The Beer Thread

[Tanager]

<BELLLLCCCCHHHHH>

[Douglas]

http://www.bierdeckelsammler.net/bier/d/douglas1.jpg

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Sorry, I just had to play with my new toy................

[Chris Castelle]

http://www.electroponics.com/SiteGraveyard/zipatoni/skuzzio/images/best03.jpg

Damn, can't seem to post images....I was going to post a stack of cases of Milwaukee's Best, I guess you can see it from following the link, but it's not the same...

[Jimmy Cantiello]

How's that, Chris?..............

[Gary Sisco]

Still with the Rogue. Yellow Snow Ale, baby.

[Captain Hate]

Ok, Gary you've been posting about that for a while so I guess its time I give it a try. I had one of the other Rogues (a dark beer that I don't recall the name for) and found it to be good. But not good enough to get me off of my barley ale kick for long; lets see, how many brain cells are left...

[Jimmy Cantiello]

I gave Shrugs a bottle of Rogue Yellow Snow. I don't know if he drank it yet and if he did drink it, I don't know if he liked it................

[Gary Sisco]

Capt -- I had one of their stouts, but I'm not much of a stout guy except on very rare occasions. I like the Rogue Golden Ale, Yellow Snow Ale, and Dead Guy Ale (the latter needs to be respected as I believe it has a higher alcohol content than the others). I like the barley wine ale, too, but had to give it up except for rare occasions in the safety of my own home.

[catesta]

http://www.alus.lv/images/products/spaten.jpg

[Jason Bivins]

Speaking of barley wine ales . . . Another recent discovery (or rather, a trilogy of discoveries) comes from Colorado's Avery Brewery. They put out 3 different ales roughly in the barley wine genre: The Reverend, Salvation, and Hog Heaven. All good, all dangerous.

[walto]

Like that Spaten. But I still mainly drink Julius Echter here in the states.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

My favorite

[Chris Castelle]

http://www.angelfire.com/wi/beercans/image2/mil26.gif

WOOHOO!

[Chris Castelle]

http://www.zianet.com/spencer/kingcobra1200.GIF

My favorite.

[walto]

OK, I'll play. Here's a portrait of the redoubtable Herr Echter. You can kind of see how serious he took this purity biz.

http://www.ijon.de/echter/echter01.jpg

[Tanager]

Topic: What's the best domestic (US) Weizen, in your opinion?

Discuss.

[Chris Castelle]

Good question, Tanager--the standard bearer of American Hefe is probably Widmer brothers, and I was mightily impressed with it when I first had it, but I was pretty inexperienced with beer at the time, and it was the first wheat beer I'd ever tasted, so it was probably sheer unfamiliarity that led to my being so taken with it. I had a pretty bad experience with Harpoon's UFO (Un-Filtered Offering) Hefeweizen, but the bottles had been stored at room temperature for what was probably quite a long time, so I shouldn't write it off. I found Redhook Hefe to be quite tasty, and eventually re-encountered Widmer, which wasn't as exciting as I remembered but still good. I've yet to sample any actual German Hefeweizen, though liquor stores in my area always seem to have a few dusty and forlorn six packs of Paulaner lying around.

Here's the rub, though--Widmer brothers and Redhook are both part-owned by Anheuser-Busch, which makes consuming either of them somewhat politically incorrect, and A-B is apparently phasing out the Redhook product and replacing it nationwide with Widmer Brothers--I read a rumor about it on beeradvocate.com and later saw what appeared to be confirmation of this in a NYC supermarket recently--Redhook six-packs (ESB, IPA, Porter, but no Hefe) lined up with Widmer six-packs where the Redhook Hefe should have been. So I guess Redhook Hefeweizen is no more, on account of corporate meddling, and the only widly available American Hefeweizen is essentially a product of the corporation that's responsible.

The American Hefeweizen situation, then, is apparently quite grim.

[walto]

I'm no expert, but I've never tasted an American hefe I've liked even a little.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Originally posted by walto
I'm no expert, but I've never tasted an American hefe I've liked even a little.

I'd almost say "ditto" but I have on ocassion enjoyed a Red Hook Hefe. I don't think the Harpoon UFO suffered from heat exposure: it just plain sucks in my opinion. One that might suprise you if you don't mind a little fruitiness (and which may no longer be made for all I know) is Sam Adams' Cherry Wheat... actually, when I think about, it might not even be a hefe.

I've tried a lot of micro-brewed hefe-weiss beers as well and I have to say that the Germans know how to make this beer, Americans don't quite have it. Another point: in my travels in Germany, I've had many, many hefes and rarely did they come with a lemon wedge... who the hell needs a lemon wedge in their beer? That "tradition" that they try over here in the US should be stopped immediately!

Oh yeah, and lastly, of all the German Hefe-Weisse beers out there, Paulaner is one of my least favorites. So if you do pick up that dusty six-pack, don't give up too quick. :>)

Later,
Kevin

[walto]

Right on about the stupid lemon wedges. I hope everyone just throws them at their waiters--unless of course, they're nice or cute or something. Then you just place them nicely under your chair.

[Knike]

For the first time in my life, I visited our local Brewing Company Heineken-Calanda. (Heineken took over the old traditional Calanda-Bräu Company a couple of years ago. All Heineken sold in Switzerland are now made there).
It was very interesting to see how beer is made today and where the roots are. And of course I could try all beer I wanted for free !!
(Reminds me of Homer S. visting the Duff-Brewery: "Mmmh Beer !!")

http://www.bierdeckelsammler.net/bier/c/calandah.jpg
http://picassomoon.com/products/posters/p1840.jpg

[blake]

What's the best domestic (US) Weizen, in your opinion?

the only us-made wheat beer i've ever enjoyed is celis white. it is, however, a wit rather than a weizen.

hoppy nose with hints of citrus. nice and light with little aftertaste. very refreshing.

the celis brewery was started in the early 90s in austin, texas by a belgian named pierre celis. a cult following grew. many awards were won. in the late 90's celis moved back to belgium and turned the brewery over to his daughter and son-in-law. they prompty cashed out, selling to miller. miller, who had no intention of running celis, shut it down. thankfully, in came the michigan brewing company. they purchased celis from miller and have started brewing once again, albeit in michigan rather than texas. try a celis white if you can find one. and screw the lemon wedge.

if all efforts to locate a celis fail, have a shiner bock instead. it's good for you. just ask lance armstrong how he won the tour de france 4 times.

[Captain Hate]

The latest sampling par moi of Stone Brewing Co.'s output (howz this for a name?): Ruination India Pale Ale. Needless to say: BLAM!!!

God knows how many brain cells have been lost since the great Jason C. put me on to this brewery!!

[Salvador Dali Lama]

milwaukee's best, right on. An upper-echelon redneck beer, I love it.

I got my pbr on the other night. Usually I'm at least lower-middle class enough to have Natty Ice instead, but when a brother is broke a brother is broke.

[shrugs]

has anyone tried Dogfish Head?

Jimmy, the Yellow Snow was great. I thought i sent an e-mail to your addres that was posted at the old JC.

[shrugs]

Having yet another Sierra Nevada Bigfoot!!! One of my all time favorites!

[Douglas]

Looking forward to sampling some fine pilsners during a few days in Prague.

For those of you who take beer drinking religously:

The Beer Prayer

Our lager,
Which art in barrels,
Hallowed be thy drink,
Thy will be drunk,
(I will be drunk),
At home as I am in the tavern.
Give us this day our foamy head,
And forgive us our spillages,
As we forgive those who spill against us,
and lead us not to incarceration,
But deliver us from hangovers,
For thine is the beer,
The bitter and the lager,
Forever and ever,
Barmen.


A Lenten Prayer

We believe in one drink, Guinness the almighty Makers of cans and bottles Of all that is drunk and un-drunk We believe in one brewer, Arthur The only son of Guinness Eternally begotten of the hops Hops from hops, barley from barley True drink from true drink Begotten not made Of one distillery of the Father Through it all things were made For us men and our salvation It comes down from St. James Gate By the power of the market he became incarnate And was made a rich man For our sake we are crucified under Pontious Prices Bad pints, suffer hangovers and A.A. meetings On the next day we rise again in accordance With our scruples and ascend into oblivion We come again to judge the living and the dead We believe in one alcoholic beverage Brewed and bottled under one licence We acknowledge one Arthur, son of the almighty pint Conceived in heaven and sold on earth Blessed is the one drink through one father and many sons Sold under one label and distributed throughout the! world We look for the resurrection of new drinks And a cure for hangovers.
Amen

[aristide]

cheers!!!

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Originally posted by shrugs
has anyone tried Dogfish Head?

Jimmy, the Yellow Snow was great. I thought i sent an e-mail to your addres that was posted at the old JC.

Yeah, Shrugs, I did get an e-mail but I believe you only mentioned the Rioja. Glad you enjoyed Yellow Snow!.............

[Gary Sisco]

I have a Yellow Snow habit going. Nearly everyday I drink one of the 24 oz'ers. Just right after a day's work.

[tunesmith]

The BEST beer is free & ice cold after a gig!

[Gary Sisco]

Second only to before and during!

[Jason Bivins]

By all means during (though I often steal some of Belcher's cheap whiskey when we're on an Unstable gig).

G, I drank a Yellow Snow last night too. Shit's addictive.

[Knike]

A former teacher at the music-school (Kalli Gerhards, bassplayer) always said: "The ending of the song (or the gig) is the most important thing. Then you get paid and get your beer.... !"

[Captain Hate]

Add me to the list of those who've partaken of Rogue Yellow Snow; pretty good. I liked it a lot more than their Chocolate Stout, which was very chocolate-ie but way too filling for my tastes.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

This weekend I visited my parents' house back in Holyoke, MA and probably drank more beer than I have in a year! We started out with some Erdinger Dunkel Weiss... not my favorite, the Hefe. I'm always careful with German dunkel-anything, since it usually gives me a killer hangover. Next up was one of those big bottles of Rogue's Dead Guy Ale. Man, this was very tasty stuff! I'm glad everyone here was raving about it over on the old board. After that (also because of these posts), we popped open a Dogfish Head Mahogony Ale. This one really good too; expensive as heck, though. They get $10 a six-pack up at the store in Northampton where we shopped.

