Beer

[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.

 

[intlzncster]

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.

Does this mean that I'm drinking the Budlight of Trappist beer?? Funny, I utter some version of "Wow! Rack!" pretty much every time I'm at a bar.

I'm going to try some of these. Cheers.

 

[defaultroute]

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

This is a great book. Required reading for Cicerones

http://www.amazon.com/Tasting-Beer-Insiders-Worlds-Greatest/dp/1603420894

 

[defaultroute]

I've never been a big Belgian/Trappist fan. I've recently gotten back into German beers. I've been a big fan of Gose for the past couple of years. That style is coming back with a vengeance.

 

[Jay-Bone]

Does this mean that I'm drinking the Budlight of Trappist beer?? Funny, I utter some version of "Wow! Rack!" pretty much every time I'm at a bar.

I'm going to try some of these. Cheers.

There are a lot of Belgian breweries, most of them good that we get over here. None of the trappist ones I named particularly excel in the sours realm, at least as far as I know. I think Petrus is reputable. Look for Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen, and Rodenbach. Some of them are hard to find though. I think the bud light of them all is probably Lindeman's. Their lambics taste like wine coolers. Chicks dig them.

 

[ctchamps]

Went to the North Carolina State Fair this past weekend. They had several wine and beer sampling booths to taste free samples. The microbrewery we loved the most was Blind Squirrel. So did most people sampling the free drinks. Loved their nut brown ale and Stout. My wife loved their cream ale.

I have to thank you dudes. If I didn't decide to make an entry I would never have gone to this microbrewery's Facebook and catch the shot of my son sampling beers. Nothing like being in North Carolina with UConn gear!!!