Beer snob thread!

[Richfield Kid]

Love this thread!

There are some really great suggestions here. I've been livin in Colorado for a few years now and we just don't have some of the beers you guys are talking about, but I remember them from my Winking Lizard days when I still lived in C-town. It really says something about how important and regional the micro-brew industry has become.

I have to say first that my two favorite breweries are Avery and Dogfish Head. They are truly today's beer pioneers. Try Dogfish Head's Palo Santo Marron. You can read about it here. It's 12% and crazy delicious, but it'll put you back about $15 for a 4-pack. Ouch! If you like stout's and like the New Belgium Brewing Company (Fat Tire) try their 1554. It's one of my favorite Colorado-made beers, mostly because of the smoothness. My favorite porter right now is the Black Butte Porter from Deschuts BC. They made a 21st anniversary version that has chocolate and coffee in it and DAMN it is good. I'm aging a couple right now and will see how it has evolved in a year or so.

I just went to the Vail Big Beer Festival where about 50 brewers show off their biggest (flavor and/or alcoholic, I guess) beers and/or Belgians. WOW!!!! Most breweries only had 2-4 choices, but Avery had 15!!! Needless to say, my friends and I spent most of the time hanging out by the Avery booth, which to our delight was right next to the Dogfish Head booth. I knew I couldn't taste every beer at the event without risking death, so I decided to skip every beer I had already tasted. It wasn't very difficult. I even had the chance to try the Samuel Adams (their booth was labeled "Boston Beer Company") Utopia. If you've never heard of it, it is 23%, aged for 12 years and costs $300 for what looks like a liter. I was lucky enough to get 3 sips for no extra cost above the $45 I spent for the event itself. I've never had a beer like it. No carbonation, syrupy, VERY strong, but surprisingly easy to drink and delicious. I would never recommend buying it to someone not totally rich, but if you have a chance at a festival, go for it.

I could probably write 3 pages of my thoughts on beer, but I have to go watch some League Pass. I'll end with the fact that you guys are crazy lucky to have the Great Lakes Brewing Company out your back door. This is coming from a guy who lived in Germany for 2 years and took a few trips to Belgium while I was there. Edmund Fitzgerald is one of the best beers in the world. The Willoughby Brewing Company makes some very good brews, too, but they don't bottle. Their food is very good, too, so if you find yourself in Lake County with some money to burn, get some fine dinner and take home a jug of whatever seasonal they got. You won't be disappointed.

 

[MDLT]

Just had a Belgian called Palm which was quite good. I'm partial to Leffe though

 

[mad5427]

Anything Trappist and you can't go wrong.

Achel Blonde and Chimay "Blue" are my favorites. I would put Rochefort 10 above both 8 and 6. My goal in life is to one day have some Westvleteren 12. Many consider it the best beer in the world, but you pretty much have to go there to get it. That's also after supposedly a 6 month wait list. I've heard you can order it online at about $30 or so a beer, but am not sure and haven't seen it. That's too much for a beer anyways. That's half a bottle of a decent Isley scotch.

I've yet to have a bad beer from the breweries Bells and Dogfish Head. Both are just great breweries. Everytime I go to Virginia, I try to pick up a bottle of 120 minute IPA. Surprisingly balanced for a beer with 20+% alcohol. It's illegal to sell here in NC as they have a 15 or 16% limit. I can only get up to 90 minute here, which is still pretty great.

I got a couple Hopslams the other day. I try, but just have never been a huge fan of super high hoppy beers. I can tell it's an amazing beer and honey really does wonders, but it's just too much hops for me. I can't explain it, but some beers that I know are very high hop beers I'm fine with, but sometimes it's just too much. I gave it a shot since it just came out and is of very limited supply, but it's just not for me. I think this is why I gravitate towards Belgian ales. The hops are almost always nicely balanced so they don't take over.

I thankfully got back to Cleveland in time this past Christmas to get a couple six packs of Christmas Ale from Great Lakes. Always wonderful. I'm not sure if you can get this in Cleveland, but New Belgium makes a beer called 2 Below. This might be my favorite winter beer. I've also been putting back a bunch of Bells Third Coast Old Ales and have a few beers left of their Cherry Stout.

 

[Gunther]

Has anyone had a decent pumkin ale? I love the concept, but I've yet to have one that delivered on its promises. I always picure a creamy ale with a nice bouquet of smooth deliciousness with a hint of spices like cinnamon or fivespice. Unfortunately, I usually get a brown watery bottle of pre-vomit. Any good experiences with pumkin ales?

