The Beer Thread

[EagleAye]

Story time;

My buddy from WA came down a few years ago and we opened a few really quality beers I'd been squirreling away for a special occasion. One was the Bourbon Barrel Stout from local brewery Odells and another was a Bourbon County Stout (BSC). I had had a BCS a few other times and understood it's flavor profile pretty well; I was accustomed to it's intense bourbon flavors. We opened the Odells bomber first and tried it. I wasn't impressed with it, compared to the BCS, it wasn't very "bourbon-y" but he thought it was great and didn't understand what I meant when I insisted there wasn't much flavor to it. Then we cracked open the BCS, and when he tasted it, his first comment was, "Now I now what you meant!"

BCS is an experience; one of the most flavorful beers I'd ever tried.

Cool. I don't usually go for stouts, but on that recommendation I'm gonna have to look that one up.

 

[zgoldsmith23]

Boulevard Wheat, Yuengling, Yuengling Black and Tan, or Sam Adams! I also like Ghost River (a local Memphis, TN brew)

 

[KevinKohler]

Story time;

My buddy from WA came down a few years ago and we opened a few really quality beers I'd been squirreling away for a special occasion. One was the Bourbon Barrel Stout from local brewery Odells and another was a Bourbon County Stout (BSC). I had had a BCS a few other times and understood it's flavor profile pretty well; I was accustomed to it's intense bourbon flavors. We opened the Odells bomber first and tried it. I wasn't impressed with it, compared to the BCS, it wasn't very "bourbon-y" but he thought it was great and didn't understand what I meant when I insisted there wasn't much flavor to it. Then we cracked open the BCS, and when he tasted it, his first comment was, "Now I now what you meant!"

BCS is an experience; one of the most flavorful beers I'd ever tried.

You should try the Innus and Gunn line...they have a few bourbons, though NOT stouts...

 

[KevinKohler]

OK, so my birthday is coming up, and being as I'm still outa work, I have requested no presents this year...just get me beer. (jokingly)

So, a buddy has decided to do just that, lol. They are throwing me a beer party. I have requested IPA...so, we're calling it IPApalooza, 2012. My 4 favorite IPAs are Dogfish Head 60 minute, Stone Ruination, Stone IPA, and Stone Belge/IPA.

Yeah, I like Stone Breweries IPAs, lol. Anyway, my buddy wants to do at least 13 different IPAs...and I'm wondering which ones you guys have had, and liked? I'm not totally keen on the 90 and 120 minutes that DFH does...I think they got it right with the 60 minute...I also am not too keen on the Sam Adams IPA, nor the Harpoon. Any other suggestions for good IPAs?

 

[Neomalthusian]

OK, so my birthday is coming up, and being as I'm still outa work, I have requested no presents this year...just get me beer. (jokingly)

So, a buddy has decided to do just that, lol. They are throwing me a beer party. I have requested IPA...so, we're calling it IPApalooza, 2012. My 4 favorite IPAs are Dogfish Head 60 minute, Stone Ruination, Stone IPA, and Stone Belge/IPA.

Yeah, I like Stone Breweries IPAs, lol. Anyway, my buddy wants to do at least 13 different IPAs...and I'm wondering which ones you guys have had, and liked? I'm not totally keen on the 90 and 120 minutes that DFH does...I think they got it right with the 60 minute...I also am not too keen on the Sam Adams IPA, nor the Harpoon. Any other suggestions for good IPAs?

Where do you live? I'll do you no good to suggest great IPAs that are unavailable in your region...

By the way, whatever you get, pair those bad boys with some pretzels and a variety of good mustards. The strength of both will be deliciously complementary, I kid you not.

 

[KevinKohler]

Where do you live? I'll do you no good to suggest great IPAs that are unavailable in your region...

By the way, whatever you get, pair those bad boys with some pretzels and a variety of good mustards. The strength of both will be deliciously complementary, I kid you not.

I live in CT. There are a couple stores near and far that have good selections...but there are a lot more than I have time in one lifetime to drink, you know? I have never had any of the Russian River IPAs, so I figured I would try those...I have heard that Smutty Nose does a good IPA...but as of yet, I have not had ANY good experiences with their other stuff....

 

[EagleAye]

Where do you live? I'll do you no good to suggest great IPAs that are unavailable in your region...

By the way, whatever you get, pair those bad boys with some pretzels and a variety of good mustards. The strength of both will be deliciously complementary, I kid you not.

I'll be moving to Austin, TX is few weeks. During the last trip I found a couple terrific ones. Do you know of any I should look out for?

 

[Neomalthusian]

I live in CT. There are a couple stores near and far that have good selections...but there are a lot more than I have time in one lifetime to drink, you know? I have never had any of the Russian River IPAs, so I figured I would try those...I have heard that Smutty Nose does a good IPA...but as of yet, I have not had ANY good experiences with their other stuff....

Sigh. The region I know least...

World class IPAs in you relative neck ofthe woods: Hill Farmstead Brewery (VT) has two, Ephraim and Abner, both apparently phenomenal. Alchemist (also VT) has one called Heady Topper that is getting rave reviews too. Portsmouth in New Hampshire has 5 Cs and Smuttynose IPA, both apparently great.

