212 replies to this topic

[lapin d'or]

"Do these people really think a dog on the label or wacky name is going to get me to buy the beer, with no other knowledge of it?"

I guess I often order a beer because I like the name but only if I can see what sort of beer it is first. Two that I came to like this way were 'Tanglefoot' and 'Old Thumper'. But that is the sort of thing you do at beer festivals - you have to choose from the hundreds on offer some how, and then try to remember which ones you liked at the end.

I also like the name of Cotleigh's Buzzard but we see Buzzards flying around here most days so that is just an association I like to make with a place I love.

The beer is good too mind.

[hummingbirdkiss]

I used to have favorite beers now with all the brew pubs and all the fantastic "new" beers around the Pacific Northwest...all I can say is tell me what to try and I will ..if it is cold ..fresh and on tap ..I am happy!!!

[tanstaafl2]

Seems it has been a bit quiet in here for awhile! New member and while I have become enchanted with the renaissance of spirits and vintage cocktails my first mistress was beer and I will no doubt continue my long time love affair with her, no matter how exotic the cocktails might be!

While my tastes have changed over the years as my pocketbook has gotten a bit more amendable to variety I still like many different beers and find that the occasion can dictate my choice. I have recently been reexploring the lambics and Trappist ales of Belgium (and the one lonely, somewhat more commercialzed Trappist ale representative from the Netherlands). Some day I will get back to Belgium and hope to try a Westvleteren 12 but for now I think my favorite is the Westmalle Tripel.

Lambics are sometimes a challenge to come by and my favorite are the fruit lambics, especially the framboise. Lindemans is most readliy available at my location and occasionally Boon so that is what I drink when I have a hankering but would love to find a source for the Cantillon line to try and am particularly fascinated, for reasons I can't explain, with the Blåbær (Blueberry) Lambik reportedly available only at Ølbutikken in Copenhagen. Not sure it is even still available there!

[Panaderia Canadiense]

I'll have to say that I sorely miss the brews from the Alley Kat brewery in Edmonton, Alberta; particularly their Old Deuteronomy Barleywine, Full Moon IPA, and the Aprikat lager (an apricot beer, very refreshing.)

The only thing really available in Ecuador is the national beer, Pilsener (the brand and the type), as the alternative, Club, is absolutely ghastly. If I'm willing to drop $3 a bottle, I can sometimes get Heinie or Corona, and for slightly less some truly awful Peruvian skook.

Hence, my current favourite beer is whatever my friend Gareth is brewing at the moment. After my hops bloom, it will be whatever I choose to brew, most likely a chocolate stout. It's all a crapshoot, really, because I malt and oast my own grains, and I'd like to have a shot at doing black caramel malt sometime soon. I will say that I do miss the ales....

Edited by Panaderia Canadiense, 30 August 2011 - 08:08 AM.

[judiu]

Pan Can, are the import regulations such that you can order brewing supplies online? Or is it just prohibitively expensive? Not that I'm familiar with the process, but I'm sure you could find scources!

[Panaderia Canadiense]

The Cerveceria Nacional has an import monopoly on all malts, malt extracts, and hops in all forms. I can probably get one or the other illegally, but then it becomes prohibitively expensive and if I'm caught there are penalties ranging from rather stiff fines to jail time, and since I'm a resident outsider I could also get kicked out of the country. Hence, I grow my own hops (from seed, no less) and I malt my own grain from locally-sourced barley. Those manners of getting at beermaking are perfectly licit.

[TheNoodleIncident]

Has anyone else had Sixpoint's Bengali Tiger? It's a fantastic IPA which I recently discovered. I've heard it's popular enough that it has been quite hard to find if you aren't somewhat local (Brooklyn). It's a solid east coast style IPA that has floral/fruity hops up front with juicy tropical fruits (NOT to be confused with any sort of sweet, fruit beer) and hints of caramel/buttery smoothness. It's complex, beautiful and works really well. It also comes in cans (16oz), which is a new-er trend for quality beer and lets you know they care about the quality of the brew when it reaches the drinker.

Sorry to go on and on about it, but I keep a beer log ("log" sounds manlier than "diary") and this one was the most recent one to blow me away, and is my current favorite.

[emannths]

I haven't tried Sixpoint's Bengali Tiger, but I do love their Righteous [Rye] Ale. I find it fairly unique--it's got plenty of hops (falls somewhere between an APA and and IPA, with plenty of aroma), and the rye gives the malt a very interesting character. Normally I like the malt in my hoppy beers to stay out of the way (put that sack of crystal malt down, east coast brewers!), but the spicy rye flavor gives a nice compliment to the hops without muddying up the flavor or making it sweet.

