Ace of Spades HQ

March 01, 2014

Food Thread: Special Addition -- Beer [CBD]
— Open Blogger

Please direct all political discussion to the Crimea Post Below

A regular reader has graciously offered to save us from the regular Food Thread blather about CAC's favorite food (arugula) and other assorted inanities by providing an introduction to the world of craft beers.

Chronicles from a beerslinger

What's better on a Saturday afternoon then a non-professional critique about beer. Not just any beer, mind you, but craft beers. I don't love craft beers because I am a beer snob; I snub the snobs! I love craft beer because of the quality of the ingredients used and the time allotted to brew the beer, resulting in a fuller styled beer, and higher alcohol content, (or drunkenness factor, herein referred to as ABV - alcohol by volume), over those consumed from macro-breweries, (herein referred to as InBev (google it slacker). In a nutshell, InBev is just another example of a massive macro-brewing conglomerate that has dominated in assaulting the majority of American's dry palates with watered down barley, AKA cheap beer, for decades).

Simply put, craft beers yield higher alcohol by volume, which means less to consume. Yes, the costs are higher, (what inflation?), but the amount you need to drink is less. Which can lessen your waistbands by inches by the end of baseball season, depending on how much baseball you absorb.

We will need to add food to these higher gravity beers. I am in no way a "foodie", but food is a must to keep our heads afloat in this, the first, (of possibly), many an epic beer journeys.

I do need to say, before I further breech the yeasty, malts of the craft beer waters...that we all must come to the reality that we live in different regions of the country, scenes if you will, resulting in different accessibility to the myriad of micro beers that may or may not grace your local burgeoning craft beer scenes/beer shoppes. I'm not so much into scenes.. So conversations can flow betwixt yourselves in your comments below...

And now, about the beers I am going to lament, in this here beer soliloquy that I have so graciously been granted...

I'll start with a lager...because, well, I think the best place for us to start, is with a Lager. Lagers, which include pilsners, kolsh's, maibocks, the list is too extensive so insert etc., etc., are cold brewed, resulting in a cleaner, crisper, and possibly more appealing flavor to the INBEV crowd. But lagers have come a long way and helped craft all this, so no disrespect intended.

Blue Point - Toasted Lager - Patchogue NY

This NY beer fell in my lap. It's clean, yet full bodied, (just sayin' the beer's got swagger for you InBev kids)...It's definitely a winner if you are accustomed to craft beer bodies and prefer a multi dimensional lager. Toasted malts, just as the name implies, so think toasty sweetness. You want just a straight up lager? Go with Oskar Blues , Mamma's Little Yellow Pils(Fort Collins Colorado). It goes down smooth. Is a Czech style Pilsener, and don't be shy of the fact it comes in a can. Thanks to FDA regulations, (I never thought I'd say that), all cans are lined with food grade plastics. So don't listen to the person say they are picking up hints of metallic from the can. Raise the B.S. flag on that. And you greenies out there are gonna love the recycling factor. Snark.

Let's roll over to the dark side.

Jack's Abby Brewery - Jack's Evil Brew - Framingham Massachusetts

& Evil Twin, that twin brother dude who broke away from his brother Milleken in Belgium to become a gypsy brewer on the east side of the United States, have paired up to bring us this brilliant black lager.

A black lager is technically a dark German beer, a Schwarzbier, if you prefer the proper German terminology, & if you want to sound posh & probably preposterous to your friends. I was never keen on lagers, but I do enjoy many a black lager, (Why's it gotta be black?). Strangely conflicting color to taste. This lager allows morons & 'ettes, who normally might would not give a dark beer a shot, very possibly enjoying just that, a shot of darker beer.
There's a hint of chocolate from the slightly roasted malts. NOW I sound like a beer snob. Let me stop waxing poetic.

Must I be obliged to pair it? I ask this of all you self proclaimed "foodies" out there. I dunno, I'd cook some shrimp & garlic with it. Going out on a limb here, but maybe, just maybe, coconut shrimp? Moving onward...and out....

On to a luscious vanilla porter..

Ballast Point - Victory at Sea - San Diego, California

This one's going to be my Cadillac past when it's all said and done. It's big, it's full, and it has a very, very rich body. It makes me think, I might be up all night. Ah! Brewed with coffee. There it is. More simply put, ...it made the stunted conversation at my dinner party break out into this little ditty...(thank God for Google glass & realtime spyware around my house, and to all my musically inclined friends...Yes that's me playing the spoons....and please wait for the harmonica to chime in....

Ironically enough, in my sea of a beer swollen brain, it occurs to me, Victory at Sea would also pair well with anything pirates might eat. Sea Bass, Wild Boar, pan fried mermaids - oh so succulent - again, whatever's accessible, would be desirable with 'er. Just eat something, before you get in over your head. I highly recommend this one only slightly chilled....trade your pirate booty if thoust be willing!

