I'm stopping by my favorite liquor store for the holiday weekend and I'd like to buy beer other than the tired Budlights of the world. What are the general thoughts on pairing? Is is just a crap shoot or is there a method?
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No real method, and it really depends on your taste and the stick. For example, with a deep rich maduro I generally pair that with a belgian dubbel or quad. Most cc's, with their grassy bright tones I enjoy a IIPA with. So it really all depends.
Plus it helps that I homebrew so I can make what I want when I want it :-).

If youre going to a generic store, they should carry Victory's hopdevil and/or Dogfish Heads 90min IPA. Both solid generic IPAs. Both would go well with most cigars on a hot day
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beyond drinking a good beer with your good cigar, i would say find the style you like and drink it.


Dogfish 90 is far from a "generic IPA" IMO. Great beer.
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Well, to me it is. Im not saying its bad, I absolutely love it. I used generic as in you can find it in most stores rather than some of the beers I scout out which you have to wiggle your nose right and skip into the store the right way to find, lol.
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I normally don't drink beer with my cigars. Although, now that I've read this thread, I'm planning on it this weekend!

Probably pick up some Bell's Two Hearted Ale, Rogue Dead Guy Ale, and maybe something from Deschutes.
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beer is always hard to recommend because distribution varies so widely.
look like there is no dogfish in OK.

googling yukon, i couldn't find any store with inventory listed on the web, but i did find a restaurant:

http://jojostaphouse.com/jojos-beers.htm

One option would be to go there and sample away.
Alternatively, It's probably a reasonable guess that local stores would have the same beers... So, arbitrarily of those I happen to have had and like... Flying Dog Doggie Style :-)
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I wish I could get Bells out here :-)
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Personally I stay away from alcohol and cigars; the combination makes me feel nauseous.
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I feel that mixing different alcohol PLUS cigars is no bueno
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If you've got a spicy, full-bodied smoke, you'll probably want to go with an IPA or one of the blonde Belgian abbey-style ales.
With a sweeter smoke, you'll probably be better off with a sweet porter or milk stout. I can see a good RIS, with its increased hoppiness and dark sweetness, going great with a good, full-bodied maduro or oscuro. As mentioned earlier by kamil, one of the darker Belgian abbey-style ales could go well here, too.
If you've got a fairly mild smoke, your best bet will be a craft pilsner, lager, golden/blond ale, or perhaps APA. You may also be able to go with a wheat beer, though I personally wouldn't pair that sort of sour note with a cigar. One of the Belgian abbey-style blondes could also go well here.
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If you can, find a beer store that allows you to mix and match singles. It is a great and fairly inexpensive way to try new beers and new styles. I would start with getting some basic styles, maybe include a brown ale, a pale ale, an IPA (not a double/imperial IPA), an amber, a stout, and a porter. Summer is here so you may want to try some Summer seasonals as well. Also try local beers and as mentioned above try some Belgian ales, I find all of the different styles pair well with cigars just in different ways.

This is a link to Beerfly that will help you locate beer stores and bars

http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/

I looked up Yukon and it looks like you are fairly close to OKC and this store has a good review. I have no knowledge of OK so if I am way off my apologies

http://byronsliquor.com/
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:-) Good pairing list

And if you're only accustomed to drinking the "tired Budlights of the world" :-), I would start with the craft pilsner/pale ale/blond ale styles. Jumping right in to the heavier styles like Belgian, Imperials, etc., can sometimes be a shock to the system
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My favorite overall style of beer to have with a cigar are doublebocks.

Although not my favorite beer, Paulaner Salvator is my 1st choice to have with a stick.
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I like some Guinness with a good maduro myself.
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Check out this thread: http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16879
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For me sweet sticks = Founders Breakfast Stout or Stone RIS, spicy sticks = Nugget Nectar, Slumbrew Flagraiser, or Stone Ruination
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:-)
You enjoy Ruination with cigars? That sucker is a palate wrecker for me.
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My love for hops is undeniable :-) :-) :-)
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I find that anything other than water just covers over the flavor or the cigar. I DO drink whiskey with them from
time to time, but only because I am smoking in a bar where I can get whiskey. All that said, I HAVE been drinking
an awful lot of beer with cigars lately, but I choose according to my palate, not with a plan towards pairing.
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I like very few IPA's paired with cigars. The bitterness and hops tend to overpower the cigar. For me, I like German Style Lagers, Barleywines, and Imperial Stouts with my cigars..
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