[TheNoodleIncident]

I've heard good things about the Righteous Ale - def on my "to try" list.

Since Fall isn't too far away, has anyone had Southern Tier's Pumking? I missed it last year, but everyone I know who has had it says it's amazing - like a slice of pumpkin pie in a bottle. A friend of mine is picking up a few bombers of it for me today (apparently it's a very limited release this year). I'll let a few sit until the leaves are orange, and another age till next year.

[Shel_B]

Yikes, cricket33, sorry not Bud. I apologize in advance for any demeaning statements you may find about Bud and/or Bud drinkers across this board when you inevitably start looking around. Sorry.

I like a variety of beers, and there are times when Budweiser does the trick for me. When it's a hot day, and I want something refreshing and quenching, I'll often choose Bud over any number of other beers. Yet, at other times, there are many beers that I'd prefer over Bud ...

[ScoopKW]

I'm a hop head. Ranger IPA or Pliny the Elder for me.

And I won't talk down Budweiser. It needs more hops, in my opinion. But name me a beer brewed in so many places by so many different brewers that tastes exactly the same everywhere. That is extraordinarily difficult. So while it's not my beer, I respect the care that goes into it.

[threestars]

I have 2 favorite beers. One is the San Miguel Light Beer and the other is San Miguel Pale Pilsen. :) I think they belong to the best beers in the world. :)

[ScottyBoy]

Boddingtons.

[emannths]

WRT Southern Tier's Pumking: If you're looking for a beer that screams PUMPKIN, this is it. I've only had it once, on tap, and my impression was that it was particularly well-crafted in its balance. Many beers like it don't balance the spices with sweetness or pumpkin, IMO, which make them taste a little...hollow? Pumking, like Southern Tier's Blackwater series of flavored stouts, tastes exactly like what the label advertises. I suspect a good part of this is because ST seems to have no qualms about brewing beers that end up very sweet, which makes pumpkin taste like pumpkin (instead of just spices), chocolate taste like chocolate (instead of coffee or indistict "roasty"), and creme brulee taste like a freakin' creme brulee. The Blackwater beers are generally too sweet for my taste, but a 12oz pour of Pumking each autumn feels just right. For the relatively low $$ (~$7/22oz) that it commands, I say give it a shot.

Edited by emannths, 31 August 2011 - 05:34 AM.

[TheNoodleIncident]

WRT Southern Tier's Pumking: If you're looking for a beer that screams PUMPKIN, this is it. I've only had it once, on tap, and my impression was that it was particularly well-crafted in its balance. Many beers like it don't balance the spices with sweetness or pumpkin, IMO, which make them taste a little...hollow? Pumking, like Southern Tier's Blackwater series of flavored stouts, tastes exactly like what the label advertises. I suspect a good part of this is because ST seems to have no qualms about brewing beers that end up very sweet, which makes pumpkin taste like pumpkin (instead of just spices), chocolate taste like chocolate (instead of coffee or indistict "roasty"), and creme brulee taste like a freakin' creme brulee. The Blackwater beers are generally too sweet for my taste, but a 12oz pour of Pumking each autumn feels just right. For the relatively low $$ (~$7/22oz) that it commands, I say give it a shot.

Well, I have three 22oz bombers of it sitting on my desk as we speak. By me, they are closer to $9 after deposit and tax, but well worth it if the hype is true. I'm normally not a big fan of "sweet" beers, but I think in this context it might be right.

Also, Pliny the Elder was mentioned. That's a beer I've been wanting to try, but apparently the Russian River Brewing beer's don't make it to the East Coast all that often. If you are a hop head, you gotta check out Stone's Ruination. Their regular IPA is VERY good, and Ruination is fantastic and very hoppy.

Edited by TheNoodleIncident, 31 August 2011 - 06:21 AM.

[Hassouni]

Several favorites:

Dark Belgians: Gouden Carolus classic, Cuvée van de Keizer, and Christmas beer; Kasteel Donker/Bruin, Rochefort 10 (but that's sort of obvious right?), Gulden Draak

Light Belgians: more obvious choices: Duvel, Delirium Tremens, La Chouffe

Wheat: Hoegaarden, Weihenstephaner,

English ales: Fuller's ESB, Ringwood Old Thumper, Coniston Blue Bird Bitter, Theakston Old Peculier, Shepherd Neame Spitfire

Others: Guinness, Red Stripe, Kozel, Pilsner Urquell, anything by Spaten, Dogfish Head Raison d'Etre/d'Extra, Unibroue Fin du Monde and Maudite

Of all of these I'd say the Cuvée van de Keizer is my all time favorite though

[ChrisTaylor]

Tough, tough, tough question.

