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Beer Help
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Posted by: Crimsonblake
Help me out here guys i'm 22..even though most 22 year olds claim they know everything about beer, the fact is we don't. Can u guys recommend some beers to me based on what i like?
I'll rank what i've had on a 1-10 scale
Also, what's the difference between pilsner, lager and the other types of beers?
I've had
Bud lite --- 2
Coors Lite --- 5
Heinken ---- 6
Corona Extra-- 7
Corona Lite --- 6
Natural Lite --- 1
Miller Lite ---- 3
Beck's Dark --- 6
Sam Adams - 9
George Killian's Irish Red - 8
Dos Equis XX - 5
Shinerboch -9
Fosters - 6 (Yet to have a 6 pack of fosters that didn't have 1 bitter beer)
BTW don't reccomend girl drinks like Mike's or Smirnoff
EDIT: 10 being the best, 1 being the worst.
Posted by: rhuntington3
Miller Genuine Draft is quite good. Looks like you might like Shiner Bock if you can get it where you live. If you are in Texas then you should have no problem finding it.
Posted by: feldon23
Who you calling a girl?
Posted by: willardcpa
Where's Otto when we really need him???:confused:
Posted by: Jobeth66
Ok, your top 3 are all 'lite' beers, and you're going to make a comment about GIRLY drinks?
BTW--Killians is Coors. (Basically, with red dye. Blind taste, I've never been able to tell the difference.)
Based on your list, you don't want anything too 'hoppy', or with much complexity. Try some microbrews--Sierra Nevada is good, if you can get it where you are, but it does have some flavor.
If you want to try something a little 'chewier', just to get a feel for what beer is supposed to taste like <G> try a Black & Tan, or just go straight for a Guinness.
(Edit--forgot to answer your 'definitions' question!)
A pilsner is generally more 'hoppy' than your regular beer. Lager is aged, like wine, and generally is less hoppy, but has more sediment, a stout (like Guinness) is a dark, heavy beer. Guiness, btw, should be served at room temperature to taste right.
Posted by: Anubis
quote:
Originally posted by Crimsonblake
BTW don't reccomend girl drinks like Mike's or Smirnoff
Well that's exceedingly rude. :mad:
I wouldn't be caught dead drinking either of those. :p
You've never tried Guinness?
All beers are lagers or ales- ale is "top fermented," which means that after the beer is brewed (fast and at a high temperature), the yeast collects at the top of the brewing vat. Lager is fermented at a lower temperature over a longer time, so the yeast settles to the bottom. Pilsners are lagers.
Posted by: Darin
quote:
Originally posted by willardcpa
Where's Otto when we really need him???:confused:
Passed out?
Posted by: avaloncourt
I'm guessing that if you like Killian's you might like Guinness. Those are the only two beers I actually like. I'd recommend from a tap but if you don't have that available I'd recommend getting the draught cans. I don't care for the bottled that much.
Posted by: Darin
quote:
Originally posted by Jobeth66
Ok, you're top 3 are all 'lite' beers...
I'm still trying to figure out which is better, a 1 or a 10 :confused:
I've got to go to the kitchen and get me another one of my cheap girl beers. Maybe it will come to me when I get back.
Posted by: Jobeth66
quote:
Originally posted by Darin
I'm still trying to figure out which is better, a 1 or a 10 :confused:
I've got to go to the kitchen and get me another one of my cheap girl beers. Maybe it will come to me when I get back.
I was assuming '1' was a favorite--that's generally how I would do a list.
Of course, a list of my favorite beers wouldn't include a 'lite' anything. I like real beer. :)
(I honestly don't drink a whole lot of beer--I'm generally a 'shots' girl. Hubby likes umbrella drinks. We went on a cruise a few years ago, and the servers kept bringing me his umbrella drinks, and him my shots.)
Slightly frustrating.
Posted by: Anubis
:confused: I was assuming 1 was least favorite and a 10 would be a favorite. I guess I was giving him the benefit of the doubt that Natural Light wasn't his all-time favorite beer.
Posted by: Jobeth66
quote:
Originally posted by Anubis
:confused: I was assuming 1 was least favorite and a 10 would be a favorite. I guess I was giving him the benefit of the doubt that Natural Light wasn't his all-time favorite beer.
I was assuming the other way - esp. since he didn't have a #10 on his list. Sam Adams is OK, but overhyped, IMO--and his #8 is still Coors. :)
Posted by: disco
If you like a darker one (like Beck's Dark & Killian's), you should try Michelob's Amber Bock.
Posted by: Anubis
quote:
Originally posted by Jobeth66
I was assuming the other way - esp. since he didn't have a #10 on his list. Sam Adams is OK, but overhyped, IMO--and his #8 is still Coors. :)
Bless his little heart. :(
Posted by: betamax
If you like Sams, you might like Full Sail Amber (helpful hint, same color as Diet Coke, so you can put it in DC bottles and sneak it into places you're not supposed to have beer :)
Also give Sierra Nevada Pale Ale a try. Not sure if you're a West coaster or not, these might be hard to find.
Posted by: Jobeth66
quote:
Originally posted by betamax
If you like Sams, you might like Full Sail Amber (helpful hint, same color as Diet Coke, so you can put it in DC bottles and sneak it into places you're not supposed to have beer :)
Also give Sierra Nevada Pale Ale a try. Not sure if you're a West coaster or not, these might be hard to find.
We have a place here in Jersey that has Sierra Nevada on tap. (Of course, I have 2 sisters that live in Chico, they send it to me, too. :) )
Posted by: Bill Reeves
When I saw "on a 1-10 scale" I assumed 10 = good and 1 = bad. And this is borne out by Bud Lite getting a 2 and Sam Adams getting a 9. This matches up well with my tastes so he must be doing something right.
My favorite beer in the world is Red Hook ESB. You may be able to find it in the better beer stores in your part of the country. I'm also a big fan of Full Sail beers. Sam Adams is pretty good and it's usually available in most places. Imports like Bass, Newcastle, and Guinness are good.
