Let's talk Beer - Page 2

Right you are my friend. I would hate to judge any country on the merits of their macro-swill. Which is why I gave mad props to one of the best breweries in the world, Unibroe, which would be my guage for Canadian brew.

I am a beer lover, but have not been very adventurous about it. Let me tell you what I like and dislike, perhaps you will know what to recommend.

My beer of choice is Heineken. I don't believe it will ever be dethroned as the greatest brew on the planet. As someone said earlier, it is my fall back beer, the sure bet, the no nonsense brew, the one that never dissapoints.

Now, I like the following a LOT: Bass Ale, LowenBrau, Sapporo (discored recently at a sushi bar).

I tolerate Corona and Bud.

So, what do you think?

--
Holadem

I am assuming you are talking of the very tasty Paulaner Octoberfest Amber Marzen , which is very fine.
Paulaner is a very old brewery in Munich, and little by little have aquired fallen breweries, to become the largest in Munich. Their front runner would definitely be their Salvator Doppelbock , which is amazing, if a bit strong. A nice cold weathered brew. Enjoy that keg

I'm gonna slip right in here with a question. I'm trying to get a list together of all the imported (German) 5 liter mini kegs are available in the U.S. I've seen a lot of DAB, Grolsh, Bitburger, Becks, et al. Ive asked my local store, but they were not much help. "Tell me what you want and I'll try to get it" Sheesh! I WANT it ALL! I've listed a few german web sites just to give you an idea of what is available in Europe. Any help would be swell!
A personal collector's site. Great retailer site! Try here for translation.

I have gotten Warsteiner in this sort of container.

Ron, I knew you would like this. Yes, it is a very simple beer. Nothing crazy, but so clean and a nice amount of hops eh? Lagunitas has turned into one my current faves.

My LW run this weekend

Ruination IPA 2-22oz. bombers
Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA 1-22oz. bomber
Stone IPA 6 pk.
Stone Levitation Ale - 1 16oz. sample bottle


First, Stone Levitation Ale , with the praise of all other Stone products, I was happy to receive a free sample of its Levitation Ale . Well, one word....yuck!
It is a very complex brew for a 4.4% lighter ale. In comparison to other lighter brews, this one boasts a deeper color than most. Hints of butterscotch, bisquit and well more butter to its light-medium body. Sound good right? No! This brew is a train wreck, with all the promising ingredients and absolutely no resolve. The bitter finish is very similar to Samuel Adams , and I don't think that Stone has implemented hallertau to its inventory. In a nutshell, fine ingredients, but a finish the equivalent of dirty socks.
Ron- with winter coming the Stone Double Bastard is coming, should be around in a few weeks. Supposed to be a great 10% ale, perfect for colder weather. Watch for that one.

I tried the Lagunitas only recentely myself. I was damned impressed. Very good IPA! I hope my local market continues stocking it.

They haven't really been very adventureous lately and have only been keeping the more well known stuff on hand. THis forces me to drive across town if I'm looking for anything interesting. Pisses me off! I'm lazy, I know.

This is the best beer ever IMHO. I've yet to try anything that comes close.

Being stuck in Oklahoma though I don't get to buy any unless I make a 4 hr drive to Dallas to get some at Central Market. I would do it though

If I have to settle for one, then its Chimay or Newcastle if I just want something to drink such dinner out.

So this is the problem: I’ve been in Tulsa for about a week and have basically been drinking only the standard brands. Makes me appreciate Sam Adams all the more, as its so widely available.

Lew,
Oklahoma has stupid liquor laws that only allow you to buy 3.2% alcohol at most places at on certain days. The exotic beers are tougher to find like Unibroe. Chimay is about as exotic as it gets and honestly its pretty good but really isn't if you've ever had Tres Pistoles.

Yes, Shane, Trois Pistoles is a class-act brew. Like I said, I'd rank it up there with some of the best Belgian Trappist Ale. It is still no match for a 2001 Chimay Grande Reserve Blue, which I found a nest-egg of at an undisclosed location in Anaheim, Ca. This is the most perfect beer I have ever had, and many critics agree. Lets just hope the 2002 batch matures as well. If you buy any 2002, sit on it for about another 6 mos.


We shouldn't lump all Chimay offerings into one basket. They are all very different brews. The 2001 I mentioned is legend among serious tasters.

Ron, Bristol Farms, has a nice selection also. Plan on paying a little more than what your used to at LW. Hey, I also forgot about Henry and Harry's Goathill Tavern. Would be a great place for you and I to try some of our favorites on tap!

mmmmmmmmmmm Hobgoblin

While I haven't had the time to try most of the beers mentioned in this thread, or the money, I have to say that I enjoy the following beers:

Shell's Dark
Premium Grain Belt

Both are brewed in New Ulm MN, Grain Belt used to be brewed in St. Paul but the company went bankrupt and Shell's bought the product. Both are good beers IMHO.

Maybe it's just where I live which is about 45 miles east of Dallas, but personally there is no better beer with great Tex-Mex or a Steak than an ice cold Corona.

I'll confess that I haven't tried the majority of those listed in this thread so my opinion should count less I guess :b

For a cold beer by itself...I like Tequeeza (have no idea how to spell it)

I'll have to find some of the more exotic beers listed here though.

I'm in an interesting position here. I live in a little Bavarian town about 40 miles SE of Munich (so yes, Oktoberfest every year, not to mention the smaller, much better ones locally). I have a HUGE selection of German/regional/local/VERY local beers at hand, but it's difficult to get any NON-regional beers. You can get a few from Italy/Holland/Britain/etc, but forget about any countries outside Europe.