While I was there, I grabbed a couple of other interesting brews which I'll try later. I grabbed a big bottle (sealed with a cork... Goody would be pleased) of Dogfish Head's IPA. I think the 'I' stands for "Insanely" according to the label. I also found that this place had another German Hefe that I have been told is good from the Mahr's brewery in Bamberg. I grabbed some Hefe and some Weiss Bock. I'll have to be careful with that Bock... the sugars and alcohol usually combine for a whopper headache if you down too many.:)

Later,
Kevin

[Gary Sisco]

Hi, Capt -- I've tried two of their stouts, including the Chocolate, but they were too heavy for me. I'm not much of a stout guy, generally. Occasionally on a winter's day. Otherwise, I prefer paler bevs.

The first thing that got me to buy a Rogue, actually, to tell the truth, was that their label-boy rogue is an almost exact lookalike of a good friend of mine, sadly imprisoned in the American gulag, for a long time now. An uncanny resemblance, though.

[GoodSpeak]

Nothin' but the BEST ;-)

[Chris Castelle]

Kevin--what is the store in Northampton? Every liquor/"package" store I've been to in the area has been extremely disappointing in terms of freshness/selection of beers, with the exception of local brews like Paper City from out of Holyoke (their Winter Palace Scotch Ale is amazing but probably out of season) and the Berkshire Brewing Company (fucking fantastic but quite pricey unless you go for the growlers). Everything else is either mass-produced or covered in dust. The store nearest to me has cases of Warsteiner lager sitting out that are clearly marked as having passed their prime in November! I dunno, maybe I'm expecting too much--but it seems to me that beer should only be sold refrigerated and before the marked/notched freshness date on the bottle (which they all should have).

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Originally posted by Chris Castelle
Kevin--what is the store in Northampton? Every liquor/"package" store I've been to in the area has been extremely disappointing in terms of freshness/selection of beers, with the exception of local brews like Paper City from out of Holyoke (their Winter Palace Scotch Ale is amazing but probably out of season) and the Berkshire Brewing Company (fucking fantastic but quite pricey unless you go for the growlers). Everything else is either mass-produced or covered in dust. The store nearest to me has cases of Warsteiner lager sitting out that are clearly marked as having passed their prime in November! I dunno, maybe I'm expecting too much--but it seems to me that beer should only be sold refrigerated and before the marked/notched freshness date on the bottle (which they all should have).

Big Y's "Table and Vine" store just off route 91 (next to Walmart) is one of the best, if not the best wine & beer store I've ever found in Massachusetts. Sure, Town & Country in West Springfield (which was recently bought by Big Y) is pretty good but Table and Vine can't be beat. They have pretty good prices on wine, too.

Later,
Kevin

[Tanager]

While in Seattle, tried some new things (enjoyed a fair amount of beer out there, much better selection than here in Durham):

http://www.beerlabels.com/labels/labels/redhook_ale_brewery/chinook_copper_ale.full.jpg

http://www.beerlabels.com/labels/labels/alaskan_brewing/alaskan_amber%2c_alt_style_beer.full.jpg

Sorry if the pics are really huge.

[shrugs]

My new favorites
http://www.victorybeer.com/images/beers_r7_c35.gif


http://www.victorybeer.com/images/storm_r11_c40.gif


http://www.victorybeer.com/images/horizontal_r10_c38.gif

[shrugs]

No luck.
Anyway, Victory Brewing has some great stuff. I plan on bringing some back with me to N'awlins. Their Storm King Stout, Hop Devil IPA and Old Horizontal Barleywine Ale are great. And can be enjoyed morning, noon or night!

[Brian Olewnick]

OK, I'm curious about the Rogue Chocolate Stout. Until they come up with a peanut butter flavored beer anyway. Any idea where to find some in the NYC area?

[shrugs]

go to Brookyln Brewery and get theirs.
or grab a six.
http://www.brooklynbrewery.com/images/beer_pic_blkchocolate.jpg

[Brian Olewnick]

I've actually had that one. I've also had another, maybe a Saranac? at the Knit a few years ago. This Rogue deal sounded especially choklatty, though.

[shrugs]

Rogue products are a step above both of those IMO. In general, the West Ocasters have been ahead of the game for a long time.
Everyone wants their Sam Adams over here.

[Noj]

http://www.sapporobeer.com/images/pictures_beer/sapporo_premium_products.gif

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Noj
http://www.sapporobeer.com/images/pictures_beer/sapporo_premium_products.gif

http://www.kamados.com/pics/SUSHI2.jpg

[Noj]

http://www.sapporobeer.com/images/pictures_beer/sapporo_premium_bottle_sm.gif

[Brian Olewnick]

Had an Abita Turbodog at Oddfellow's (a cajun style place) yesterday. Interesting taste, though not outstanding. shrugs, any opinions?

http://www.briansbelly.com/beerbelly/beerimages/turbodog.jpg

[stonemonkts]

What do you think about...
http://www.sierra-nevada.com/snblogo.gif

Used to have beer-battered dinners there, in Chico (a very fun place to visit).

Their beer-battered calamari was KILLER. One evening they served beer-dipped abalone. I thought I was going to faint. Whoa.

I like the beer but like another poster I prefer Anchor Steam.

[shrugs]

Brian,
Turbo Dog was better at one time. It still a good beer on tap but for the most part Abita has gone downhill. They can't come close to my new favorite Victory Brewing.

[al j]

yeah, what happened to Abita anyway?


Enjoyed some good old dependable Red Hook IPA before a show yesterday. On the Rogue front, Old Crustacean and Dead Guy have earned a corner office in MY BELLY.

Goodie reminded me I haven't had an Anchor Steam Porter in a while. Perhaps a road trip is in order.

[Noj]

Shrugs, your presence was being summoned here:

http://www.jazzcornertalk.com/speakeasy/showthread.php?s=&threadid=247&perpage=30&pagenumber=1

[Noj]

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/micro/gallery/beer/beer4a.jpg
more here:
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/micro/gallery/beer/beer.html

[Tanager]

Last night (sorry again for the monster image, I'm linking rather than attaching):

http://www.beerlabels.com/labels/labels/brouwerij_lindemans/framboise_lambic_2_bottle.full.jpg

[Douglas]

UCK! UCK! UCK!

Can't stand that stuff, sadly all too prevelant in France.

UCK!

Still on a good beer high from my visit to Prague and going to the UK next week for real ales.

BTW a Texan I know (no, not that one) links world politics to beer and wine drinking divides. Basic thesis for the US is the decline in military might resulted from Anheuser-Busch-ism. Recovery of imperial ambition coinciding with the development of micro-breweries from the 1980s. At least it sounds feasible after a couple.

[Tanager]

What can I say, I love Lambics in general. But hey, I also like Berliner Weizen.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Noj
Shrugs, your presence was being summoned here:

http://www.jazzcornertalk.com/speakeasy/showthread.php?s=&threadid=247&perpage=30&pagenumber=1

Looks like thangs are going ok?

[Noj]

Yeah, I didn't check until after I posted...my bad.

[Nathaniel Catchpole]

Gary introduced me to a nice Otter Creek Porter - possibly my favorite US brew so far, their ale was good as well. Looks like I may have to recant some of my anti-US-microbrew rants, although average Boston liquor store still only serves crap IMNSHO.

[SinginSumo]

http://www.kirin.com/home.html

[Tanager]

Currently drinking one of these and enjoying it very, very much:

http://www.beerlabels.com/labels/labels/north_coast_brewing/red_seal_ale_3.full.jpg

[shrugs]

http://www.avbc.com/beers/BarneyFlatsBig.jpg

[Ron Thorne]

http://www.alaskanbeer.com/beer/images/pour-amber2.jpg

and

http://www.alaskanbeer.com/beer/images/esb-bottle.jpg

[GoodSpeak]

I am shocked, as an Irishman, that Guinness hasn't been mentioned.

Shocked, I tell you...SHOCKED!

The King stout of beers:

[Ron Thorne]

Goody, this award-winning oatmeal stout might make you forget Guiness, at least momentarily. :-)

http://www.alaskanbeer.com/beer/images/stout-bottle.jpg

First brewed - 1997 as a Rough Draft (our Research and Development program) and introduced as a year- round product in 1998.

Original Gravity - 1.065

Alcohol - 4.55% by weight

Bitterness - 26 IBU

Color - 119 SRM

History - Alaskan Stout was originally brewed as a Rough Draft for our customers in Alaska. The popularity of the Stout allowed it to become the Brewery’s fourth year round product in the fall of 1998. The beer has garnered two awards at The Best in West: Silver in 1997 for the Dark Beer Category and a Bronze in 1998 for the Strong Stout Category. Alaskan Stout was awarded a Gold at 1998's Great Alaska Beer Festival in the Dark Beer Category.

Style - Oatmeal Stout -- The origins of Oatmeal Stout go back hundreds of years when oats were added to Stouts to promote a healthier image than other beers available during that time period.

Ingredients - Glacier fed water, Pale, Vienna and Black malts, malted wheat, roast barley, oats, hops and yeast, with no preservatives and no pasteurization. The water used comes from the Juneau Ice Field and Southeast Alaska’s abundant rainfall. Golding hops are used to give this beer a traditional flavor.

Flavor Profile - The unique blend of the oats and malts in Alaskan Stout produce a balanced, smooth beer with hints of chocolate, coffee and caramel.

Recommendations - Alaskan Stout is well matched with blackened snapper, oysters or desserts like Black Forest Cake.