Some things to be aware of -- beer can go bad, and it goes bad faster when exposed to heat and light. It's always best to buy beer cold. Beer is generally better in bottles than in cans (or maybe better beer is generally available in bottles rather than cans). Exception being those big ass cans of Foster's, yum (but they can get too warm if you drink them on a hot day). Brown bottles are best. Be careful of clear or green bottles as they can let more light in, this can cause beer to go "skunky", especially with imports that usually have a longer shelf life than domestic beers. Examples of skunky beer -- sometimes you'll get a Heineken (green bottle) that just tastes like crap. I've never had a non-skunky Pilsner Urquell (green bottle again). Corona (clear bottle) is usually skunky, or maybe I just don't like it. Newcastle is the only beer in a non-brown bottle that I regularly get, and sometimes they're skunky. Those six-packs of Fosters that you've tried, was that clear bottles? If so, you've probably experienced skunkiness.
And it's good that you've learned to avoid those girl drinks like Mike's or Smirnoff.
Posted by: justapixel
I love beer. I am a former bartender, so I know what young drinkers like. I can help you out here.
But, you have to promise to spell the word "you" in your posts first. :p :D
Posted by: sjp
ach, you youngsters dont know what a "bitter" fosters tastes like :)
when they first were imported into the UK (i assume that nowadays your fosters, just like ours, is brewed "locally") they were shipped over and the welded seam tinnies, an imperial pint or thereabouts, that had NO rust showing definately tasted better than those that did.
the rusted tinnies never went to waste mind you, we just had to have had a few clean ones first to get the taste buds good and ready ;)
stuart
Posted by: justapixel
quote:
Originally posted by sjp
the rusted tinnies never went to waste mind you, we just had to have had a few clean ones first to get the taste buds good and ready ;)
stuart
Dang, you UK people can talk beer to me all night long..... ;)
Posted by: IndyJones1023
Heinie, Beck's, and my fave - Grolsch!!!
Posted by: Crimsonblake
quote:
Originally posted by rhuntington3
Miller Genuine Draft is quite good. Looks like you might like Shiner Bock if you can get it where you live. If you are in Texas then you should have no problem finding it.
Had Shinerboch and LOVED it..totally forgot to list it.
Posted by: sjp
not much longer ann, it's damn near 3 am and the eyelids are getting heavy.
there again, if you ever get over here try Wadworths 6X, it's a dark beer and has that comforting taste that encourages you to stay sitting on the bar stool for just one more - the only problem is that after 4 pints ya gotta go wee, that's when you find that your legs don't work anymore.
it's not my absolute favourite though, as a scot i've got to give that honour to a small Alloa brewery that does a great "Export" - just can't remember the name of the brewery (not Belhaven, they're around Dunbar) at the moment but when i still lived up there they only let it travel about 30-40 miles.
Shiner Bock is my current fav US beer and i remember coors from the mid to late '70s quite fondly.
night night
stuart
Posted by: Crimsonblake
Most of the beer mentioned, like the sierra nevada i have seen at a local supermarket called "Brunos". Whoever own's this store must be a drunk, due to the fact that you can find about any wine or beer in the world here.
Posted by: kdaveler
It is a misconception that darker beer is always heavier.
I find my mood can help what kind of beer I want. On a hot summer day I like Corona, Anchor Steam or Bud long neck right out of the cooler.
In the winter I want something heavier and prefer Guiness, Samual Adams Double bock, Sierra Nevada, Red hook ESB. Red Hook also makes (or made) a double black stout. I had a touch of Starbucks coffee for those adventurous souls.
I find regular Sam adams to be to Carbonated.
There is also I Delaware brewry I have become fond of DogFish head. I don't know if you can get it anywhere, but it's good stuff.
Then there's Blacken Voodoo. This might be up you alley. give it a try. I think it is now distributed by Dixie.
We haven't really touched on imports yet.
Having been to The great american beer festival in Denver (I highly recommend it to beer lovers) and Octoberfest in Munich (I highly, highly recommend it to beer lovers) I've had my share of beer. Bottom line is I think have the fun is trying different beers.
Try Chamay (sp?) from Belgium. It comes in blue, red, and white. Each is a different alcohol level. It is made in a monestery.
Of course the Germans are know for there beer and have a lot of dark but lite tasting beer.
But I digress.
Anyway, have fun with it and don't drink and drive!
Ken
Posted by: Otto
Oh dear lord..
I'd rank every beer I've tried, except that I don't have a free week to devote to typing. :D
Although I will say that anyone who ranks Sam Adams higher than Killian's is just plain wrong. Sam Adams is nasty vile stuff. Killian's is not Coors, BTW. Made by Coors, granted. Different beer entirely, however.
Based on your list, I'd say to try any red beers you can find, and to try more darker beers. Guinness is good, but stick to it from the tap for the time being. Go to a bar and sample. Take a friend so you're not an alcoholic. ;)
And try more imports. Go to a liqour store and see if they'll sell to you by the bottle. Many of the better stores will let you buy samplers that way. It's more expensive, but a good way to find your tastes. Get at least 2 of each beer.
You don't say where you live, but I'd try local brews too. Ask the bartenders at your neighborhood bars about local/state brews. Some of the best beers I've had have been semi-microbrew types.
For a normal everyday beer or a party beer, I drink Killian's. For serious drinking, I go for Guinness. The rest of the time, I like to sample whatever is available. Oh, and stick to better beers, you can't be an alcoholic if you buy the good stuff. :D
Posted by: spartanstew
quote:
Originally posted by IndyJones1023
and my fave - Grolsch!!!
My favorite as well. I've never had a beer that even came close. Although I've cut back to only a few beers a year, if I can't find Grolsch, I'll drink Rolling Rock or Amstel Light.
Stew
Posted by: Otto
Rolling Rock can be good, but it can be vile too. It's the only beer I know of that has such a huge variation from bottle to bottle. Weird.
Posted by: vertigo235
We have Sierra Nevada here in NC too, I'd recomend it also.
