Beer

[8893]

Thanks for the input, guys. Wish they had a tasting room so I could go sample all of these beers. Although I suppose I could just bring my Two Roads growler and fill it up with whatever I want. That sounds like the way to go.

They do have a tasting room; they have some tables and you can stand around and sample, and they'll give you samples of anything you like. But if any of those beers I mentioned are on (and probably the two special IPAs--Fat Ten-er #11 and #2--they have on now) there will probably be a line of people with several growlers, so you can't really take a ton of time to sample or people are going to want to kill you. Kidding--kind of.

 

[alfonse]

Friends of mine visited while we were in Stowe and then headed over to Waitsfield for a B&B weekend. They claim to have had a small group tour of Lawson's.

Straight from their site, "Please note: our brewery is closed to the public. Thank you." Also on the vermont microbrew tour card Lawsons is a gimme cause you can't go there. I am not doubting that they got a tour. Just that they or their friends know somebody.

 

[superjohn]

Did two people really tout the virtues of Blue Moon? Blue Moon is the definition of meh, it pretty much sucks.

 

[8893]

Did two people really tout the virtues of Blue Moon? Blue Moon is the definition of meh, it pretty much sucks.

I believe there was also mention of "triple orange." Still trying to figure out whether that's a flavor, or if s/he is squeezing three orange slices in it.

 

[Dove]

Did two people really tout the virtues of Blue Moon? Blue Moon is the definition of meh, it pretty much sucks.

They're better than meh for sure. But not saying they are in the same atmosphere of the specialty uber crafters.

 

[Excalibur]

It's not even a very piney IPA, it's more citrusy. It's rich because it is a double/imperial IPA, so has a high alcohol level. It is very hoppy, but gets it reputation in part because it isn't overly bitter despite the hops. Life is too short for me to drink tasteless crappy fizzy adjunct lagers like Rolling Rock, Corona or Bud/Miller/Coors. I'm not drinking 2 buck chuck wine either. But I don't like the "snob" label, because most fans of good beers don't care what other people drink.

Most people who fancy themselves as beer snobs are really just unsophisticated macho beer drinkers -- "Beer must taste of only hops. Ooga."

 

[Fishy]

Fishy says it tastes like a pine cone. You say "It is very rich".

#beersnobs

He might be right when he says "citrusy".

It tastes like a pine cone that got f---ed by a grapefruit.

 

[beerfan]

Taste is subjective, I've drunk a lot of beer in my day, but the best out there right now is
http://sixpoint.com/beers/core/resin

 

[Jay-Bone]

That's extremely ignorant. High ibu's is an Americanized idea. Europe has been making beer for centuries and they don't like the beer bitter. ESB's don't even come close. I like a lot of beer, have tried a plethora and probably drink more in a year than you ever have. I won't even drink an IPA let alone a DIPA.

 

[intlzncster]

People who don't like hops shouldn,t even comment on this thread. What's next? A thread about the best raw bar in CT dominated by a bunch of folks who are allergic to shellfish.

Nonsense. I prefer Euro beers over anything else, and they aren't heavy on the hops.

Don't really fancy IPAs much.

EDIT: what @Jay-Bone said. but I'm not as much of a drunkard.

 

[Walker11]

Yea, hoppy bears are definitely not for everyone. Seeing this thread, I decided to go try some beer that people typically think is awesome. I was looking for something from NEBCO, but was unsuccessful. I settled on a 6 of Stone IPA tonight and its so bad can't even drink it.

 

[Dove]

Looking forward to the Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale and the Leinenkeugel Snowdrift Vanilla Porter (holla Chin Diesel!).

 

[8893]

He might be right when he says "citrusy".

It tastes like a pine cone that got f---ed by a grapefruit.

I would have said it the other way around, but you just described the perfect IPA.

 

[mauconnfan]

I mean when you start throwing fn chocolate, pumpkin, rasberry, blondes and crap like that into hops is it actually beer anymore?

Maybe a couple of Guni's, potentially a Sam Summer but then about 12 Ultra's and I'm done with 18 holes of golf and ready to start actually cocktailing......you guys get filled up on this whacky stuff and actually can only go out "for a couple"!! LOL.......

 

[HuskyHawk]

Fortunately, there is enough beer for everyone, of all kinds. IPAs are an acquired taste, just like wine, and just like ordinary yellow adjunct lager beer is when you first have it. I can't even drink Miller/Bud/Coors. My wife just drinks IPAs and nothing else. I love IPAs, but also darker beers, stouts, porters, brown ales, dopplebocks. If I'm drinking calories, I want some flavor.

 

[8893]

Dare I admit that I've been on a cider kick for the past few months, drinking far more of it than beer? Started off as a gluten thing, but has continued because I genuinely like it and feel much better both while drinking and afterwards. Definitely much less bloated/logy.

Like beer, cider is another thing that has come a long way lately, with lots of different styles now; if you thought it was just the sweet stuff, think again. Downeast from MA, Citizen Cider from VT and Crispin from CA (especially their Honeycrisp bomber) have been among my favorites, but even Woodchuck now has off-dry (Granny Smith) and hop-forward (Hopsation) ciders. New England Cider Co. is a newer local one on the scene and making some great strides. And Etienne Dupont has some great Normandy style ciders that taste like Belgian sours in some instances, or champagne in others.

As but one indicator of how popular cider is becoming, I've seen it reported several times now that Boston Beer Co., which owns both Sam Adams and Angry Orchard, is selling more Angry Orchard than Sam Adams Lager.

 

[Excalibur]

Bring it to a tailgate, or it didn't happen.

Not sure I'll be able to get it for this weekend, but I do have the Zoe, which they deem to be a hoppy amber ale.