[Tanager]

Ron, I enjoyed some of those Alaskan Brewing products while in Seattle - good stuff.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by GoodSpeak
I am shocked, as an Irishman, that Guinness hasn't been mentioned.

Shocked, I tell you...SHOCKED!

The King stout of beers:

Too bad the stuff you are buying here in the states is brewed in Canada(do they even have a decent beer there anymore?).

[shrugs]

Alaskan is indeed wonderful beer. I miss it and Full Sail very much. Luckily there are some great brews over here on the East Coast that surpass both in quality and taste. Victory Brewing immediately comes to mind. Their Storm King Imperial Stout will knock your socks off not to mention their great Barleywine Ale. Bar Harbor's Cadillac Mountain Stout is also a great, great, great stout.

[Tanager]

What can I say - I never got the Guinness thing. I just don't much like the stuff, and Lord knows I've tried several dozen times.

[shrugs]

Well, for starters it's usually served too cold here. I think a lot of beers are served too cold. Especially IPA's. Try a good IPA a little warmer than what you are used to. There wil be tastes there you didn't even know existed.
Nothing like a good room temp cask conditioned IPA.

[Tanager]

Yeah - I've had it at the "proper" temperature, and I hear you re: temperature. For most beers/ales, I agree - but at any temp, Guinness just doesn't do it for me. What can I say, maybe I'm just a cretin.

[Chris Castelle]

Anyone ever had the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA? Comes in a corked bottle.

Pretty Damn awesome, if you ask me.

[al j]

Trying my first bottle of this here in a few:

http://www.merchantduvin.com/images/brewery_art/sam_smith_art/ss_taddy_bott.gif

[shrugs]

Chris,
do you get the Dogfish Head in Amherst? If so, please tell me where. I am outside of Hartford and will be making my spring pilgrimage to the Amherst/Northhampton record stores next Friday. I'll be hoping to bring back some good beer too. The closet stash is getting low.

[Chris Castelle]

shrugs--

That would be Spirit Haus (http://www.spirithaus.com/), at 338 College St. just down the road from the idyllic Amherst College campus. They have everything from Dogfish Head, Rogue, and Stone (Arrogant Bastard,etc). For American microbrews, I've never been to a better store. Not too shabby in the import department either.

[shrugs]

Thanks!!!

[Captain Hate]

Rogue Brutal Bitter; this might be my favorite Rogue yet. Any of you Rogueaholics (Sisco or Bivins) sampled this one?

[al j]

I never was a fan of bitters until I tried the Rogue a few months ago.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Originally posted by shrugs
Chris,
do you get the Dogfish Head in Amherst? If so, please tell me where. I am outside of Hartford and will be making my spring pilgrimage to the Amherst/Northhampton record stores next Friday. I'll be hoping to bring back some good beer too. The closet stash is getting low.

Shrugs, you must've missed my post up above about beer stores in the Amherst/Northampton area. You have to try Table & Vine, just off Route 91 in Northampton. It's got an incredible selection and their prices are OK. When driving on 91, you'll see a Walmart. Table and Vine is right next to it. Heading north, I believe you can exit after you see it, and go left off the ramp (back over the highway) and then take another left. Walmart/Table & Vine are on that road on your right. Their wine selection is even more amazing than their beer. Bring you Mastercard.:)

BTW, if you have time, out back behind Thorne's Market (where Dynamite Records is, next to the parking garage), there's an excellent brewpub... The Northampton Brewery maybe? Anyway, they are co-owned by the Portsmith Brewing Company and they have this Brown Dog Ale that's usually very good.

Later,
Kevin

[Gary Sisco]

Man, that Shrugs is into some stout, what?

Re the Rogue: Here, the only ones we can consistently buy are Dead Guy Ale, sometimes the Oregon Golden Ale (which I like very much), and a selection of their very darks.

This weekend, for the first time ever, I encountered Dead Guy in six-pack form. Before that, all of the Rogues here were 24 oz. bombers. Also found a six of Anchor Liberty Ale, another favorite that is almost never for sale here, where the only Anchor regularly available is the Steam Beer. Needless to say, both sixes left the store with me.

Glad to hear a Brit give props to a VT brew, Nat.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Kevin Bresnahan
Shrugs, you must've missed my post up above about beer stores in the Amherst/Northampton area. You have to try Table & Vine, just off Route 91 in Northampton. It's got an incredible selection and their prices are OK. When driving on 91, you'll see a Walmart. Table and Vine is right next to it. Heading north, I believe you can exit after you see it, and go left off the ramp (back over the highway) and then take another left. Walmart/Table & Vine are on that road on your right. Their wine selection is even more amazing than their beer. Bring you Mastercard.:)

BTW, if you have time, out back behind Thorne's Market (where Dynamite Records is, next to the parking garage), there's an excellent brewpub... The Northampton Brewery maybe? Anyway, they are co-owned by the Portsmith Brewing Company and they have this Brown Dog Ale that's usually very good.

Later,
Kevin

Kevin,
Thanks for the info. I'll have to check that place out before I leave the area. The Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA is one I have been craving so I am going to try Spirit Haus first since their website mentions Dogfish Head. I think they have the Raisin ale menitoned which is supposed to be phenomenal as well.
Gary,
I like stouts a lot but when it comes down to it, I love just about all beer. I had a Bud on tap at a baseball game the other morning and it hit the spot. Beer is an important part of my life and I am not afraid to admit that. So many people nowadays are so weirded out by a little drink. Fuck the wagon, I'm on the float.

[Tanager]

I think there is a law somewhere that says, when at a baseball game, thou shalt drink cheap domestics. And I agree, Bud and Ball go together in some profound way.

If Bivins is reading this thread, where do you buy beer here in the Triangle? I want a better selection...

[shrugs]

I know some of you have to be in states that limit the ALC of beers to aorund 6%. That has to suck. No Barleywine?!?!?!?!?

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Originally posted by shrugs
Kevin,
Thanks for the info. I'll have to check that place out before I leave the area. The Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA is one I have been craving so I am going to try Spirit Haus first since their website mentions Dogfish Head. I think they have the Raisin ale menitoned which is supposed to be phenomenal as well.
Gary,
I like stouts a lot but when it comes down to it, I love just about all beer. I had a Bud on tap at a baseball game the other morning and it hit the spot. Beer is an important part of my life and I am not afraid to admit that. So many people nowadays are so weirded out by a little drink. Fuck the wagon, I'm on the float.

Um, shrugs, up above where I mention Table & Vine, it was when I was talking *about* Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA in the big bottle!:)

Table & Vine had all of the Dogfish Head beers as well as the Rogues, the Stones, etc. Man, they had *everything*!

Good luck at Dynamite Records. The last time I was in there, it was so sad... the Jazz section is shrinking to nearly nothing as the years pass since David Hart stopped being the Jazz buyer. I wonder how Dave is doing these days?

Later,
Kevin

[Captain Hate]

Originally posted by shrugs
I know some of you have to be in states that limit the ALC of beers to aorund 6%. That has to suck. No Barleywine?!?!?!?!? That used to be the case in Ohio until the liver-enlargers in the state legislature decided to give us all a choice. Stone Brewery's Old Guardian even gives them props on their write-up on the back of the bottle. When I first moved here ('73) they served 18-20 year olds that pissy 3.2% swill. To paraphrase Sisco: Doze weren't the daze.

[GoodSpeak]

Ron,

I didn't just fall of the hops wagon, ya know:

[GoodSpeak]

To wit:

[Chris Castelle]

Kevin--it seems like Spirit Haus (which I only recently discovered) has a pretty similar selection to Table and Vine (which I still haven't checked out). I also know it's pretty close to the general area of shrugs' perambulations, being practically within shouting distance of Mystery Train Records in Amherst.

Seems to me that it doesn't particularly matter much which one he goes to. He should definitely post the contents of his haul, wherever he ends up buying it.

[Ron Thorne]

Goodie, there's absolutely no need to feel defensive. I was simply attempting to share an alternative with you which may be available in your area, that's all. I thought you might also enjoy some of the particulars regarding Alaskan Brewing Company's Oatmeal Stout. Guinness®, especially that which is available in North America pales by comparison with what's drunk in the U.K., as noted by shrugs.

Please, no wagering, this is not a competition. :-)

[shrugs]

Thanks again for that info Kevin. I'll have to check it out before I haul back more than a few cases when I move back to N'awlins. The Navy pays me to move and it works out to a little under a $1 a pound. Bound to get some free beer out of it......
And the selection here in the Northeaxt is a lot better than what I can find down there.
Also to bring up Barleywine Ale again, apparently Bigfoot and some of the others celler very well. Victory's Old Horizontal is around 11%.

And I probably will head straight to Amherst for lp's. Dynamite has been pretty sad the past few time I have been there. Their prices are usually a joke as well. Especially the things on consignment. But that is usually the case for any store with things on consignment.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Originally posted by shrugs
And I probably will head straight to Amherst for lp's. Dynamite has been pretty sad the past few time I have been there. Their prices are usually a joke as well. Especially the things on consignment. But that is usually the case for any store with things on consignment.

I realize that Dynamite has been sad lately, but is it really worse than any of the Amherst stores?? Especially for vinyl? Heck the last time I was Amherst (about 2 months back), I almost bought a couple of used SACDs. That was it. There was nothing to speak of in the vinyl stacks. Of course, you could be looking for a lot of things I'm not as I look mainly for stuff that's only available on vinyl. I'm surprised you're finding good stuff up there.

BTW, if you do make it to Dynamite, check out the place around the corner... oh, what the hell is the name of the place?? I forget. Anyway, it's down on the basement right around the corner. Oh yeah, and don't forget to go into Spearit Sound as well. They are a stereo shop but they have a couple of bins of vinyl.

Later,
Kevin

[shrugs]

Kevin,
you have to remember that my tates are a bit wider than yours.
I have never left Mystery Train empty handed.

[Salvador Dali Lama]

Lawson Creek Honey Wheat

not bad at all for how cheap it was. I also had a couple bottles of sweet water blue last night. now thats the best beer i've ever laid eyes or tounge upon.

