Beer has its connoisseurs, just like wine and fine spirits. Most Americans would tell you that a microbrewed beer will always be better than a “big” beer, such as Bud, Coors, and Miller. Our European counterparts would tell you that Bud, Coors, and Miller are a-okay, as would a huge majority of regular beer drinkers.

But for those who really go for nuance in beer — and there are a lot of folks like this — microbrews are the way to go.

You can pay a lot for microbrewed beer, far more than what you pay for the Big Three. But you can pay a lot and get an inferior product, an inconsistent product, or something you just plain hate. There are a variety of great microbrewers out there, but Samuel Adams remains the gold standard.

Why? Well, they’re bigger than the average microbrewer, which would seem contradictory. But for all their size, they maintain excellent, and strict, quality. Sam Adams made sure to make their original brew perfectly, time and time again, before they branched out into other brew types. Now they’ve got well over a dozen, many of them seasonal. And they’re all perfect, each and every time. For example, Samuel Adams manages to make as good a winter brew as any other microbrewery — then goes beyond and makes another one, and another — each different, each great.

Price-wise, they fall between the Big Three and the more expensive microbrews, meaning you can normally enjoy a six-pack and still get chips and dip for about ten bucks. For the price, and the taste, if you want to branch into the world of microbrews, start with the award winning Samuel Adams. You may never need to go any farther to find the best microbrews available.