Some favourites, tho'

Australia: White Rabbit (both the white and dark ales), Coopers Sparkling, Coopers Strong Vintage Ale, James Squire Golden.

Belgium: Saison Dupont, Chimay Grand Reserve

Ethiopian: St George

France: 3 Monts

Germany: pretty much any wheat beer

Japan: damn near all of them I've tried

[threestars]

Now that's a lot of beer you have tried. I want to try other imported beers that are popular on each country like Germany, France or any other parts of the world. So far, I tasted only a couple of few.

[Broken English]

I really like Corona because it doesn't give me a hangover, and I like lighter styles that you can drink all night without feeling full/gassy like with heavier beers.

Since arriving in Canada I've come to like Alexander Keiths Pale Ale, and in Australian beers I love James Boags and Bluetongue Pale Ale.

When I'm partial to stout, I love the burnt chocolatey notes of Cascade Stout. After two I feel like I've had a fourteen course meal though.

[Hassouni]

Now that's a lot of beer you have tried. I want to try other imported beers that are popular on each country like Germany, France or any other parts of the world. So far, I tasted only a couple of few.

In Germany, honestly I saw more Beck's and Weihenstephaner than anything else. That being said this was in Berlin, which is not in the heart of German beer country. As for French beers, by far the most popular is Kronenbourg (Krono), which is not very good.



As for Corona, I've never been able to get to the bottom of the bottle without saying "yuck". For a similarly styled beer, my favorite is Sol

Edited by Hassouni, 05 October 2011 - 09:39 AM.

[Bruce Earls]

My favorite beer is hefe-weizen as found on tap in Bavaria. In comparison to American hefe-weizens I have tasted, it is not nearly as hoppy. The closest I have found in a bottle in Austin is Ayinger Brau-Weisse. My second choice would be Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier Hell, but I have found it to be inconsistent, perhaps because it moves off the shelves more slowly and varies in freshness. I am not sure why, but most German imports and every American version that I have tried are much hoppier. I do enjoy IPAs, but don't care for the bitter taste in a hefe-weizen.

[mr_meanor]

Ringwood Fortyniner.

Fantastic beer from my local brewery

http://www.ringwoodb.../fortyniner.htm

I used to live in Fordingbridge and was a big fan of the Ringwood beers. The nearby and new Sixpenny Handley brewery is highly recommended.

I now live in NE Hampshire, and am a committed Triple FFF drinker. The brewery tap is only two doors from my house! The owner's a great guy, and has organised brewery tours for my group of friends quite often, including my birthday last year, which was a fabulous day, although my memory gets pretty hazy by lunchtime...

*edited for awful spelling*

Edited by mr_meanor, 05 October 2011 - 10:51 AM.

[Charlotte1988]

I love Kirschporter, which is a Schwarz beer with cherry. I can't have more than 2 though because they're so filling! I also love Hefeweizen :)

[annachan]

I'm not much of a beer drinker, but I absolutely love Hitachino Nest white ale.

[rod rock]

Heineken and staropramen!

[Giardiniera]

The answer changes with the season!

Summer- Working outside in the summer heat calls for a crisp American lager. This year it has been Bush beer. Previously Keystone Premium.
Fall- Shorter days with cool nights have me thinking about beers with more body. Need a taste of some brown Belgiam abbey ales. Our local selection of these is pittiful, so for now, I'm enjoying Chimay Grand Reserve in my Berliner Weiss glass; it brings out the myriad of fruit smells.
Winter- Stout time! Last winter had me buying Guiness Export Stout. Very different than the watered down pub draft. It almost has a sour note which comes through the wonderful black patent malt.
Spring- Starting to wean off the black stuff and transition to some middle ground. Just love the English ales= Whitbread, Old Speckled Hen, Holy GrALE, & Theakstons Old Peculiar!

I don't look to start a troll war here, but I find most American Micro's to be trendy cr@p!
There, now I'll get off my soapbox.

[lindag]

My favorite beer is Pyramid Hefeweizen, however, the beer I drink is Miller 64 because of the low calorie count.
I may have just gotten used to it but I REALLY like it and I don't have to feel guilty when I drink it.

[Mjx]

I'd have to say Chimay's offerings, but I don't drink it very often; even one bottle of it gets me pretty hammered.

[Czequershuus]

It is hard to narrow it down. For widely available beer, such as what I would order in a non craft bar, I do love me some Guinness or some Newcastle Brown Ale.

Absolute favorite is harder, and there is so much more out their to try, but I really do enjoy Bell's Kalamazoo Stout, and the Lagunitas Maximus IPA.

[Baselerd]

As far as non microbrews go, I've been enjoying Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA recently...