Beer

[skipper]

I was going to post this in the Whiskey thread because it was turning that way but I thought we need a beer thread.
I love telling this story...
A few years ago (quite a few) I had business in London. My second trip. The first was a disaster (that's another funny story) as far as eating and drinking so this time I went with the flow. I ordered whatever my British counterparts were ordering including the beer. They told me to simply go into the pub and ask for a "bitters". Came in a metal stein. I truly began to appreciate it and enjoy it. After 7 days I return home and the very next day is my 2 y/o sons birthday party. All my cousins were coming over and I had a cooler filled with ice and the usual American beers including a few rolling rock which had just come out in the NY area. Anyway, my cousins are BIG beer drinkers and were making a nice dent in the supply. I grabbed a rolling rock and at the first sip I told my cousins there was something wrong with my beer. It had "gone bad". The second one was the same. For #3 I grabbed a bud and thought the same when my cousin took it form me and tasted it. He laughed and said "there is nothing wrong with this beer, it's you".
I realized 2 things. 1 the common US beer is garbage. 2 we drink it cold so we don't taste it.
Drink beer at room or cellar temperature and you taste it. Really taste it.
Today I pretty much drink only Sam Adams and a few other micro brews and imported Belgiums.

[gunbuyer76]

Iron City.... or Yings with wings

[O'Hanley]

Guinness, Heine

[Tonto The LI Sidekick]

Black Sunshine Brewery :D

[EBCIII]

I like Anchor Steam, Sam Adams, Guinness, Three Monks, and some more micro brew beers. For my day to day stuff I like Ying Ling, Beale.

[Tonto The LI Sidekick]

Black Sunshine Brewery :D

http://www.stogiechat.com/cigar-forum/attachment.php?id=4189

[O'Hanley]

Bourbon Vanilla Porter...that sounds quite tasty..where can I get one?

[gunbuyer76]

that the same brewery that makes blueberry ale? it hooked a bunch of us last year while in Port Jeff at a herf

[armenian]

Newcastle Brown Ale

[function]

well Skipper, you are right, there is something wrong with Rolling Rock, it's light beer

personally I'll drink most of the Sam Adams seasonal beers, anything made by Guinness, Leffe, Augustijn, Maredsous, Delerium, Corsendonk . . . anything but Piraat

and no budweiser, ever

[steelertrav]

Anything from Great Lakes Brewing Co is fine by me (especially Burning River Pale Ale, Commodore Perry IPA, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, and Blackout Stout), Murphy's Irish Stout (if poured properly, I've seen too many bars in the States ruin Guinness because "it comes out too foamy so we turn the flow down"), Yuengling Porter, most Sam Adams lagers and ales. I like to try local beers from brew pubs and small breweries when I travel too. The fresher the better! If I can't get anything better, I'll default to Yuengling Lager, but the distributor around here has a tendancy to send out old kegs and its easy to find a skunked tap at most pubs around Pittsburgh.

My end all, be all is Murphy's stout in a pub on the southwest coast of Ireland. You can't get Murphy's that far away from Cork City, so you pretty much have to stay around Cos. Cork, Kerry, Clare and maybe Waterford if you're lucky. Ireland went no smoking indoors January 2004, but while staying in Cavan this last trip, I saw an ashtray in the room when the innkeeper was showing us what he had available. I took the room for two nights and was able to retire from the pub and have a nip (ok, several) from my bottle of Jamesons I bought at the duty free on the way over while smoking a cigar and watching Sky Sports on telly. Ah, to be back in Ireland.

[O'Hanley]

Domestic sucks for the most part

[function]

Domestic sucks for the most part

I couldnt disagree more

there are dozens, if not close to a hundred microbrews in the states, many produce beers every bit as good as anything made in Europe, however there are political issues in play that hamper these microbrews in the US



and Travis - great point about the Yuengling kegs, I cant tell you how many terrible drafts Ive had between the old kegs and bars that just dont clean their taps *cough* everybarinthesouthsidebutfatheads *cough*

[O'Hanley]

ok you got me I do enjoy a microbrew, so let me clarify Bud, Coors, and the other cheap nasty domestics suck

[brcrane14]

I am a huuuge Microbrew fan. Red Brick Station Brew Pub is a an unfranchised local place that has a great IPA, Stout and Red. I also gotta say that I dont recall having aything from DuClaw that I disliked.

From the beer store, I kinda vary. Anything from Magic Hat, to Sierra Nevada and Sam Adam seasonals!

Speaking of the Bourbon Vanilla Porter, Anheuser-Busch has a seasonal that usually appears in mid fall called "Winter's Bourbon Cask-Ale" which is bottles as an "Ale aged on bourbon barrel oak and vanilla beans". I think it is a great cold weather brew. Keep your eyes out for it again in a few months!

[steelertrav]

Yep, I find myself hesitating when I order a Yuengling somewhere. I used to be a regular at Primanti Bros in Cranberry and drank nothing but Yuengling Black and Tan drafts. It got to the point that when they had a complain about a skunked keg on either the lager or B&T, they'd have me try it for my expert opinion.