And I will close by broadening this little beer horizon thread by alternating to a sour. "It's alive! ALIVE!" okay, so it's just a yeast colony, however, not any yeast colony mind you. But this beer IS alive. Aren't they all? If dead, open, and float it down the mainstream. What is this beer you ask...

Allagash - Midnight Brett - Portland, Maine

These now phat cats first got their start as New England's original Belgian-style brewery. The yeast, this particular strain known as Brettanomyces, (to get biologically hip on yo asses, or maybe biologically, the colony's alive on yo asses, ew, anyway, where was I?) Oh yes, this encephalopod of a beer, although foreign, is benign, but in a very nice, benign alien way. I would go so far as to say a champagne of beer. No Miller High Life, mind you! And I mean that in best possible way. Surprisingly dark in color. You'll have to find it, and buy it, if you can get your hands on it. This beer is well worth the pretty penny, gold, booty, busted bitcoin , vintage baseball cards, or whatever you morons are trading these days....

On deck for the next session:
India Pale Ales (possibly another shout out to Ballst Point for their Sculpin IPA), & Spring Seasonals.....and maybe, just maybe, if the Russians behave, a Russian Imperial Stout. Fit for a Czar....(no I am not referring to his majesty Obama here, nor Putin). Or whatever you morons & "ettes' want critiqued....

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:45 AM | Comments (108)
Post contains 1222 words, total size 8 kb.

1 Good thirsty morning

Posted by: Tominca at March 01, 2014 07:46 AM (wsPYX)

2 I've got high hops for this thread!

Posted by: Tominca at March 01, 2014 07:47 AM (wsPYX)

3 My birthday was Thursday & all I asked from the wifey was a garage refrigerator full of microbrew beer. She done good.

Posted by: CAPTAIN SENSIBLE at March 01, 2014 07:49 AM (KCJxV)

4 Stay thirsty my friends.

Posted by: The Least Interesting Commenter In The World at March 01, 2014 07:53 AM (vBKG5)

5 and maybe, just maybe, if the Russians behave, a Russian Imperial Stout. Fit for a Czar....

North Coast's Old Rasputin is a good one.

Posted by: Ed Wood VS Godzilla at March 01, 2014 07:55 AM (qAaZs)

6 After ABV gets above about 9%....the brews are too sweet for my tastes.

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 07:56 AM (j7iSn)

7 I like the India Pale Ales but I am such a moron the initials IPA did not register for a long time.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at March 01, 2014 07:58 AM (vBKG5)

8 I've got high hops for this thread! Posted by: Tominca at March 01, 2014 11:47 AM (wsPYX) Me too. I can barley contain myself.

Posted by: YIKES! at March 01, 2014 07:58 AM (mETGQ)

9 Ill be over here crying softly in they corner over my inability to handle wheat. I can talk.about cider.though. *sob sob*

Posted by: Lauren at March 01, 2014 07:59 AM (hFL/3)

10 I must note that I prefer my mermaids sautÃ©ed. Pan frying leaves crumbs from the breading in their hair. Too gritty! Although it is much larger than when I first started drinking it 30 years ago, San Francisco's own Anchor Steam beer is still one of my crafty favorites

Posted by: Tominca at March 01, 2014 07:59 AM (wsPYX)

11 My favorite beer is Hop Wrangler made in Knoxville, IA. Very hoppy and it provides wholesome dietary fiber because barley.

Posted by: Angel with a sword at March 01, 2014 08:00 AM (hpgw1)

12 LOL, CBD I have seen a dog get drunk off of beer but not a cat. I have seen a cat eat halepeno peppers though.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at March 01, 2014 08:03 AM (T2V/1)

13 Oh come on now. Just wait a cotton pickin minute here. An entire post about beer, with no mention of Wisconsin ? It's like I don't even know you people anymore.

Posted by: grammie winger at March 01, 2014 08:04 AM (oMKp3)

14 .....resulting in a fuller styled beer, and higher alcohol content

Which is why we will never have one here because then they would have to dilute it which ruins the reason for having it. We are limited by law on the top content.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at March 01, 2014 08:04 AM (T2V/1)

15 California beer?? Seriously ??

Posted by: grammie winger at March 01, 2014 08:05 AM (oMKp3)

16 Me too. I can barley contain myself. Posted by: YIKES! at March 01, 2014 11:58 AM (mETGQ) Wheat til I think of a better one than that.

Posted by: Tominca at March 01, 2014 08:06 AM (wsPYX)

17 Nice post.

Posted by: eman at March 01, 2014 08:07 AM (AO9UG)

18 New Glarus. Spotted Cow. Or Fat Squirrel.

Posted by: grammie winger at March 01, 2014 08:08 AM (oMKp3)

19 Where's Heather? She needs to be here.

Posted by: grammie winger at March 01, 2014 08:08 AM (oMKp3)

20 There are three kinds of beer in my garage fridge: Shiner Bock for everyday use. Pacifico for a light, crisp thirst quench. Miller Lite because my daughter left it there last August.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at March 01, 2014 08:10 AM (vBKG5)

21 @10 Anchor Steam is one of my go to beers. I have enjoyed for years. For those of us in So. Cal., there are craft beer tours. San Diego has an amazing number of craft breweries. It's like Napa wine tours except more manly.

