Beer/Ale/Lager Appreciation Thread

[FatherAlabaster]

My favorite US brewers are Deschutes' date=' Stone, Uinta, Great Divide, Boulevard, Firestone Walker, Ommegang, North Coast, and Ballast Point, I would suggest most beers from them.[/quote'] I haven't had Deschutes, Boulevard, or North Coast, but I've heard great things, especially about Deschutes. My impression of the other breweries is all pretty similar, though - I've had one or two really good beers from each, along with a few that I didn't really enjoy, so I'd call them hit and miss. Not to say that my favorite breweries aren't guilty of the same thing. Ommegang, in particular, I never buy because it's almost always just as easy to find Unibroue, and they're just plain better. I get the sense that you like darker and more malty beers than I do, in general.

[FatherAlabaster]

I am enjoying a nice Guinness as I type this evening. The local supermarket had some West Indies Guinness and Dublin Gate Guinness on offer last week - the West Indies one was really tasty - I can still remember the taste a week on. The Dublin Gate one was not so memorable though.

Is the West Indies very thick and sweet, like an actual Caribbean stout? Haven't seen that over here. I've had their "Foreign Extra" stout and some other fall beer of theirs, and I thought the Foreign Extra was better than their usual run, but overall I think Guinness kind of sucks. I have friends who swear by it, though.

[BlutAusNerd]

I haven't had Deschutes' date=' Boulevard, or North Coast, but I've heard great things, especially about Deschutes. My impression of the other breweries is all pretty similar, though - I've had one or two really good beers from each, along with a few that I didn't really enjoy, so I'd call them hit and miss. Not to say that my favorite breweries aren't guilty of the same thing. Ommegang, in particular, I never buy because it's almost always just as easy to find Unibroue, and they're just plain better. I get the sense that you like darker and more malty beers than I do, in general.[/quote'] True, and my experience with most of them is incomplete, as most I either get a limited selection of in my state, or don't get at all and just pick up a few when I'm out of town.

[FatherAlabaster]

True' date=' and my experience with most of them is incomplete, as most I either get a limited selection of in my state, or don't get at all and just pick up a few when I'm out of town.[/quote'] Are you familiar with the other breweries I mentioned? I'd assume much of the east coast stuff is hard to find out there. There are some great beers we don't get in N.Y., but I can't complain about the variety we do have. On the list to share with my brother, an Evil Twin smoked pilsner; an imperial pumpkin stout from Southern Tier, the makers of Pumking (the best pumpkin ale I've had - not usually a fan); a bottle of Orval, a lovely Belgian ale; and an old ale and a barleywine that have been aging since 2011. Sunday morning is gonna suck. Oh, and the old ale is from North Coast. Looking forward to it. Now that I think of it, I've had this beer, but it's been about ten years.

[deathstorm]

Talk about a major hangover

[Phobophile]

[ATTACH]1540[/ATTACH] Well this is the thread for me. Went on a big haul for beers in Wisconsin (just about an hour drive north of Chicago) last weekend with a friend to do some "grocery" shopping. Picked up a rather big haul of some Wisconsin brews that don't distribute to Illinois. Particularly New Glarus. Half that shopping cart is new Glarus beer. Got some of their apple ale, cranberry lambic (both seasonals), their double IPA, their blonde lager (clean and refreshing), and Moon Man pale ale (a mainstay, but always good). I also picked up a couple six packs of Founders' Mosaic Promise, a SMASH made with Golden Promise malt and Mosaic hops. My homebrew club was fortunate to have a quarter barrel of it for our Oktoberfest a couple weeks ago and it tastes like baby Jesus's tears. Founders is one of the best Great Lakes region breweries and this is one of their finest offerings to date. And it's autumn so that means that Breakfast Stout should be back on shelves soon, if not already. I bought so much beer that day I can't remember it all. I also picked up a six pack of Nebraska Brewing Company's Brunette (I love brunettes more than blondes [emoji6] ). It's one of the tastiest nut brown ales I've had. Sessionable with just the right malt profile. Too many American offerings of this style are far too high in gravity and this gets it right at 4.7% ABV. American Brewers often treat this style as an autumn or early winter warmer but I love sessionable malt beers and this one stays truer to the English style. A damn good and surprising find from a brewery in the middle of nowhere (lol Nebraska).