If you find some MI beers, they're awesome. Bell's Hopslam and Two-hearted ale, Founder's Red Rye, Dark Horse Crooked Tree line of IPAs, and probably others I'm forgetting.

Dogfish Head has probably experimented with IPA varietals beyond 60, 90 and 120 minute. Three Floyds Dreadnaught (Indiana) would be a miracle find because it's the best in the world (except only for the Russian River Pliny beers).

It'd be crazy if you could find non-Stone CA beers (Stone is great and has wide distribution), but if you can, brews by Alesmith, Russian River, Port Brewing, Pizza Port, Valley Brew, Firestone, and Alpine are all breweries known for solid IPAs.

The possibilities are endless. Best bet might be to take notes on all their IPAs and assume that the more expensive ones tend to be tastier, more full bodied and full flavored, with more care and creativity put into them. Those sold in 22 oz or 750 ml bottles or 4 packs are usually better (and pricier) than those sold in 6 packs.

Just some ideas.

 

[KevinKohler]

Sigh. The region I know least...

World class IPAs in you relative neck ofthe woods: Hill Farmstead Brewery (VT) has two, Ephraim and Abner, both apparently phenomenal. Alchemist (also VT) has one called Heady Topper that is getting rave reviews too. Portsmouth in New Hampshire has 5 Cs and Smuttynose IPA, both apparently great.

If you find some MI beers, they're awesome. Bell's Hopslam and Two-hearted ale, Founder's Red Rye, Dark Horse Crooked Tree line of IPAs, and probably others I'm forgetting.

Dogfish Head has probably experimented with IPA varietals beyond 60, 90 and 120 minute. Three Floyds Dreadnaught (Indiana) would be a miracle find because it's the best in the world (except only for the Russian River Pliny beers).

It'd be crazy if you could find non-Stone CA beers (Stone is great and has wide distribution), but if you can, brews by Alesmith, Russian River, Port Brewing, Pizza Port, Valley Brew, Firestone, and Alpine are all breweries known for solid IPAs.

The possibilities are endless. Best bet might be to take notes on all their IPAs and assume that the more expensive ones tend to be tastier, more full bodied and full flavored, with more care and creativity put into them. Those sold in 22 oz or 750 ml bottles or 4 packs are usually better (and pricier) than those sold in 6 packs.

Just some ideas.

I almost always buy the 22oz or 750 ml bottles, not matter what sort of beer I'm buying (unless it's PBR, or something). For some reason, they taste better out of the larger bottles, I find. Maybe all in my head? I know that I did a side by side comparison of Franziskeiner Wies Bier (bad spelling, I'm sure) one time, from a 6 pack of 12oz bottles, and then from their 22oz bottle, and even blind folded, I could tell which one was from the 22oz...it was just better. Plus, in the 22oz, there was sediment at the bottom of the bottle, not found in the 12oz bottles....

 

[KevinKohler]

So, I'm gonna be in Albany, NY, for the next 3 weeks, for work...gonna see if I can't find some good local brewers up there.


Also, couple weeks ago, I tried the rest of the Innus and Gunn line up...the Scotch Ale, and Bourbon. Scotch Ale was dark, but lacked enough of a scotch flavor to warrant the name, imo. The Bourbon was pretty good, but again, it lacked that punch to the face. Too subtle, for me. So, I stick by the Rum Cask, as being their best offering to the beer world, to date.

 

[FooFaa]

Craft beer and homebrewing are two of my primary hobbies. I too am a craft beer nut. My wife and I travel the world seeking out new beers and places, and attending various festivals. I can't say I have a favorite beer, but I have favorite styles and favorites in each style. Here are a few:

Lambics
- Drie Fonteinen Framboos
- Drie Fonteinen Armand 4'Lente
- Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze Vintage
- Brabantse Trots - Geuze tegen de Grote Dorst
- Eylenbosch Geuze (1984)
- Cantillon Blabaer Lambik
- Cantillon Zwanze (2009)
- Cantillon Iris
- Cantillon St. Lamvinus

Other Sours
- Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien
- Russian River Beatification
- Russian River Consecration
- Ithaca Brewing Brute
- Ithaca Brewing Le Bleu
- Lost Abbey Cable Car
- Bullfrog Brewing Beekeeper
- Bullfrog Brewing The Jaspers
- Troeg's Splinter Gold

Russian Imperial Stouts (barrel-aged or otherwise)
- Cigar City Zhukov's Final Push
- Three Floyds Brandy-barrel Vanilla Bean Dark Lord
- The Bruery Chocolate Rain
- Dark Horse Bourbon-barrel aged Plead the 5th
- Founders KBS
- Cigar City Laird's Apple Brandy-barrel Hunahpu's
- Goose Island Rare Bourbon County Stout
- Voodoo Brewing Black Magick
- Bells Black Note Stout