Posted by: Beer Ninja at March 01, 2014 08:11 AM (598AG)

22 Grammies, Seriously. Actually the owner of Anchor Brewing, Fritz Maytag (washing machine heir) is frequently credited with helping kick off the micro brew industry. They also make a porter that is quite good but a little heavy to my taste.

Posted by: Tominca at March 01, 2014 08:11 AM (wsPYX)

23 >>>Wheat til I think of a better one than that. Well, hop to it.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at March 01, 2014 08:12 AM (vBKG5)

24 I've been homebrewing since 1991 and a certified beer judge for 6 years, so I will read this thread.

Posted by: Roy at March 01, 2014 08:13 AM (tiOTz)

25 Well, hop to it. Posted by: Mr. Dave at March 01, 2014 12:12 PM (vBKG5) It will bring this to a head and I don't want to get canned.

Posted by: Tominca at March 01, 2014 08:14 AM (wsPYX)

26 20 Miller Lite because my daughter left it there last August.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at March 01, 2014 12:10 PM (vBKG5)

I used to drink Miller Lite because that was out softball team beer. Then they started funding those illegals protest parades and I quit.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at March 01, 2014 08:16 AM (T2V/1)

27 I like pie.

Posted by: Joe Biden at March 01, 2014 08:16 AM (8ZskC)

28 Craft beers don't always have higher alcohol. A lot of them have the same 4-5% ABV as InBev swill. One of my favorite styles is Berliner Weiss, which is under 3.5%

Posted by: Roy at March 01, 2014 08:16 AM (tiOTz)

29 Travel guide to some of Wisconsin's craft breweries:

http://tinyurl.com/ldz6qgo

Posted by: grammie winger at March 01, 2014 08:17 AM (oMKp3)

30 9 Ill be over here crying softly in they corner over my inability to handle wheat. I can talk.about cider.though. *sob sob* Posted by: Lauren at March 01, 2014 11:59 AM (hFL/3) There are beers brewed with sorghum....no gluten.

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 08:18 AM (j7iSn)

31 Miller Lite gives me a headache and no buzz.

Posted by: Mr. Dave at March 01, 2014 08:19 AM (vBKG5)

32 Reminds me...I have a brew kit that a friend gave me for Christmas.
And I keep putting off trying it.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at March 01, 2014 08:20 AM (DPkKe)

33 Coors Light must be real cold to be properly appreciated. So cold, you can ice skate on it. Actually, that's the best way to appreciate it.

Posted by: Roy at March 01, 2014 08:20 AM (tiOTz)

34 Posted by: Mr. Dave at March 01, 2014 12:19 PM (vBKG5) Some people drink Coors Light 'cause it has less flavor than regular Coors.

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 08:20 AM (j7iSn)

35 When I drink beer I prefer Yuengling or Shiner.

But I generally am serious about drinking, so It's usually Rum

Posted by: Zakn at March 01, 2014 08:21 AM (zyaZ1)

36 35 When I drink beer I prefer Yuengling or Shiner<< Yuengling is on my 'desert island" beer list. Actually, in the top two.

Posted by: Roy at March 01, 2014 08:22 AM (tiOTz)

37 Bignjames, That's true, but are.they worth it?

Posted by: Lauren at March 01, 2014 08:24 AM (hFL/3)

38 There is a cool phone app called Untappd that allows you to keep track of and rate beers that you have had. It also maps it so, you can remember where you had a particular brew. And, it will tell you the local breweries and brew pubs are relative to you location. I make it a habit to try as many local beers as I can when I travel and find it a pretty handy app to use. Mostly because with as many craft beers that are available now, I have a hard time keeping track.

Posted by: Beer Ninja at March 01, 2014 08:25 AM (598AG)

39 That's true, but are.they worth it? Posted by: Lauren at March 01, 2014 12:24 PM (hFL/3) The one I tried was ok.....made by Bud, I think.

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 08:26 AM (j7iSn)

40 I tried a beer called Ommegang Abbey Ale a few weeks ago. Phenomenal. But apparently it's hard to come by down here in the Lone Star state.

Posted by: Elephant in the Room at March 01, 2014 08:28 AM (Ggh94)

41 That's true, but are.they worth it? Posted by: Lauren at March 01, 2014 12:24 PM (hFL/3) http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/03/the-best-and-worst-gluten-free-beers.html

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 08:30 AM (j7iSn)

42
I mostly relegate beer drinking to summertime, beers are just too filling (great taste!) anymore, I'm just gettin old I guess. So whiskey it is.

That said, still a fair size brewery, but I always loved the Sam Adams brew. It just tastes like what I think a beer should be.

