What were the top three beers in eighteen hundreds?

It's tricky to definitively say what the "top three beers" were in the 1800s, as there were no global rankings, and beer styles and brewing practices varied greatly across regions. However, we can highlight some popular and influential beers during that time:

1. Pale Ale: While not a single specific beer, the rise of Pale Ale in the early 1800s was a major shift in brewing. This style, brewed with paler malts and a new, more powerful yeast, was a distinct change from the darker ales that were popular before. The invention of Pale Ale, primarily driven by the efforts of brewers like Burton-on-Trent's Bass & Co., became a foundation for many modern beer styles.

2. Lager: Developed in Bavaria in the 1500s, Lager slowly gained popularity throughout Europe and eventually the world in the 1800s. The bottom fermentation process and longer aging gave Lager a clean, crisp flavor, which made it appealing to many.

3. Porter: A dark, robust ale originating in London in the 18th century, Porter became a popular choice in the 1800s. Originally designed as a "working man's" beer, its complex flavors and high alcohol content found favor with both laborers and upper classes.

Other Notable Beers:

* Stout: A strong, dark beer often with roasted barley notes.

* Brown Ale: A medium-bodied, often malty ale.

* Wheat Beer: A light, refreshing ale brewed with wheat.

Important Notes:

* Local Variation: Regional brewing traditions were strong in the 1800s, meaning the most popular beers in one country might be completely unknown in another.

* Limited Distribution: Transportation and refrigeration were much less advanced, so beers often stayed within a relatively small geographical area.

* Lack of Standardization: Unlike today, beer styles were not standardized in the 1800s, leading to great variations within even the same style.

Ultimately, determining the "top three" beers of the 1800s is challenging without a standardized system of ranking. However, the beers mentioned above represent some of the most significant and widely-consumed styles of the era.