 

[CTBasketball]

I mean if you're trying to get drunk why even bother with IPA's when you can get a few Steel Reserve 40's for like 5 bucks?

Once you get past the first few sips it starts to get better. By the second 40, it starts to taste sweet. Its an odd sensation.

 

[Husky Dad]

This is out of state but I love that Lagunitas Indian Pale IPA. http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/220/916/

 

[Jay-Bone]

Saying there's no other beer than IPA's is like saying Kentucky is the best team. Just because it's the most hyped, popular doesn't mean there aren't other more dominant teams out there (i.e. Uconn, if you weren't picking up what I was laying down).

I've been known to drink Steel Reserve and also drink a lot of Miller Lite, Natty, PBR, Narragansett when I want to session drink. Natty Ice in my opinion is the best bang for your buck at 5.9% . But sometimes I like to sip on a 12% barleywine, Belgian quad or stout. I really don't discriminate. I've had Pliny, Heady, Lawson's etc, appreciate the buzz but it's not my thing. On the other hand I like Islay scotches (the peety/smokey ones), so go figure.

I went to a cider / mead festival recently. It was pretty good. They are taking it to the next level now with ginger and pumpkin flavors and even bourbon barreled. Mead will get you rocked at 12-18%. But with the sweetness of both I can't have more than a few. Unless it's a free festival where I got obliterated.

 

[Dove]

Is there a good book about all things beer? History, types, regions etc...

 

[8893]

Is there a good book about all things beer? History, types, regions etc...

Michael Jackson's (not that one) beer guide was the standard for a long time; I think it has probably been eclipsed by Garrett Oliver's recent The Oxford Companion to Beer. I have both and have referred to them often; can't go wrong with either.

 

[Jay-Bone]

Michael Jackson's (not that one) beer guide was the standard for a long time; I think it has probably been eclipsed by Garrett Oliver's recent The Oxford Companion to Beer. I have both and have referred to them often; can't go wrong with either.

The book, The Naked Pint, is not the foremost authority like the ones mentioned above, but it is a light introductory focused on convincing chicks to like beer. I read it prior to bartending at a beer bar. It's a very undaunting way to learn about beer. And it's written by hot chicks. It also reviews a lot of the different varieties and recommends the icons of each.

http://thebeerchicks.com/buy-the-book

 

[James]

allagash white. also sixpoint brewerys resin, terrific.

 

[Excalibur]

Is there a good book about all things beer? History, types, regions etc...

If you don't want to spring for the book, read the Beer 101 stuff on Beeradvocate.com.

 

[WillB4]

I usually lean to Sam lager but BBC Shabadoo is really good esp on tap if you can find it.

 

[8893]

118 posts and no one has mentioned Willi Brew, a must-stop before and/or after Gampel games. Good food (especially wings), very good house beers, excellent guest beers. Big room, and pinball!

 

[intlzncster]

Dare I admit that I've been on a cider kick for the past few months, drinking far more of it than beer? Started off as a gluten thing, but has continued because I genuinely like it and feel much better both while drinking and afterwards. Definitely much less bloated/logy.

Like beer, cider is another thing that has come a long way lately, with lots of different styles now; if you thought it was just the sweet stuff, think again. Downeast from MA, Citizen Cider from VT and Crispin from CA (especially their Honeycrisp bomber) have been among my favorites, but even Woodchuck now has off-dry (Granny Smith) and hop-forward (Hopsation) ciders. New England Cider Co. is a newer local one on the scene and making some great strides. And Etienne Dupont has some great Normandy style ciders that taste like Belgian sours in some instances, or champagne in others.

As but one indicator of how popular cider is becoming, I've seen it reported several times now that Boston Beer Co., which owns both Sam Adams and Angry Orchard, is selling more Angry Orchard than Sam Adams Lager.

Not to tell you what to drink, but have you tried much Trappist ale? It doesn't make you feel bloaty, has a nice taste, and leaves you with zero hangover. Obviously the gluten thing comes into play I'd imagine.

I'm a fan of Petrus Oud Bruin. Expensive, but I feel you get your money's worth. It has a slightly sour taste, so if you weren't into that, its a non starter for you.

 

[8893]

Not to tell you what to drink, but have you tried much Trappist ale? It doesn't make you feel bloaty, has a nice taste, and leaves you with zero hangover. Obviously the gluten thing comes into play I'd imagine.

I'm a fan of Petrus Oud Bruin. Expensive, but I feel you get your money's worth. It has a slightly sour taste, so if you weren't into that, its a non starter for your.

I love sours (especially gueuze and lambics) and Flanders red and brown ales. Trappist ales not so much.

 

[Jay-Bone]

Not to tell you what to drink, but have you tried much Trappist ale? It doesn't make you feel bloaty, has a nice taste, and leaves you with zero hangover. Obviously the gluten thing comes into play I'd imagine.

I'm a fan of Petrus Oud Bruin. Expensive, but I feel you get your money's worth. It has a slightly sour taste, so if you weren't into that, its a non starter for your.

Sours are tough to handle for novist Belgian drinkers. Same with saisons, lambics, and geuzes.

Cool trappist trick. The seven pure trappists beers are.

Westlvleteren (One of the best beers in the world, incredibly rare)
Orval
Westmalle
Rochefort
Achel
Chimay
Koningshoeven

The acronym is WOWRACK. Chimay, many of you have probably seen in stores. Very good, but not cheap.

On another note, Weihenstephan is a German brewery that is the oldest in the world dating back to 1040. You can usually find it in stores. Also very good beers.

Just keep in mind that Belgian and German beers are not like what you are used to drinking over here.