I do experiment with the crafts when I have a chance and by far better than the big brews.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 01, 2014 08:30 AM (gorVZ)

43 Hubby an I did a "brews cruise" vacation in Michigan last year. 16 tap rooms and four beer bars in 8 days, and only one hangover. Went from Detroit to Grand Rapids with stops in Holland and Kalamazoo along the way. Best tap room of the Big Three of the Michigan craft beer scene (Founder's, Bell's, and New Holland) IMHO was Bell's. Best "discovery" was Brewery Vivant. Amazing Belgians, top notch food, crazy cool tap room converted from a funereal home. And we got to meet Jesse Pinkman AKA Aaron Paul when we were in Detroit. Yeah bitch!

Posted by: nightwitch at March 01, 2014 08:31 AM (5zn1Z)

44 I would prefer Yuengling too but it is a little pricey here. Actually since I don't drink that much beer anymore except when mowing grass I probably could go to it.

Mostly when I do my drinking now I drink a cheap blended whiskey.

Posted by: Vic[/i] at March 01, 2014 08:31 AM (T2V/1)

45 Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 01, 2014 12:30 PM (gorVZ) SA has several pretty good brews.....I like their Black Lager.

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 08:32 AM (j7iSn)

46 Damn, a beer thread breaks out while I'm installing a fuel pump.

Posted by: Countrysquire at March 01, 2014 08:32 AM (8FyP4)

47 Simply put, craft beers yield higher alcohol by volume, which means less to consume. Yes, the costs are higher, (what inflation?), but the amount you need to drink is less. --- At this point I'm such a lightweight (after living in Utah for going on 4 years) that I rarely drink more than two beers of any type. The idea of metering my beer consumption to get loaded doesn't compute for me. I won't even drive after one low-alcohol Utah beer.

Posted by: Y-not at March 01, 2014 08:32 AM (zDsvJ)

48
Oh, and good thread, you can never go wrong with a beer thread at the hq.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 01, 2014 08:36 AM (gorVZ)

49
But you forgot the busty wench serving beer pic.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 01, 2014 08:37 AM (gorVZ)

50 >>Wheat til I think of a better one than that. Gluteny is a sin.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 01, 2014 08:37 AM (SUKHu)

51 Crock pot woes: Have an ancient, ugly, permanently stained crock pot that works perfectly. So of course I decide I need a new shiny one. With a "warm" setting, which I thought would come in handy. And it's bigger. The new one, either because it's bigger or because it runs hotter, tends to need more liquid or it burns stuff on the edges. That's fine for some recipes, but kinda messes up some where you are trying to end up with a non-watery sauce. Now I have found a bunch of tiny cracks on the bottom and side of it. Still on the outside, not the inside, but not. good. Tempted to throw the whole thing away and go back to my old one. (it's more than a year old so I can't exactly return it)

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 01, 2014 08:44 AM (SUKHu)

52 Lauren - I will get some gluten free beers and/or ciders on deck for you. Old Rasputin is the one I had on deck for a Russian Imperial Stout, however, it doesn't look like I'll be going there for a while. For the other morons that antagonize that I missed a few....I can only drink so many beers a night. I know my tolerance, mostly, and unless you know a liver donor, I can only drink X amount per research session. Add that to allotted blogging realty space and you get what you got. I do prefer IPAs...and was really reaching out to expand my horizons for this rant. There are a thousand beautiful craft beers out there so feel free (while freedom still rings) to tell us about the ones you prefer. You can skip the food for all I care....

Posted by: beerslinger at March 01, 2014 08:47 AM (b4joU)

53 "Yuengling is on my 'desert island" beer list. Actually, in the top two."

Same here.

And it's $15.99 a case for 24 loose fill bottles at out local store.

Cheapest beer in the store.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at March 01, 2014 08:48 AM (DPkKe)

54 I highly recommend brew horn.com.....upload the app and start plugging away!

Posted by: beerslinger at March 01, 2014 08:49 AM (b4joU)

55 Homebrew! Having said that, when you say "Schwarzbier" you have to put the emphasis on "Schwarz" and say it like Dark Helmet in Spaceballs.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) at March 01, 2014 08:50 AM (hq5sb)

56 Sadly, Blue Point was acquired by inbev recently.

Posted by: Dr. Shatterhand at March 01, 2014 08:50 AM (gl2Yt)

57 Posted by: Mama AJ at March 01, 2014 12:44 PM (SUKHu) Sadly the newer crockpots tend to run hotter for food safety. However, I find lots of little spider cracks in my crock pot as well, and it's just the enamel coloring cracking. If you can't see it through the inside it's probably OK. (And even then I kept using my crockpot for almost 6 months until food starting making it way through the crack.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) at March 01, 2014 08:52 AM (hq5sb)

58 Tempted to throw the whole thing away and go back to my old one. (it's more than a year old so I can't exactly return it) --- I dipped my toe into crock pot (slow cooker) cooking a year or so ago. Did a lot of research to find one that was the right size (not too big, not too small) and had the features I wanted (auto shut off, removable insert, and -most importantly to me- the ability to sear inside the unit). Go a really nice one (can't remember if it was Breville or Cuisinart) at Williams Sonoma on a big sale. The damned thing went haywire on the third usage. Almost burned the house down. I think they must've had a bad batch in manufacturing because I subsequently read all sorts of folks who had to return their b/c of electrical issue. Good thing was W-S took it back w/out difficulty. So now I'll only buy that sort of thing from W-S or from Costco, who also has a good return policy. BTW, I bought a small cheapo one but really didn't find I was using it. It didn't have the shut off feature. I'm thinking about getting one of those Ninja things.

