There are just so many good beers in the world. Everyone is spot on with Bells, Oskar Blues, Victory, Stone, etc. Fantastic breweries. It'd take a lifetime to try all the awesome stuff out there. Which is sad. Beer drinking can become a sickness. If you peruse the www.ratebeer.com forums (GREAT beer site, it even has a places section for eats/beer in every nook of the world) you'll see some truly desperate individuals constantly jonesing for the next new thing to try, never satisfied with the last thing they've had. Some guys have over 6000 different beers tried. Myself, I've had around 530. The styles start becoming redundant. Another stout is a stout is a stout. Rarely does something markedly unique or new pop up. On the flipside there is a shit ton of boring crap out there. Then there's this: This is an experience. At least $5 bucks for each 11 ounce bottle. Little, thin head. Hardly any carbonation. Tastes like toffee, pears, apples, berries, cinnamon, honey, grains. Unlike anything I've had before or since. Bonus points: the shit ages for up to 25 years. My friend got a 10 year old bottle. Fucking perfection.
while my staples are Yuengling, I.C. Light, Lionshead, and Sam Adam's seasonal packs, I'm currently in a Beers of the World class where we try some off the wall delicious stuff. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/664/73 Young's Double Chocolate Stout They use real chocolate in the brewing process. Definitely not a session beer, but perfect for the end of the meal or with desert. Absolutely delicious. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/132/357 Rogue Ales Smoke Ale Tastes like a campfire. In all the best ways. Again, not a session beer, but delicious and world class in it's own right. Definitely worth trying once. And I'll have to go back to my notes, but for you "fruit doesn't belong in my beer" types, do I have an anti-focus beer for you. Thing tasted like fruit punch. Some cherry ale I believe. Absolutely terrible.
If you held a gun to my head, I'd have to go with the guiness. http://www.guinness.com/en-us/250-index.html 250 years they been making the same recipe? Must be doing something right. But, my first true love? Redhook ESB. I cannot fathom my life without this beer. It's been there with me for everything in my adult life. http://www.redhook.com/Default.aspx It's a rich beer, not for everyone. But, if you get a chance...fuck it, I'm going to the store.
At the tender age of 34, I'm starting to realize that not all beer tastes like bitter piss water and that I might occasionally enjoy some in lieu of my usual sissy drinks. One of my favorites right now is a Belgian ale called Chimay, specifically the blue label. Hmm, their site calls it beer now; I thought it was ale. Oh well, I'm an alcohol ignoramus. Anyone else had this?
I'm another person who favours Unibroue's beers. I'm a big fan of Maudite and La Fin du Monde, as well as Blanche de Chambly. Personally the only real "white" in Canada is Chambly, Rickards White is alright.. for domestic but doesn't compare to Chambly, and Keith's White tastes more like India Pale Ale than a witbier. Every Christmas time I buy myself a Unibroue Collection Pack, but this year it's last year's leftovers (the Collection 2009). Usually the pack has a few beers not found in this part of Canada, but the Collection 2009 is all beer available here (bah humbug). But it's still delicious none the less. I'm also favourable towards Half Pints Brewery's beer, they're a small microbrewery here in Manitoba, but they have been getting rave reviews from local beer fans. Their Humulus Ludicrous and Burly Wine have been sought after by quite a few beer fans from outside of Manitoba. I remember going to the liquor store, and saw this guy buying about 12 bottles of Humulus, one bottle of Humulus is $5! But it's a very hoppy and very strong tasty beer. I'll buy it again, same with this year's edition of Burly Wine. I'm happy to see a microbrewery in Western Canada that for once.. isn't focusing on prairie style "pilsner" beer. @TheVoice haha! That Rickard's Red photo is actually mine. I already prefer Rickard's Dark over Rickard's Red, but Rickard's Dark is a bit too light tasting for a dark ale.
Well then, son, get your prairie ass some Mill Street witbier. Made the proper Belgian way, rather than Rickard's, or Keith's. Which reminds me - not that Keith's is bad, but it seems all of their beers have the same basic taste. Not much variety. As for the focus - I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll never have a single favourite beer, for the simple reason that having one beer that you remember as perfectly awesome never seems to follow through the second time you drink it. That said, if those nazis at the state-run liquor emporium were to start carrying sammy smith's winter welcome ale again, I'd be pretty happy.
