me.
Wonder if they have THAT at WDW????

jiminyfan:
Yuengling is pretty good, but it's SO available up here that I haven't the heart to order it when I'm at WDW.

At Shula's this past trip I had a beer called Bells Amber. Not too bad....

And Paridiso has Negra Modelo on tap at VERY cold temperature!!