Posted by: Y-not at March 01, 2014 08:53 AM (zDsvJ)

59 Being a former Michigan resident now living in Kentucky, it's kind of a shock to see the difference in the craft beer scene here versus there. In the Commonwealth, you've got a fairly good brewery in Country Boy, an up-and-comer in Lore, decent enough stuff from Bluegrass Brewing, Kentucky Ale, and West Sixth... and that's about it (not really a fan of Against The Grain, but maybe I've just gotten a couple of bad ones in a row from them). In Southwest Michigan, there's something pretty much world-class wherever you look. As far as all-time favorites go, I'm mostly partial to the Belgian-style stuff as well as the darker, heavier fare... New Holland Dragon's Milk, North Coast Old Rasputin, Ommegang Three Philosophers, Bell's The Wild One, Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada Obscura... things like that.

Posted by: The Rogue Economist at March 01, 2014 08:54 AM (Bljl8)

60 >>Sadly the newer crockpots tend to run hotter for food safety. Oh, is that it? Thanks, I was wondering if I was imagining it. Really makes a difference for some recipes. >>However, I find lots of little spider cracks in my crock pot as well, and it's just the enamel coloring cracking. I hope it's just that. I may just put it in the garage, use the old one and keep the new improved model for church pot lucks and when I want to cook something large. >>Almost burned the house down. Yikes.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 01, 2014 08:59 AM (SUKHu)

61 Thanks, guys. The only gluten free beer Ive tried is Omission and it was just meh. Ill have to check out some on then best list. As for cider, I shamefully likely Stella's "Cidre" despite how much a douche that makes me.

Posted by: Lauren at March 01, 2014 09:01 AM (hFL/3)

62 Rock Art brewery in Morrisville VT. Belvedere Big IPA. Just yummy.

Posted by: Anthony L. at March 01, 2014 09:01 AM (34n6F)

63 Posted by: Mama AJ at March 01, 2014 12:59 PM (SUKHu) My soups boil on low

. I've seen it suggested that perhaps you should only cook on low until you reach that critical temperature and then go to keep warm (which is still quite toasty). But that defeats the "set and forget" nature of the crockpot. Having said that, two things: 1) Liners, I hate them, but if I have something burn prone, I use them. 2) They are still great for roasting huge pieces of meat (coffee rubbed pork butt anyone?

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) at March 01, 2014 09:02 AM (hq5sb)

64 As for cider, I shamefully likely Stella's "Cidre" despite how much a douche that makes me. Posted by: Lauren at March 01, 2014 01:01 PM (hFL/3) I like cider occasionally....Hornsby's is ok.

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 09:03 AM (j7iSn)

65 Posted by: Lauren at March 01, 2014 01:01 PM (hFL/3 Stella tastes like Wet boot. But from some odd reason that cider is quite good. No wheat though? Well then sadly my homebrew Graft cider may be right out (it uses 1 few onces of terrified wheat for head retention. Also some malt for flavor.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) at March 01, 2014 09:03 AM (hq5sb)

66 I gotta say, Jacques Pepin has almost sold me on the pressure cooker idea, especially given that I'm at high altitude.

Posted by: Y-not at March 01, 2014 09:04 AM (zDsvJ)

67 Terrified wheat? New process? (kidding)

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 09:05 AM (j7iSn)

68 I've heard that the Dixon cider is quite good. Sorry, I'll show myself out.

Posted by: Countrysquire at March 01, 2014 09:07 AM (8FyP4)

69 ted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 01:05 PM (j7iSn) DAMN YOU AUTOCORRECT. Whatever

. Speaking of whatever I need to place my hops rhizome's order at the local homebrew shop. We're going to try something new this year! (that is growing hops)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) at March 01, 2014 09:08 AM (hq5sb)

70 Stone in San Diego county is my #1 IPA. Dogfish (Delaware) is #1 imperial IPA. Good stuff from Bells in MI and Southern Tier in upstate NY. I'm sure Barky's fav has to be Stone's Arrogant Bastard Ale, but he might enjoy Pig's Ass London Porter from Harvest Moon in Montana.

Posted by: Virginia Conservative at March 01, 2014 09:10 AM (+pZwg)

71 Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) at March 01, 2014 01:08 PM (hq5sb) I haven't brewed in a few years...is there still a hop shortage? High prices?