Try Newcastle, it's one of my favs.
I'd also recomend Fullers ESB or London Pride, they are darker beers too.
I usualy like dark and red beer, I usually never get caught drinking a lite/light beer unless it's free.
Posted by: spartanstew
If I get a bad one, I just save it for the fifth or sixth.
Stew
Posted by: Darin
quote:
Originally posted by Otto
Take a friend so you're not an alcoholic.
I'm doing good here. :up:
quote:
Oh, and stick to better beers, you can't be an alcoholic if you buy the good stuff.
Then it all falls apart. :(
Posted by: gregpr
I'd post a vote for your local microbrewery. They're pretty commonplace now, and if you go there and order a sampler, you can probably chat up the bartender to see what's what...
Posted by: HellToupee
I'm usualy a Sam Adams guy but I've been getting Sleeman's Cream Ale lately. This just recently showed up in my area , pretty good stuff from a small brewer in Canada.
Posted by: gregpr
quote:
Originally posted by HellToupee
I'm usualy a Sam Adams guy but I've been getting Sleeman's Cream Ale lately. This just recently showed up in my area , pretty good stuff from a small brewer in Canada.
wow I haven't had a Sleemans in a long time :(
Posted by: jsmeeker
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is one of my favorties. It shouldnt't be too hard to find. It *might* be a bit "hoppy" to your tastes at first if you aren't used to the style. But it's darn tasty.
Posted by: appleye1
quote:
Originally posted by IndyJones1023
Heinie, Beck's, and my fave - Grolsch!!!
Judging from your ratings Grolsch is definitely one you should try.
And another one I bet you'd like is St. Pauli Girl
http://www.members.cox.net/averysdad3/posterg2002.jpg
You never forget your first girl! ;)
Posted by: dphelps1
Finally...a topic that matters. To hell with Lincoln, routers and 'what the SOAK' is - let's talk beer!
One of the most refreshing bottled beers you can find - great for a warm summer day or a cold winter's night is Molson Ice. Be sure they have not gone from cold to warm to cold again because they tend to 'skunk' rather easily...but our neighbors to the north know their beer.
If you are looking for a good 'cheap' beer - I agree that Miller MGD is not a bad way to go. At about $4.50 per six pack its not too shabby.
My favorite widely available beer on tap - Bass Ale. Bass can be the most amazing of all beers if it is on tap and the tap lines have recently been cleaned. (Another great beer on tap if you can find it - Boddington's Ale.)
Some great middle of the road priced bottled beers to try would be - Anchor Steam, Harp, (also great on tap at a nice Irish Pub!), any of the several Magic Hat beers, Sam Adams and Sam Adams Summer Ale (when available), Sierra Nevada, Fosters, Heineken (beware - this is an acquired taste for many people), Red Stripe, Dos Equis (better on tap at a Mexican restaurant and blows away the highly overrated Corona).
I'll stay away from recommending the great Microbrews that I've tried since they are often not available very widely.
Just thought of one more - its an odd one called 'Red Speckled Hen' a very nice reddish beer that I don't see too many places.
Posted by: avaloncourt
quote:
Originally posted by Otto
Although I will say that anyone who ranks Sam Adams higher than Killian's is just plain wrong. Sam Adams is nasty vile stuff. Killian's is not Coors, BTW. Made by Coors, granted. Different beer entirely, however.
Based on your list, I'd say to try any red beers you can find, and to try more darker beers. Guinness is good, but stick to it from the tap for the time being.
For a normal everyday beer or a party beer, I drink Killian's. For serious drinking, I go for Guinness.
Otto, you are 'da man and have wonderful taste!
Posted by: murgatroyd
Guinness. mmmmm.
Also like Anchor Steam, Henry Weinhart's Private Reserve, local microbrews.
Jan
Posted by: Boot
My favorite is definitely Asahi Super Dry. Mmmmmm, rice beer.
Posted by: RexTrout
Lots of good ones already mentioned...here's my 2 cents.
Sierra Nevada and Anchor Steam -- yep, they're mmmm, mmmm good.
Bass, Harp, and Guinness -- check.
Mexican beers -- the darker ones Dos Equus Amber, Negro Modelo.
Beers from Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo Michigan (Amber, Stout, Oberon, all of them are good, not sure how widely available they are).
Beers from the New Belgium Brewery in Ft. Collins, Colorado (Fat Tire Amber Ale is especially good).
Beers from Three Floyd's Brewing in Munster Indiana (Pale Ale and Extra Pale Ale).
Killian's Sucks. :).
Posted by: jgickler
I may be called a freak for this, but I occasionally enjoy a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon. During college my friends and I frequented a local bar and played Euker and we drank PBR by the pitcher. It is certainly a unique taste, but in my opinion it is much tastier then most mass produced domestics. Generally I drink imports, with Bass and Guiness being my favorites, however if I am in a place that has PBR on tap, I always have at least one.
Posted by: wa2joc
Yuengling Lager from America's Oldest Brewery
Posted by: Pie_People2
Best Beer of all time is
Sam Adams Double Bock. thing is they dont make but like 1 month of the year and hardly any package/liquor store dont carry them.
Magic Hat #9 is a close second. Anyone that lives in the northeast should make a trip to the magic hat brewery in burlington vt. Not a bad beer there.
Black & Tans are awesome, although sometimes i rather just drink a plain Guinness.
New Castle is also another great beer.
Molson XXX. Love it. Not only is it 7.3% it tastes great as well.
I had this beer at Bennigans one time..it was called Merlin's Ale. that was good. i am pretty sure it is a Scottish brew.
Pilsner Urquell (sp.) have no idea how it is spelled, but that has a unique taste as well.
Beer the Breakfast of Champions.
Posted by: mrmike
quote:
Originally posted by Pie_People2
Magic Hat #9 is a close second. Anyone that lives in the northeast should make a trip to the magic hat brewery in burlington vt. Not a bad beer there.