[Tanager]

I've been drinking my way through one the of the Pete's Wicked sampler 12 packs the last couple of days. I need to find a better place to buy beer - most of my purchases are at the local supermarket, and I'm just about done working my way through their selection. Anyone (Bivins, Troy?) in RTP know of a good place?

[Jason Bivins]

Tanager, it doesn't seem like there's a true beer store in the Triangle. Wellspring's selection is usually pretty good, if a tad pricey. Here in Raleigh, there are two really good corner market type places - the Peace Street Market and 6 12 (guess where they got that name) - which boast really nice beer selections. I tend to go to Peace St. a lot.

[Tanager]

Sweet, thanks Jason.

[Scott Dolan]

Boulevard Wheat from K.C.

It's not bad, but it's no Sammy Smith's Oatmeal Stout!!!

My wife got a six of the Sam Adams lite. So I gave it a try. Well, it's definitely a lite beer. I won't be trading in my Triple Bock anytime soon. Took me two full snifters of 14 y.o. Oban to get the taste out of my mouth. But of course, by then I really didn't care anymore..............................

[shrugs]

Doesn't NC have a limit on how high the ALC can be?

Found the answer:
Currently, the statute regulating sales of alcohol includes the following definition of "malt beverage":


(9) "Malt beverage" means beer, lager, malt liquor, ale, porter, and any other brewed or fermented beverage containing at least one-half of one percent (0.5%), and not more than six percent (6%), alcohol by volume."
"The state of Ohio changed a similar definition late last year, with favorable results. Beer lovers in Georgia have been lobbying for the same change as well, and hope to have legislation introduced this year. Ten states currently have definitions limiting the alcohol by volume of beer that can be sold in their state. Massachusetts and South Dakota limit their beers to less than 14% by volume. Thirty eight states, plus the District of Columbia, define beer with no mention of alcohol limits."

http://www.homebrewadventures.com/articles/article02170301.shtml


Looks like there are a bunch of homebrewers trying to change it.



http://www.rogue.com/images/Stout.jpg

[Tanager]

Yah, I think it's 6%.

[shrugs]

well if you want the goods this fall, let me know. When I move to N'awlins, I am probably going to stay at my father-in-law's place in Winston-Salem.
I plan on loading up on kind beers. I'll smuggle some down to ya for actual cost. :)

[Tanager]

Damn, you rule. My father is from and lives in Winston-Salem. Maybe we'll get lucky and someone worthwhile will be playing around there that night (every now and then Greensboro(*) gets some killer blues acts, but every now and then).

I will definitely take you up on that...


(*) I think I recall you being a Tal Farlow fan...man was from Greensboro, IIRC, just as a bit of NC trivia

[shrugs]

I'll let you know when I am accepting orders. :)

No trip to Amherst this afternoon because of leaving work a bit too later. But I lucked out at the local record store and found some great stuff(like the Warne Marsh I posted a pic of in the WAYLTN thread). And I picked up some Unibroue Maudite. No need to pay Chimay prices anymore. This stuff is GREAT!!!!


http://www.unibroue.com/

[shrugs]

And more good news!!
Magic Hat's Hi P.A. will be available in bottles in June!! Their specialty beers go QUICK!!!


http://www.magichat.net/elixirs/elixirs_hipa.html

[Chris Castelle]

Yeah, Maudite is excellent.

My most recent trip to Spirithaus yielded a four-pack of Trois Pistoles.

Yet another Belgian-style dark ale on "on lees," this time a bit more potent than Maudite.

Recommended!

Need to try some Fin du Monde next time!

[shrugs]

I almost bought the Trois Pistoles but there were lots of it and FIn Du monde and only one Maudite left so I went with it thinking that it might be the best of the bunch.
I know I read recently that La Terrible should be available soon. Have you seen it yet?

[shrugs]

I forgot that I also picked up some Anderson Valley Hop 'Ottin IPA.. Classic west coast IPA. Great with Pita and Hummus.
Rogue Shakespeare Stout is another recent favorite. The subtle chocolate tastes are really there!!

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I have not liked any of the Maudite beers I've tried. I seem to be able to taste the alcohol in them which is not why I drink beer. In fact, I almost think Maudite boosts the alcoholic content as a sales pitch. They used to advertise how much alcohol they had during their introduction.

I'm tasting some new beers this weekend. I picked up another of Dogfish Head's line-up: Shelter Pale Ale. Almost an IPA with a hoppy nose and a slightly bitter follow up. After I intially sipped it, I thought it was over carbonated but it calms down in the glass after letting it sit. I'll definitely buy this again.

I also picked up two more American Hefe-Weizen beers, one from the Stone Cat Brewery in Ipswich, MA and the other from Sierra Nevada. The Stone Cat tasted very close to a German hefe and I was ready to sing "Aleluyah!" but the nose!! Damn, this stuff smells like my grandfather's shoes! Horrible nose... unless you like the smell of wort. The Sierra Nevada was kinda weird. I'll have to drink a couple more before the thumb goes up or down. It tastes almost like the Pale Ale with a yeasty tang... not much wheat beer flavors that I could tell. Definitely not in the German style.

And speaking of German Hefe-Weizens... I sipped some Weihenstephaner the other day. Ummmm. Heaven on earth. I really have to try to convince Joanne to go back to Germany again some day. I miss that place.

You only live once and life is too short to drink cheap beer.

Kevin

[Tanager]

Originally posted by Kevin Bresnahan
And speaking of German Hefe-Weizens... I sipped some Weihenstephaner the other day. Ummmm. Heaven on earth.

Amen to that.

Mrs. Tanager and I try to go back every two years (we met there while studying in Goettingen), usually to Muenchen, where we have good friends. Easily one of my favorite places on earth.

[Captain Hate]

Originally posted by Kevin Bresnahan
And speaking of German Hefe-Weizens... I sipped some Weihenstephaner the other day. Ummmm. Heaven on earth. I'll keep that in mind next weekend when I go to the local distributor who has an excellent selection. For now I'll console myself with my newest best friend, Rogue Brutal Bitter.
Originally posted by Kevin Bresnahan
You only live once and life is too short to drink cheap beer. Fucking A.

[Nathaniel Catchpole]

http://www.pitfieldbeershop.co.uk/assets/images/Stout.jpg

Eat my shorts 'speak.

http://www.pitfieldbeershop.co.uk/assets/images/East_kent_Goldings_LIght_Ale.jpg

Brewed about 15 minutes walk from my flat. Lovely, lovely unfiltered organic stout.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Kevin Bresnahan
I have not liked any of the Maudite beers I've tried. I seem to be able to taste the alcohol in them which is not why I drink beer. In fact, I almost think Maudite boosts the alcoholic content as a sales pitch. They used to advertise how much alcohol they had during their introduction.



Did you mean to say Unibroue instead of Maudite? What do you have against high alcohol content?
I didn't find anything wrong with Maudite and am eagerly awaiting the purchase of La Fin Du Monde and Trois Pistoles.
I just read over 30 reviews of Maudite(there are well over 100 at beer Advocate) and it consitently received over 4 out 5. And some of the ones under 4 were just a bit more modest in their grading and basically said it was a fantastic beer.
I agree 100%

[Chris Castelle]

I *think* I saw La Terrible last time I was at Spirithaus; can't say for sure, but it sounds familiar.

High alcohol content is par for the course for the style of Belgian ale that Unibroue emulates; it's hard to believe it's a marketing gimmick. FWIW, Unibroues, to me, taste less overtly alocholic than, say, a Double Bock. If you don't like tasting the alchohol, you can always go for Bacardi Silver or Smirnoff Ice...(yeah, I know that was a cheap shot. Apologies in advance.)

[GoodSpeak]

BTW, I went to a beer tasting festival in my Neck O'the Woods and I was amazed at the sheer weight in numbers of beer varieties present. From domestic to micro-brew to imports it was a varitable tastebud delight.

It rained like there was no tomorrow, but we had a blast ;-)

[Jason Bivins]

Shrugs,

When I'm in your neck of the woods in a few weeks we'll have to go on beer safari. I recall we had a nice IPA last year.

[shrugs]

Bivins, I just saw this message. Get in touch. I can give you my cell #.

People check this out!! Beer label censorship in WA state!! All due to the cartoon characters!!!


http://users.pandora.be/filip.geerts/bbb/censored.jpg

[shrugs]

I tried some Rogue American Amber Ale this weekend. Great amber ale!!!

[Tanager]

I was out in Asheville, NC, this weekend (great town, and they have a good-looking libations store called "Weinhaus," which was unfortunately closed by the time we rolled into town that evening, but it looked a lot better than anything here in Durham), and I had the opportunity to try out some of Highland Brewing's Gaelic Ale - a nice copper ale, very tasty, matched well with my supper of trout and squash.

[shrugs]

http://www.schneider-weisse.com/selfmade/aktuelles/images/ageofaventinus_logo.gif

[Albert Diaz]

You should all be ashamed of yourselves for not mentioning the true king of beers. Shame on all of you!

http://www.charlotteh3.org/images/pabst-_1.gif http://www.breweriana.com/flats/tabpbrbock.jpg

[Tanager]

I've been drinking a fair bit of Negro Modelo of late - IMHO, the best of the commonly available Mexican brews.

