The Beer Thread - Part 2

[groover]

Old Dominion's Oktoberfest is pretty good for an American take on the style, with Willamette and Cascade hops.

[groover]

Yum.

I do like the Tumblers, and other domestic Autumnal brews that aren't even trying to be an Oktoberfest, but offer something mellower. Red Hook's Late Harvest Autumn Ale is another good entry in that style. Can't find a picture of it in their new bottle shape online, though.

As the fall days grow shorter, beer drinkers naturally start their migration toward more robust, full-bodied brews. Late Harvest is an easy-drinking, yet flavorful brew that features a deep chestnut color and unique, roasted malt aroma and flavor. Late Harvest’s rich flavor is the result of using four different malts, yet the robust profile remains balanced and sophisticated, thanks to our two distinctive hop additions. Late Harvest pairs nicely with grilled burgers or any tailgate cuisine. Available August through October.

Style: Autumn Ale
ABV: 5.9%
Malts: Pale, C60, C70/80, C Vienne, Smoke
Hops: Willamette, Saaz, Chinook
Color SRM: 19.0
Bitterness Units: 32.0 IBU
Original Gravity: 14.65 degrees plato
Brewed Since: 2005

A friend brought over some Sierra Nevada Torpedo, a hoppy American IPA. Too tangy for me, sorry. I found it hard to drink.

[steve(thelil)]

A friend brought over some Sierra Nevada Torpedo, a hoppy American IPA. Too tangy for me, sorry. I found it hard to drink.

Bite your tongue.

[groover]

Still one Torpedo left in my beer fridge, steve. I'll save it for you.

[steve(thelil)]

Still one Torpedo left in my beer fridge, steve. I'll save it for you.

Thanks. I'm there.

[steve(thelil)]

Still one Torpedo left in my beer fridge, steve. I'll save it for you.

On a more serious note, do you like any IPA's, groover?

[Gordon B]

I've been drinking multiple offerings by Stone and Lagunitas lately. I had a Sam Adams Octoberfest on draft last Friday night but it didn't taste very good. Maybe it was a bad keg or something.

[groover]

On a more serious note, do you like any IPA's, groover?

Mostly too acidic for my old stomach, but I can handle the English IPAs, which are not as super-hopped as American IPA. I recently went through a keg of Sierra Nevada IPA, which is actually an English style IPA, though still pretty hoppy. Torpedo is an American IPA, with even more hops and higher ABV.

[steve(thelil)]

Mostly too acidic for my old stomach, but I can handle the English IPAs, which are not as super-hopped as American IPA. I recently went through a keg of Sierra Nevada IPA, which is actually an English style IPA.

I don't think of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale as an IPA. However, I also don't really know what an English IPA is, so it might be.

[groover]

I don't think of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale as an IPA. However, I also don't really know what an English IPA is, so it might be.

That's how it was categorized on the Beer Advocate site: http://beeradvocate.com/

Those guys probably know more than either of us do about beer. Click on Education > Beer Styles if you want to learn more.

[steve(thelil)]

Are you sure? I went there (a site I use often) and saw "Sierra Nevada INDIA Pale Ale" listed under English IPA's, but not "Sierra Nevada Pale Ale" (which is shown in the picture you posted)

[groover]

Are you sure? I went there (a site I use often) and saw "Sierra Nevada INDIA Pale Ale" listed under English IPA's, but not "Sierra Nevada Pale Ale" (which is shown in the picture you posted)

It is a bit confusing, I'll admit.

[jesus marion joseph]

Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is pretty hoppy, so I can see why it might be classified as an IPA. I happen to love hoppy beers, and especially the Torpedo IPA. Incidentally, a good friend of mine once made a "PIPA", or "pot" IPA, by throwing some of his homegrown buds in his home brew recipe. I couldn't tell any difference or notice any effect from the buds, as much as I tried (hic).

[Uli]

Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is pretty hoppy, so I can see why it might be classified as an IPA. I happen to love hoppy beers, and especially the Torpedo IPA. Incidentally, a good friend of mine once made a "PIPA", or "pot" IPA, by throwing some of his homegrown buds in his home brew recipe. I couldn't tell any difference or notice any effect from the buds, as much as I tried (hic).

This reminds me of something of what i read about when laudanum was popular. People drank it for the cheap booze.

[groover]

Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is pretty hoppy, so I can see why it might be classified as an IPA. I happen to love hoppy beers, and especially the Torpedo IPA. Incidentally, a good friend of mine once made a "PIPA", or "pot" IPA, by throwing some of his homegrown buds in his home brew recipe. I couldn't tell any difference or notice any effect from the buds, as much as I tried (hic).

That would work for me, if he used less real hops. I doubt pot buds are as acidic as hops, but they might add an interesting flavor, if nothing else. There used to be a beer available made with hemp seed, but it had no additional psychoactive properties either and was otherwise a bit too bland.

The Tumbler is the most drinkable S.N. beer for me, but don't let me stop you guys with stouter stomachs from enjoying your Torpedoes!