Magic Hat has some nice brews. I'm wearing a Fat Angel T-Shirt, you spying on me? :D
Newcastle is nice, but it doesn't travel well and can skunk up easily.
Many nationally available "microbrews" are contract brewed by the big ones (Miller, AB, etc). There are many exceptions though.
I'm quite fond of Rogue products, some of the Red Hook beers (though not so much the ESB), Sierra Nevada Pale and Celebration (in season) are almost always quite drinkable wherever you get them. Anchor tends not to travel as well IMHO.
Here's my 2cents. Find a local Homebrewing shop or microbrewery. They often do tastings or tours of local breweries. Discover what your personal tastes are (Mine run to the hoppy and the dark though not necessarily together, and I generally dont' have a Pilsner or a Lager (Lawnmower Beer), though Urquell is tasty in the right mood). Not every beer is for every taste. Lambics turn some people off and some love them. Some people think Guinness is motor oil (And it's not even a really chewy beer). Some people think Miller Lite is the bee's knees (and Ghu have mercy on them). Learn, love. enjoy.
-MM
Posted by: betamax
If you can ever find Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, pick it up. It's a different style of beer - a barleywine. At 9.6% it's not something you can pound, but it's one spiffy beer.
Posted by: IndyJones1023
quote:
Originally posted by betamax
If you can ever find Sierra Nevada Bigfoot, pick it up. It's a different style of beer - a barleywine. At 9.6% it's not something you can pound, but it's one spiffy beer.
Oh God! I actually had to spit this crap out. I was working my way through a Beer Club in Tallahassee (go Noles!) and this was on the list. Thankfully, we were sitting outside on the patio. I took a swig of this and spit it out. The waitress came by later and said "How is everything?" I told her "That beer is crap." She replied "Yeah, that's what everyone says." Umm, a little warning next time, maybe!
Posted by: Turtleboy
About 8 years ago they had the Sam Adams Triple Bock. It came in little blue bottles, and looked more like Wine than anything else.
Now that was crap.
Posted by: mrmike
Wow. Just wow. See what I mean about taste? Bigfoot is a good Barleywine. It's not my top pick, but it's usually quite nice. Unless you've tried other barleywines (Old Crustacean, Foghorn, Old Nick) and liked them and didn't like this one there's no call to say "it's crap" just 'cause it's not to your taste. The style (like Imperial Stouts and Trippels) is not for everyone.
-MM
Posted by: IndyJones1023
OK, it's not crap. It just has a horrid taste.
Posted by: Turtleboy
According to this site, http://www.samadams.com/beer/styles/triple_bock.html, they still make the triple bock, and it's 17.5% alcohol.
Posted by: betamax
quote:
Originally posted by IndyJones1023
OK, it's not crap. It just has a horrid taste.
I guess some people just don't have good taste :)
I've never figured out how Bud got to be king of beers. I didn't vote for it.
Posted by: walters
You don't vote for kings.
The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king!
(thanks for the setup :))
Posted by: IndyJones1023
quote:
Originally posted by betamax
I guess some people just don't have good taste :)
I've never figured out how Bud got to be king of beers. I didn't vote for it.
At least we agree on Budwater. :D
Posted by: betamax
quote:
Originally posted by walters
(thanks for the setup :))
I was hoping someone would get it ;)
Posted by: betamax
quote:
Originally posted by IndyJones1023
At least we agree on Budwater. :D
OK, you have a little taste then :p
Posted by: IndyJones1023
quote:
Originally posted by betamax
OK, you have a little taste then :p
Woohoo!
Posted by: dphelps1
quote:
Originally posted by walters
You don't vote for kings.
The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king!
Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government! Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!
Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!
Oh but if I went around saying I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!
(Now everyone all together the 'being repressed' line!) ;)
Posted by: webwide
Crimson,
You haven't lived until you've had a Spaten Optimator !!!
Posted by: Crimsonblake
I had a Negro Modelo tonight at a mexican restraunt.. I was pleased with the taste and texture. I see what meant earlier when someone said Sam Adams was over carbonated. Negro seemed alot more smooth.
Posted by: markp99
While most dark beers qualify more as a meal than a beverage, I really enjoy:
http://www.beca.co.nz/images/current/guiness.gif
Posted by: Agatha Mystery
An import my husband likes is called Boddingtons. It has a nitrogen capsule in the bottom to give the beer a head without carbonation. Really bizarre when you first come across it.
all in all, though, not a bad beer.
Posted by: PaulBonsor
quote:
Originally posted by Agatha Mystery
An import my husband likes is called Boddingtons. It has a nitrogen capsule in the bottom to give the beer a head without carbonation. Really bizarre when you first come across it.
all in all, though, not a bad beer.
If you can find it on draught anywhere It'll taste better, but if not see the Guinness post above.
Paul B
Posted by: dphelps1
quote:
Originally posted by PaulBonsor
If you can find it on draught anywhere It'll taste better, but if not see the Guinness post above.
Mmmmmm.....Boddington's. Now I'm going to have to go to the only place around here that serves it on tap. But first let me finish posti.....
<runs out the door>
;)
Posted by: PaulBonsor
quote:
Originally posted by boywaja
If you start talking about lifts, torches, manchester united or driving on the left hand side of the road, your post will be moved to UK General Chat.
If you start a thread a thread about what we call the revolutionary war, make sure you include a slur in the title. It encourages intellegent discourse (reference the thread linked to earlier). :)
roger
Taken from another thread, but is draught another word in same catagory as the ones above :)
Paul B
Posted by: Otto
quote:
Originally posted by dphelps1
Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government! Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!
Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!
Oh but if I went around saying I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!
Oh, now we see the violence inherent in the system!
Seriously, Budweiser gets a lot of crap that it really doesn't deserve. Okay, canned Bud and even bottled Bud tastes very bad. It's the alcoholic's beer for the alcoholic who has some money. But fresh and new (and before it gets bottled and pasturized), it's actually very good. Go to St. Louis and take the brewery tour (it's free). At the end, sample the beers. They're surprisingly good. Amazingly so, in fact. It's like a whole other beer. Heat pasturization just has an incredibly ruinous effect on Bud beers. Don't know why.
