599 replies to this topic

[BCinBC]

First post in the Beer forum, though I don’t know why it took so long!

My beer tastes are varied, but for background, my favourites include Shaftsbury (local microbrew) Rainforest or Cream Ale and Kokanee (another “local” though the brewery was bought by Labatts quite a few years ago) for everyday drinking, and Smithwicks because it’s a damned good beer. When in Seattle I used to love picking up a 6 pk of Red Hook double black stout but sadly they have discontinued this ! ! !!!

Anyway, at an eGullet dinner function last Monday night at Chambar, a Vancouver resto with a Belgium / Moroccan theme, I had a Palm (original post here) and an Orval (better impressions here).

Like I said in the first post, I was totally impressed by the Palm. I’d asked for a slightly bitter ale, and though the beer actually had a sweet tone to it, I loved it. Anyone else tried this Belgian beauty? I’ve searched the forum for it but haven’t found much. Cheers!

[Susan in FL]

The posts on this thread are mouth-watering!

Stegmaier Gold Medal.  Great taste and outrageously cheap.  $11.00 for a 24 pack case, 16 oz bottles.  Great to enjoy for drinking and cooking.

That IS outrageously cheap. I didn't know of that beer, so I did a search to find out a little about it. In case it's new to anybody else as well: It's an American-style lager [that is correct, isn't it?] made by The Lion Brewery in PA.

please don't tell my husband that I just found another interesting forum on EGullet that I now will have to check daily!!! 

I am very intrigued by all the beers you're describing. A lot of them I've never heard of, I think they are many American brews?
I love good beer and discovering new ones. Here in Amsterdam, you can do that 2 ways: there are specialty beer shops, that sell nothing but beer (and I bet they sell lots of the stuff that is mentioned on this thread) or you go to a bar that specializes in beer, they will have many different ones on tap and lots more in a bottle.
Is it like that in the US?

Chufi, I'm so glad you found this thread and the Beer Forum. I have noticed good-looking beer in some of your food photos.
Welcome. I will not tell your husband.
I see that so far one fellow beer lover has responed to your questions about how to discover new beers in the U.S. To add to that, I think of three main things for finding good beers, brew pubs and beer bars and good beer stores/specialty shops. That sounds much like you described in The Netherlands.
Yes, many American Brews... Do you find American microbrews in Amsterdam?

last night while catching up on our day johnnybird and i shared a dogfish head chicory stout.  oh dear! oh my! oh gollygosh!!!  nice dark brown color little bit of a head but not overly fizzy.  smooth - john said it was a light stout- and creamy with out the burnt flavor i taste in guinness.  maybe a little on the sweet side but i really, really liked it.  good thing there are 5 more in the cellar

Yesssss!! I knew you would find a stout you really, really like. I love Dogfish Head's Chicory Stout, too, and am glad that Dogfish Head beers in general are showing up in Florida. There is hope.

yesterday was:

Goose Island IPA
Hazed and Infused dry hopped ale (Rockies Brewing Company)
Mojo IPA (Rockies Brewing Company)
Pyramid IPA

...Four of my favorites! I am drinking Wild Goose IPA even as we speak, but I wish it was a different goose. I wish it was Goose Island. I am about to switch to Tuppers Hop Pocket.
The Wild Goose is drinkable, but the least favorite of the beers we have on hand right now.

[Susan in FL]

BCinBC, better late than never. Glad you posted. I'm looking forward to hearing more about foods and beers that you enjoy. Thanks for the links.

[helenas]

I am about to switch to Tuppers Hop Pocket

Susan so what do you think? i tried it a while ago but don't remember if i liked it or not...
maybe it's time to have a thread on our hop favorites!

i'm having Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale tonight, and can't really describe it better than somebody already did on ratebeer:
"Pretty bland, doesn’t really speak strongly of either malt or hops, but instead of a flat bread and hints of dried apricot. Very smooth and not too watery, nice and evenly viscous on the palate. Extremely drinkable, but not notably amazing."

