Everyone has a favorite, and co-worker Andrew Wolfe (you may recognize him from the Off Track blog) has a number of them to share with readers:

As with so many aspects of modern life, beer has gotten more complicated for the past few decades, and that’s mostly for the better. Some varieties have also gotten a whole lot stronger.

The alcohol content of run-of-the-swill American lagers tends to fall somewhere in the 4 to 5 percent range, and most imports and microbrews don’t reach far beyond that. Increasingly, however, ale enthusiasts can find brews that will sneak up behind you, kneel down and knock you on your can if you try to slurp them down like cold lager on a hot day. The alcohol content in these stronger styles ranges from a persuasive 7% to a whomping 18%, invariably with a flavor to match.

Here’s some favorite fortes, available at local specialty stores, such as Jasper’s or the Hollis Village Market, and occasionally your local market.

* Barleywine ales seem to vary more than most styles. The one thing they all seem to have in common is a strong flavor (nothing like wine, but tending toward sweet) and high alcohol content.

Harpoon makes an excellent variety, light and sparkling, with all sorts of what I suspect might be floral notes. I wouldn’t know from floral notes, though; I’m a beer drinker. Smuttynose Wheat Wine Ale is my favorite in the genre, better even than their standard Barleywine, which is just a bit too syrupy for me. The Milford-based Pennichuck Brewery’s Pompier Barleywine continues their firefighter theme, and actually tastes strongly of barley. It’s mighty and good, but it comes in really big bottles, with a price tag to match.

* Belgian Triple is strong ale for people who don’t like heavy, dark ales. They pack a punch, but the flavor tends to be light and fruity. I’ve yet to find a bad one, but my favorites, Brooklyn Brewery’s Number One and Victory Brewing Company’s Golden Monkey aren’t available in New Hampshire.

* Guiness is good for you, as their slogan said, but that’s because it’s weak. Imperial stout lives up to all the implications of its name, and Smuttynose makes what I think is both the best and cheapest around. It’s hearty and straightforward, with no extra fancy flavors. Pennichuck brewery also makes a very fine imp. stout, with strong coffee and chocolate flavors if you like that sort of thing.

* India Pale Ale tends to be just a tad strong, and some brewers up the ante. For the more potent versions, it’s tough to top Dogfish Head’s 90 Minute IPA… unless maybe with Stone Ale’s Ruination Ale, the most biter beer I’ve ever imbibed. Hardcore hopheads will love it, and Stone's painted labels, depicting demons, make for the coolest bottles in the business. Smuttynose makes a good “Big A” IPA, too.

Other honorable mentions:

*Stone Ale’s Arrogant Bastard Ale: a bit like an old English Ale, but ever so much more so, to the point where it’s in a class by itself. We are not worthy.

*Dog Fish Head Immort Ale: this deadly potent (11%) ale has a smoky, peat sort of flavor that might appeal to Scotch or Lapsang Souchong drinkers. It’s a bit of an acquired taste, actually.

*Dogfish Head Raison d’ Etre: hard to describe, because it’s unlike any beer you’ve ever tasted. Imagine a cross between cinnamon raison toast and a mellow, brown ale.