Posted by: jsmeeker
Has someone mention Pete's Wicked Ale? I like that too.
Posted by: dphelps1
quote:
Originally posted by jsmeeker
Has someone mention Pete's Wicked Ale? I like that too.
Pete's Summer Brew. Very nice beer....with a hint of lemon.
Also...kudos to whoever mentioned Yuengling in this thread! Oldest brewery in America. Nothing like a Yuengling Lager or Yuengling Black & Tan at a Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws game on a hot summer day!
...that was a plug for the Philadelphia Phillies 'A' ball affiliate about 10 minutes from my house! (...and I'm a METS fan...go figure!)
Posted by: vertigo235
Yes, Yuengling is very good, expecialy on tap...
Posted by: webwide
quote:
Originally posted by Crimsonblake
I had a Negro Modelo tonight at a mexican restraunt.. I was pleased with the taste and texture. I see what meant earlier when someone said Sam Adams was over carbonated. Negro seemed alot more smooth.
Negra Modelo rocks - especially after a long hard day of rock-climbing
Posted by: walters
quote:
Originally posted by Otto
Seriously, Budweiser gets a lot of crap that it really doesn't deserve. Okay, canned Bud and even bottled Bud tastes very bad.
Just to bring us full circle to the first post ;)
American Megabrew doesn't taste bad -- it doesn't taste much of anything at all. And we have women to thank for that. During WWII, when they took on a much larger part of the beerdrinking demographic, is when American beer started tasting bland. They liked it better that way. And now it's just a habit for both the producer (cheaper) and the consumer (easier to drink and get drunk).
Fortunately, in some places there is a law (e.g. Reinheitsgebot)
Posted by: Crimsonblake
Funny thing is, no one has yet to come on here and defend Budweiser. Funny how the intelligent people don't drink that crap.
Posted by: Stevenm007
I didnt see it listed but Fat Tire is a good choice that I like.
Posted by: Mabes
quote:
Originally posted by jgickler
I may be called a freak for this, but I occasionally enjoy a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon.
I can't believe you said that! I was about to say Pabst as a joke, but then I remembered I had one last week. We were in a bar and they had them for $3 a can (extremely cheap here in NYC) and I had one just for the hell of it.
It wasn't bad. If I were in a position where I couldn't get a Bass or Guiness or whatever, or was short on money and had to chose a domestic, I would take Pabst.
Maybe I should try an Old Swill to see if that is also suitable for a substitute.
Posted by: bustergonad
If you can find it try Murphy's Irish Stout, not the pale ale you can buy in the store but the stout and preferably from the tap. Similar to Guiness but not quite as bitter. Also Carling Premier is a great beer but I don't think it is available here in the USA, if you are on a trip to the UK try some.
I'm quite surprised nobody had mentioned Stella Artois, a great beer to get drunk on :)
Roy
Edit: I actually find plain old Budweiser quite good when it's a hot day and the beer has been on ice for a long time. Check out my sig line :)
Posted by: mrpurple
There is no substitute for Guinness.
That being said in a pinch I can drink just about anything. When throwing alot back I tend to go with Labatts's Blue. A fine Canadian ale. and this close to the border its the same price as all bottled beer in the local bars.
Posted by: jfelbab
Beer, like wine has a couple of different faces. If your are just drinking beer, Guinness is hard to beat but if you are pairing beer with food things change a bit. Drinking a Guinness with a slab of ribs makes the beer taste flat and stale. Samuel Adams Boston Lager handles this match nicely. Doesn't anyone drink beer with their meals?:)
A fun thing to do around this time of year is to purchase several of the brew samplers available. Ales, Lagers, Pilsners, Lambecks, Stouts, Bocks, I like them all.
Unlike wine, old beer is bad beer. Beer is at it's best the day it is bottled. Drink up! :D
Posted by: Crimsonblake
Sam Adams + peanuts = crap..just found that out. Was eating some peanuts and cracked open a sam adams. Tasted really bad w/ peanuts.
Posted by: Crimsonblake
These are the beers i had today.
Newcastle Brown Ale - Sucked
Heinken Dark -REALLY sucked
Bass Pale Ale - Decent
Sierra Nevada Porter- Loved it!
Posted by: skearney00
Leinenkugel's Red lager (you may need to go to Wisconsin to find this)
Honey Browne
Paulaner Hefeweizen w/ lemon.
And if you like Corona, drop a shot of Bicardi Limon in it.
Posted by: Francesco
quote:
Originally posted by Jobeth66
A pilsner is generally more 'hoppy' than your regular beer. Lager is aged, like wine, and generally is less hoppy, but has more sediment, a stout (like Guinness) is a dark, heavy beer. Guiness, btw, should be served at room temperature to taste right.
No offense, just saw this thread... and as an ex-brewmaster at a big microbrewery, had to chime in.
True, real Pilsener or Pils is hoppy. American big-brand "Pilsners" are nothing of the sort. Lager is just a generic term for any bottom-fermented beer, a category which includes Pils/Pisener, Bock, Doppelbock and Oktoberfest or Marzen. Lagers never have any sediment!!! Stout is a dark ale. Guinness, surprisingly is actually considered fairly light as far as stouts go, and is only 4.5% alcohol/volume. Also surprising, Guinness and other beers on tap that use a "Guinness spout" pushed by a nitrogen/CO2-mix (imaginatively called "beergas") like Kilkenny Cream Ale (also from Cork) should be served as cold as most lagers, between 3.5 and 6 degrees Celsius (36-42F).
Posted by: Francesco
quote:
Originally posted by Otto
Seriously, Budweiser gets a lot of crap that it really doesn't deserve.
I was an utter beer snob when I started my brewing courses, and the first thing my first professor taught us was that Budweiser is the best beer on the planet. Not everyone's favorite, but the best. Why, he asked rhetorically? Because it is the exact same beer from one gyle batch to the next, one brewery to the next, without the most minute variation. In brewing, which is still more black art than industrial, scientific mass-production, that is truly remarkable. And to accomplish it on the massive scale that A-B does is downright amazing. A-B Budweiser is simply the the best-made beer in the world.