[john williams]

Cooper & Sons Ltd
Sparkling Ale
ABV 5.8% • Vol 375 ml • bottle • Australia • Expensive • Flavour 7 • Bottle Conditioned


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is probably the most widely known example of the Australian 'sparkling ale' style, and makes a terrific summer beer. It is top fermented and bottle conditioned, and its character falls somewhere between a lager and a wheat beer. The nose consists of light aroma hops, with lots of lemon. The palate is sharp and lemony, quite sour, dry and very refreshing. However, despite the name it is not heavily carbonated. It has some vanilla hints to it and the aromatic hop content is still apparent, along with a light spiciness, akin to a witbier. This is amplified when the yeast is mixed in - the spicy flavours are emphasised. Finish is dry and lemony, leaving a bitter, slightly malty, but fairly abrupt aftertaste. As a style, Adelaide sparkling ale is very much an ale geared towards lager drinkers - this is not a criticism. It works best when lightly chilled. Great on a hot summer's day.



http://www.mbibeer.com/beer/images/cspbotb.jpg



Best Extra Stout
ABV 6.8% • Vol 375 ml • bottle • Australia • Expensive • Flavour 7.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A present from a friend (cheers again, Andrew), this strong, bottle-conditioned Australian stout was tasted at the same time as Wickwar's Mr Perrett's Traditional Stout, which happens to be a strong, bottle-conditioned English stout.
It pours very dark brown/black, with a bubbly but short-lived head. Aroma consists of coffee and dark malt, with a burnt edge like a combination of charred wood and burnt sugar. In the mouth, initial flavours are bitter coffee, burnt, caramelised roast malt, butter and black treacle. A slightly rough alcohol edge appears towards the finish, warming the throat into a bitter-sweet treacle/malt aftertaste. Adding the conditioning yeast introduces a softer, milk chocolate character.
This award-winning stout is strong, aggressive and quite complex, although in direct comparison to Mr Perrett's Traditional Stout it seemed a little too heavy on the bitter/burnt flavours and lacking in some of the fruity, aromatic complexity. A great stout, nonetheless - well worth trying.



http://www.mbibeer.com/beer/images/cstbotb.jpg

[Ron Thorne]

As many of you know from previous posts of mine, Anchorage has a number of really fine microbreweries, which my sons and I enjoy.

Last Saturday night, at the gig I played, among other libations available, there was a keg of Moose's Tooth Fairweather IPA, which is a wonderful, wonderful beer. It's very hoppy with a subtle edge of sweetness, and it's smooth and creamy. The band was very happy. They brew 15 different draft beers and three wonderful draft sodas, serving them in the Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria as well as their very hip movie theatre, Bear Tooth Theatre Pub, where you can enjoy a meal and beer while you watch a film or "live" entertainment.

http://www.moosestooth.net/images/fairweatherBEER.gif

Tonight, I'll enjoy a frosty bottle or two of Alaskan Amber with the Copper River Red Salmon filets I'm grilling. I bought two gorgeous fresh filets at $6.98 lb. while Seattle is selling it for somewhere over $20.00 lb. Some garlic/olive oil cous cous and a marinated Mediterranean salad with olives, feta cheese, tomatoes, peppers and onions will accompany the grilled salmon. Eat your hearts out. :-)

[hermann]

What I prefer is:
http://www.pilsner-urquell.de/
or
pilsener (http://www.prazdroj.cz/eng/)

http://blech-schilder.de/19603.jpg

[Chris Castelle]

I'd actually love to try the PBR Bock if it were still available.

[Uli]

http://www.pichelbruder.de/Home_deutsch_/Die_Biere/Italien/Birra_Moretti/birra_moretti-c50.jpg

[hermann]

Yeah, BOCK is the solution if there are more than 2 guys together !!!

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by Albert Diaz
You should all be ashamed of yourselves for not mentioning the true king of beers. Shame on all of you!

http://www.charlotteh3.org/images/pabst-_1.gif http://www.breweriana.com/flats/tabpbrbock.jpg

What...the new 'yuppie' [joke] beer.

Please.

Next you'll be showering praises on Falstaff or Lucky Lager.



Wife Beater tanks on sale in the lobby as you leave the toilet.

[Jiveman]

Anyone tried Sam Adams "Utopias"?Only $100 for a 24oz.bottle!Maybe for Dr.Dave's birthday?

McNeil's Dead Horse IPA is GREAT!

[shrugs]

I went to Table & Vine last night and saw almost every beer I have been looking for. Amazing selection!! I'll be going there for my big haul back to N'awlins.

[Root Doctor]

Considering the only decent beer I had in New Orleans (and LA, in general) were the offerings at the Crescent City Brewery, that better be a huge haul, Shrugs.

[shrugs]

who showed you around?
You must not have gone here:


http://www.drinkgoodstuff.com/no/default.asp


Did you at least go to Cooter Browns?
They have lots of taps and walls of coolers filled with beers from all over the world.
The main items I will be hauling back are beers w/o distribution down there. Hell, a lot of great beers don't even have more than 10 states or so on their distro lists.

[Root Doctor]

I did make it to Cooter Brown's (had a good oyster po' boy and some fine boudin, but can't remember which beer I drank, which tells me something), but not to DBA. I guess I was surprised by the lack of area microbrews, and found that I often stuck with Abita, who struck me as being equivalent to VT's Magic Hat--mediocre, at best, but still better than Coors or Miller. Maybe I'm spoiled living in the Northeast, where good local beer seems to be everywhere. Of course, we can't compete with LA for music and food, so it balances out.

[shrugs]

You are correct about the amount of great beer here in the Northeast. And we seem to get a lot of the really good West Coast things. I am working on seeing if I can store some brews at my parents house. At least around a case of Dogfishead 90 min IPA's, some Stone Arrogant Bastard, Old Rasputin, Rogue Old Crustacean........
On top of what I'll have at our place.
:)

[Root Doctor]

Last night's choice:

[shrugs]

mine was this tasty beverage:

[Scott Dolan]

Oh man, That DOES look like some pretty tasty stuff Shrugs! Wish I could find that around here................

My personal favorite is Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout. How does it fare against that?

[Chris Castelle]

http://www.unibroue.com/images/3pistoles-medaillon.gif baby

[shrugs]

Scott, it is right up there with SS Oatmeal Stout.

Here is a link to their distributors:

http://www.northcoastbrewing.com/us_other.htm

[shrugs]

THis helped wash down some Murg Tikka, Basamati Rice and Garlic Nan.

http://members.cox.net/davehubbard9/100-0033_IMG.JPG

[shrugs]

I ran out of good IPA!!!! I am dying over here!! Drinking some good barleywine though!!

[Jimmy Cantiello]

You better buy some more before Sunday or you're shit out of luck. Hey, Dave, did you read the latest in the newspaper? Connecticut's budget is so fucked up, the legislature is seriously considering allowing Sunday liquor sales. Oh well, even if it happens, it's too late for you since you'll be on your way back to N'awlins before long.................

[Gary Sisco]

Lately, my main choices have been Otter Creek's Vermont Lager, Wolaver's Pale Ale (VT), and, an old standby, Anchor Liberty Ale, which I only very rarely find in Vermont, but got my hands on a six the other day. I don't normally drink lager but the hot and humid weather, and the quality of the beer, made it a good choice in the end. Thing with a lager, for me, is that it has to be cold. Which means, it has to be downed quickly, before it has a chance to get warm. Otherwise, I don't want it. Cold on a hot day, though, Otter Creek's goes down very well.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Jimmy Cantiello
You better buy some more before Sunday or you're shit out of luck. Hey, Dave, did you read the latest in the newspaper? Connecticut's budget is so fucked up, the legislature is seriously considering allowing Sunday liquor sales. Oh well, even if it happens, it's too late for you since you'll be on your way back to N'awlins before long.................

Yep. Heard it on the radio a month ago or so. Is it almost final? Will holidays be ok now too? Not being able to walk into a store and buy alcohol on the 4th of July, Memorial Day or Labor Day is insane.



And thank God I will finally be leaving the Nutmeg state. Can't wait!

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Originally posted by shrugs


And thank God I will finally be leaving the Nutmeg state. Can't wait!

Well, it's too bad that you were'nt able to live on the coast and or in Farfield County while in Connecticut. I'm sure you would be left with a very different impression of our state. Up where you have to live is, shall we say, a little more "rural" than it is in the southwestern part of the state. And ya gotta admit, many of the beers you love are readily available here in Connecticut. Well, at least six days a week.

As far as if or when our backward legislature decides to drag Connecticut into the 21st century and ditch all those dopey "blue laws" is anybody's guess. In the meantime I will purchase my weekend cocktail supplies on the way home from work today.................

[shrugs]

Actually, the best beers aren't distributed to the Nutmeg state. Gotta go to Mass. CT has some freaked up laws and some breweries don't think it's worth the hastle.
It's not that I don't like CT. I shouldn't be so harsh. But why does everyone leave the state to have a good time?

[Scott Dolan]

Yeah, I hear that shrugs. Florida had a bottle size law. No odd sizes allowed, I believe it had to be 10,12,16,24,and 40 oz to be distributed. So a lot of the Belgian ales were outlawed, as well as my personal favorite Sam Adams Triple Bock(8.45 oz bottle). They finally repealed the law late last year, about the same time I moved. Great timing.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Originally posted by shrugs
Actually, the best beers aren't distributed to the Nutmeg state. Gotta go to Mass. CT has some freaked up laws and some breweries don't think it's worth the hastle.
It's not that I don't like CT. I shouldn't be so harsh. But why does everyone leave the state to have a good time?

Hmmmm.........there may be the odd distribution glitch here and there but my local wine and beer joint has an incredible selection of some of the most obscure beers and ales both domestic and imported and I live in a relatively small town. I don't feel the least bit deprived. Matter of fact, my next door neighbor works for a beer and wine distributor. Lucky me.................http://www.jazzcornertalk.com/speakeasy/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Scott Dolan]

This weekends haul.

Schlafly's Oatmeal Stout.

Schlafly's Summer Kolsen

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Jimmy Cantiello
Hmmmm.........there may be the odd distribution glitch here and there but my local wine and beer joint has an incredible selection of some of the most obscure beers and ales both domestic and imported and I live in a relatively small town. I don't feel the least bit deprived. Matter of fact, my next door neighbor works for a beer and wine distributor. Lucky me.................http://www.jazzcornertalk.com/speakeasy/images/icons/icon12.gif

Jimmy, i am talking about breweries with websites that do not list CT as one of the states where you can buy their beer. Let me know what the phone number to this magical store is and I'll run buy a few brands and see if they indeed have what i am looking for.

