Imported Beer: A World Tour You Can Do From Upstate New York

Germany • India • Ireland • Italy • Japan • Mexico • Poland • Belgium
In stock at Beer Universe — 11 locations across the Capital Region & Hudson Valley

Finding good imported beer used to mean driving to a specialty shop or settling for whatever the grocery store stocked between the domestic seltzer and the hard cider. If you’re in upstate New York, that’s not a problem you have anymore.

Beer Universe runs 11 stores across Albany, Coxsackie, Amsterdam, Kingston, Saugerties, Schenectady, Troy, and Wynantskill — and every location carries a rotating international beer lineup worth talking about.

Whether you’re after a pint of something German and malty, a crisp Japanese lager for sushi night, or a Belgian Quadrupel that takes a Saturday afternoon to properly appreciate, we stock it. We also offer 1-Hour Delivery, In-Store Pickup, and Curbside Pickup. And if you can’t make it in, our Albany location ships across New York State.

Here’s a run-through of the imported beers we carry, country by country.

German Beer — Where the Rules Actually Made Things Better

Germany has been brewing under strict ingredient rules since 1516. The Reinheitsgebot — the Beer Purity Law — limited brewers to water, barley, and hops. That’s it. And instead of killing creativity, it pushed German brewers to become technical masters of those exact ingredients. The result? Some of the most consistent, clean, and satisfying beer in the world.

We carry a strong German lineup at Beer Universe:

Paulaner is one of Munich’s founding breweries, and we stock three of their best. The Paulaner Hefe-Weizen is the flagship — top-fermented with cultivated yeast that gives it a distinctly fruity, mildly spicy character with a large, persistent head. The color is a gleaming orange-gold and the aroma leads with banana and clove. It’s the Bavarian wheat beer standard that everything else gets compared to.

The Paulaner Original Munich Lager is their classic Helles: clean, malt-forward, with a soft hop presence and the kind of easy drinkability that made Munich beer halls famous. For something lighter and crisper, the Paulaner Premium Pils brings the classic German pilsner style — clean and refreshing with just enough bitterness to keep you coming back.

Weihenstephaner is the oldest operating brewery in the world, tracing its history back to 1040 AD on the Weihenstephan hill in Bavaria. We carry multiple expressions: the Hefe Weissbier, which smells of cloves and finishes with a refreshing banana note; the Helles Lager, introduced in 2020 as a mild, sessionable everyday beer with a subtle hop bouquet; and the Original Premium Lager, a yellow-bright lager with a mild hoppy note and a pleasant, fresh spicy finish that pairs well with everything from salads to a hearty Bavarian snack.

Spaten Oktoberfest rounds out the German section — this is the traditional Märzen-style beer that the Oktoberfest season is built around. Balanced, malty, smooth, and sessionable. It’s the real thing, not a marketing imitation. And Warsteiner, one of Germany’s top-selling independent beers, is a clean pilsner with subtle bitterness that’s just as good with pretzels as it is straight out of the can.

“ Looking for German beer near you in Albany, Troy, Kingston, Schenectady, or anywhere else we operate? We’ve got Paulaner, Weihenstephaner, Spaten, and Warsteiner in stock — or shipped to your door from our Albany location. ”

➤ Shop German Beer → beeruniversestore.com/shop/?subtype=Imported+Beer&country=Germany

Indian Beer — Made for Flavor, Built for Heat

Indian beer is designed around one simple truth: spicy food calls for a cold, clean, easy-drinking lager. Not something that fights for attention — something that refreshes. Both beers we carry from India come from the United Breweries (UB Group) stable out of Bangalore, and both do that job really well.

Kingfisher Premium Lager is India’s most recognized beer brand, holding around 40% of the domestic market. It’s a conventionally fermented lager brewed from high-quality malted barley and hops, balanced and clean with no sharp edges. The kind of beer that disappears fast on a warm evening or alongside anything spiced. Kingfisher doesn’t try to be complex — it tries to be the best possible refresher, and it nails it.

Taj Mahal Premium Lager takes a slightly different approach — it’s slow-brewed in India from fine malt and hops, including Saaz and Tradition varieties sourced globally. The result is a light, crisp lager with a distinct herbal aroma and a mild, clean bitterness. The label says it’s brewed for the serious connoisseur, but honestly it’s also just a really solid beer to have cold with a curry, a biriyani, or really anything on a hot day.

“ Both Kingfisher and Taj Mahal are available in the imported beer section at Beer Universe. Great picks when you’re ordering Indian food and want the full experience. ”

➤ Shop Indian Beer → beeruniversestore.com/shop/?subtype=Imported+Beer&country=India

Irish Beer — Two Stouts Worth Knowing by Name

Ireland’s brewing identity runs deep, and it’s built almost entirely on stout. Two of the best Irish stouts in the world are stocked at Beer Universe year-round — not just in March.