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 09:11 AM (j7iSn)

72 I bought some cascade rhizomes off a guy on eBay, from New Mexico I think. They were producing cones within a couple months. I think the vines grow several inches a day, so be prepared.

Posted by: Countrysquire at March 01, 2014 09:11 AM (8FyP4)

73 Other great ones (IMHO) Honey Ale (high ABV) from Atlantic Brewing in Bar Harbor, ME Dragons Milk oak barrel aged Ale from New Holland Brewery in MI. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale out of PA. And heaven in a bottle is definitely the Gingerbread Stout from Hardywood brewery in Richmond, VA.

Posted by: Virginia Conservative at March 01, 2014 09:14 AM (+pZwg)

74 > 47 ... Posted by: Y-not at March 01, 2014 12:32 PM (zDsvJ) You might want to make a special occasion of getting to the Uinta Brewing Co's Brewhouse Pub (1722 S Fremont, Salt Lake) for a late lunch. They do half-sandwiches, as well as a mean chili. Made my last trip to Utah much more reasonable...

Posted by: ^;^ at March 01, 2014 09:15 AM (u/aVX)

75 You might want to make a special occasion of getting to the Uinta Brewing Co's Brewhouse Pub (1722 S Fremont, Salt Lake) for a late lunch. They do half-sandwiches, as well as a mean chili. -- Sounds good. Epic Brewing opened up a gastropub in Sugar House last year. We like it. Wish the menu was larger, but the things we had (like poutine and pigs ears) were good. Love their Big Bad Baptist stout.

Posted by: Y-not at March 01, 2014 09:18 AM (zDsvJ)

76 We also like Bohemian Brewery's place in south SLC (Holladay?). Very cosy. Good Czech beers and food.

Posted by: Y-not at March 01, 2014 09:19 AM (zDsvJ)

77 my favorite is the beer they named after me: Arrogant Bastard Ale

http://www.arrogantbastard.com/

Posted by: Tonto at March 01, 2014 09:23 AM (q+fqH)

78 Virginia Conservative....I love all three...Stone, Dogfish, Bell's, and then some....

Posted by: beerslinger at March 01, 2014 09:23 AM (b4joU)

79 Lauren - try Celia

Posted by: beerslinger at March 01, 2014 09:27 AM (b4joU)

80 I didn't know Blue Point got bought up by InBev....another one bites the dust....who's next?

Posted by: beerslinger at March 01, 2014 09:28 AM (b4joU)

81 Hops are relatively easy to grow and once you get them, they're like ivy, hard to get rid of. A perk, you don't need a lot of space, since they grow up the tendrils....Hop away...

Posted by: beerslinger at March 01, 2014 09:31 AM (b4joU)

Agreed with the posters above, Grand Rapids Michigan is Beer Nirvana.

Founders Centennial IPA on tap is a pleasure I wish I could share with all of you.

Posted by: Sokey the Drunk at March 01, 2014 09:34 AM (k4hO9)

83 Dark beers get a bad rap. Clearly, people are racist.

Posted by: flailing at March 01, 2014 09:37 AM (inQJB)

84 I brewed my first batch in 1978. When Guinness went from 70 cents to a dollar a bottle, I figured, hell, I could probably do this.

Pleased to see not a lot of our usual beer "anti-snobbery" here, yet. Maybe on the ONT?

Now here is a note on aging. Not the beer, the drinker. After several years of, let's admit it, manic pursuit of exotic styles, complex classic types, and surprising ingredients, most brewers will have a good idea of what they like to drink. And as life intrudes, you begin to appreciate the time-efficiency of your personal process, as other things get to be just as much fun as racking and bottling. Fair enough.

But I also used to have fellow brewers over for tastings. You have to do that you know, otherwise you just get to be an expert on the different brands of cough medicine that your non-beerfan friends say your porter tastes like. Almost all Belgians are sit-down beers. I like them a lot, but no longer attempt Trippels on the tractor.

I've found anything stronger or heavier-bodied than, say, a middle-of-the-road IPA to be a "dinner beer," not compatible with chores and gardening. And so I have found myself making more beers in that column than the stouts and honey'n'sherry-yeast trappistes I was once famous (or avoided) for.

I'm sure those who have tried will agree: making an "American" style, for instance copying the old Rolling Rock, is a real technical accomplishment. About a hundred things can go wrong with a beer that light. I make a decent pale ale in the Bass tradition; most [older] people who've had a labeled "Pale Ale" were really drinking a marked-up lite.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 01, 2014 10:00 AM (xq1UY)

85 Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 01:11 PM (j7iSn) I've been broke, so new brewing lately. But the hop shortage had relented a bit when I was still doing it. Not say hops were cheap (making a IPA almost wasn't worth it.) But they weren't $10/oz

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) at March 01, 2014 10:00 AM (hq5sb)

86
I like the porters quite a lot, but they're too heavy for my everyday consumption. I tend to go with the Stone Smoked Porter most often, sometimes Hanger 24 Chocolate Porter.

