Alcohol Suggestions Needed

[Queequeg]

Well, my social life is really starting to take off for a variety of reasons (new wardrobe!  money!), but to cut the story short I'll need suggestions on various drinks to try, mostly as people tend to treat me as a human encyclopedia. 

Firstly, I want to try some type of American cider.  Where would I get it, and what brand should I get?  Price range?

Secondly, I'd like suggestions on bourbon, whiskey, and beer.  I already know something about the last (I love everything except Hoptober by New Belgium, with Mothership Wit being as tasty as anything I've ever had, and also like Dead Guy, Sam Adams and 312).  I'm planning a blues-theme party and will need plenty of ur-American drinks, with bourbon and cider in particular being of interest. 

[Caliga]

The only American brand of cider I've ever had was Woodchuck, and I thought it was pretty good.  Actually nearly all of the cider I've ever had I brewed myself. 

The best bourbon is Woodford Reserve but it's not as widely available as Maker's Mark, I don't think (hard for me to tell since in Kentucky all varieties of bourbon are omnipresent)... and MM is nearly as good.

[Pat]

I know I will be chided for this, but I will come out and say that I think there are some great American beers out there, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise (though it's also true many are indeed akin to lovemaking in canoes). Haven't tried the one's you're talking about though, except for Sam Adams, which I like.

[Caliga]

Sam Adams Octoberfest was pretty good.  Aside from PBR I almost never drink American beer tho.

[Pat]

Good stuff.

[PDH]

Beware when the jack-mormon heads for the liquor.

[Strix]

Woodchuck is good and Hornsby's isn't that bad either for cider drinks.

Just watch out when drinking Woodchuck. It's really smooth and refreshing, so you can end up drinking a ton before you know it and getting really plowed.

[Admiral Yi]

If you can't get fresh mint to make juleps, get some vermouth and cherry juice to make manhattans.  Gives you a real Prohibition speakeasy feel.

[citizen k]

Sam Adams Octoberfest was pretty good.  Aside from PBR I almost never drink American beer tho.

Here in the Pacific Northwest American microbrews is about all I do drink. Just had a Pike Extra Stout. Cal, check this out:

Pike's 20th Anniversary marks the official release of the 2009 Pike Entire. Entire is a blend of Pike XXXXX Extra Stout and a Pike imperial stout (high gravity) aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for 7 months.
Last year's release sold out in 4 days-come taste it before it is released to the market.

[citizen k]

I had this one last night:

[citizen k]

Both Hale's Ales and Pike Brewing are Seattle breweries.

[Razgovory]

There's a big jug of apple cider down in my basement.  It was here when we moved in 14 years ago.  It looked as if it had been there for a while before that.  Nobody has ever moved it from it's spot on the shelf down there.  I can send you that if you like.  I assume it's apple cider. That's what it says.  Since I don't know it's origin and never opened it it could have something else in there.  Paint thinner or pee or something.  It's an adventure in a big glass jug!

[katmai]

You can't get it i don't think, but currently enjoying this

Berserker Imperial Stout
12.7 % Alcohol By Volume
30 International Bittering Units (IBUs)



Vicious and viscous, this menacing brew pours opaque black with a creamy maduro-colored head. Its aroma offers seductive whiskey, chewy red wine, dark fruit and lavish tobacco. Berserker Imperial Stout invades your taste buds with in-your-face flavor. Weighing in at almost 13% alcohol by volume, Berserker is completely out-of-control. Give it a good fight.

This version of Berserker Imperial Stout was aged in both red wine and whiskey barrels. The entire batch was brought back together before being packaged in kegs and 22-oz bottles.

[katmai]

Oh and this as well

This masterpiece is a tribute to Black Butte Porter, the revolutionary Deschutes Brewery beer that has excited beer enthusiasts since 1988. This special Reserve Series release is a colossal version of Black Butte Porter. Our brewers enhanced Black Butte XXI by adding some Theo's Chocolate cocoa nibs from Seattle, dry-hopping it with 100 pounds of Bellatazza's locally roasted coffee, and then aging a portion of it in Stranahan's Colorado whiskey barrels. These regional partners provided quality artisan ingredients that give this commemorative beer a truly handcrafted complexity.

Alc. by Vol.
11%
IBUs
55

[DisturbedPervert]

I know I will be chided for this, but I will come out and say that I think there are some great American beers out there, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise (though it's also true many are indeed akin to lovemaking in canoes). Haven't tried the one's you're talking about though, except for Sam Adams, which I like.

Maybe on EUOT you'd get chided for that