 

[ClevelandCWRU]

My tastes shift seasonally when it comes to beer (like a lot people) so, here's an update on have been my favorites over the past month or so:

-Stone Cali-Belgique: It's very similar to their standard IPA, but this is made using a Belgian culture. Quite nice, an instant favorite of mine. The Winking Lizard in Conventry's had it on tap all of Jan. and it is their "glass of the month" for Feb. too, I believe. If you see it anywhere, definitely give it a try.
-GLBC's Conway's Irish Ale: GLBC's seasonal for this time of year...I like it a lot and a great change of pace from their regular line-up, but it's certainly not my personal favorite of theirs.
-Rogue's Dead Guy's Ale: One of my all-time favorites, great any time if you can afford it! It's expensive to buy bottled, but worth it to splurge occasionally if you like great beer...I've never really had anything else that compare to it. The price difference is negligible on tap, but I've only seen two places out here that have it on draft.
-Bells Two-Hearted Ale: Just an awesome IPA that hadn't had for a while.


Some beers I've tried recently as well:
-Someone mentioned Bells Third Coast...I just had one Saturday, and I gotta say I'm not a fan. It's a pale ale, and I usually like pale ales a lot, but this one just doesn't do anything for me. I wouldn't say I "hated" it, but I doubt I'll buy it again.
-Holy Grail Ale: Very solid, if not spectacular. I found it very flavorful yet easy to drink. I liked it and can definitely see ordering this again.
-I finally gave in and tried Hoegaarden for the first time...BLEGH! It's gross, and not because it's a "wheat beer." I love wheat beers, but this was just awful...nor was it cheap! I'd rather not drink beer than order this again, that's how much I hated it.

The Stone Cali-Belgique and Rogue Dead Guy's and Bells Two Hearted are all must-try beers. The Rogue is excellent yet unique, and the Stone and Two Hearted are two of the finest IPA's you'll ever fine.

Enjoy!

 

[ClevelandCWRU]

Has anyone had a decent pumkin ale? I love the concept, but I've yet to have one that delivered on its promises. I always picure a creamy ale with a nice bouquet of smooth deliciousness with a hint of spices like cinnamon or fivespice. Unfortunately, I usually get a brown watery bottle of pre-vomit. Any good experiences with pumkin ales?

I'm not a fan of most beers brewed with fruit/vegetable so I can't provide my opinion there...but you can start by checking this list out from Beeradvocate.com

http://beeradvocate.com/top_beers?this_cId=&this_style=99&cId=&style=72

The top 8 rated pumpkin ales:

1 The Great Pumpkin Pumpkin Ale Elysian Brewing Company
2 Pumpkin Ale Selin's Grove Brewing Company
3 Pumking Southern Tier Brewing Company
4 Schlafly Pumpkin Ale Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room
5 Kuhnhenn All Hallows Ale Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
6 Pumpkin Ale Williamsburg AleWerks
7 Great Pumpkin Ale Cambridge Brewing Company
8 Pumple Drumkin Spiced Ale Cisco Brewers Inc.

 

[Gunther]

I'm not a fan of most beers brewed with fruit/vegetable so I can't provide my opinion there...but you can start by checking this list out from Beeradvocate.com

http://beeradvocate.com/top_beers?this_cId=&this_style=99&cId=&style=72

The top 8 rated pumpkin ales:

1 The Great Pumpkin Pumpkin Ale Elysian Brewing Company
2 Pumpkin Ale Selin's Grove Brewing Company
3 Pumking Southern Tier Brewing Company
4 Schlafly Pumpkin Ale Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room
5 Kuhnhenn All Hallows Ale Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
6 Pumpkin Ale Williamsburg AleWerks
7 Great Pumpkin Ale Cambridge Brewing Company
8 Pumple Drumkin Spiced Ale Cisco Brewers Inc.

Thanks! Old school rep for the info and for attending my alma mater!

 

[Brandname]

My tastes shift seasonally when it comes to beer (like a lot people) so, here's an update on have been my favorites over the past month or so:

-Stone Cali-Belgique: It's very similar to their standard IPA, but this is made using a Belgian culture. Quite nice, an instant favorite of mine. The Winking Lizard in Conventry's had it on tap all of Jan. and it is their "glass of the month" for Feb. too, I believe. If you see it anywhere, definitely give it a try.
-GLBC's Conway's Irish Ale: GLBC's seasonal for this time of year...I like it a lot and a great change of pace from their regular line-up, but it's certainly not my personal favorite of theirs.
-Rogue's Dead Guy's Ale: One of my all-time favorites, great any time if you can afford it! It's expensive to buy bottled, but worth it to splurge occasionally if you like great beer...I've never really had anything else that compare to it. The price difference is negligible on tap, but I've only seen two places out here that have it on draft.
-Bells Two-Hearted Ale: Just an awesome IPA that hadn't had for a while.


