Beer Thread

[NoVa_NoLa]

Yeah, despite my  :D, there's really not a whole lot of benefit for us boozers...we already get Lagunitas here, and it doesn't sound like we'll get any brewery exclusives, except maybe some more local collaborations.

I was wondering  how this was going to work as they are pretty readily avail.

No brewery exclusives =  ???

I mean it doesn't sound like they will have a brewpub on premises or anything like that.  Though who knows how it will be set up, it's still a year or so away.

I follwed all of their tweets about this new brewery and I am excited about it!. For you guys, your beer will be more fresh.  No (major) shipping delays, less of an impact on the environment shipping/trucking beer from Petaluma across the country.  I think they will handle of their east coast and mid-west distributions out of Chicago.  With any luck and after they're up and running successfully, they will begin to distribute in Louisiana--New Orleans in particular.  ;)

The Petaluma brewery is fantastic...brewpub, amphitheater, and reasonably priced decent food... hopefully Chicago will eventually get some of that stuff, too.

[he.who.forgets]

It was a great time per usual.  That's a great idea there HWF!  How did you do a blind testing?  Did you have someone run it who wasn't participating?  Did you do it all at once?  I think for the next one, I'm giving each participant a piece of paper for each beer to anonymously score between 1 and 10, collect them after each round and put together an average for each beer the next morning.

Jonesy - someone brought the Green Flash Imperial IPA.  I'd never had anything by them but I enjoyed it.

I'm not sure I've ever seen Theobroma before

Yep, I was actually the one who did all the pouring...so I knew what we were tasting but I rated them too anyway.  And yes, we did all 32 beers in one sitting, needless to say we got pretty tipsy.

[walterfredo]

Delicious ale! Has a fruity 1st taste with a lager taste after.

with artwork done by marq spusta!

[Sticky Icky Green Stuff]

enjoying some bell's special double cream stout.  first beer in a couple weeks.  just what I needed.  will be watching my friends house in a couple days and they got me a 6'er of great lakes edmund fitzgerald porter, never had it but beer advocate rates it as world class.  anybody here have it? I'm pretty pumped to taste it. 

[peafunk31]

enjoying some bell's special double cream stout.  first beer in a couple weeks.  just what I needed.  will be watching my friends house in a couple days and they got me a 6'er of great lakes edmund fitzgerald porter, never had it but beer advocate rates it as world class.  anybody here have it? I'm pretty pumped to taste it.

I'm not normally a porter fan but I remember the Edmund Fitzgerald being fantastic. The wifey thought the same, we were both suprised at how much we liked it despite being IPA freaks. Throw some Gordon Lightfoot on for good measure when you crack those suckers open

[Sticky Icky Green Stuff]

enjoying some bell's special double cream stout.  first beer in a couple weeks.  just what I needed.  will be watching my friends house in a couple days and they got me a 6'er of great lakes edmund fitzgerald porter, never had it but beer advocate rates it as world class.  anybody here have it? I'm pretty pumped to taste it.

I'm not normally a porter fan but I remember the Edmund Fitzgerald being fantastic. The wifey thought the same, we were both suprised at how much we liked it despite being IPA freaks. Throw some Gordon Lightfoot on for good measure when you crack those suckers open

I bought some vinyls awhile back at the flee market from this lady and they ended up being original prints.  I'll probably pop on some neil young - after the gold rush, maybe some otis redding live.  or some black sabbath.  or eat a peach.  hmmmmmmm.

so excited for my 10day house sitting thing.  my friend has a music studio in his basement and a full band worth of instruments, pro tools, etc.  so I'm going to go on a recording binge and get lost in it.  can't wait. 

what are the differences between portor's, IPA's, and all the different kinds, could somebody give me an amateurs guide to what up?

I know stout is the thicker, browner type beer, but I don't know why it's "stout".  I know when I spit in the toilet as I'm taking a piss after a good stout my spit is brownish from it's stoutiness. 

IPA is Imperial Pale Ale right?  what makes it pale? 

Porter - no idea, that great lakes will be my first.

Lager - simple amber-ish normal beer. 

what are some more exotic styles?

[aMillionDreams]

enjoying some bell's special double cream stout.  first beer in a couple weeks.  just what I needed.  will be watching my friends house in a couple days and they got me a 6'er of great lakes edmund fitzgerald porter, never had it but beer advocate rates it as world class.  anybody here have it? I'm pretty pumped to taste it.