ALL THAT SAID: I absolutely can't stand the stuff! Turns my stomach!
Posted by: gregpr
quote:
Originally posted by satguymtl
I was an utter beer snob when I started my brewing courses, and the first thing my first professor taught us was that Budweiser is the best beer on the planet. Not everyone's favorite, but the best. Why, he asked rhetorically? Because it is the exact same beer from one gyle batch to the next, one brewery to the next, without the most minute variation. In brewing, which is still more black art than industrial, scientific mass-production, that is truly remarkable. And to accomplish it on the massive scale that A-B does is downright amazing. A-B Budweiser is simply the the best-made beer in the world.
ALL THAT SAID: I absolutely can't stand the stuff! Turns my stomach!
Agreed. the sheer size of a Bud brewery is amazing. I visited the one in St Looie and they bottle something like 2 million cans per day. One canner runs at 11,000 cans per minute, and a lagering tank holds 220,000 six packs. One of the most enjoyable corporate tours I've been on.
Hint: drink their foreign brands at the tasting at the end, you get two. I stood next to a couple that only wanted one each so I got 4. :D
Lucky I wasn;t drivin :)
Posted by: editivo
Budweiser is made with rice that is sin enough as far as I am concerned. Anything that won't live up to German purity laws for beer is not worth drinking. There are only four essential ingredients for beer and rice is not one of them.
Posted by: gregpr
Oh yeah, and the per-capita consumption of beer in this country is something like 35 gallons. That's for every man, woman and child.
Must be someone out there sucking down brews for breakfast, I calculated I'm just about average and I drink more beer than most of my friends...
Posted by: Francesco
The reason I let my wife go to Barbados for three weeks?
I have a double-tap Perlick tower with two nitrogen heads and a refrigetor in the garage. I always (year-round) have two 20-liter kegs (Pepsi-keg-size) running McAuslan St-Ambroise Cream Ale (Smooth Ale in the States) and Oatmeal Stout available. She knows I'll never stop drinking beer, so it's just cheaper to buy it by the keg straight from the brewery!
McAuslan Ales, rated by Michael Jackson (the beer guy, not the weird guy) as some of the best ales in North America, are available across the US, at better bars and in bottles. McAuslan also contract-brews the famous Moosehead Lager for the Quebec market.
www.mcauslan.com
Posted by: bruab
quote:
Originally posted by satguymtl
I was an utter beer snob when I started my brewing courses, and the first thing my first professor taught us was that Budweiser is the best beer on the planet. Not everyone's favorite, but the best. Why, he asked rhetorically? Because it is the exact same beer from one gyle batch to the next, one brewery to the next, without the most minute variation. In brewing, which is still more black art than industrial, scientific mass-production, that is truly remarkable. And to accomplish it on the massive scale that A-B does is downright amazing. A-B Budweiser is simply the the best-made beer in the world.
ALL THAT SAID: I absolutely can't stand the stuff! Turns my stomach!
Sorry - To echo editivo, Budweiser may be the best manufactured beer on the planet, but nothing with corn or rice in it is the best beer on the planet, no way.
I was amazed when I took the budweiser tour and saw that they actually do use hops!! I really think they were just for show. ;)
Posted by: Francesco
Wouldn't your "best manufactured" and my "best-made" be friends? They have so much in common! :)
Virtually no beer in the world, with the exception of very few German beers that are never consumed outside Germany, is actually what you'd call "Reinheitsgebot." Because of the EU, most export versions do contain adjuncts and may even be pasteurized. The law basically no longer exists as such. PS: Reinheitsgebot also allows adjuncts such as corn, rice and wheat malt. "Weizen" is Wheat beer.
Most of the beers produced in North America, including most microbrewery beers, and all British beers, contain adjuncts such as corn, oats, and wheat. The few beers here that acually claim to be brewed according to the "German purity laws" do not win any awards! Even if they use no adjuncts, they do indeed brew with chemicals such as gypsum, calcium chloride and silicone; it's a matter of procedure, there's no way around it.
Posted by: TheDewAddict
I really don't like most beers, I find them waaaay to bitter and unappealing (and, being that Budweiser put me through college (dad worked for A-B), I can't stand the stuff, but Bud Light is decent), the only beer that I really like is Guinness. Try a Half & Half (Guinness on the top, Harp's on the bottom), or a Black & Tan (Bass on the bottom instead), they're good, and if you drink it correctly, you should go from Guinness to the other beer in a few swallows. Very good.
Otto: Next time you're in St. Louie, there are 2 tasting rooms at the tour. When you've had your free beers in one room, follow a different group into the other one, and have 2 more beers over there. And, if you come around the hollidays, drive around the brewery. It's one of the prettiest places in the city when it's all decorated. If you like Zoo's, go to Grant's Farm. It's a private Zoo run by Anheuser Busch, free to get into, and free beer to taste. No limit on how many free beers you can have, but they only carry the bigger AB brands: Bud, Bud Light, Michelob, Mich Amber Boch, Mich Light, Busch, etc...
Posted by: Dawghows
Brew your own!
It's easy, it's cheap, it's fun, your choices are unlimited, and you won't believe how many friends you have as word of your brewing endeavors spreads through the grapevine. :)
Posted by: JayAndSilentBob
quote:
Originally posted by Dawghows
Brew your own!
It's easy, it's cheap, it's fun, your choices are unlimited, and you won't believe how many friends you have as word of your brewing endeavors spreads through the grapevine. :)
It's cheap?? What value do you place on your time? ;)
The rest I would agree with though.
quote:
from gregpr --- Oh yeah, and the per-capita consumption of beer in this country is something like 35 gallons. That's for every man, woman and child.