[shrugs]

and even here in the "rural" part of CT, we have the CBM. Tons of great beer but not everything gets sent to CT and some of it is in the top 10 of domestic beer.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

C'mon, Dave, let's be reasonable. You don't really expect every single beer you desire to be available in Connecticut, do you? For that matter, you can't expect all the beers to be available in all states, either. The market is just not there for those beers. They're pretty esoteric. In anothers words, the only people that would be interested in them would be you, me, and perhaps the rest of the people reading this thread. It's just not worth it to the smaller places. The joint that I usually buy my stuff from is a very small place by the name of Glen-Ro in Monroe, Ct. Roy, the owner, really knows his wine and beer...............

[shrugs]

No, these beers are a bit more popular than that. We are talking beers that are all on the top 50 list at the Beer Advocate and are known at bars around the US as some of the best. So they really aren't all that esoteric.
Besides, this started with me saying that the best beers aren't available here and with you saying that you had a great store nearby that had a lot of great beers. W/O distribution in CT, I doubt they do.

[Tanager]

Just back from the UK, where I drink many pints of various things, many of them bitters (which I don't much like, to be honest - just not my thing). I did enjoy one called "Broadside," but I can't for the life of me remember who brews it.

I did drink a fair bit, though, while over there (at least for me, as I'm normally quite the lightweight).

I have to say, with all due apologies to our British friends, I like the beers in Belgium and Germany better.

[Chris Castelle]

I visited the Brooklyn Brewery tonight, which was opened up for the community and featured pretty much the entire range of their brews on tap. I got to try the Blanche de Brooklyn, which I guess is supposed to be a Belgian-style witbier, and which I'd never encountered before. Sort of like a slightly sweeter version of the Brooklyner Weisse, their interpretation of a Hefeweizen, and, for the record, the best such American attempt that I've tasted. I also re-acquainted myself with their IPA, which I found much more interesting fresh and on tap than in the bottle...might also have something to do with the fact that all bottled Brooklyn brews are contract-brewed in Utica. At the brewery, it's all the real stuff, I assume.

Tomorrow, the brewery is sponsoring a block party--the $25 dollar admission charge includes unlimited beer. I saw a sign advertising the event that said "get hammered!" I wonder if the brewery appreciates that kind of publicity...

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Originally posted by shrugs
No, these beers are a bit more popular than that. We are talking beers that are all on the top 50 list at the Beer Advocate and are known at bars around the US as some of the best. So they really aren't all that esoteric.
Besides, this started with me saying that the best beers aren't available here and with you saying that you had a great store nearby that had a lot of great beers. W/O distribution in CT, I doubt they do.

You're right, Dave, I do have a store nearby that has a lot of great beers and yes, some of the beers you want aren't available there. You have to admit, Massachusetts and New York are a lot closer to Connecticut than they are to N'awlins.............http://www.jazzcornertalk.com/speakeasy/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Gary Sisco]

Chris -- There's a bistro on St Marks (next door to the Holiday Lounge, on your left if facing Holiday) that sells real Belgian beers on tap, for reasonable prices, and often have at least interesting music on the box. I stopped in there twice last time in NYC. I'd never sampled those beers before. Quite nice.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Jimmy Cantiello
You're right, Dave, I do have a store nearby that has a lot of great beers and yes, some of the beers you want aren't available there. You have to admit, Massachusetts and New York are a lot closer to Connecticut than they are to N'awlins.............http://www.jazzcornertalk.com/speakeasy/images/icons/icon10.gif

True but New York doesn't have them either!! I am telling you, Mass. is the place for the kind beers!
And I already checked with the best New Orleans store and they have a good selection but there are some bars with the goods on tap and that is even better than I can say for here. And the prices are great down there! $8 sometimes for a pitcher of choice beer that would cost you almost $6 for a pint in the Northeast!
The one thing I can't understand is Rogue distribution. Go to Table and Vine in Mass and they have almost every Rogue beer in one spot. Most stores in CT have a good selection but there are some they never have! Like Old Crustacean barley wine. I guess it goes by what the store orders. But I can tell you that I don't think I'll ever drink another Dead Guy ale. I have had that way too much.
And I'll be bringing a whole load of beer back with me to New Orleans. I get paid by the pound to move my stuff back. It works out to around .50 a pound plus I get per diem and money for every mile and money for the wife to move to. A case of beer weighs around 25 lbs so it will help in the final tally. I talked to my old man and they decided to put ac in the garage. Looks like I'll have room to store 3 to 5 cases of beer. I should be set for months!! So I'll have great beer to hold me over and I'll finally be able to get great seafood constantly!!! You guys can keep the shrimp up here!

[shrugs]

Jimmy,
I will miss good pizza dearly! I just realized that the other day. Not a lot of Indian food down in New Orleans either. Hopefully the ones they have are good.
I plan on going to Pepe's a lot before I leave. Megan is moving back to New Orleans so I will be eating a little less healthy. We should get a Pepe's hang going. Maybe some NY folks will finally see what real pizza is. I could pick them up in Stamford.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

White clam, baby!................

http://egullet.com/imgs/pepes7.jpg

[Jiveman]

I'd definitely make that! Hope it really happens!

[shrugs]

Me too but it doesn't seem too popular!

Magic Hat is off and on for me but I really like their new India Pale Ale. Not as robust as the typical West Coast IPA's. Very good session beer!!
It is called Hi P.A.




http://www.magichat.net/assets/elixirs/Hipa_label_web.gif

[Knike]

I just returned from a Luxembourg trip. Tough they have some very good beer from Luxembourg (Moussel, etc.) I prefered a belgian one, wich is very pouplar there and probably also in the USA: LEFFE (blonde)

http://www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/aee/vcbt/events/ph_unltd/images/leffe.jpg

[shrugs]

Sounds great!! I would love to go to Belgium!!!
Here is a favorite( I am oretty sure the label changes ever year):


http://www.proximedia.com/local/dolle-brouwers/p4a.jpg

These labels with cartoon characters are outlawed in Washington state. They have to put stickers over them.

[Scott Dolan]

"These labels with cartoon characters are outlawed in Washington state." - Shrugs


Aw shit. Sounds like the work of Bluenoter. How rediculous.

[shrugs]

Here is the earlier photo I posted:

http://users.pandora.be/filip.geerts/bbb/censored.jpg

[Gary Sisco]

shrugs -- I'm with you re Magic Hat. Of all the really good VT breweries available, I've never been one of their fans.
And the Rogue distribution is limited here as well. We used to get Dead Guy, Oregon Golden Pale, and others. Now, the only non-stout we get from Rogue is Dead Guy. I asked at my local store about it (and also why they can't get the six packs in addition to the bombs) and they said they just get whatever their distributor brings; they don't decide the selection.

My favorite lately is Wolaver's Pale Ale.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Gary, my next door neighbor works for a beer and wine distributor. He will bring whatever the merchant wants provided the distributor has it. All the merchant has to do is request it. My guy didn't used to carry my favorite grappa (Grappa Julia). I asked him why. He said there's not much call for it. I told him if he orders it, I'll buy it. So he did and I do. Next time that guy says they just get whatever their distributor brings, tell him to request the six packs. I'd be interested in what he tells you.................

[Tanager]

Useful site...

Worst Beers (http://www.ratebeer.com/TheWorstBeers.asp)

[Gary Sisco]

A new (to me) Rogue showed up in town yesterday, American Amber Ale. Picked up a bomber but haven't cracked it yet. Waitin' for that Root Doctor to be here to help me test it out.

I got tired of the Vermont Lager and went back to the Wolaver's Pale most of the time, except right after I get done with the horse work, when I pick up one Sam Adams Summer Ale to wash the dust down before heading home (the SA is the pick of the litter at that little store -- it's good if you're hot and thirsty).

[shrugs]

http://beeradvocate.com/im/beers/356.jpg

[Chris Castelle]

Not in this weather, buddy...


http://64.95.118.51/images/opti/4a/8c/fddkBeersBy_NameBrooklyn_Pilsner-resized200.jpg

[shrugs]

do you really drink according to weather? I know a lot do but there are a lot of us that can drink a motor oil thick Imperial Stout any day of the year.



http://members.cox.net/davehubbard9/stout.jpg

[Chris Castelle]

Yeah, I've got to say I do change beer preference with the weather. I doubt that I would suffer any harm quaffing an imperial stout at 90 degrees farenheit, but the idea somehow doesn't appeal to me.

Generally, I like the idea of seasonal beers, with more robust ones (both ales and lagers) for colder months and lighter lagers and wheat beers (Brooklyn Brewery just bottled their Brooklyner Weisse) in the summer.

Here's something everyone should try, the "orginal" Bavarian Hefeweizen:



http://www.mbibeer.com/beer/images/scwbotb.jpg


Check out that head!

[shrugs]

Schneider Weisse has wonderful beers. I really love the Aventinus.
I have to say that I am not a huge fan of Brooklyn Brewery's bottled products. I do like what I have had on tap a bit more. I just think there are better beers that might cost a little more but are better balanced. I usually only have a 6 pack a week so spending more to get better beer doesn't bother me.

[Gary Sisco]

Shrugs -- I sampled a couple bombers of the Magic Hat Hi-P.A., and concur with you that it's a good Magic Hat by comparison with the others. I also like the occasional Fat Angel from them, but normally only one at a time.

[Captain Hate]

Gary (and the rest of you sots), I picked up an American Amber yesterday; it was good but somehow not quite to my tastes. My favorite Rogue is still Brutal Bitter!!!

[shrugs]

Gary, the Magic Hat one offs are usually great. Did you see any of the Thumbsucker? It sold out quickly here.

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Scott Dolan
This weekends haul.

Schlafly's Oatmeal Stout.