Guinness Draught Stout needs almost no introduction. World-famous for its distinctive deep ruby-black color, roasted grain flavors, and that smooth, creamy head, Guinness is one of the most consistent drinking experiences on earth. The flavor balances roasted malt, a slight sweetness, and enough bitterness to keep it interesting. We carry it in multiple formats — the bottle version comes with a newly perfected gas mixture that delivers the right carbonation with every sip, straight from the bottle.

Murphy’s Irish Stout is the one people who know stout always bring up as the underrated alternative. Brewed since 1856 at the iconic Lady’s Well Brewery in Cork, Murphy’s is classified as an Irish Dry Stout: dark in color, medium-bodied, and slightly creamier than Guinness with a touch less bitterness. If you’ve only had Guinness, Murphy’s is worth trying side by side. Same tradition, different character.

“ Irish stout near you in upstate New York — both Guinness and Murphy’s are in stock at Beer Universe locations across Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Kingston, and beyond. ”

➤ Shop Irish Beer → beeruniversestore.com/shop/?subtype=Imported+Beer&country=Ireland

Italian Beer — Peroni Nastro Azzurro

Italy’s most iconic export beer needs to be talked about properly, because it’s better than a lot of people give it credit for. Peroni Nastro Azzurro is an Italian lager with a crisp, clean taste and a subtle citrus aroma that makes it distinctly its own. It’s not just another European pilsner.

Brewed through three generations of master brewers, Peroni uses Saaz-Saaz and Hallertau Magnum hops — two of the most respected hop varieties in the world — which give it that balanced, aromatic profile. The bitterness is light on the palate, the finish is fast and clean, and the overall impression is one of effortless refinement. Bold, spirited, and unmistakably Italian, as the brand puts it — and they’re not wrong.

We carry Peroni Nastro Azzurro in both bottles and cans at Beer Universe, and it’s also available on keg for events and parties. At 5% ABV, it’s a strong performer for warm-weather sessions and pairs extremely well with pizza, pasta, seafood, and light appetizers.

“ Looking for Peroni near you in upstate New York? We stock it across all 11 Beer Universe locations. Need a keg for an event? We’ve got that too — check availability online or call ahead. ”

➤ Shop Italian Beer → beeruniversestore.com/shop/?subtype=Imported+Beer&country=Italy

Japanese Beer — Precision in Every Can

Japanese brewing took the German lager tradition and refined it further — less about complexity, more about technical perfection and clean, dry finish. The result is some of the most consistent and well-made lager beer in the world. We carry three major Japanese brands at Beer Universe, and each one is worth understanding on its own terms.

Sapporo Premium Beer is Japan’s original icon — a refreshing lager with a crisp, refined flavor and a clean finish. We carry it in the recognizable 22oz can, plus 6-pack cans and kegs. The balanced golden hue, delicate hops, and full malt character make it a reliable, pleasurable drink for almost any occasion. Sapporo Light is also available for those who want the Sapporo experience with a lighter profile.

Asahi Super Dry is built around a philosophy called karakuchi — dry taste. Asahi uses a proprietary yeast strain (No. 318) that produces an elegant, complex aroma and ensures the signature crisp, dry, ultra-clean finish that changed Japanese beer culture when it launched. It’s a Gold Medal winner at the 2014 World Beer Cup. We carry it in both 11.2oz bottles and cans, plus a 19-liter keg option.

Kirin Ichiban takes a different approach. Using a “single wort” first-press brewing process — meaning only the first pressing of the mash is used — it produces a unique, complex flavor that’s richer and more layered than standard lagers. Since its 1990 debut it has held a Special Premium Reserve appellation in Japan. It’s available here in 12oz 6-packs.

“ Japanese beer near you in upstate New York: Sapporo, Asahi Super Dry, and Kirin Ichiban are all stocked at Beer Universe. Albany also ships statewide if you want a case delivered. ”

➤ Shop Japanese Beer → beeruniversestore.com/shop/?subtype=Imported+Beer&country=Japan

Mexican Beer — The World’s Most Popular Import Category

Mexican lager is the best-selling imported beer category in the United States, and there’s a reason for that: these beers are genuinely good. Light, crisp, balanced, easy to drink in volume, and made for warm weather and good food. Beer Universe stocks the full lineup.

Modelo Especial is a rich, full-flavored pilsner with a golden hue and smooth notes of orange blossom honey and a hint of herb. The light-hop character and crisp, clean finish make it one of the most drinkable beers in the world.

Made with barley malt, unmalted cereals, and hops — it’s the perfect beer for a barbecue, the game, or sitting on a porch on a Friday. We carry it in multiple sizes including the convenient 7oz Modelito bottles.

Modelo Negra is the one that surprises people. This is the original Modelo beer — a Munich Dunkel-style dark lager brewed with galena and super galena hops, slow-roasted caramel malts, and non-malted cereals.

Brewed longer than the Especial to develop flavor, the result is a medium-bodied dark lager with rich caramel notes, minimal bitterness, and a remarkably smooth, light finish. It punches well above its category. Pair it with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, shellfish, or Mexican food.

