I've noticed that this sub-forum does not get a lot of use, but this is the obvious place for this post. I like beer :) I have been an avid home brewer for years, and also like to sample beers from local/regional micro-breweries, as well as foreign offerings. I thought I would start a thread reviewing various brews. It would be great if other beer aficionados would add their own. Right now, I'm having a Pale Ale from the Columbus Brewing Company. Advertised on the carrier as "copper-colored with a dry finish", it comes from a micro-brewery built in the brewery district of Columbus, Ohio in 1988. I purchased it at Giant Eagle, which has a very impressive selection. Cost was towards the high end, $8.99 a sixer. The color of the beer is indeed copper, although I find it quite a few shades darker than most brews that bill themselves as "Pale Ales". The head is light tan in color, and clings stubbornly to the glass, like a Jew clinging to a lie. A slight citrus element is present, along with a heavy hop aroma. They use a mixture of German and American malts, and American grown hops. The first thing you notice is that this beer has a lot of hops. It has a crisp and woodsy undertone that compliments an almost over-the-top heavy hop presence. The finish is clean with no discernable aftertaste. This would be a good beer to introduce someone who is just moving past "Bud Light" on the beer quality meter to, as it is pretty tame with easy drink-ability, but the heavy hop signature might turn some beer neophytes off. I give it a 6.5 on a 1-10 scale. It's a passable representation of the style, but more than a few better Pale Ales are out there. Website: WWW.COLUMBUSBREWING.COM

Awesome thread, Hibernian. I fucking hate cheap beer, and the people who drink it piss me off to no end.

Lately I've been quite fond of Belgian ales and other similar strong ale.
I'm drinking a glass of Chimay right now. It's hopped just enough to offset the maltiness, and the high alcohol content ensures a clean aftertaste, with just a hint of sweetness.

There are several beers made in Quebec that compare favorably to Trappist ales. My personal favorites are Don de Dieu and Trois Pistoles.

I like Seirra Nevada Portter, when I have a chance too relax. A felloiw White Nationalist introduced this to me the night before the Lansing, Michigan rally. I also had my first long island ice tea.

I like Sierra Nevada Porter, when I have a chance to relax. A fellow White Nationalist introduced this to me the night before the Lansing, Michigan rally. I also had my first long island ice tea.

Sierra Nevada makes good beer. Nice choice. If you like Sierra Nevada Porter, you will love Anchor Porter, from Anchor brewery in San Francisco. It's one of the very best widely available Porters. In fact, just about every brew from Anchor brewery is quite exceptional. Anchor Steam lager is one of my top all-time favorite 5 brews. Website: WWW.ANCHORBREWING.COM

Awesome thread, Hibernian. I fucking hate cheap beer, and the people who drink it piss me off to no end.

Lately I've been quite fond of Belgian ales and other similar strong ale.
I'm drinking a glass of Chimay right now. It's hopped just enough to offset the maltiness, and the high alcohol content ensures a clean aftertaste, with just a hint of sweetness.

There are several beers made in Quebec that compare favorably to Trappist ales. My personal favorites are Don de Dieu and Trois Pistoles.

You know, I have never brewed or even had a Belgian Ale. I've seen Chimay reviewed as top notch many times, but have never tried it. I will do so postehaste. I saw Chimay offered for the first time locally (in 4 bottle packs) just last month, so I guess availability was an issue in my latecoming to the Monk's offerings. :) Thanks for the review.

I like my beer like I DON"T like my men, black and free.:cool:

I really like 1554, a black ale from the New Belgium Brewing Co. It's smoother than Guinness, tasty stuff.
http://www.newbelgium.com/beers_bk.php

I like my beer like I DON"T like my men, black and free.:cool:

I really like 1554, a black ale from the New Belgium Brewing Co. It's smoother than Guinness, tasty stuff.
http://www.newbelgium.com/beers_bk.php

Blasphemy! I don't think they'll be weaning any of us off Guinness anytime soon, lassie! I am Irish, you understand..:) I haven't seen that ale offered here locally, it looks and sounds like a great brew. Do you feel your knowledge of beer adequate enough to give us a short review the next time you happen upon some? Hint Hint :) Thanks for the heads-up. I'll keep my eye out for it.