[TongoRad]

Last night I encountered some strange bedfellows- Reissdorf Kolsch and Stone IPA. I found both to be excellent, but for different reasons. The Reissdorf was elegant and subtle while the Stone was powerful yet balanced. They both represented their respective styles well while displaying a certain personality.

Tonight started with some 'old reliables'- Saranac Adirondac Amber and IPA from a trail mix pack. Then I took a bit of a quantum leap to a Westvleteren 12. With this one I chose to take no notes, just to bask in its glory. But I do have another. All I can say right now is that the word 'magnificent' may be an understatement in describing this beer...

[rlibkind]

I'm visiting Wisconsin (Madison), so with pizza tonight I enjoyed a bottle of New Glarus Brewing's Spotted Cow ale. An easy-to-like brew.

[jsolomon]

Spilker Ales Hopluia.

Yum.

[michaeldauphinais]

Have recently discovered Nimbus' fine brews made right here in Tucson. Love the Pale Ale, the Brown Ale, and most recently, "Dirty Guera" - great taste and fine label art to boot! The Dirty Guera has become my preferred brew to accompany any activity on my Weber kettle. Have yet to try the very reputable "Monkeyshine" also by Nimbus. Perhaps a few other Western U.S./Southwestern U.S. eGulleteers may be able to concur (or perhaps dispute).

Cheers!

[eje]

I'm visiting Wisconsin (Madison), so with pizza tonight I enjoyed a bottle of New Glarus Brewing's Spotted Cow ale. An easy-to-like brew.

Oh, man, now you are making me jealous. I grew up near New Glarus and love those beers. A pony keg of Spotted Cow, friends, some meat, and a grill. The best! That and the beers from Kalamazoo Brewing (Two Hearted Ale!) are almost enough to make me move back to the midwest.

[Rich Pawlak]

Last night at the new Grey Lodge Kitchen, the upstairs restaurant at the Grey Lodge in Philly (www.greylodge.com):

New Magic Mushroom Spinach wraps, with a Flying Fish Hopfish IPA; a silky smooth Troegs Dead Reckoning Porter; and a nice, crisp Victory Prima Pils. But not in that order.

[Chufi]

Hertog Jan Meibok

[Jambalyle]

Now: Ballard Bitters (aka Redhook IPA).
Usually: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sometimes: Lagunitas IPA

[jeffc666]

Last night I had planned to drink my one lonely bottle of Rodenbach Alexander in celebration of the wonderful news that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker has been confirmed as NOT extinct. However I was assaulted by a sudden onset cold and so it looks like tonight will instead be Rodenbach Alexander night. I am really looking forward to this one!

[BrentKulman]

Right now, I am sipping on a St. Peter's Old Style Porter. Great packaging in an old medicine bottle and a lovely roasted coffee nose and taste. A bit light in the body but plenty of complexity.

[suzilightning]

another mcewan's ipa while working on making the red chile sauce for tonight's dinner - cheese enchiladas. now, with the enchiladas, a negro modela - or two.

though in between i did try a mango margarita from robb walsh's tex-mex cookbook. a bit to strong for me so i cut it with some orange seltzer...

[Matsusaka Ushi]

Tonight: Rogue Dead Guy Ale, and Victory Golden monkey

Ahhhh... golden monkey is Soooooooo goood. and cheap too $9.99 a 6pack

[Susan in FL]

I am about to switch to Tuppers Hop Pocket

Susan so what do you think? i tried it a while ago but don't remember if i liked it or not...

I love Tuppers' Hop Pocket, and suspect from reading about other beers you are enjoying that you would like it. Hope you get a chance to try it again soon. I love its extreme hoppiness, but smoothness at the same time. Another thing I have always liked about it is its consistency... We've never gotten a bad bottle and it always tastes the same. The exception of course is that the best we've tasted is draft from the Old Dominion brewpub. We used to take growlers of it home.
This is Russ's overall favorite beer of all time.

[handmc]

yeungling lager ......part of a complete meal with Bacon!