I'm not normally a porter fan but I remember the Edmund Fitzgerald being fantastic. The wifey thought the same, we were both suprised at how much we liked it despite being IPA freaks. Throw some Gordon Lightfoot on for good measure when you crack those suckers open

I bought some vinyls awhile back at the flee market from this lady and they ended up being original prints.  I'll probably pop on some neil young - after the gold rush, maybe some otis redding live.  or some black sabbath.  or eat a peach.  hmmmmmmm.

so excited for my 10day house sitting thing.  my friend has a music studio in his basement and a full band worth of instruments, pro tools, etc.  so I'm going to go on a recording binge and get lost in it.  can't wait. 

what are the differences between portor's, IPA's, and all the different kinds, could somebody give me an amateurs guide to what up?

I know stout is the thicker, browner type beer, but I don't know why it's "stout".  I know when I spit in the toilet as I'm taking a piss after a good stout my spit is brownish from it's stoutiness. 

IPA is Imperial Pale Ale right?  what makes it pale? 

Porter - no idea, that great lakes will be my first.

Lager - simple amber-ish normal beer. 

what are some more exotic styles?

If you want an in-depth guide to beer styles google bjcp guide.  I'll try to give you quick "for dummies" answers to your questions.

IPA = Indian Pale Ale.  Named "Indian" because this beer was first produced in Britain to ship to India.  Since Hops are a natural preservative they would load the beer with hops and ship it.  Apparently the original IPAs were WAY hoppier and way stronger than the beer we get.  It's pale because of the color 8 to 15 srms.  IIPA = imperial indian pale ale.  Imperial in front of any style name indicates that it is stronger (and in the case of IIPAs hoppier) than the regular style.

Lagers refer to the type of yeast used to produce the beer.  All beers are either ales or lagers.  lagers ferment at lower temps so the beer best suited for this yeast tend to be smooth and malty.  But both lagers and ales run the gamut of colors.  Swarzbiers are German Black Lagers and they are fantastic.

There are many substyles of Stouts and Porters and there is some overlap between the two.  The easy answer is the are all very dark, stouts are usually darker and stronger but again there is some overlap.  It gets hairy.  I brewed a Stout that I figure could be submitted into at least 4 different substyles for Stout in competition.  I ended up entering it as an Oatmeal Stout for the National Homebrew Competetion.

As far as exotic styles you'll probably be looking for something that would fall into "Specialty" beer on the bjcp guide.  dogfishhead is great at digging up forgotten styles of beer.  There are a ton of them.  I did some research into historic styles brewed in Louisville and was surprised to find that most styles that were produced in this area are no longer produced anywhere save a few homebrewers and the occasional specialty at BBC.  If you're looking to really do a number on your palate you may want to try Belgian beers, particularly sours.  Belgium yeast has a unique "funky" character found no where else in the world.  Also, some people really have a taste for smoked or "rauch" beers.  Seems to be a love it or hate it situation.

[Sticky Icky Green Stuff]

thanks dylan, a lot of that makes a ton of sense.   Indian Pale Ale, thanks for de-n00b-o-fying me on that.  whenever I see Pale Ale I think it's going to taste like magic hat or something so I avoid it. 

noticed I've been really loving on a lot stouts, but some are just too intense for my pallette right now. founders breakfast stout, for example, just too damn intense, but expedition stout by bell's is on the money for me and one of my favorites.  special double cream stout is good, dirty bastard is good but that's a scotish ale or some shit. 

things I can't drink because it tastes fucking gross to me:  Two Hearted ale and Founders Red Rye P.A.

no idea why, but I just can't stomach that shit.  lagers overall seem easy, smooth, and mellow.  I've been diggin the higher alcohol percentage beers.  both for financial reasons and taste. 

[mjk73]

Sticky, I'm much more a stout and porter guy then an IPA guy. Mild IPA's I can tolerate but the new trend to make them extremly strong I'm not a fan of.

Heading back home today with a bag load of some DFH ones. Sadly, no 3 Floyds this time as everyplace I went was sold out. Made it to Hopleaf on Alady's rec. amazing selection.

[ALady]

So bummed I didn't get to join you  :embarassed: Work was a royal biznatch on Friday, I was wiped.  Did you get dinner there?  Love their mussels.

[mjk73]

So bummed I didn't get to join you  :embarassed: Work was a royal biznatch on Friday, I was wiped.  Did you get dinner there?  Love their mussels.

Next time I'm up, we will have to hook up for drinks at Hopleaf. It should be in a couple months. We ended up eating at some really good Indian place on Clark. Their food menu looked as spectacular as their beer list.

