before and after summer I go for the wheat Ales. Ramps me up a bit in preparation for the richer Ales I like in Winter, and back down again to the Lagers of Summer. There are many German and American microbrewery Wheats, These are what I prefer.
When It gets cold is my favorite time of the year for drinking the richest most flavorful Ales. My top favorites are New Castle Brown Ale and the Bitter Fullers ESB. On rare occasion I will go for a Stout (by itself is a meal). When visiting Microbrewery bars or restaraunts, I will always check to see if they have a sampler and i get that for starters.
Cooking with Beer is good too. Sauces are very difficult to do well, but if you take the time to do it right and create something with a nice taste you may surprise yourself. Cooking with beer can also be as simple as basting meat on the BBQ or standing a whole chicken uprite on a "BBQ beer can chicken" Thats what Bud or Coors is good for.
I never recommend cigars with beer. But I have heard there are other things you can smoke that go well with Beer.
Got a favorite beer let me know.
