Rochester beverage power rankings: First edition, September 2023

Inspired by Dan Fetes, here's a ranking of the beverages I'm enjoying most right now.

Rankings can be fun. They’re also typically useless and biased. But that’s not gonna stop me from pretending my perspective is more valuable or informed than someone else’s. After all, this is my newsletter. And you came here, presumably, to read what I have to say.

(That’s a pretty nice ego boost btw.)

I got the idea of semi-regular beverage power rankings from my buddy Dan Fetes on Twitter or X or whatever Elon is calling it these days. (Of note, Dan works for 13 WHAM-TV locally and does a great job of covering the Buffalo Bills with an eye toward great sound bytes and off-kilter stories.) Dan semi-regularly rolls out random rankings of things like bourbons or starting NFL quarterbacks in Florida during the playoffs (he rightfully picked Trevor Lawrence).

His most recent ranking of summer beverages gave me the inspiration (let’s be honest, I am stealing this) to launch this as a newsletter feature.

His rankings, for those who are curious:

1. High Noon (any flavor); 2. Genny Ruby Red Kolsch; 3. Wedge; 4. Landshark; 5. Water from a hose; 6. Genny Light; 7. Loverboy (hibiscus lime hard tea); 8. ANY BEER AFTER YARD WORK; 9. Rosé; 10. Bourbon.

I have a few minor qualms with Dan’s list, but overall, he did a great job. (I think Loverboy should be higher and I’d also throw in a hard seltzer.) I think it’s a fun way to start some conversations and also to highlight some things that I might not have enough time or energy to devote a full newsletter to. And I think it’s best to just rattle these off the top of your head and not give them too much thought or analysis. That feels like it adds to the immediacy. (In total, this list took me 45 minutes, but I mapped it out before adding more detail.)

As we transition from summer to fall (though you wouldn’t know it after the oppressively hot week we’ve experienced), here are my inaugural beverage power rankings:

1. That 11 a.m. Other Half DIPA when you have the taproom to yourself on a Saturday morning and you’re watching some English Premier League football. (I really, really enjoyed that recent Nottingham Forest win over those Chelsea chuckleheads. And yes, that’s right, I am not a “soccer guy.”)

2. Getting a pour of kombucha during my lunch hour. I’m lucky that both Happy Gut Sanctuary and Katboocha are right down the street from my office. It’s just a nice mid-day reset.

3. Living Roots 2022 Rosé Pét-Nat: This one features two Finger Lakes grape varietals I can’t pronounce. (For the record, it’s Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch.) Admittedly, I don’t know anything about wine. I just know I really love how effervescent and refreshing this one is.

4. Whatever seltzer my awesome wife picks up for the week. (This week, it’s Wegmans Mandarin Orange.) It ends up on the rack in our fridge and there are few things better than ice cold sparkling waters. I’ve also really been enjoying the Aldi brand fizzes lately.

5. It’s Oktoberfest season. Embrace it. Whether it’s a maltier Märzen or a lighter festbier, this is the best time of year for fresh local lagers. It’s also one of the only times a year when we’re certain to get fresh German imports. For reference, I love the Community Beer Works Oktoberfest pictured below.

6. What’s left of my weed seltzer stash. After New York state halted the sale of weed waters at my favorite beer shops, I scooped up what I could and hope to see them return soon. They’re an awesome alternative to beer and provide a relaxing and pleasant buzz. (The Trail Magic Half and Half is a delightful beverage and became our favorite during our taste tests. And a word to the wise, don’t drink an entire 25-milligram weed orange soda before watching Oppenheimer. It’s not fun.)

7. Again, it’s gotta be ice cold — Okay Beer Co. Okay Ultra Light Lager. Seth at Okay is making some really wonderful beer right. His lagers are excellent. This one is worth seeking out and crushing, preferably with some glizzies.

8. Watching my 2-year-old son attack his milk mug with an aggressive chug. It’s hilarious and endearing.

9. For its third anniversary, Frequentem released a bunch of low alcohol bangers. I love the new fruited sour pale ale series. The true stunner, however, was the Foeder-Aged Black Rice Dark Lager. This region needs more wood-aged lagers. (This slot was reserved for my wife. But she couldn’t come up with anything. It might be related to the 2-year-old climbing all over her, repeatedly. And then when I finally got her attention, she asked, “What’s the point of this?”)

10. Genesee Light. (I don’t think Genny Light will never not be in my top 10.)

11. Because I can go to 11 if I want, I really enjoyed Irondequoit Beer Co.’s recent Irondequoit Pale Ale, a throwback to maltier, more bitter examples in the recent past.

This is where I find myself during the first full week of September. How’d I do? What did I miss? I would love to hear your feelings, too. Feel free to email me at clevelandprost@gmail.com or leave your rankings in the comments here.