Corona Extra has been brewed in Mexico since 1925 and is the world’s most recognized beer. It’s a light, refreshing lager with fruity-honey aromas and a well-balanced, crisp finish. Made from filtered water, malted barley, hops, corn, and yeast, it sits between heavier European imports and lighter domestic beers in profile. Available in 12oz cans and bottles across our locations.

Tecate is the Baja California borderland beer — a bright golden lager with crisp malt flavor and low to medium bitterness that finishes clean. It’s the straight-ahead session pick of the Mexican lineup, no frills, just cold and good. Available in 24oz cans.

“ Mexican beer near you in Albany, Troy, Kingston, Schenectady — Modelo, Corona, Negra, and Tecate are stocked at all Beer Universe locations. We ship across New York State from Albany. ”

➤ Shop Mexican Beer → beeruniversestore.com/shop/?subtype=Imported+Beer&country=Mexico

Polish Beer — Żywiec, Straight From the Mountains

Poland doesn’t get enough credit in the imported beer conversation, and Żywiec (pronounced “zhih-veets”) is the beer that makes the case for why it should.

Żywiec Original Polish Beer is a light pilsner at 5.6% ABV, brewed as naturally as possible using Poland’s mountain spring water. It pours a pale yellow with a good-sized head that holds well, leaving lace down the glass. Streams of fine carbonation rise from the bottom.

The aroma leads with clover, honey, and hops backed by spicy noble hops, finishing with a note of sweetness. The mouthfeel is thin and lightly carbonated — crisp and medium-light bodied.

The taste is lightly hopped (Saaz detected, for the hop nerds) with a balance of maltiness, some light crispness through the middle, and a finish that picks up sweetness with a fruity trace and a whisper of alcohol. It’s clean, crisp, and pleasingly narrow in its flavor profile — exactly what a good lager should be. The kind of beer that goes well with kielbasa, pierogi, a backyard grill, or honestly just a quiet evening.

Pronounced and written as Żywiec, this is a beer that often gets mispronounced and underordered. If you’ve never tried it, it’s worth picking up a six-pack at any of our locations across upstate New York.

“ Polish beer near you in upstate New York: Żywiec is stocked at Beer Universe. Easy to order online, easy to pick up in store, and available for delivery. ”

➤ Shop Polish Beer → beeruniversestore.com/shop/?subtype=Imported+Beer&country=Poland

Belgian Beer — The Deepest Category We Carry

No country on earth produces beer with more variety than Belgium. Not Germany, not England, not anywhere. Belgian brewing covers everything from light, spiced wheat beers to dark, warming abbey ales aged for years — and Beer Universe carries some of the best of it.

Duvel Blond Ale is the gateway drug of Belgian strong ales. The name means ‘devil’ in Flemish, which gives you a sense of what they’re going for. The unique brewing process takes about 90 days, guaranteeing a pure character, delicate effervescence, and a pleasantly sweet alcohol presence. Notes of orange and spice lead to a dry finish.

It’s dry-hopped and bottle-refermented, presenting a sunny yellow-gold color with a slight haze and a billowy white head. At 8.5% ABV, it’s much stronger than it tastes — that’s the ‘devil’ part.

Chimay Tripel (White Label) is brewed by Trappist monks in the Ardennes — actual monks, at an actual abbey, which is one of just a handful of certified Trappist breweries in the world. The Tripel is golden in color with a slightly hazy appearance and a fine head. Its standout feature is the aroma: an agreeable combination of fresh hops and yeast, complemented by fruity and spicy notes. Clean, refined, and complex in a way that unfolds the longer you sit with it.

Stella Artois is the other end of the Belgian spectrum — the widely known international lager with a floral aroma, well-balanced malt sweetness, crisp hop bitterness, and a soft dry finish. Winner of the 2019 World Beer Award for World’s Best International Lager. We carry it in multiple formats including the 11.2oz bottles and the 7oz Petite six-packs.

Bosteels Tripel Karmeliet rounds out the Belgian lineup — a Tripel brewed with a three-grain recipe (barley, wheat, oats) that dates back to 1679. Complex, aromatic, and one of the most decorated Belgian Tripels in the world. Available on keg for events.

“ Belgian beer near you in upstate New York: Duvel, Chimay, St. Bernardus, Stella Artois, and Tripel Karmeliet are all in stock at Beer Universe. Our Albany location ships statewide. ”

➤ Shop Belgian Beer → beeruniversestore.com/shop/?subtype=Imported+Beer&country=Belgium

Find Imported Beer Near You - 11 Beer Universe LocationsAcross Upstate New York

Albany • Coxsackie • Amsterdam • Kingston • Saugerties

Schenectady-Kelton • Schenectady-Union • Troy-5th Ave • Troy-Northern • Troy-Hoosick • Wynantskill

1-Hour Delivery • In-Store Pickup • Curbside Pickup • Statewide Shipping from Albany

Stop into any of our 11 upstate New York beer stores and ask for imported beer — our staff knows the selection well and can point you in the right direction. If you’d rather order from home, shop online at beeruniversestore.com and choose delivery, pickup, or curbside. New York State shipping is available from our Albany location.