Still, look at what I have at my disposal? Probably 40 different breweries in the local 30km radius, many of them making a Helles (lager), Weissbier (wheat beer), Hefe-Weissbier (wheat with yeast), Dunkel-Weissbier (dark wheat), Dunkel, Pils, spring brews, fall fest brews, winter brews, etc. All cheap (an average case of 20-.5 liter bottles costs about $12, inlcluding about 3 in deposit, which you get back). So I'm paying about .50-60 cents a bottle for stuff like Paulaner, Spaten, Franziskaner, Hofbrau, etc. Doesn't get much better than that.

Some of my favorite regional beers are made by:

Floetzinger - I think they only make 1 export, a lager. Their 1543 Hefe-Weissbier is a food of the gods.

Ayinger - Many beers exported. Their Celebrator is one of the finest beers EVER.

Franziskaner - The Weissbier 'division' of Spaten. A consistently good wheat beer.

Eine Bayern Halbe - Very regional. They make a wonderfully tasty Helles.

Oettinger - Very nice, well-rounded beers.

Schweinsbrau - They make two beers in Hermannsdorf, an extrememly nutty dark Weissbier and a smooth, unfiltered Helles, each made with wholly organic ingredients.

Unionsbrau - It's a small brewery in a cellar in Munich that makes only a delicious, smooth, creamy, wonderful unfiltered Helles. Very cool place if your a beer fan and in Munich.

Of course, I have scarcely met a beer I didn't like.

Speaking of growlers (called Siphon in German), I have 2-2 liter ones, from Unionsbrau and Airbrau, another great brewery in the Munich airport. They kick ass.

On a different tack -- what's the deal with the Rodenbach beers these days? I think I posted about this on this thread a while back (and has since been "snipped" by the HTF powers-that-be in their website spring-cleaning), but wondering if there's been more recent word. Is the Rodenbach brewery still active? And more importantly, if they are, where's their beers? I still crave their beers above all others, I think (and I've tried the Petrus Brown as an attempted substitute -- don't really think it compares).

The other "niche"-type beer I haven't seen 'round these parts in a little while is the Mackeson milk stout -- with all the endless variations on the Irish-style stouts and the imperial-type stouts around, the Mackeson always seemed to be fairly unique, a stout that one really could have with (or as) dessert, without the bitterish hoppy tang that seems out of place at the end of a meal. Anyone else with me on this?

Thanks for the info Shane (we have some pretty stupid liquor laws ourselves). I’m back in Dallas this upcoming weekend. I’ll see if I can locate some Tres Pistoles before the playoffs (after getting all set up for HD, I could only follow this last weekend’s games on SD).


Next time Tim, give Bohemia a try. It’s my personal favorite of the widely distributed beers from Mexico.

Bert Grant's IPA was always one of my favorites but I haven't had it in a while, I hope it's still being made.

Bohemia is a very good beer, but supply is kind of hit or miss around Atlanta. The big liquor stores usually have it, but most restaurants, even Mexican, don't carry it.

Man, I'm getting thirsty, time to head down to the local pub!

These are some of my favorite beers:

Weihenstephaner - Lager(In my opinion the best)

Fuller's 1845- bottle conditioned ale & ESB

Cooper's(Australian) - Sparkling ale and extra stout

Anything by Abita - A microbrew near New Orleans

Samuel Smith's India Pale Ale

Sierra Navada - Porter

All of these are available here in the U.S.

Since I'm pretty new to the beer drinking game (22), I was hoping you guys could give me a few recommendations on what to try.

I've had some good exposure to more niche-type beers and I'm finding more and more that I love. I was never one that liked the typical poor college student beers.

I generally dislike all domestic mass-produced brands (Bud, Coors, etc). Not that I won't ever drink them, but I'll never order one at a bar.

I like:
Corona
Pyramid Hefeweizen
Henry's Hef
Red Hook Blonde
Henry's Northwest Trail Lager
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Guinness
Kokanee
Pacifico
Warsteiner

As you can see, for casual drinking I like wheat beers that aren't too hoppy. I do enjoy the occasional stout, and even some bitters.
Anything else I should try?

I like pretty much anything by Left Hand or Rogue. Burning River Pale Ale is OK.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale draught.

I'm surprised -- no, alarmed -- that two of my favorites (both local to me in the Philadelphia area) have not been mentioned:

1. Stoudt's Munich Gold
2. Victory Hop Devil

I periodically make a pilgrimage to Stoudt's brewery in Adamstown, PA, and recommend it to anyone in the area.

A funny story for anyone from Pennsylvania: I was in a restaurant in Orlando recently and asked the waitress what they had on tap. She answered with a couple mass markets like Budweiser and then "We do have something special on tap." She paused and then said breathlessly "Yuengling Lager, from the oldest continuously operating brewery in the country!"

I had a Knob Creek.

-j

I used to live in Adelaide. Great beer! Glad to see it make your list. I'm a big fan of Samuel Smith's IPA also.

Cheers, Sumeet

There is a Central Market off the Tollway in North Dallas that has it in stock usually. There might be other Central Markets in DFW that have it closer to you but I know that one has it in stock or did when I visited last.

One of the most balanced ales I have ever had. Almost perfect.

Jared, I prefer the Widmer Bros. Hefe to the Pyramid, Nice to see someone mention Pacifico which is far superior in the mexican pilsner category. You should have some great local breweries near you?

JayV, both of the beers you mentioned, were discussed in earlier posts that are now extinct due to bandwidth cuts performed (neccesarily) by admins. BTW, how far do you have to drive for good beers? I know of some tasters in PA, who get some amazing brews out there.