Those who have brewed their own, Is there a certain kit to recommend? I received a Mr. Beer kit for Christmas, and the results weren't great.
I posted much earlier in the thread, but need to post a few others: This isn't an AMAZING AWEOSME BEER, but it's probably the best balance between being good and being refreshing. I'm not a pilsner or lager fan so this works well, and is better than the alternative (Molson Ex - which isn't terrible but it's not something to lust over.) Is something to lust over. It's really, really good.
This end of the prairies seem to be years behind in Mill St beers, and I think the liquor store is slowly going to stop selling it for swill in cans. They stopped selling the Barley Wine here a year back, but that's because people here are too cheap to spend $9 on a premium beer. When I'm in Toronto, I'll give it a try!
blue moon, new castle, and full moon. so good. im sure ill find other favorites down the road, but these are my favorite so far.
Though I think saying you drink beer for the taste is kind of like saying you watch porn for the acting, I have a few favorites. Top choice is Sam Adam's Octoberfest.
Great Lakes Christmas Ale. Just love it and have a few six packs waiting for me in Cleveland next week. Dogfish Head 120 minute IPA. Make it your first beer, or you'll be sorry. 21% Alcohol. It's illegal to sell it in NC as it is higher than the 15/16 or so percent limit here. For as strong as it is, the flavor is very balanced. There is a sweetness to this beer. Great IPA. Goes down way too smooth and quickly for being 4 to 1 for 12 oz. Will knock you on your ass if you're not careful. You can't ever go wrong with 60 or 90 minute either and they are infinitely cheaper and easier to find. My favorite IPA's. Hell, I've yet to have a bad beer from this brewery of any type. Just awesome stuff. When I can find it, I love to pick up some Lindemans Kriek Lambic. Kind of a cross between a wine and a beer. Very sweet. I love having this with meat and potato type meals. Blue Moon for when I want a white beer as I've yet to find another readily available white beer and it's a little better, IMO, than Shock Top, Boddington's for when I want something smooth and creamy (yeah, I'm sure there are jokes there), great in can, but even better from tap. Young's Double Chocolate Stout or Guinness when I'm in the mood for a stout. I'm not a huge stout fanatic and don't try too many. I just go the the tried and true when I'm in the mood. When I'm out in my area, I've been drinking a lot of Red Oak Amber Lager. It's been awhile since I've really liked a regular lager, but this is fantastic. Very refreshing. You can't get it bottled in stores yet, although I see on their website that a few places in Greensboro have it bottled and you can get bottles from the brewery now. It's only been available in the Raleigh area on tap at some restaurants. For when I'm looking for cheaper light fruit type beer, I've always been a fan of either Pyramid Apricot or Leinenkugel's Berry Weiss or Honey Weiss. They aren't too sweet and are more balanced than some other flavored beers that I've had. They still taste like 'beer'. There are so many damn good beers out there readily available these days. It's so hard to pin it down, but these all seem to be what is typically found in my fridge depending on time of year and mood. I try new stuff all the time, but I always seem to come back to the various ones listed above. There is a great restaurant in the area here called Tyler's Tap Room and they always have some interesting stuff available, but I can't readily find most of their interesting stuff outside of their restaurant.
For any serious beer lovers...And by that I mean people who dont consider Bud, Miller and Coors good beers I suggest touring the great Pacific Northwest Local Breweries...Between Rogue, Lost Coast, Ninkasi and countless other small locals you will find many that are simply amazing...My favorite however, is Ninkasi. There IPA is the local favorite but their winter seasonal Sleighr is my favorite beer period!!!! If you ever run across a tap of Ninkasi dont turn it down... My runner up is a wheat beer by Lost Coast Called Great White highly suggest it!
I didn't think too many people actually liked that beer. I'm not a fan of 9 percent beer, I know its better then a colt 45 but still I don't understand how you could drink that with enjoyment rather then just a quick and easy way for a buzz. My new favorite beer is Molson M. I'm not sure if they sell it everywhere yet but its definatly really good. A bit expensive but i think its just because its new and the price will eventually go down. Plus the black bottle is cool.