Schlafly's Summer Kolsen



Dolan & Schlafly's. That's pretty funny.

http://static.wired.com/netizen/97/13/stuff/index2a.jpg

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Knike
I just returned from a Luxembourg trip. Tough they have some very good beer from Luxembourg (Moussel, etc.) I prefered a belgian one, wich is very pouplar there and probably also in the USA: LEFFE (blonde)



I wouldn't say any Belgian beer is very popular in the U.S., where a single piss water (Bud) has a 52% market share, but Leffe is distributed here. I first had it in Paris in 1985. But now when I want a Belgian-style ale at home I go with the ones from Quebec, which are quite comparable, and much cheaper here.

http://www.unibroue.com/images/fin-medaillon.gif

[Gordon B]

The beer below has become my favorite. I wouldn't recommend it on an empty stomach. It's intense, full bodied, bittersweet but also 8.9% ABV.


http://www.mylifeisbeer.com/beer/bottles/autopics/308.jpg

[Gary Sisco]

Shrugs, I missed the Thumbsucker, but I hadn't paid any attention to Magic Hat in quite a while. They tend to have a finish that doesn't agree with me.

Capt -- Sot? I'll have you know I'm a lush, thanks, not a sot. We still haven't seen the Bitter here.

[Jason Bivins]

Well, they still ain't nothing like an Arrogant Bastid (unavailable here in NC, alas) but lately I've been enjoying Wolaver's. Gary was good enough to introduce me to this in June, and I think both the Pale and the IPA are excellent.

[Gary Sisco]

Haven't had the Wolaver's IPA yet but the Pale is a standard choice here.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

I'm sure it must have been mentioned here before but what's the book on Shipyard Fuggles IPA? I bought half a case of this stuff because I never had it before. I read one review so far and it wasn't pretty. Did I make a mistake? I won't be sampling any until I arrive in Virginia tomorrow night..................

http://www.rplazahotels.com/interface/beers/north_10.gif

[Noj]

http://www.ratebeer.com/beerimages/nmice.jpg
Not too fancy, but you can't go wrong with Negra Modelo. Tasty and strong by American standards.

[shrugs]

Gordon,

Old Rasputin is a good friend of mine. An Imperial Stout with a 5 star drinkability. It is a little strong but nothing like the Mad Bitch!!


http://tolsun.oulu.fi/kbs/beer/jpg/1542.jpg

[Scott Dolan]

Enjoying me a Paulaner Salvatore Double Bock at the present. Nice kick, alcohol-wise. 7.5%. Tastes extremely similar to Sammy A's Double Bock. Yummy!

Can anyone here give me a rec on Old Peculiar? Almost swiped a six of that tonight, but went with the Double Bock. Any good?

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Noj
http://www.ratebeer.com/beerimages/nmice.jpg
Not too fancy, but you can't go wrong with Negra Modelo. Tasty and strong by American standards.

I love Negra Modelo. Very Bavarian.

[Scott Dolan]

http://www.unibroue.com/images/maudite-medaillon.gif

Not my favorite beer, but definitely my all time favorite label.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Originally posted by Jimmy Cantiello
I'm sure it must have been mentioned here before but what's the book on Shipyard Fuggles IPA? I bought half a case of this stuff because I never had it before. I read one review so far and it wasn't pretty. Did I make a mistake? I won't be sampling any until I arrive in Virginia tomorrow night..................

http://www.rplazahotels.com/interface/beers/north_10.gif

Uh, no responses?......

[shrugs]

I haven't had any Shipyard in a long time. I think their IPA is more along the lines of a Brit IPA and won't be as strong and hoppy as US varieties.
If you want, I'll pick you up some Stone IPA. It is one of the good ones available in Mass but not here in CT. It is a classic West coast IPA with HUGE Hoppy taste but very, very balanced taste. and their Ruiniation IPA is great too. A bit more pricey than the regular IPA.
Smuttynose Big A IPA is very good too. Maybe easier to find.

And if you like hoppy brews, we have to see that you get some Stone Arrogant Bastard.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Scott Dolan
http://www.unibroue.com/images/maudite-medaillon.gif

Not my favorite beer, but definitely my all time favorite label.

Try this one!!!!

[shrugs]

don't try this at home!!! (http://www.fortyhands.com/index.php)

[Tanager]

Originally posted by Pete C
I love Negra Modelo. Very Bavarian.

Easily my favorite MX beer. One of the few things I always keep in stock.

[GoodSpeak]

Modelo Negro is very good dark ale, but for a refreshing, crisp, pale ale with Mexican food, I always ask for Modelo Especial [bottles are far superior to cans]:

[shrugs]

¡Viva Mexico! (http://www.cervezacasta.com.mx/)

[GoodSpeak]

La cerveza mas fina!

Hecho en Mexico, para ustedes.

[shrugs]

really doe

Mexico don't know shit about beer. If I was a young single lad, I'd move to Belgium and hank with the Monks.

or San Marcos!!! (http://www.stonebrew.com/index2.html)

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by shrugs
really doe

Mexico don't know shit about beer. If I was a young single lad, I'd move to Belgium and hank with the Monks.

or San Marcos!!! (http://www.stonebrew.com/index2.html)

OK.

I didn't say Mexico brewed my all-time favorites, did I?

If I were to choose a favorite list of Non-American beers it would be:

Guiness Stout
Harp's Larger
Bass Ale
Kroenenburg Ale [France]
Whatney's Red Barrell


But for American beer...Anchor Steam is my all-time favorite.

[shrugs]

We need to talk. You live in California.
Stone and North Coast should be in your vocab.
Rogue from Oregon too.

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by shrugs
We need to talk. You live in California.
Stone and North Coast should be in your vocab.
Rogue from Oregon too.

Indeed they should...but I live in a very small beer market.

Most of what I can get these daze is hit and miss at best.


Yeah...I think we SHOULD talk.


If yer ever out Fresno way...I'll buy the first round ;-)

[GoodSpeak]

Butterfield's in Fresnotown and Brubaker's in Visalia.

Micro-brews at their finest.


San Joaquin Ale, baby.

[Scott Dolan]

Thats an interesting list Goodz. Have you ever tried any of the Samuel Smith line? I find their Imperial Stout, and especially their Oatmeal Stout to be heads and shoulders above Guiness. And Youngs Double Chocolate Stout is one of the finest stouts ever made.

Though I do have to admit that Bass Pale Ale is a true favorite of mine as well. Perhaps one of the finest widely distributed beers. Aside from the Salvatore Double Bock.

[GoodSpeak]

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout is some of the best beer I have ever had.

Hands down.

[Scott Dolan]

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout is some of the best beer I have ever had. - Goodz


No question! Truly a fine stout. Possibly my all time favorite beer. Mackeson's Triple Stout is also right up there.

If you haven't tried Youngs Double Chocolate Stout, I would HIGHLY recommend that one as well. That one is from England also.

We share a common taste in beers. I enjoy Anchor Steam as well.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Ah! Just got back from my trip to Virginia. Did some boating, eating and beer drinking. Got a chance to sample the Shipyard IPA that I purchased for the trip. Very hoppy and bitter. One day it didn't sit so well with me and the next it was just the ticket. Go figure. I guess it depends on your mood. We had many other beers/ales this weekend. Some included a bunch of the Saranac beers as well as some Sierra Nevadas and Guiness Stout. As far as I'm concerned, depending on the time of day, they're all good!

[Captain Hate]

Originally posted by Gary Sisco
Capt -- Sot? I'll have you know I'm a lush, thanks, not a sot. We still haven't seen the Bitter here. Please excuse the mischaracterization; it won't happen again! Had a Brutal Bitter in yer honor this weekend; you gotta pound your local distributor to get it!!

[jesus marion joseph]

I'm currently playing beer roulette. I often come home from the beach and forget to empty my cooler. When the ice melts, the labels soak off of the bottles that are left in there, so I usually have 7 or 8 "no-name" beers in the fridge. It's kind of fun guessing which one I'm drinking (you know, when I'm not out taming lions or something).

[shrugs]

http://members.cox.net/davehubbard9/102-0291_IMG.JPG

[shrugs]

http://members.cox.net/davehubbard9/100-0033_IMG.JPG

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Originally posted by shrugs
http://members.cox.net/davehubbard9/102-0291_IMG.JPG

Shrugs, how is this stuff?? I saw they had it at the store the other day and I almost bought it... but for $8.95 per bottle? Oooo, that's a bit steep. Is it TDF kinda stuff?

BTW, I have some Ruination IPA in my fridge just calling to me.:)

Later,
Kevin

[shrugs]

Kevin, I think it is very good. I paid $7.95 at Yankee Spirits in Sturbridge, MA and would easily do it again. A real bargain compared to some of the other Belgian ales. And I think Chimay is $7.95 in a lot of places and this stuff slams Chimay IMO. Plus, I always think about how much a bar would charge!! I saw a small bottle of the Delirium at Town and Country in West Springfield for $4 the other day. Not bad for a Belgian. Not as much as Rochefort!!!
Best deal IMO is $8.99 for a 750ml of De Dolle Special Brouwsel. After the cork flies out of the bottle, it pours with a huge head and hits you with a bite that is tangy and sour as a sweet tart w/lots of carbonation and slowly mellows into quite an amazing red ale with a finish that will leave you contemplating the existence of mankind. :)

Ruination is some nice brew. But watch out because some places price gouge on it. Yankee Spirits is charging 5.99 for a 22 oz bomber. It's found elsewhere for $4.50. The whole pricing for beer is almost as bad as comparing prices for cd's around the net. Lots of store discretion and mark ups. And I just found out the other day that Penssylvanian's can only buy beer by the case at a beer store!!! To get anything smaller, they have to go to a Tavern and get ripped off. So it can always be worse!!!

Yankee is also doing 3 Stone bombers for 9.99. As long as it is Arrogant Bastard, IPA or Smoked Porter. They also have some of the Harpoon Oatmeal Stout left.