Some beers I've tried recently as well:
-Someone mentioned Bells Third Coast...I just had one Saturday, and I gotta say I'm not a fan. It's a pale ale, and I usually like pale ales a lot, but this one just doesn't do anything for me. I wouldn't say I "hated" it, but I doubt I'll buy it again.
-Holy Grail Ale: Very solid, if not spectacular. I found it very flavorful yet easy to drink. I liked it and can definitely see ordering this again.
-I finally gave in and tried Hoegaarden for the first time...BLEGH! It's gross, and not because it's a "wheat beer." I love wheat beers, but this was just awful...nor was it cheap! I'd rather not drink beer than order this again, that's how much I hated it.

The Stone Cali-Belgique and Rogue Dead Guy's and Bells Two Hearted are all must-try beers. The Rogue is excellent yet unique, and the Stone and Two Hearted are two of the finest IPA's you'll ever fine.

Enjoy!

I agree, and that was surprising to me! I didn't expect much since it seemed like it could just be gimmicky, but it was actually a quality beer for sure.

Bell's Two-Hearted is definitely a solid IPA. It's my standard IPA I go back to if I want an everyday kind of drink.

Thanks! Old school rep for the info and for attending my alma mater!

CWRU is my alma mater as well.

 

[The Oi]

I'm not a fan of most beers brewed with fruit/vegetable so I can't provide my opinion there...but you can start by checking this list out from Beeradvocate.com

http://beeradvocate.com/top_beers?this_cId=&this_style=99&cId=&style=72

The top 8 rated pumpkin ales:

1 The Great Pumpkin Pumpkin Ale Elysian Brewing Company
2 Pumpkin Ale Selin's Grove Brewing Company
3 Pumking Southern Tier Brewing Company
4 Schlafly Pumpkin Ale Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room
5 Kuhnhenn All Hallows Ale Kuhnhenn Brewing Company
6 Pumpkin Ale Williamsburg AleWerks
7 Great Pumpkin Ale Cambridge Brewing Company
8 Pumple Drumkin Spiced Ale Cisco Brewers Inc.

What is it about pumpkin that makes for such a declicious ale? God, it's delicious.

Question for some of the connoiseurs in here...

Why are Trappist beers always so highly rated? Is the quality really there with them?

 

[mad5427]

I think the Trappist beers are so highly rated because they are as consistent as they get. As a whole, Belgium makes some amazing beers, Trappist and non-Trappist breweries. Since there are only seven Trappist and all of their beers have been around and the same for a very long time, it's just easy to lump them all together. They also have developed their own yeast blends, etc. and their process is perfected, tried and true. I bet a Chimay bought today would be no different than one from twenty years ago.

I've tried pretty much every Trappist beer that has been available stateside and they have all been extremely well balanced and each had distinctive qualities and flavors and were all top notch. I've had similar styled beers from non-Trappist breweries that were as good if not better, but the consistency is always there for the Trappist. I personally like the flavors of them all and can easily recommend any of them.

It's interesting because every single Trappist beer is different. All equally high quality, yet different.

 

[Ajak0410]

For cheap beer I like Coors, I'm also a big fan of Blue Moon, any of the Great Lakes standards, Newcastle, and Sam Adams.

I like Coors too but mainly because it means everyone in the room is going to hear my Sam Elliot impression whether they like it or not.

 

[Randolphkeys]

What is it about pumpkin that makes for such a declicious ale? God, it's delicious.

Question for some of the connoiseurs in here...

Why are Trappist beers always so highly rated? Is the quality really there with them?

Trappist monks don't have sex... they just make perfect beer that is almost as good as sex, and have for over 800 years.

 

[ButterMPancakes]

This thread fails without pics

this seems to be really hit or miss amongst beer drinkers, but I still love it.


and for the stronger kind

 

[The Oi]

Russian Imperials always seem to be highly rated on beeradvocate as well. What do they taste like?

 

[ButterMPancakes]

I've never been able to describe the taste of beer very well, but it tastes like a much stronger stout. Honestly, the biggest thing about it was a hint of mocha (well, actually much more noticeable than just a hint), especially from the foam.