I hope O'Hanley meant that the big three domestics suck (Bud, Miller, Coors). I'd have to side with Nick that there are too many good beers made in the States to list. Try Yeti Imperial Stout from Great Divide Brewing Co., Troegs (any, especially Troegenator), Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA (well, anything from them is good), Victory Hop Devil, anything from Flying Dog (with the cool Hunter S. Thompson labels), Thirsty Dog (love the Old Leghumper Porter), Heavy Seas line of beers from Clipper City Brewing (Peg Leg Stout and Loose Cannon Ale are go-to brews). Shall I continue? Well, I can't. I'm getting thirsty and need a Blackout Stout.

[Mark]

Black Sunshine Brewery :D

Thats pretty much all that I drink as well! The Pale Ale is great!

[skipper]

Thats pretty much all that I drink as well! The Pale Ale is great!

I missed out. I dont know how or why... but I didn't gt to try any :(

[Mark]

I missed out. I dont know how or why... but I didn't get to try any :(

I still have about a half a case, I will send some out to you.

[Gingirl]

My favorites would be Murphy's Irish Stout and my favorite german beer would be Franziskaner Dunkel HefeWeizen.

Murphy's at a pub in Ireland is a must.

[maverick21383]

For those Pittsburghers, last year when I was up there, on my way home from a trip to Cedar Point, we stopped at High Topps, unfortunately it was their last evening open, but as we cheered on the Steelers as they sadly lost to Arizona on the road, it dawned on me, they don't need a damn thing in this bar because they're closing. I asked the rather attractive bartender for the tap from the Guinness i was drinking, and she started to screw it off but couldn't finish the job. After she walked away, in my drunken state (earlier i drank a pint of Yukon Jack watching the Bucs lose) I snatched the tap handle and threw it in my coat. Now i have a great memory (slightly hazy actually), a memento from a fantastic bar, and my first step in converting my beer fridge into my second kegerator, which will strictly serve Guinness. My first kegerator has a double tap handle that i put on, and serves only my own personal home brewed beer. As a home brewer you can recognize that I appreciate good, high quality craft brew. I will try anything at least once, whether it be from the states or from abroad. I love expanding my palette, but every so often I crave what i began my much heralded drinking career on, cheap American Lager such as Miller Genuine Draft, Budweiser and Coors original. The only reason to drink Light beer, or Lite as Miller deems it, is in excessive drinking situations such as beer pong, flip cup, etc. when you just don't want to pound good beer because of the ensuing drunk and waste of quality barley and hops. As crane said, Redbrick has some fantastic beer, as well as DuClaw, and Fordham (even though they recently partnered with Budweiser to purchase Old Dominion in VA). Sam Adams has always treated me well, especially with their variety, and if I had to name my favorite brewery of all, it would be Dogfish Head in Delaware. Sam Calagione has done great things for the beer community, and has created some amazing, and often off the wall beers. I am still looking forward to opening my $10 bottle (12oz) of 120min. IPA which rakes in at a whopping 20% abv. but more importantly is dry hopped over a three month period. I also enjoy the beers from overseas, but I can't say I have a favorite. I have tried only a portion of what exists, and i hope to one day travel abroad and tour the country side in the attempt and enjoying and learning the trade so I can bring the knowledge back and open my own brewery.

[function]

ahh high tops

where certain people could do more than reserve the bar for a party, you could reserve the "services" of many of the waitresses as well

[maverick21383]

damn, if i knew that i would have come up more! there was one waitress that i had quite a thing for...as I was wasted watching the Steelers beat the Ravens the day after Christmas a few years ago. I miss that place, and I miss Pittsburgh. I was lucky enough to go up there the day after a bar crawl in white marsh with Brian, only to do a bar crawl in South Side. Good times indeed!

[aracos]

Celbrator Dbl Bock
Youngs Dbl Chocolate Stout
Shiner Bohemian Black Lager
Skull Splitter
Golden Draak

[function]

Golden Draak



mmmm . . . Gulden Draak . . . .

[CigARM]

Let me tell you MHO as a foreigner who lived a couple of years in the States.
Every "regular production" American beer I tried, simply sucked (actually when I tried Bud I thought it went bad or isn't a beer). So I always bought imported ones.
Every time I went to a microbrewery, the beer was from good to great. Too bad they rarely sold them in supermarkets.

They have great beers in Germany, Czech Rep., Belgium, Ireland, Holland. Try those when you get a chance.

[function]

Let me tell you MHO as a foreigner who lived a couple of years in the States.

Every time I went to a microbrewery, the beer was from good to great. Too bad they rarely sold them in supermarkets.

