Beer/Ale/Lager Appreciation Thread

[FatherAlabaster]

It sounds great! I'll see if I can find it anywhere. Thanks for the recommendation.

[deathstorm]

Alabaster. Benz gourmet beer store has it in Brooklyn.

[FatherAlabaster]

Hmm, don't know that place, I'll look it up.

[FatherAlabaster]

Holy shit, that place is nowhere near me... well, if I'm in the area, I'll check it out.

[deathstorm]

Cool alabaster

[FatherAlabaster]

Last night, I had some of Stillwater Artisanal's "Why Can't IBU?" - a very nice version of the hoppy "session ales" that have been making more of a mark the past couple of years. It's similar to a Founder's "All Day IPA", neither sweet nor malt-forward, low to mid alcohol content, and comparatively it's more fragrant and floral (again, not in a sweet or cloying way), with a slightly more rounded malt profile and a hint of nice, yeasty breadiness in the back of the nose. It's hazy, which I've always liked in a beer - I'm uncertain if they used wheat, but I wouldn't be surprised. Not cheap, and maybe hard to find, but a great, refreshing and well-balanced beer for a hop lover.

[MacabreEternal]

The supermarket is pissing me off - the same ales are stocked for months on end at a time now and as a result I am getting bored with them. Even visiting different stores offers little variety. Of late I have been drinking Krombacher Dark, Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Shipyard Export since nothing else is taking my fancy. When I start travelling later this month with work I am going to be sampling many different local/traditional ales when I inevitably eat my evening meal in a pub!

[FatherAlabaster]

The one near me has done well in getting some variety on the shelves, though unfortunately they're inconsistent - seems like they have three different buyers, one of whom knows beer. And they've often been guilty of selling expired beer; some of the stuff has to be had when it's fresh. I've gotten some nasty, undrinkable beer there. Overall, I can't complain, I just wish having good taste in beer didn't make for such an expensive hobby.

[deathstorm]

Another thing about thing about beer. Stores . Sometime they put some stuff way up high on the shelves where you can't get to it

[FatherAlabaster]

I've never had that problem...

[FatherAlabaster]

Currently sipping on a nice, cool Brooklyn Lager. I've been turned off to this beer by having bad pints of it at various shitty bars that don't clean their lines, but out of the bottle it's pretty great. Macabre, you've had this, yeah? I much prefer it to Sam Adams, myself.

[Midi]

Currently sipping on a nice' date=' cool Brooklyn Lager. I've been turned off to this beer by having bad pints of it at various shitty bars that don't clean their lines, but out of the bottle it's pretty great. Macabre, you've had this, yeah? I much prefer it to Sam Adams, myself.[/quote'] Being turned off a great beer just by the incompetence of some bars just sounds awful. Enjoying an Orval atm.

[deathstorm]

Melon liquor with 7up aka melon ball is awsome

[FatherAlabaster]

Being turned off a great beer just by the incompetence of some bars just sounds awful. Enjoying an Orval atm.

It's a real shame that so many bars around here don't bother to keep their equipment clean. I hardly ever go to bars anymore, though. Brooklyn Lager is great for what it is, a nice, clean, flavorful lager; certainly wouldn't compare it in any way to those fine Belgian ales of yours.

Melon liquor with 7up aka melon ball is awsome

Man, I couldn't drink that stuff, sweet drinks are like a recipe for vomit to me.

[deathstorm]

Hey alabaster. You check out bar rescue. On spike oh man. You should see the some bars. That Jon taffer. When you get a chance. Spike tv .com. They have full. Episodes

[RelentlessOblivion]

Back to James Boag's for me. Beginning to suspect my enjoyment of this beer will diminish once my knowledge in the area increases. Recently tried the James Squire "150 lashes" pale ale and it was ok, not great, better then their "Chancer" golden ale. Yet to try their pilsner, IPA, amber ale, American pale ale, copper ale, porter, Australian lager or their apple and pear ciders. For a craft brewer they have a fair range.

[MacabreEternal]

Currently sipping on a nice' date=' cool Brooklyn Lager. I've been turned off to this beer by having bad pints of it at various shitty bars that don't clean their lines, but out of the bottle it's pretty great. Macabre, you've had this, yeah? I much prefer it to Sam Adams, myself.[/quote'] Yep, had a bottle myself last night actually. Like the peppery notes to Brooklyn Lager and one bar in town near to where I live does it on draught and it's decent.

[Black Milk]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1418[/ATTACH] decided to mix and match a little selection for the evening. The Aventinus has been a recent favorite of mine, discovered it when I bought nothing but German beers for the world cup. And the Wells is just a nice cheap little go-to when I feel like a little flavor. Havent tried the other two, though Schlenkerla has a lager that I'm fond of so I decided to try this particular rauchbier style for a bit more punch. I'm admittedly the opposite of a beer snob, and quite often drink shit beer like PBR for the simple cheapness of it, but I live two blocks from a beverage warehouse so I try new things sporadically. I've become a fan of German ales recently, fittingly since I'm almost entirely of German heritage. Most of my friends are big IPA drinkers but I just don't dig it, though there are a few out there I enjoy like Stone's regular IPA and the Ruination.

[FatherAlabaster]

Love that Schlenkerla, if you dig it then make sure to try some of Fritz Briem's smoked beers as well. There's some great German beer, but I feel like it's harder to find in the states. If you get a chance, try Schwelmer, their Pils and Alt beers are excellent. As far as pumpkin ale goes, the Shipyard is alright, but Southern Tier's "Pumking" takes the prize IMO. I have to be a beer snob anymore, I can't drink the cheap stuff. Gives me a headache, doesn't do much else. If I'm gonna spend money on it, I had better be drinking something I really enjoy.

[Black Milk]

I really didn't enjoy that rauchbier, too brown and smokey for my taste, which I guess is to be expected with that style being that it literally means smoke-beer, I just felt like trying something different. I didn't mind the Shipyard, went through it pretty quick tho. I'll give a look for the Schwelmer, the bev house by my place has entire aisles of beer separated by country so if its a somewhat popular brew chances are they have it

[FatherAlabaster]

Yeah, Schwelmer is hard to find but worth looking for, I loved their beers. I'm a huge fan of smoky beers - smoky anything, really, I love jerky and smoked fish, enjoy cigars occasionally, wish I could afford good smoky scotch. I guess I'm a brown and gray flavors kind of person...

[FatherAlabaster]

I may have already mentioned Sierra Nevada's "Flipside" red IPA, but I'm drinking one right now and it's great. More malty and hoppy than their classic pale ale; it's very similar to the Ruthless Rye IPA they make, but less dry and vegetal, with more of a dark caramel flavor from the malt (not sweet, by any means, though). And I'm washing it down with a small glass of rye whiskey...

[FatherAlabaster]

And tonight it's been Anchor's IPA. Nice and clean, like everything they do. So many great breweries out there, makes me want to visit the West Coast again.

[Midi]

And tonight it's been Anchor's IPA. Nice and clean' date=' like everything they do. So many great breweries out there, makes me want to visit the West Coast again.[/quote'] Ah yes, before I forget, Ename (dark) might be something you'll like, Father. It's a bit too watery for my taste, but certainly not bad. Not bad at all...

[FatherAlabaster]

I'll have a look around, thanks!