I like trying good local beers when I move to a new place, and I have found one beer that I have really enjoyed (Baarer Bier) so far. Does anybody have any other suggestions? Cardinal, Feldschlossen, Eichhof aren't what I am looking for!

Any must-try Swiss Beers ?

Nope, sorry, you got me on that one.

Rappi bier. Gold is best in CH and the black best in Europe. And were having a Ploughmans Lunch in the brewery tomorrow.

Bottled beers from Felsenau brewery are good....Baerner Muentschi and Junker are both good. And in my part of the world they swear by Ruegenbrau which is ok for draft Swiss lager....a little less tasteless than those you list, but not much

Thanks for the tip on Rappi. And if you could tell me how to thank you for the post (is there supposed to be a button to click where you can thank somebody?), I'll notch another one up to your count!

There are lots of GREAT, must try, Swiss beers. Problem is that it is difficult to find them. That's why we put together this event. Come to the Swiss micro brew festival on Sept 25 in the Rapperswil Castle.

More info on the Bier Factory's website. http://www.bierfactory.ch/English/Biertreff-E.html

I'm of course partial to the Bier Factory's beers but do not think that Switzerland doesn't have great beer. We do.

Also check out www.bov.ch for a huge list of great breweries. You'll have to go visit them.

In Switzerland there is lot of different beers, but there is actually surprisingly little variety. I went to the Solothurner Biertage last year and I was a bit disappointed. All the breweries were more or less offering the same beer styles (Weizenbier, Helles, Dunkel and then perhaps an Alt or a Kölsch). Dont get me wrong, most of the beers were well brewed, it was just a bit boring.

The same applies to the Drinks of the world stores. 80-90& of the selection is plain old Lager beer.

This would suggest that the market for exotic beers in Switzerland is quite small. But the craft beer revolution should make its way here sooner or later.

The brewery Brasserie Trois Dames does however brew some interesting beers:
http://www.brasserietroisdames.ch/cms/front_content.php

I was also pleasantly surprised with the Gold Miner ale from Sudwerk in Pfäffikon (you can even buy them in Coop). Their Western Rider failed to impress me though (not enough hops for a pale ale!)

This guy here also has a impressive selection:
http://www.erzbierschof.ch/audienz/

Cheers!

some say these are Kiwi beers

give my regards to Steve

Indeed , Good Swiss beer can find it's way out of Rappi, I have tasted a lot of their wares...But great beer ? Maybe not, not when I compare it to some of Germany, Belgium or England's finest. Swiss beer does not compete on the International stage, up there with the greats. Respect though, the Rappi stuff is fine drinkable ale. Must try's if you want to tick boxes, but not must try in the sense of missing anything truly special.

Ueli Bier is ok if you like lager

www.uelibier.ch

I usually drink Anker from the coop as it's cheaper, but I don't think it's Swiss.

I'm not a big beer drinker myself, but my recent visitors from the UK quite liked Amboss beer, which is local to Zurich. I think they had the Amber.

Ittinger brewed at Kartause Ittingen

http://www.ittinger.ch/#/

Don't remember the name but there was a recent documentary about this one from the Jura that is all the rage in NYC & the US...From the Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes

Ueli do a dark beir as well IIRC

Unser Bier which you can try at the brewery bar behind e-ipsos in Basel. Come on a friday night early and you can work up a thirst with us at K7...

http://www.unser-bier.ch/

SwissG, thanks for posting this. As I wrote on Facebook, despite the stupendous hangover I had last time I visited the Rappi brewery, I greatly regret not being able to make the September 25 event (will be visiting family).

Just a thought--surely there is enough interest on this forum to put it up as a commercial event? I know many people here appreciate your beer and I suspect there'd be brisk interest in the event. Hope it's a good one, gutted to miss it!

Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes brews some fine beers! I love their Jurassian Imperial Stout (Cuvée Alex Le Rouge) and La Meule. They are having an open house on the 4th & 5th of November. Can highly recommend a visit to the beautiful region for some tasty brews!

Also, just remembered.....BFM brews interesting bottle-conditioned beer. Meule and Salamandre are both interesting light beers

My favourites are Quollfrisch (only in the bottle) and Schutzengarten

i really enjoyed Ittinger and in some of the mountain resorts you can find the better stuff.