I've always said Light and Beer are two words that usually don't belong together in the same sentence. Sort of like Jew and compassion. However, they are apropos in describing Grolsche Bierbrowerij's Grolsch Premium Lager. It's a pale yellow that looks almost Bud Light watered down in the glass. But don't be fooled into thinking it's a fair comparison. It's not. "Light" beer is almost universally bad. "Light or lite" beer is like making love in a canoe: It's fucking close to water :) Grolsch has been brewed in Enschede, Holland since 1615. It's a world class full golden lager. The head pours compact and stark white, and dissipates to a light skim within seconds in a clean, frosted glass. The hop aroma signature is initially quite sharp. It has that " pine forest" hop aroma that calls up visions of clear blue Alpine Lakes amidst snow-covered peaks common in beers/ales that use the hops that grow in the low Alps of our Aryan homeland Europe. The beer has a very slight fruity taste in the mouth that no doubt is a nice aspect of the type of strongly aromatic hops used. The finish is crisp and clear, as one would expect from the lightly malted offering from the lowlands. This is a fine example of a classic European lager. Great to have after mowing the lawn in August, or a hard day's work with Einsatzgruppe A. 8.7 on the scale, it's a cut above any mass produced 'Kwan lager. It's widely available, and the cost was $7.99. WWW.GROLSCH.COM

I've always said Light and Beer are two words that usually don't belong together in the same sentence. Sort of like Jew and compassion. However, they are apropos in describing Grolsche Bierbrowerij's Grolsch Premium Lager. It's a pale yellow that looks almost Bud Light watered down in the glass. But don't be fooled into thinking it's a fair comparison. It's not. "Light" beer is almost universally bad. "Light or lite" beer is like making love in a canoe: It's fucking close to water Grolsch has been brewed in Enschede, Holland since 1615. It's a world class full golden lager. The head pours compact and stark white, and dissipates to a light skim within seconds in a clean, frosted glass. The hop aroma signature is initially quite sharp. It has that " pine forest" hop aroma that calls up visions of clear blue Alpine Lakes amidst snow-covered peaks common in beers/ales that use the hops that grow in the low Alps of our Aryan homeland Europe. The beer has a very slight fruity taste in the mouth that no doubt is a nice aspect of the type of strongly aromatic hops used. The finish is crisp and clear, as one would expect from the lightly malted offering from the lowlands. This is a fine example of a classic European lager. Great to have after mowing the lawn in August, or a hard day's work with Einsatzgruppe A. 8.7 on the scale, it's a cut above any mass produced 'Kwan lager. It's widely available, and the cost was $7.99. WWW.GROLSCH.COM

Damn I really want a beer right now.

Blasphemy! I don't think they'll be weaning any of us off Guinness anytime soon, lassie! I am Irish, you understand.. I haven't seen that ale offered here locally, it looks and sounds like a great brew. Do you feel your knowledge of beer adequate enough to give us a short review the next time you happen upon some? Hint Hint Thanks for the heads-up. I'll keep my eye out for it.

Are you asking me to review 1554, beyond my simplistic prior description? Whether you are or not, I think I'll go find some and get back with you on that.:)

Are you asking me to review 1554, beyond my simplistic prior description? Whether you are or not, I think I'll go find some and get back with you on that.:)

I most humbly do ask..lol. The more people who appreciate good beer that post reviews, the better. You don't have to be a writer, I sure as hell ain't. You don't have to know the nomenclature. You'll pick that up if you keep up with the thread. VNN is a lot of things. This thread can (and will, even if it's just mine) grow over time to include literally hundreds of reviews. Brewing Mead/beer is a very ancient and fascinating Aryan art. I intend, in a very small way, for this thread to become a future resource for those of our folk who will be coming to VNNF and might find it of some interest. You see, here at VNNF we serve all your WN informational needs. Think of us as Aryan~Mart. :)

In the early-19th century, Our White ancestors, in the form of the British Empire, ruled India. Land of Tigers. And "Holy Men" who drink their own piss. I'm guessing Altoids were a big seller in India in those days. Anyway, the Brits had a bit of a sticky wicket with their troops Pale ale supply. It spoiled on the weeks long schooner trip from Jolly Old England. Which really pissed (no pun intended) the lads straight off, as India tends to get rather hot, and Gatorade had not been invented yet. (for you public school graduates) To solve the problem, Those crafty Aryan brewers started adding large amounts of hops during the lagering (aging) of the ale as a preservative. They then shipped the ale off in new oak-lined kegs, and "hopped" for the best.

When tapped by thirsty British troopers, the normally golden pale ale had turned a deep copper, and the extra hops had indeed preserved the ale to perfection, and added a fruity bouquet that was truly distinctive. They christened the transformed brew "India Pale Ale." (IPA) Honest. I don't make this shit up. I was on Jeopardy! dammit!