For everyday beer it's pretty much the Firestone 805 for me. My brother is a big fan of many of the Firestone brews, so he insists that I stop at the brewery when I drive up to visit the family. It's right off the 101 in Paso Robles about 100 miles or so north of me. I have a couple of growlers that I take in to get refills on the trip up, to keep us supplied when I visit. Nice thing is, I try to get them refilled with brews that they don't normally bottle or sell outside of the brewery. They've got a Taphouse Brown that isn't sold elsewhere and it's heavenly.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 01, 2014 10:00 AM (aYjRw)

87 Posted by: beerslinger at March 01, 2014 01:31 PM (b4joU) Supposedly they don't do well here (SC)...but I did see a vine in a colonial plantation garden. I've never tried growing them.

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 10:02 AM (j7iSn)

88 Red Tail Ale. There is no better. Except maybe Blue Heron.

Posted by: Teh Most Interesting Man at March 01, 2014 10:03 AM (dTh2r)

89 Stay thirsty, my friends.

Posted by: Teh Most Interesting Man at March 01, 2014 10:03 AM (dTh2r)

90 I am big on IPAs. And one of the best I've had is Bell's Hopslam. If you want hops, they got 'em.

As for Pilsners, you might as well go to the source: Pilsner Urquell, brewed in Plzeň, Czech Republic. My daughter brought me two free cases of the stuff, courtesy of her co-oping at a brewery for one term in college. Yeah, life is good...

Posted by: Tex Lovera at March 01, 2014 10:24 AM (s9PzP)

91 Michigan has many world class breweries. My fav beer is the World Beer Cup Gold medalist Winner Kuhnhenn DRIPA (double rice IPA) From Kuhnhenn Brew. Warren MI. Only on tap for now but plans to bottle this Summer. Its sold all over. http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2097/36988/

Posted by: Peppermintpattysclitring at March 01, 2014 10:30 AM (mzD0X)

92 Also as prev poster pointed out, Oskar Blues Deviant Dale is very, very good IPA.

Posted by: Peppermintpattysclitring at March 01, 2014 10:33 AM (mzD0X)

93 California beer?? Seriously ??

Posted by: grammie winger

We take a lot of abuse here on the HQ but if you insult our beer you are looking for a fight you will lose.

You have been warned.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i][/b] at March 01, 2014 10:38 AM (uctT+)

94 Shiner Bock is the beer that gets me through the day. Could Meat Loaf be wrong?

I keep Lone Star around for the guests I like well enough but don't want them to stay forever.

I keep Coors Light around for when I don't want flavor to interrupt my binge...

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at March 01, 2014 10:39 AM (XO6WW)

95 I like Asahi Super Dry with sushi.

Posted by: Y-not at March 01, 2014 10:45 AM (zDsvJ)

96 Figures. One of the few times I've turned on the tv to see if anything good is on, a beer thread breaks out.

Couple of things. Definitely hats off to Anchor Steam. They did indeed get the ball rolling concerning Craft beers.

And concerning Kentucky brews. I've had Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, and liked it so much actually made a beer run from Kansas City to Lexington just to tour the Brewery. Fun tour, no reservations.

And of course here in KC we have Boulevard Beer, which started as craft and became the second largest brewery in Missouri, outside of A-B in St. Louis.

Posted by: HH at March 01, 2014 10:51 AM (XXwdv)

97 I like Asahi Super Dry with sushi.

Posted by: Y-not

If you can find it, try Ebisu. Much tastier than any of the other Big 3 (Sapporo, Asahi, and Suntory ) It's 100% malt brewed. The Big three are part adjunct.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i][/b] at March 01, 2014 10:53 AM (uctT+)

98 As I've gotten older I have developed a taste for Ale's. Especially this time of year. And as far as food, hell beer and brats!

That being said, can't find fault with a nice, lighter beer during the summer, particularly if you've been out and about doing yard work.

Yer hot and sweaty, take a cool shower, put on a clean dry shirt, make a sammich and pour yourself a cold one. THAT is when life is good.

And if the sun is going down, even better...