[shrugs]

for West Coast IPA lovers, not in any order:

1. Frank's Double IPA (Pizza Port Brewing Company, Carlsbad)
2. Wipeout IPA (Pizza Port Brewing Company, Carlsbad)
3. Hoptown DUIPA (Hoptown Brewing Company, Pleasanton)
4. AleSmith IPA (AleSmith Brewing Company, San Diego)
5. Moylans Double IPA (Moylan's Brewing Company, Novato)
6. Swami's IPA (Pizza Port Brewing Company, Solana Beach)
7. Hop Daddy IPA (Main Street Brewery, Corona)
8. Marin IPA (Marin Brewing Company, Larkspur)
9. Big Eye IPA (Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego)
10. Racer Five IPA (Bear Republic Brewing Company, Healdsburg)
11. Hoptown IPA (Hoptown Brewing Company, Pleasanton)
12. Pillbox IPA - Nitro (Pizza Port, Brewing Company, Solana Beach)
13. White Knuckle IPA (Marin Brewing Company, Larkspur)
14. Lagunitas Maximus (Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma)
15. Crystal Pier Double IPA (Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego)
16. Moylan's IPA (Moylan's Brewing Company, Novato)
17. Stone IPA (Stone Brewing Company, San Marcos)
18. Lagunitas IPA (Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma)
19. Ruination IPA (Stone Brewing Company, San Marcos)
20. Indica IPA (Lost Coast Brewing Company, Eureka)
21. Hop Ottin IPA (Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Boonville)
22. Red Car IPA (Red Car Brewing Company, Torrance)
23. Old Baldy IPA (Old Baldy Brewing Company, Upland)
24. Old Town IPA (Tustin Brewing Company, Tustin)
25. Acme IPA (North Coast Brewing Company, Fort Bragg)

[bluenoter]

I don't normally like beer or ale, but this stuff is the shiznit!

From the website of
http://www.belgianexperts.com/images/vbdw.gif :St. Amand French Country Ale

Style: Biere de Garde

Description: Made by the Castelain Brewery in French Flanders, St. Amand is copper-colored with a hint of licorice, a malty body, and a clean finish. Biere de Garde is the only indigenous beer style. Cold-aged (like lagers), but top-fermented (like ales), these are full-bodied but quenching beers! Great with bistro food, steaks. An ideal picnic beer.

Comments and Selling Points: Perfect marriage of Northern European brewing prowess & French finesse.

"Red amber color. Exotic aromas of French cellars. A malty sweetness light on the palate with a right down the middle bitterness. A Biere de Garde I wouldn't mind being able to brew myself." --Charlie Papazian All About Beer.

Gold Medal---World Beer Championships http://together.net/~rproctor/BeerPage/beers/N335.jpg

[Captain Hate]

I don't know what's more shocking: Rita posting on the beer thread or using the term "shiznit". Not that I'm complaining about it at all!!

[Pete C]

Since Shrugs dismissed one of my favorite mass-produced beers, De Koninck, on the Belgium thread as the "Sam Adams of Belgium," I'm wondering, what are people's favorite mass-produced beers (though I'm not sure what the delineations between micro- mid- and mass- are)?

Anyway, among my favorites:

Negra Modelo
Singha
De Koninck

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Captain Hate
I don't know what's more shocking: Rita posting on the beer thread or using the term "shiznit". Not that I'm complaining about it at all!!

Everyone in the beltway says "shiznit."

[Salvador Dali Lama]

http://www.sweetwaterbrew.com/420labelsmallweb.gif

the standard...

[Gary Sisco]

Tell you what, I can remember days when I would have jumped up and down if Sam Adams had been a store selection. I'll still drink the occasional Boston Ale (normally we don't get it here) and this summer I've been drinking one of their Summer Ales after the horsework. They're okay if it's dry and dusty work we're talking, and only one.

Yesterday I had a coupla pints of Boddington on tap down to the tavern with Root Doctor & Son.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Shrugs is a beer snob............

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Oh, that St. ARmand French Country Ale is sublime... watch out though! The alcohol is sky-high in that stuff. Most French Biere de Garde's I've had have been good.

I just picked up some Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA the other day. It was in the cooler right next to their 90 Minute IPA. Weird to be selling this way... how am I supposed to know the difference? Do those extra 30 minutes warrant the extra $3 per six pack? Not likely. So why not just stick to one or the other?

Later,
Kevin

[Gary Sisco]

That's pretty strange, Kevin. Here we only get the 90-minute (which is good, by the way).

[Pete C]

I don't keep beer at home on a regular basis (too much temptation to gain weight), but I just went shopping at a local place with a large selection and discovered that Leffe Blonde has come down considerably in price--$1.99 a bottle at this place. I don't know when this happened, but the U.S. distributor is now Labatt USA, and the parent company is the Belgian conglomerate Interbrew. They also now distribute Hoegaarden in the U.S. at the same price.

[Nathaniel Catchpole]

Tomorrow, I'm going to go to my favorite beer shop and buy a home brew kit. They have about 15 different ingredients kits, including stouts and porters. For the whole kaboodle, including a bottle top fastening thing, 40 pint bottles (we're going to try to drink extra beer so we can re-use the bottles and save buying empty ones), bottle tops, a special 20 litre bucket, and the ingredients, it's going to cost less than $45 for the first batch. That's around 75p a pint (it's usually a pound upwards for a can of beer from the store). Since that includes start-up, the second batch should work out at about 10p a pint, assuming I don't poison myself.

Have wanted to do this for ages, and Shoko actually thinks it's a good idea. I can make homebrew and not get into trouble with my girlfriend - bliss. (Shoko's here now saying she'll be an alcoholic in a month or so).

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Mick Beck (saxophonist and bassoonist from Sheffield, folks may know him from records with Simon Fell and Paul Hession) makes his own ale, with basil in it - really, really nice, mellow beer, not the usual harsh chemical tasting stuff. So I have a benchmark.

[Pete C]

This is my favorite beer logo:

http://www.kroc.org/WBF/images/petes_hilite.gif

[Pete C]

But Kingfisher goes best with biriyani.


http://www.modestodrinks.com/grafika/poster.gif http://www.ramani.4t.com/images/yanni.jpg

[Ron Thorne]

Pete, Negra Modelo and Singha are also two of my favorite "mass-produced" beers. I'm also fond of Pilsner Urquell, even though I'm not a huge fan of pale beer.

Last night I enjoyed a wonderful Alaskan Oatmeal Stout with my New Mexican red chile/pork tamale and refried black beans.

http://64.95.118.51/images/opti/5b/e9/fddkBeersBy_NameAlaskan_Stout-resized200.jpg

I'm sure that shrugs will concur that most of the Alaskan Brewing beers are considerably above-average. On tap, they're sublime. With Fall arriving, their amazing Smoked Porter can't be far away.

Shrugs, I think you'd likely love the Fairweather IPA brewed locally by the Moose's Tooth Brewing Company. It's terrific.

http://moosestooth.net/shopsite_sc/store/html/media/mugs.jpg

[Alastair]

Originally posted by Nathaniel Catchpole
Tomorrow, I'm going to go to my favorite beer shop...

Pitfield Street Brewing Company (or whatever it's called)? I never get past the range of ready-made stuff. Let us know how your brew works out!

[Dr Dave]

Olde English 800 cause that's my brand
Take it in a bottle, 40, quart, or can
Drink it like a madman yes I do
Fuck the police and the 5-O, too.

http://beer.trash.net/img/beers/410.jpg

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Kevin Bresnahan
I just picked up some Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA the other day.

Kevin, I'm just trying my first Dogfish Head--Indian Brown Ale. I find it overly fizzy, like soda pop (especially with the malt sweetness in this one). Are they all that way?

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by Pete C
This is my favorite beer logo:

http://www.kroc.org/WBF/images/petes_hilite.gif


Why doesn't that surprise me...?


Great beer, Pete...you do have taste, my friend ;-)

[GoodSpeak]

Originally posted by Dr Dave
Olde English 800 cause that's my brand
Take it in a bottle, 40, quart, or can
Drink it like a madman yes I do
Fuck the police and the 5-O, too.

http://beer.trash.net/img/beers/410.jpg

Oooo.

That's some nasty shit, Dave.

When I was a kid, we drank it and Mickey's Big Mouth...get high quick, barf less.



Ack.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Kevin Bresnahan

I just picked up some Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA the other day. It was in the cooler right next to their 90 Minute IPA. Weird to be selling this way... how am I supposed to know the difference? Do those extra 30 minutes warrant the extra $3 per six pack? Not likely. So why not just stick to one or the other?

Later,
Kevin

Uh, because 90 Min is an Imperial India Pale Ale and is a lot stronger and more complex than the 60 Min. Attention To Detail!!!! And 90 Min. is in a 4 pack. How much do you spend on a bottle of beer at a bar?

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Pete C
Kevin, I'm just trying my first Dogfish Head--Indian Brown Ale. I find it overly fizzy, like soda pop (especially with the malt sweetness in this one). Are they all that way?

I like the Indian Brown but don't find it fizzy at all. Not sure what you mean by that. Did it have an uncontrollable head? I do think it is one of their average brews with the 60 and 90 Min IPA's and Raison D'etre coming out on top. Their Punkin' Ale is rather good but I don't think I'll be buying any more. I find the Indian Brown is best at above 50 degrees. Let it warm up a little before pouring it into the glass. And it blows away most English Browns I have had.

[shrugs]

Originally posted by Ron Thorne
Pete, Negra Modelo and Singha are also two of my favorite "mass-produced" beers. I'm also fond of Pilsner Urquell, even though I'm not a huge fan of pale beer.

Last night I enjoyed a wonderful Alaskan Oatmeal Stout with my New Mexican red chile/pork tamale and refried black beans.

http://64.95.118.51/images/opti/5b/e9/fddkBeersBy_NameAlaskan_Stout-resized