A little over a beer a day, no big whoop. Well, maybe it's a little too much until the child reaches about 75 pounds. :eek:
Posted by: JayAndSilentBob
quote:
Originally posted by jfelbab
Doesn't anyone drink beer with their meals?:)
Unlike wine, old beer is bad beer. Beer is at it's best the day it is bottled. Drink up! :D
I drink beer with my dinner every night. ;)
Filtered and pasteurized beer is best the day after it is bottled.
Posted by: Dawghows
quote:
Originally posted by JayAndSilentBob
It's cheap?? What value do you place on your time? ;)
The rest I would agree with though.
Uh...well, I consider my time to be invaluable. That's why I try to spend as much of it as possible doing things I enjoy. That's where the "fun" part comes in, see?
Do you figure the "value" you place on your time while cruising through this message board, for example?
EDIT: For the record, I spend an average of about 4 hours making each 5-gallon batch (approx. 2 cases). It takes about month to make a batch, from brewing day to taking the first swallow, but I only spend about 4 hours during that month actually working on the brew. The most I've ever paid for ingredients for a single batch was $35 for a very heavy stout. For a batch of pale ale, ingredients run around $20-$25. The cheapest (and worst) case of beer I've ever purchased was $15, so $25-$35 for a two-case batch of homebrew seems pretty dang reasonable to me. My initial outlay for equipment was about $60. As hobbies go, I definitely consider this "cheap."
Posted by: JayAndSilentBob
quote:
Originally posted by Dawghows
Uh...well, I consider my time to be invaluable. That's why I try to spend as much of it as possible doing things I enjoy. That's where the "fun" part comes in, see?
Do you figure the "value" you place on your time while cruising through this message board, for example?
You almost sound offended, that was not my intent. I enjoy homebrewing as well, and will probably spend the better part of 4-5 hours tomorrow morning doing just that.
The value I place on (most) of the time I spend cruising through this message board is about equal to the hourly rate I am paid to work as a contractor at a business that really does not throw a lot of work my way. I haven't asked, but I would guess they would frown on me brewing beer here --- though I did smack a yeast pack here once and let it rest upon the warm PC I use. ;)
Posted by: Dawghows
quote:
Originally posted by JayAndSilentBob
You almost sound offended, that was not my intent. I enjoy homebrewing as well, and will probably spend the better part of 4-5 hours tomorrow morning doing just that.
The value I place on (most) of the time I spend cruising through this message board is about equal to the hourly rate I am paid to work as a contractor at a business that really does not throw a lot of work my way. I haven't asked, but I would guess they would frown on me brewing beer here --- though I did smack a yeast pack here once and let it rest upon the warm PC I use. ;)
Nope, not offended at all. I saw your smilie in there, and meant to put one in my post, too, but I forgot it. Then, when I went in to edit, I got into writing about the costs and forgot again.
Yeah, that's the other thing about the value of my time: it's not like I'm brewing during a time when someone would be paying me if I wasn't brewing.
Anyway, always good to meet a fellow homebrewer. Have one for me!
PS -- I do notice people only say "Yeah, but what's your time worth?" when there's a boring or laborious task to be done. They never say that about something they want to do.:)
PPS -- Speaking of the smack-packs, have you tried the ready-to-pitch yeasts (the ones that come in the vials)? I just tried them out over the last two batches. They seem to ferment more slowly for some reason, but I'm getting pretty good results from them.
Posted by: Haps
quote:
Originally posted by gregpr
Oh yeah, and the per-capita consumption of beer in this country is something like 35 gallons. That's for every man, woman and child.
Must be someone out there sucking down brews for breakfast, I calculated I'm just about average and I drink more beer than most of my friends...
126 gallons a year for me.
I drink all kinds of beer. Depends on the mood. Their are bad beers, okay beers, and good beers. Usually pricing follows those accordingly. While I would like to drink good beers all the time I don't.
I don't consider budweiser to be a bad beer. Here in Canada it's much better tasting then in the US. Their are bad beers that I don''t like the taste of(Miller Lite) and then their are beers I will refuse to drink(Molson Export) even if I'm thirsty. Budweiser doesn't fit in either of those categories.
Posted by: JayAndSilentBob
quote:
Originally posted by Dawghows
PS -- I do notice people only say "Yeah, but what's your time worth?" when there's a boring or laborious task to be done. They never say that about something they want to do.:)
PPS -- Speaking of the smack-packs, have you tried the ready-to-pitch yeasts (the ones that come in the vials)? I just tried them out over the last two batches. They seem to ferment more slowly for some reason, but I'm getting pretty good results from them.
Yes, I thoroughly enjoy the time I spend brewing. I am still pretty new to it. Tomorrow I will be bottling batch 7 - a raspberry flavored Kolsch. Then I will brew batch 8 - a honey weizen. And I have batch 6, a "California common" aka "steam beer" lagering in my garage. (My first attempt at a lager - will have to see how it goes).
Haven't tried the vials. One of my local homebrew stores, Northern Brewer , recently switched to Wyeast XL smack packs. Here is how they describe them:
quote:
Our standard Wyeast product is the now the 125 ml Wyeast XL pack. XL packs have the same cell count right out of the package and the same flexibility and immediacy of use as Wyeast in pitchable tubes. And, like with the smaller 50 ml "smack packs", incubating the yeast means that you can be 100% certain of yeast viability before putting it in your beer?a very important consideration when buying yeast by mail.
I really like these larger smack packs. Those, along with the fact I have started to make a "starter," has gotten my fermentations off a lot quicker (typically within 4 to 8 hours - rather than my previous 24+ hour starts).
Regarding the time thing though...
You may just be quicker than me, but I figure a 5 gallon batch, from making a starter to brew day to racking to secondary to bottling and all the cleaning and sanitizing along the way, probably takes me 8 hours. That is 10 minutes per bottle of beer - so it truly is a labor of love.
There are ways for me to speed it up, but they would cost money (i.e. have a separate room that is my "brewery" so I would not have to spend time dragging everything out and putting it away. Or, hire a housekeeper so I wouldn't have to spend 15 minutes to 1/2 hour getting our kitchen and dining area "brewery clean" and free of clutter before every batch, etc.)