Posted by: HH at March 01, 2014 11:11 AM (XXwdv)

99 (Full disclosure: I am an investor of my friend's Culture Brewing Co. in lovely Solana Beach, CA...San Diego County..which was the 64th licensed microbrewery when it opened a year ago...now San Diego has 100! We don't have a canning/bottling line yet but we have a tasting room that unlike most of them, we are not ensconced in the back of some out-of-the-way industrial park where the patrons are all male, black t-shirt-wearing, prematurely bald, goateed snobs; our tasting room gets 50% hot ladies (with nice elbows) as we are on a main fashion boutique street)...anyways, aside from Culture's near-gluten free (10ppm) black lager and its IPA, 2xIPA, 3xIPA, Black IPA (and lower alcholol saisons aged in syrah/zinfandel barrels and a black currant tea-infused blonde ale (that is like an appertif)), I like Ommegang's 3 philosophers, Ballast Point's Sculpin, Knee Deep Hoptologist, Drake's Denoggin'nizer, Stone's Arrogant Double Bastard, Green Flash's Le Freak, Ale Smith Lil' Devil, Lost Abbey's Devotion. If any Morons are in San Diego, in La Jolla, the Public House is a beer-lover's paradise; quaint little 1907 bungalow with sun-drenched patio-garden that uses its detached garage as the tap-room to serve 50 Belgians on tap(!) and a Belgian/US/Danish-heavy menu of 450 beers, including all the Trappists (even that new one in Austria that has the honey duppel) and even sometimes Westvleteren 12 bottles. Pretty La Jolla ladies like going there too to sip the lower alcohol wits and saisons. I tried a saison that tasted like a manure farm....ick! Rochefort 10 still the best! Cigar City (Tampa Bay) had a collaborative one with a Belgian brewer called Tropical Tripel; very good with coconut vanilla! Rauchbier from Bamberg goes well with Mexican food as it has that chipotle-taste. Sorry for the length of this post; back to drinking heavily!

Posted by: Donovan Nuera at March 01, 2014 11:50 AM (4qrBj)

100 One of the best is Washington Island Wheat by the Capitol Brewing Company of Washington Island Wisconsin. It's a pale, almost lemon yellow and has an incredible fresh, almost citrus-y taste. No lingering sourness on your tongue. Light and clean, even after a couple. This beer is perfect to drink on a hot summer day, when you feel for a beer but don't want that sour, heavy, buzzed baseball game booze experience that drinking beer during the day gives you. It is absolutely perfect for drinking on a hot day. Very refreshing. Now, some online reviews give it a mediocre 7.8 rating, but it's a 10. On a hot sunny day, it tastes like a 10. Its sole mission in life is to be drunk on a scorching summer day. They now sell it in the Chicago area. I usually favor German and Czech beers. And Guinness.

Posted by: ahem at March 01, 2014 11:51 AM (lKGzI)

101 Founders Brewery (Michigan) came out for a "take over the taps" night; pretty good stuff. One was really "dry" tasting....unusual. made me thirsty for more beer. I am just glad we live in an age where we have all of these choices available. We are spoiled though. But it distracts one from working.

Posted by: Donovan Nuera at March 01, 2014 11:55 AM (4qrBj)

102 I'll drink InBev brands when I can't get my hands on my favorites (but only Stella or Corona). I don't like to taste new microbrews because it seems a lot of them are doing something that makes me think I'm drinking perfume. I'll stick to Carlsberg, Smithwicks, and Blue Moon until you microbrew meta-snobs get it right.

Posted by: Owen Kellogg at March 01, 2014 11:57 AM (njIoY)

103 plebe

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 12:04 PM (j7iSn)

104 #96

I've visited Half Moon Bay's brewery and Santa Cruz Mountain brewery; both have nice beer and the former has nice food and a gorgeous view.

Posted by: Captain Hate at March 01, 2014 12:07 PM (2YXbl)

105 Speaking of Guinness...

Like I said, I like Ale's. And I've actually been to St. James Gate in Dublin. I toured the brewery then, although I understand it has gone way upscale since I was there back in '89. Loved the Guinness there.

But I've always thought there was a problem. Guinness doesn't travel well. I've had it in Ireland and England, but here in the U.S. it just doesn't taste the same.

Dunno why but I've had other people agree with me when I've brought it up.

Posted by: HH at March 01, 2014 01:23 PM (XXwdv)

106 Posted by: HH at March 01, 2014 05:23 PM (XXwdv) I think it's brewed in Canada.

Posted by: BignJames at March 01, 2014 02:32 PM (j7iSn)

107 102 - Donovan Nuera - I too like Green Flash. And...since you live on the west coast - have you seen it? I too love the imperial IPAa. That said, I haven't met too many black IPAs that I fell in lust with, other than Uinta's Dubhe and maybe a couple others. Regarding Saisons, I have had a lot of these farmhouse ales that have what beer adjective assholes call...earthy. I don't have a lot of love for them, but please try, and I'm confident you have, Matt's Burining Rosids from Stone. It is a cherry wood smoked imperial saison dedicated to the memory of a new brewer, (early 20's) that Stone had hired, who died in a forklift accident on site. Regardless, it is the only saison that kept me going back to the tap for more. Best of luck to you on your venture! Sounds like a swell (swill?) place. I will make the trek to San Diego next time I'm on the left coast for a visit.

Posted by: beerslinger at March 01, 2014 09:03 PM (b4joU)

108 I love craft beer and drink it with dinner most nights, so I'm glad to see this thread! FWIW, I find the Untapped app very useful.

Posted by: WannabeAnglican at March 02, 2014 04:36 AM (vFmT2)

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