I've mostly just been reading your rantings and ravings, and I can't bite my tongue any more. Let's set the record straight here with "good beers" using the Beer Hierarchy I've developed. Rung 1: Malt Liquors Examples: Your Old English, Steel Reserve, Mickey's, what have you. Description: Thick, horrid, interchangable swill not designed for human consumption. Drank by: Bloods, Crips, Wiggers, the Homeless. Rung 2: SHIT Beers Examples: Natty, Beast, Keystone, Genny Cream Ale, etc. Description: Thin, gross interchangable swill moderately designed for human consumption. Drank by: See rung one, add College Students. Rung 2a: Dad Beers Examples: Piels, Strohs, Schlitz, Schaeffer and I swear to god Pabst. Description: A bunch of beer that used to pass for drinkable in the 60s and 70s, now drank by your parents when they want to reminisce about what their dads used to drink. Drank by: The elderly, mid life crisis sufferers. Retarded hipsters Rung 3: Macro Brews Examples: Bud, Coors, Miller Description: Pale, yellow, somewhat tasty and perfectly acceptable to drink Drank by: Everyone Rung 3a: Bullshit Macro Brews Examples: Michelob, Heinekin, Stella, Blue Moon (it's fucking Coors you idiot. It's Coors witbier. STOP DRINKING THIS) Description: Crappy horesshit that's actually worse than the American macro's but people think is better because it costs more. Drank by: Goddamn idiots who think that spending extra money on beer makes them look cool. Rung 4: Introduction to good beer Examples: Rolling Rock, Killian's, Sam Adams, Guinness, Red Stripe (i LOVE red stripe, but I don't know why) Description: A pretty varied group since Sam Adams and Guinness are awesome, especially Guinness and some of Sam's seasonal brews, Killians is passable, and Rolling Rock, as a roommate once said, "tastes like my lips are bleeding" but these are essentially what most American's think of when they think good beer. They're kind of wrong, and you shouldn't think you're drinking the good stuff when you go for these, but there's nothing wrong with them. Drank by: Anyone who wants to enjoy getting drunk. Rung 4a: Introduction to good beer - the micro/craft edition Examples: Yeungling, Magic Hat, Brooklyn, New Belgium (i LOVE red stripe, but I don't know why) Description: Micro or Craft brews that don't quite reach the best of the best in terms of flavor and interest, but are still really dependable, and really really good. Brooklyn Lager, Magic Hate #9 and New Belgium Fat Tire are never going to touch DFH's experimentations or Rogue's/Southern Tiers flavors (chipotle, juniper, Creme Brulee) Drank by: Anyone who wants to enjoy getting drunk a little more than they would with Guiness and Rolling Rock. Rung 5: Micro/Craft Beers Examples: Rogue, Stone, DFH, Southern Tier, Left Hand, Description: Beer with thought put into it. The real good beers of America, and the world outside of Belgium (see Rung 6) These beers are made thinking taste above price, as they know that real beer lovers will search them out and pay a premium for them. Drank by: People who know and love beer. Rung 6: Trappists Examples: Orval, Chimay, Westvleteren, Rochefort, Westmalle and Achel in Belgium and Koningshoeven in the Netherlands Description: Beer made by Monks who know what the fuck they're doing. Drank by: Happier people than those who drink everything else.
Ah, yes. Westvleteren 12. Cited as the single best beer on the planet fucking Earth. I have made it a life goal to stand before the gates of that Belgian monastery, raise my fist above my head, shake it mightily, and demand a whole case of my very own. None of this mail-order shit. From God's bladder to my mouth, a Holy Golden Shower of biblical proportions. It will be mine. Oh, yes. It will be mine.
I know. I thought it was more expensive than this. But still, $35 for a bottle is a litttttle bit steep: http://shop.belgianshop.com/acatalog/in ... 22003.html
It's both. Ales and lagers are the general types of beer. There are, of course, many types of ales and many types of lagers. This is kind of interesting: http://i.imgur.com/dRMby.png
Both Ale and Lager = BEER. The difference between these two styles is the type of yeast utilised to "build" the beer, Ale yeast is predominantly top fermenting and likes to cook at 16-20 degrees C. Characteristics include; stronger malt flavours (sweeter), more pronounced mineral profile and a more "hoppy" floral nose. Lager strain yeasts prefer cooler fermentation temperatures around 6-10 degrees and are more commonly bottom fermenting, characteristics generally include; a dryer "crisper" beer, lower hop flavours and is most commonly associated with "megaswill" breweries making tasteless, amber alcoholwater for the masses.