Regarding the cost (of equipment anyway)...
You are more frugal than me, I think. ;) I have the "deluxe" homebrewing starter kit that my wife gave me a year ago ($120). I have easily spent another $100 or $200 since then on those little things that make for better beer. Now I want to set aside about $350-$400 for a really nice 15gal Stainless Steel brewpot with spigot, a nice propane ringer burner, and a nice compact counterflow wort chiller. This way I can go to full boils and even 10 gallon batches of my favorites, if I want. Then there is all grain brewing, kegging, the need for dedicated refrigerators. Etcetera, etcetera.
Psst. Don't tell my wife how much money I want to spend on my obsession (er, hobby.)
Posted by: Dawghows
quote:
Originally posted by JayAndSilentBob
Regarding the time thing though...
You may just be quicker than me...
AHH HAHAHAH!! You can't imagine how funny it is for someone to refer to me as "quick."
Seriously, though, brew day takes me approx. 3 hours from the time I pull out my brew kettle until I finish cleaning up the kitchen (assuming a 60-minute boil). About a week later, I rack to a secondary fermenter. This process takes about 40 minutes, but it only takes me about 10 or 15 minutes to get it going, and then I do something else while the brew siphons. (If you count the time it takes to siphon, then that's where some of the time discrepancy comes in; I don't count that time, because I don't stand around there and watch). Bottling day takes another hour if my wife caps for me, maybe an hour and a half if I'm working alone. All these timeframes include cleanup. I don't really know if this is fast or not. I don't feel like I'm working quickly.
quote:
Originally posted by JayAndSilentBob
Regarding the cost (of equipment anyway)...
You are more frugal than me, I think
Well, I'm a cooking freak, so I already had a big enough stainless pot, and a second refrigerator. I spent $40 or 45 on my starter set, and another $20 on a glass carboy. That's all I've ever spent on equipment. A friend who used to brew gave me his glass carboy at one point, so now I have two. Guess my whole set-up is still less than $100, even figuring in the value of that second carboy.
I have my process so streamlined, I'm not interested in those extras (and advances) you mention. I do understand the attraction, though.
Posted by: Francesco
quote:
Originally posted by Dawghows
Brew your own!
It's easy, it's cheap, it's fun, your choices are unlimited, and you won't believe how many friends you have as word of your brewing endeavors spreads through the grapevine. :)
When I started at the brewery, they all laughed and said I'd never homebrew again... I scoffed at the suggestion. Guess what, six years on, and four since leaving the brewery, I have not brewed a drop of beer at home.
Not because I don't like homebrew (some flavor components will never be achieved with mass-production), but because onece you've commanded a 10,000 liter brew from start to finish, including setting up the bottling run... a 5-gallon gyle is no big whoop. I'd rather pay my old employers $50 for a 5-gallon keg.
:)
Posted by: JayAndSilentBob
quote:
Originally posted by satguymtl
When I started at the brewery, they all laughed and said I'd never homebrew again... I scoffed at the suggestion. Guess what, six years on, and four since leaving the brewery, I have not brewed a drop of beer at home.
Not because I don't like homebrew (some flavor components will never be achieved with mass-production), but because onece you've commanded a 10,000 liter brew from start to finish, including setting up the bottling run... a 5-gallon gyle is no big whoop. I'd rather pay my old employers $50 for a 5-gallon keg.
:)
Yeah, but what if they deviate too far from your recipes and methods? You might have to either brew your own or go in there and slap them silly. :D
quote:
big microbrewery
Is that kinda like "jumbo shrimp?" ;)
Posted by: Francesco
:D Or "Sport-Utilty Vehicle?"
Posted by: knownzero
quote:
Originally posted by Haps
126 gallons a year for me.
I drink all kinds of beer. Depends on the mood. Their are bad beers, okay beers, and good beers. Usually pricing follows those accordingly. While I would like to drink good beers all the time I don't.
I don't consider budweiser to be a bad beer. Here in Canada it's much better tasting then in the US. Their are bad beers that I don''t like the taste of(Miller Lite) and then their are beers I will refuse to drink(Molson Export) even if I'm thirsty. Budweiser doesn't fit in either of those categories.
Only 126 gallons a year? And you call yourself a Canadian!?! I'm ashamed for you! :D (No, I'm not Canada bashing, I love Canada I try to visit at least a couple times a year. It's a beautiful country. Ok, I go to the Casino in Windsor, but that counts doesn't it?):)
I can't believe the difference in the Canadian Bud as you pointed out. FIrst time I had one in a bar I was like what the heck? This is actually good! Most of the American beers brewed up there seem to me to taste a lot different to me up there for some reason, especially bottled Guiness, which actually is quite bad, it tastes like Lowenbrau Dark or something, I haven't figured that one out yet...
Posted by: Francesco
Something to do with (on average) more alcohol/volume in Candian beer... helps it go down smoother! ;)
Posted by: Jojo
Wow I only just found this thread! OK I read all the way through, and saw your update with some more beers you tried and didn't like. So I'm thinking you still HAVE to try Guinness because its the best beer ever, but only if you can get it on tap. Bottled/canned Guinness is nasty, I won't drink it.
Some of my immediate recommendations have been mentioned before:
Boddingtons and Bass - two good bitters. There are many others I miss from the UK but not sure they are available here in the US.
Guinness of course, and Murphy's Stout if you can find it.
Abita Turbo Dog (a new find for me, hard to locate here in CA but perhaps available near you)
Moose Drool - I discovered this on a trip to Yellowstone, great beer, weird name!
I echo others thoughts that you should track down a local microbrewery, they often have pubs attached, so you can go and try all their different beers with some food. You will get high-quality beer straight from the tap there. I'm a big fan of beer on tap. Beer from a can is usually awful, and beer from a bottle is variable quality. And lastly please don't drink and drive!
Enjoy your beer-hunting, and let us know what else you've tried and liked. It's good to get new recommendations.
Jojo
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