[FatherAlabaster]

I just had that Mosaic Promise beer last night, and it was superb. Mikkeller had a really great take on the single hop idea a while back, but in the case of the Founder's, the interesting thing was how complex it remained - it tastes like a combination of several hops, earthy, funky, and freshly herbal. They're just a fantastic brewery all around.

[BlutAusNerd]

I just had that Mosaic Promise beer last night' date=' and it was superb. Mikkeller had a really great take on the single hop idea a while back, but in this case the interesting thing was how complex it remained - it tastes like a combination of several hops, earthy, funky, and freshly herbal. They're just a fantastic brewery all around.[/quote'] Mikkeler makes some wild beers, another hit or miss brewer that can reach some lofty heights when they produce a good one. In regards to your last question, other than Sierra Nevada, I haven't had anything that I know of from those brewers.

[BlutAusNerd]

Cracked into this one tonight, and really enjoying it. Saisons are interesting beers already, but the smoked cherrywood and imperial character take this one to another level. Stone knocked this one out of the park, the smell is delightful, the mouthfeel light, but with a strong punch, solid lacing, and deep, complex flavor. Recommended. [ATTACH]1541[/ATTACH]

[FatherAlabaster]

I've had an excellent 2011 barleywine from Southern Tier, a 2011 North Coast Old Stock Ale, and a nice IPA from Boulevard tonight, among some other very nice offerings. My respect for Stillwater has also increased another notch for their interpretation of a dark saison. Hanging out with my brother - a fantastic excuse to drink all the best beer all the time, and the reason why I'll be mostly absent until next week. Na zdrowie.

[RelentlessOblivion]

Could pound a few beers if I didn't have uni in the morning. Anything to erase the memory of this assignment.

[deathstorm]

i had a baccardi rum and coke on friday night

[deathstorm]

malibu bay breeze

[RelentlessOblivion]

i had a baccardi rum and coke on friday night

Dude I thought you had standards Found a bottle shop that sells Brooklyn Lager so FA given my fridge is empty is this worth the hefty pricetag stemming from the import tax?

[BlutAusNerd]

I've been drinking Moscow mules with my wife lately, she got turned on to them on our anniversary and our bartender friend gave us some suggestions. We've been using Bundaberg ginger beer with it, have you had that before Murph? Tasty stuff.

[RelentlessOblivion]

And made in Australia, their rum is dreadful though that is to be expected of that particular beverage.

[BlutAusNerd]

And made in Australia' date=' their rum is dreadful though that is to be expected of that particular beverage.[/quote'] That's why I asked. I really like their blood orange soda as well, they seem to have a knack for that kind of stuff.

[RelentlessOblivion]

Haven't tried that I'll give it a go sometime though I don't much care for orange soda generally speaking.

[BlutAusNerd]

Haven't tried that I'll give it a go sometime though I don't much care for orange soda generally speaking.

I hate orange soda, but their blood orange soda is far removed from the usual Crush/Fanta sugar rush.

[deathstorm]

hey ban i saw a cmmerical for a good beer festival on tv in my hotel room is salisbury md

[BlutAusNerd]

hey ban i saw a cmmerical for a good beer festival on tv in my hotel room is salisbury md

You should check it out, beer fests are usually cool. There is also a legendary bar in Baltimore called The Tap Room that is among the highest rated beer bars that I've read about. I didn't get time to check it out while I was there, but maybe this year will be different if I go.

[deathstorm]

You should check it out' date=' beer fests are usually cool. There is also a legendary bar in Baltimore called The Tap Room that is among the highest rated beer bars that I've read about. I didn't get time to check it out while I was there, but maybe this year will be different if I go.[/quote'] the problem with that ban it is a week after im not6 there though

[RelentlessOblivion]

At least see if you can find that pub

[deathstorm]

In man I had the most delicious. Drink ever orange crush. It's fresh squeeze. Orange crush with. Two Orange liqours

[RelentlessOblivion]

Managed to find a bottle shop that actually stocks Westmalle. Unfortunately they are currently out of stock.