Still reading? Or did you run off to check CNN to see if David Duke is the real father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby? :)

I've tried Lots of IPAs. It's one of my favorite styles of ale. Goose Island India Pale Ale hails from the Goose Island brewery in Chicago. Which seems to make sense. I've never had one. Let's try one together, shall we?

This ale is the color of strong iced tea. The head is tan and creamy. Aroma is hops hops hops. I catch a whiff of orange and a very light undertone of what smells like fresh-cut grass, if that makes sense. Very pleasant. Smells like Spring. This ale is lightly malted, allowing the full flavor of the very aromatic hops to dominate. If you don't like hoppy beer/ale, you will Hate this one. The beer (all ale is beer, but not all beer is ale. Wrap your minds around that) is very light in both texture and flavor. It really does have a fruity taste to it, more so than other IPAs. It's not unpleasant though, and gives it a strong hop/bitter aftertaste. (As all IPAs have)

The alcohol content is going to be a little higher than you are used to if you consider Michelob imported. (It's not). The higher alcohol content is what allowed the ale to survive the voyage to the hinterlands of British India, which we once owned, and where now I have to call every time I need any sort of customer support. Fuck You Gandhi! In summary: It's a good IPA. The carrier boasts that it is "Recognized as among the world's finest". Only if the judges were niggers smoking assloads of crack. Don't get me wrong... It's a good IPA. But for a true example of a World Class India Pale Ale, look to England. I know I am. 6.1 on the scale. 7.99 a six. I'm guessing it's regional. WWW.GOOSEISLAND.COM

I Have tasted many beers domestic, imported, and micro beer. Guinness by far is the best Ive had.

Hey guys, what's wrong with cheap beer? The really SERIOUS drinkers I know prefer natural light or milwaukee's best. I figure the pros must know something :)

I actually like natural light ok. Doesn't taste bad. Just doesn't taste like much of anything except beer. Funny thing is, one of the best beers I ever drank was the cheapest beer in the whole store at the time. That MAY have been because they were discontinuing it, I'm not sure. It was called "fat cat lager" in a bright orange can with a cartoon cat on it. The can says something like "water, barley, hops... that's it" in fine print, and the stuff was great.

My dad's a beer snob like all you guys but I poured him a glass of it without letting him see the can and he said it was one of the best he'd had recently. This is a guy who only drinks stuff that costs 3 bucks a bottle or more. I wonder if he would have liked it as much if he saw a can that looked like soda pop, with a cartoon logo, and knew that it was 4 bucks for a 12-pack.

Damn I really want a beer right now.


Have one on me. :cool:


Yankee Jim Ice Strong Beer (http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/yankee-jim-ice-strong-beer/12150/)


-Jim

KWAn Beer is gahhhbage, however Sam Adams is not bad and sometimes they have Yankee brands with seasonal ales that are good too. European or homemade beer is the best way to go.

Yankee Jim, if that's not just a coincidence with the name, I'd seriously like to purchase some.

Assuming it's your homebrew, what name brand would you compare it to?

Beehr sucks. Have a shot of whiskey instead.

Beehr sucks. Have a shot of whiskey instead.


I will, thank you.
I don't know who the fuck Elijah Craig is, but he makes a damn fine bourbon.

I live in Ohio.

When I think of Cleveland, I don't think of great beer.

I think of niggers.

Now, that's no doubt because the city is chock full of the Neanderthal reprobates. However, I just might have to start cutting "The Mistake by the Lake" a little slack, cause I'm in love, and she hails from Cleveland.

If you are a Hop-Head like myself, you know the best IPAs are from England.

Period.

However...

Great Lakes Brewery's India Pale Ale offering, Commodore Perry, is indeed world class. O.K, stop laughing, you VNNF racist beer snobs..It truly is! Honest Inju...umm...Aryan!

This fully organic full bodied and well hopped ale pours Bart Simpson yellow in the chilled pub glass, with a tall, compact White head that dissipates quickly to a light froth.

The initial hop aroma is, of course, a citrus one, as is to be expected with all IPAs, but the the fact that the ale is dry-hopped (Fresh aromatic hops are added to the brew during fermentation, as well as during conditioning or "lagering" phase) impart a very strong hop signature that takes you away to a pristine Pine forest. A Pine forest where oranges and lemons grow.