[jesus marion joseph]

Yeah, that Tumbler is a classic brown ale. Very smooth.

[claude]

Our local brewery won Brewery of the year at the Canadian Brewery awards.

The brewery of the year is at the bottom after all of the medals for individual beers

A few of my favourites got gold medals, so I guess at least someone agrees with me on the beer quality.

[jesus marion joseph]

Ran across Lexington Ale Bourbon Barrel Aged Ale at a local restaurant last week. It was so good I went back the following night for another. Lots of smooth vanilla flavors.

On the second trip a guy sitting next to me at the bar told me he had a bourbon aged ale made by Allagash. I'm on the lookout for that one now. Can't imagine it's as good as Kentucky Ale, but we'll see.

[LennyH]

That looks delicious. That's a beautiful glass, too. It's similar to what I generally use.

[steve(thelil)]

Jimmy: So didja like it?

Interesting whether a guy with so little bitterness himself would like Lagunitas Hop Stoopid. As a bitter beer guy, it just might be my favorite beer (right up there with Racer 5 IPA, according to this week's rankings. Racer 5 is less bitter but very distinctively fruity, much like myself.)

And I consider Hop Stoopid a premium beer that can often be had at the same price as Sierra Nevada, Anchor Steam and other medium priced brews. I've seen the 22 ounces bombers for less than $5 in NYC (which is, regrettably, cheap for the area).

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Steve, I liked it a lot but one bottle for the evening was enough. Btw, I had to delete my original post because the photo I attached was ridicuously humongous. Let's try it again. As I said before, this beer is more bitter than a divorced guy whose ex was awarded the house and his 401k.

[steve(thelil)]

Steve, I liked it a lot but one bottle for the evening was enough. Btw, I had to delete my original post because the photo I attached was ridicuously humongus. Let's try it again. As I said before, this beer is more bitter than a divorced guy whose ex was awarded the house and his 401k.

I hear you. I find that three or four 22 oz bottles are usually enough.

I'm exaggerating (slightly)

[jesus marion joseph]

I've been eyeballing the Racer 5 IPA but it's north of $12 for a six pack, so I haven't tried it yet.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

I hear you. I find that three or four 22 oz bottles are usually enough.

I'm exaggerating (slightly)

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that one Hop Stoopid would be the only beer for the evening. It's just that I would probably move on to another style or two just for variety. I enjoy mixin' 'em up. If I can do a flight at a beer joint then that's the way I like to go.

[steve(thelil)]

Is Guinness Stout overrated? For some reason I have never really drank it. Tonight I decided it was time and I approached it with totally optimistic anticipation. It's fine, but I just don't get why it's so special. It seems to me that I've had dark beers from microbreweries that are more successful at what Guinness Stout attempts.

BTW, I assume I'm wrong about this.

[steve(thelil)]

OK. After 2 Guinnesses I'm starting to get it. I think one more and I'll be totally on board.*


*Earlier this evening I had 2 pints of Stone IPA on draft. So if it took a certain amount of alcohol for me to get it bout Guiness, and I was only drinking Guinness, it might have taken 5 or 6 12 oz bottles of before I started to "get it"

But I would have been willing to try.

But then again, I'm a fucking scientist.

[Gordon B]

OK. After 2 Guinnesses I'm starting to get it. I think one more and I'll be totally on board.*


*Earlier this evening I had 2 pints of Stone IPA on draft. So if it took a certain amount of alcohol for me to get it bout Guiness, and I was only drinking Guinness, it might have taken 5 or 6 12 oz bottles of before I started to "get it"

But I would have been willing to try.

But then again, I'm a fucking scientist.

Guinness is overrated. Hop Stoopid is excellent. Thelil are you the Racer 5 fan? I had it on draft on two separate occasions at a burger joint called "Buns" in San Juan last week. I like it a lot.

[steve(thelil)]

Thelil are you the Racer 5 fan?

That I am. After " discovering it" on the West Cost last Spring, I was pleasantly surprised that I can get it easily nearby. Weirdly, though, the only time I've seen it on tap in the East was the week after I had it in California, at the Ale House in Ithaca, NY>

[LennyH]

I like Guinness and I understand it's much better in Ireland. Would like to find out.

It's hard to compare some of the more traditional beers like this with today's American craft beers. I remember when I first tried a Guinness in the late 80s or whatever. It seemed so heavy and alien to me. I was used to drinking beer I could see through and had trouble finishing that first one. Now it seems creamy, smooth and very easy to drink. Most of the top rated stouts are bruisers (and imperial stouts) by comparison.

Same with pale ales and IPAs. The first IPA I ever had was Samuel Smith's. It's only 5% alcohol and generally put where it belongs nowadays: In it's own English IPA category. It's just a different animal than the American IPAs.

It's amazing how our expectations have been changed by the craft beer movement.

[LennyH]

I never run out of Racer 5. I keep that along with Stone, Avery and a few others around at all times.