They have great beers in Germany, Czech Rep., Belgium, Ireland, Holland. Try those when you get a chance.

first part - this is a political issue here in the US, rules say dont talk about politics, so I wont rail against the Busch family for an hour

second part - yes

[CigARM]

first part - this is a political issue here in the US, rules say dont talk about politics, so I wont rail against the Busch family for an hour

second part - yes
LOL :D If beer is has become part of politics, I'll switch to wine or something.
Hope scotch, brandy and vodka aren't political, 'cause I like drinking those. :p

[Jimmie The Mum]

I drink, period..

[skipper]

Personally period and drink are 2 words I dont believe belong in the same sentence Jimmie.:rolleyes:

[function]

Personally period and drink are 2 words I dont believe belong in the same sentence Jimmie.:rolleyes:

says the guy who has hands that stink of fish . . . . .

[ashman]

Skipper, that Rare Voss that you brought to the LI Herf was really good. As you know I am a Sam Adams fan, which is about the best beer that is always available that I can find. Try some Dog Fish Head products and you will enjoy them. The 90 minute is my favorite, the 60 minute is very good as well. I may have to pick up a 4 pack of the 90 minute tonight. Is it 5pm yet???

[maverick21383]

It's 5pm somewhere! Yes, Sam Adams is the best of the big microbreweries (oxymoron?) because they make good beer, but it's widely available. As for Dogfish Head, I love the 60min and 90min IPAs and i can't wait to crack open my 120 min. IPA. A good import beer is Old Peculiar...I may have mispelled that. Anyway, it's very dark in color but somewhat light in flavor. It's quite good, if you can get your hands on a six pack, give it a shot.

So we tried our latest batch of homebrew, the Strawberry Wheat and the American Style White w/orange and coriander. Unfortunately they hadn't carbonated much at all (it was less than a week in the bottle) so we were drinking flat beer, but it had a pretty good taste to it. If I were to make it again, I would put a little more malt in, and less table sugar. We added half a bag of sugar to increase the alcohol content, which is now at about 8%, but the beer doesn't have enough body. The strawberry wheat does have a good strawberry flavor to it, which is nice for floating in the pool or chilling on the deck on a hot summers day. The orange also has a nice flavor, but they could both stand to have a bit less of the alcohol taste.

[CSMAnderson]

Samuel Adams beers are the best!

[maverick21383]

We just threw back a few brewskies this weekend...a Sam Summer mix pack, some Fordham Summer Forecast, some Leinenkugel (the lemonade beer, more like lemon soda, i don't recommend it for beer enthusiasts but it's good for those who don't typically like beer), and some homebrew. It was a good weekend. I also smoked a few cigars, which my previous rate was about 1 every three weeks, at most. I've began to pick up the pace, thanks to the encouragement of Brian (brcrane14) and my buddy Travis. They're always looking out.

[function]

, some Leinenkugel (the lemonade beer, more like lemon soda, i don't recommend it for beer enthusiasts but it's good for those who don't typically like beer)

Im going to guess that is one of the wheats they make

their blueberry wheat isnt bad either

I was a little shocked to learn they are Miller owned, but I'll drink it anyway

[maverick21383]

yeah, it is in their wheat line, which I thought all their beers are wheat beers. Regardless, it's very light, even for a wheat, and it's packed with fruit flavor. You almost can't tell it's beer, but it is refreshing on a hot summer day. Unfortunately it's so sweet I can only drink one or two in one sitting. Yeah, I read in one of my brewing magazines that they were Miller owned, but i figure, even if a big brewery owns a beer company, if you like their product, why not drink it. Blue Moon for instance is owned by Coors, but I still enjoy them, so i'll drink them still.

[function]

Blue Moon for instance is owned by Coors, but I still enjoy them, so i'll drink them still.

I am not one to pass up a $2 blue moon . . . or 7 of them




any thoughts on Unibev buying the antichrist Bud?

Im a big Becks fan, and Bud ruined Hoegaarden, so this could be good (would also be good if the Busch family stops dabbling in . . . must . . . not . . . make . . . political . . . comment . . .

[maverick21383]

Well, you hate to see all our national beers made by foreign owned companies, but does it really change anything, and for those of us who prefer microbrew, does it even matter? I'll be honest, I enjoy pretty much any beer given the right occasion. I threw back some Coors light recently because it was hot out, i was swimming in the pool and i wanted something close to water, no pun intended. Plus it came in a nice soft cooler with handles, i'm a sucker for freebies! I'll drink whatever is around, is cost effective, and tastes good at the moment...besides, being from MD, especially near the bay, I need a nice, crisp, refreshing light beer to go with my steamed crabs!

[CigARM]

Well, you hate to see all our national beers made by foreign owned companies, Tell you what - no need to worry when foreigners are taking over your trash ;) Let'em have those. Maybe they can even make some of them drinkable. :D

[maverick21383]

Well, it's obviously not that I have anything against foreigners, but the tradition of the family owned business that I hate to see go away. I did however read that it will allow more belgian beers to be imported at lower prices...so now i'm all for it!

[paint]

Local beer mostly Bells Brewery,love the Porter, Oberon,Stout is great all go well with gars!!