[Ruckus]

From the Spring tasting

Ballast Point Sculpin   IPA   
Br. Van Steenberge   Leute Bokbie Ale
Br. Van Steenberge   Witches' Brew   Blond Triple Ale   
Brooklyn Brewery   Local 1   Ale   
Chouffe   Houblon   Double IPA Tripel   
Dogfish Head   Pearl Jam Twenty Faithfull Ale   
Du Claw Retribution Imperial Bourbon Stout   
Firestone Walker Porter   
Firestone Walker Double Jack   Double IPA   
Flying Fish Exit 9
Full Sail E.S.B. Extra Special Barney   Bitter   
Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout   
Green Flash Brewing Co.   Imperial IPA   
Heavy Seas Plank II   Dopplebock Lager   
Lagunitas   Wilco Tango Foxtrot   Brown Ale
New Belgium La Folie  Sour Brown Ale   
Nogne Ø   Winter Ale   
Ommegang Belgian Style Pale Ale   
Pub Dog Wunder BockLager   
RJ Rockers Fish Paralyzer Belgian Style Pale Ale   
Rogue Morimoto Soba Ale   
Smuttynose Baltic Porter   
Smuttynose Really Old Brown Dog Ale   
Southampton Cuvee des Fleurs   
Southern Tier Back Burner   
Stillwater    Mikkeller Two Gypsies Our Side   
Stone Vertical Epic    
The Bruery Saison Rue
Vapeur Cochonne Amber Ale
Weyerbacher Merry Monks Belgian Style Golden Ale   

[TEO]

Just got some Belgo Belgian style IPA from New Belgium...can't wait to go in on this this shit...hope it surpasses the Dig which seemed like nothing more than a mildly Hopped up version of Fat Tire which is nothing more than a Hopped up version of budweiser. Resting easily on one of my old faves,Torpedo as of the moment...

[mjk73]

Sum-Sum-Sum-Sum-Sum-Sum-Sum-Sum-Summertime

a very close second as my favorite summer ale behind Oberon. Very close

[Sticky Icky Green Stuff]

house sitting so I'm starting the weekend a little early:

[mjk73]

Also this past weekend got a couple Stiegl pilsners in. I normally do not like pils as well most domestic ones taste like nothing. Stiegl is Austrian for those that don't know and it is damn delicious. Apparently it's pretty popular in/around the Wrigleyville area?! I saw it everywhere and advertising for it all over the place. I hope to find some here in St Louis.

[Ruckus]

Also this past weekend got a couple Stiegl pilsners in. I normally do not like pils as well most domestic ones taste like nothing. Stiegl is Austrian for those that don't know and it is damn delicious. Apparently it's pretty popular in/around the Wrigleyville area?! I saw it everywhere and advertising for it all over the place. I hope to find some here in St Louis.

I love Pilsners Mike.  They seem to get a raw deal in the craft movement because of the perceived lack of versatility in it.  Prior to the craft explosion over here, my favorite beers were always traditional German and Czech Pilsners.  I was fortunate enough to hit Prague prior to its incorporation with the EU and subsequent Euro tourist explosion where you could hit anywhere just outside downtown, tourist Prague and find the best Czech Pils for 10-20 cents a pint!

[mjk73]

Also this past weekend got a couple Stiegl pilsners in. I normally do not like pils as well most domestic ones taste like nothing. Stiegl is Austrian for those that don't know and it is damn delicious. Apparently it's pretty popular in/around the Wrigleyville area?! I saw it everywhere and advertising for it all over the place. I hope to find some here in St Louis.

I love Pilsners Mike.  They seem to get a raw deal in the craft movement because of the perceived lack of versatility in it.  Prior to the craft explosion over here, my favorite beers were always traditional German and Czech Pilsners.  I was fortunate enough to hit Prague prior to its incorporation with the EU and subsequent Euro tourist explosion where you could hit anywhere just outside downtown, tourist Prague and find the best Czech Pils for 10-20 cents a pint!

Most domestic ones I've tried just don't do it for me as they really have no flavor. There are a few exceptions. I did enjoy the hell of out this one and hopefully a few of my regular beer stops have it. And 10-20 cents a pint?!?!? Damn. Get fucked up for a buck

[joey_rogo]

Any of you NY area peeps going to the TAP NY Beerfest this weekend at Hunter Mnt (site of Mnt Jam) ?? I went last year and it was awesome. Hopefully the weather cooperates tomorrow.

[Sticky Icky Green Stuff]

any suggestions on what to drink tonight? no IPA's please.