Double/Imperial IPAs
- Founders Hand of Doom
- Russian River Pliny the Younger
- Hill Farmstead Ephraim
- The Alchemist Heady Topper
- Kern River Citra DIPA
- Bullfrog HOP-gasm
- Hill Farmstead Abner
- Russian River Pliny the Elder
- Hill Farmstead Galaxy Imperial Single Hop IPA

IPAs
- Ballast Point Sculpin
- Alpine Nelson
- Ithaca Flower Power
- Bell's Two Hearted
- Surly Furious
- AleSmith IPA
- Selinsgrove IPA
- Maine Beer Co Lunch
- Fat Head's Head Hunter IPA

Belgian Strong Ales
- Westvleteren Abt 12
- De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva (2000)
- De Struise Pennepot Grand Reserve

Barleywine and other Strong Ales
- Bullfrog Barrel-aged Old Toad
- Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock
- Flossmoor Station Wooden Hell
- Lost Abbey The Angle's Share (Bourbon)
- Midnight Sun Arctic Devil
- Cambridge Brewing Blunderbuss
- Three Floyds Barrel Aged Behemoth
- Hair of the Dog Bourbon-barrel Adam
- Hair of the Dog Bourbon-barrel Fred

 

[disneydude]

Go to a wine store, and order there. Only downside is, I would stick with ordering stuff you know, as they are not gonna place an order for you for a six pack, if you know what I mean...


And, for IPAs, try Stone Brewery, based in Cali. They have ruinous IPA, very hoppy, they have a "normal" ipa, nice balance, and then a new one they have is a belgium IPA...which, as strange as it sounds, works really well...they just took their standard IPA, and used belgium yeast strains...which gives it that sorta tell tale fruity/sour after taste. Good stuff.

Stone's "Arrogant Bastard" is the best!

 

[American]

Stone's "Arrogant Bastard" is the best!

I've had it, it's pretty good.

 

[KevinKohler]

OK, new beers that I have had, that make the cut....


Wych Wood Brewery King Goblin....is AWESOME. A nice, crisp dark english ale. Not gonna get into the description, just gonna say, you gotta try it.

Reunion Ale 2012, by Shmaltz and Terrapin, equally awesome. Cocoa, and coffee, with some mild hoppyness, and malt. Very very very good.


Two very good winter beers, give em a try, folks!

 

[radcen]

I feel almost strange saying this, but in the last couple years I've been losing my taste for beer in general. It's just not appealing to me anymore.

Still like mixed drinks, and am always a sucker for a good margarita, just not as much beer.

When I do drink beer, however... and there is still the occasional time that it does appeal to me... it now has to be a *GOOD* beer. None of that Bud-type generic crap.

 

[EagleAye]

When I do drink beer, however... and there is still the occasional time that it does appeal to me... it now has to be a *GOOD* beer. None of that Bud-type generic crap.

I believe that comes with maturity. Now you're ready to enjoy the good things in life.

 

[Your Star]

I feel almost strange saying this, but in the last couple years I've been losing my taste for beer in general. It's just not appealing to me anymore.

Still like mixed drinks, and am always a sucker for a good margarita, just not as much beer.

When I do drink beer, however... and there is still the occasional time that it does appeal to me... it now has to be a *GOOD* beer. None of that Bud-type generic crap.

To be fair, that's not beer

 

[wolfman24]

My German ancestors would roll over in thier graves but when I drank beer I only drank Pilzner beers. (Czech)

 

[Uzidoesit]

Chimay - Belgian Beer is the best IMHO.

 

[EagleAye]

Chimay - Belgian Beer is the best IMHO.

Chimay is one of my faves. But recently I've developed a great love of two products from Lagunitas, Hop Stoopid and Lil' Sumpin'

 

[KevinKohler]

Chimay - Belgian Beer is the best IMHO.

Try Delirium, they have two, Tremens, and Nocturnum. Very excellent, you'll like em. Tad pricey, but invite a buddy, and it's well worth it.

 

[KevinKohler]

Chimay is one of my faves. But recently I've developed a great love of two products from Lagunitas, Hop Stoopid and Lil' Sumpin'

You know, for some reason, I don't think I liked the Hop Stoopid as much. I have yet to try Lil' Sumpin...maybe tonight...

 

[KevinKohler]

My German ancestors would roll over in thier graves but when I drank beer I only drank Pilzner beers. (Czech)

There is nothing wrong with a quality pilz. Germans drank them in quantity. In fact, wheat beer is very similar to pilz, in a lot of ways.

 

[Uzidoesit]

Try Delirium, they have two, Tremens, and Nocturnum. Very excellent, you'll like em. Tad pricey, but invite a buddy, and it's well worth it.

DT's you say? How charming. I think a prescription of antabuse would do lovely things for you; if you dare!!

 

[KevinKohler]

DT's you say? How charming. I think a prescription of antabuse would do lovely things for you; if you dare!!

OK, I gotta confess, I had to do some quick googling prior to this response...antabuse is a drug prescribed to help alcoholism...and I assume that DT is short for delirium tremens? I guess the gist of the message is, you think that stuff is crap, and only alcoholics drink it?