[Susan in FL]

Tonight at Happy Hour a Yuengling on draft at a real back-woodsy Florida fish camp type place on the Halifax River. From the looks of the bar, it surprised me that they even had beer other than in cans that smell like cigarettes.
Then, a Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA at home.

[malarkey]

Rogue's Imperial IPA in the big black bottle.

[kanljung]

Starobrno Czech lager together with some quesadillas and then a bottle of Ruddles county ale, a really splendid english ale.

[suzilightning]

yeungling lager ......part of a complete meal with Bacon!

check out the New York Times Style Magazine this week(1 may). page 42-43 is a story on yeungling

[Matsusaka Ushi]

Yesterday: Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA.

First time I've had this beer. Its amazingly good. Not quite like any of the other IPA's I've ever had. I must say, this is probably my new favorite IPA now.

[jeffc666]

Yesterday: Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA.

First time I've had this beer. Its amazingly good. Not quite like any of the other IPA's I've ever had. I must say, this is probably my new favorite IPA now.

Not sure if you got to sample it on draft or not, but the draft version is leagues better than the 12oz bottled variety. A few years ago they used to bottle it in 750ml bottles and it was divine. Anyhow look for it on draft you will not be dissapointed.

[jeffc666]

Currently drinking a New River Pale Ale brewed by Old Dominoin here in Northern Virginia. One of, if not the best, American Style Pale Ales I have ever had. A perfect brew after 4 long hours of yard work in the beautiful 62 degree weather.

[BrentKulman]

Yesterday: Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA.

First time I've had this beer. Its amazingly good. Not quite like any of the other IPA's I've ever had. I must say, this is probably my new favorite IPA now.

My next door neighboor gave me a couple of bottles of this a few months ago and I have been sitting on them, waiting for just the right occasion to crack one open. Well, your post was just the kick in the pants I needed.

Here are my tasting notes:

Appearance: Pours a light/medium amber clear body with a fluffy egg white head; reasonably good lacing

Smell: The grapefruit hops is the first thing that hits you; take a deeper whiff and some other odors break through, such as pine, brandy and a bit of toffee

Taste: Although the hop profile is unmistakable, this is actually somewhat sweet; starts out with toffee and grapefruit; builds into a bit of brandy soaked raisins in the middle; in the finish, the hops return to close the deal, subsuming everything else other than a touch of sweet toffee on the tip of the tongue

Mouthfeel: Fairly thick for an IPA; syrupy and oily with a modest amount of carbonation

Drinkability: Wonderful brew, but I sure wouldn't want more than one; there is a lot going on and this beer demands that you pay attention to it

[chromedome]

Unibroue Fin du Monde. And an Alexander Keith's IPA, as a nod towards home.

[petite tête de chou]

Throughout Sunday afternoon we had Alaskan Summer Ale, Widmer Widberry and Mirror Pond Pale Ale. Perfect for a warm but very wet day spent in the garden.

[2roost]

Sunday - A mid afternoon Ale (Belhaven Wee Heavy) and then a Heineken with dinner guests before dinner

Monday - A Radeburger Pilsner post work.

[Matsusaka Ushi]

May 2nd: La Trapp Quardrupel Ale, Dogfish Head 60minute IPA, and in a pinch I drank some Kirin.

The 60 minute was not nearly as good as the 90 minute. Much more hoppy, but it didnt have that dark full almost chocolate/carmel flavor that the 90 minute did. I'll stick with the 90 minute, and keep trying to find the 120 minute in my area. I'm not a huge IPA fan, but so this softened hop flavor is much more my style

The La Trapp is about average for its type. A bit too sweet for my taste, and too expensive. It did have a nice warm alcohol feel in the finish, chest warming for the cold that overtook the midwest.

Kirin, eh... whatever.

May 3rd: Dogfish Head Raison D`Etre (2000 vintage from what I can tell). I was a little worried by the dust on this when I went to Bostons, but it was quite good. Sweet, slight peppery from the beets and not too thick or overly carmel flavored. I have always liked this beer, but its not a long term drinking beer. I can drink a few, then switch off.

I have a Scaldis but I havent opened it. I'll report on that later.