Now don't that make you think of Cleveland? :)

The mouth feel of this small-batch brewed ale is angel light, with zero sweetness. It's as dry as the Sahara. No aftertaste. None. Nada. Zip. Zero. You get the idea. It's hella dry. Which is exactly what a great IPA needs. At least one of the things it needs.

The other is a balance that lets the lighter grains traditionally used in IPAs to shine through.

And shine Commodore Perry does Brothers. The hint of maltiness takes a back seat to the hops of course, but it's deliciously "barely there" malt earthiness compliments the English and Bavarian hops used perfectly.

It's high alcohol at 7.5 ABV (Bud Light is 3.2, Budweiser 4.9) as any truly legitimate European IPA is, (don't let that scare you, my little Eichmanns) but the drinkability is top notch.

This one is a winner guys. Pick it up if you see it.

Word.

7.99 a sixer, WWW.GREATLAKESBREWING.COM

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b346/a429MySpace/Alcohol/FwdFwHei.jpg

Quote:


Are you asking me to review 1554, beyond my simplistic prior description? Whether you are or not, I think I'll go find some and get back with you on that.

I most humbly do ask..lol. The more people who appreciate good beer that post reviews, the better. You don't have to be a writer, I sure as hell ain't. You don't have to know the nomenclature. You'll pick that up if you keep up with the thread. VNN is a lot of things. This thread can (and will, even if it's just mine) grow over time to include literally hundreds of reviews. Brewing Mead/beer is a very ancient and fascinating Aryan art. I intend, in a very small way, for this thread to become a future resource for those of our folk who will be coming to VNNF and might find it of some interest. You see, here at VNNF we serve all your WN informational needs. Think of us as Aryan~Mart.

Well I finally picked up some 1554, and I'm having one at the moment, so heres my review. I learned a few things going to various tastings with my friend ,who was a liqour salesperson.


A-Looks and pours a bit like Coke, and has a dark brown body with reddish highlights. Scant head, whats there is very dense and camel colored.

T-Flavor is chocolatey, mollassesy, smokey and slightly bitter in the mouth, but there is no bitterness in the aftertaste, which is very smooth. This beer has big flavor but finishes very clean. You take another drink right away.

M-not highly carbonated, taste and bubbles are nicely balanced.

D-this beer is black but not heavy, with a lot of flavor, I consider it very drinkable. It starts to get a bit sweet after 5 or so, so you may want to alternate glasses of it with pints of Guinness. :D

I'm a big fan of dark beer/ale, and 1554 sounds good. I still haven't seen it around here, but when I do, I'll pick it up.

Thanks for the review. Well done. :)

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale hails from Chico, California. Home of one great beer, and assloads of filthy Mexicans :) Kwanifornia, if you will.

This top fermenting Pale Ale is one of my all-time favorites. I have at least a six a month of this beer.

It pours deep amber into the chilled pub glass, and slightly cloudy, as it is bottle conditioned. (live yeast is added to each bottle at capping, allowing natural carbonation...Neat, huh?) Minimal compact head, which dissipates to lace within seconds in a clean glass.

The initial hop aroma is quite complex, Very fruity with the TONS of cascade hops used imparting a spicy aroma, with the very noticeable aroma of orange zest.

Two types of malt are used, I'm assuming they are both light American malts, because the maltiness is barely there. It's present, but faint. Very refreshing.

The mouth feel is very light, with the malt still taking a far back seat to the cascade hops. Cascade hops are Noble hops, which are VERY expensive to obtain. If you are good little VNNers, we will talk about Noble hops at length in a future review of a World-Class American Lager that uses only Noble hops.

Oh! The suspense, Hibernian! Tell us which beer!

No. Ha! :)

The finish is quite dry, as it should be with such a highly hopped brew. You'll want another.

It's 5.6 ABV, so once again, it's an ale that is just a little stronger than most 'Kwan mass produced swill.

5.99 a six, WWW.SIERRANEVADA.COM

Great review! I've had Sierra Nevada, tis a very tasty ale. I'm not a pale beer fan, either.
There isn't any beer thats hard to get here because we have 'Big Daddys' a literal liqour mall. which just happens to be right down the street from my new place. No ,it's not the ghetto.
One beer you can't get in the states that I'd really liketo try is 'Melbourne Bitters', which apparently is what gets all the Aussiholics drunk. :)

The best beer I had was in Luxemburg, Die Kirch if I recall correctly.. Also Belgian brands are good, and of course (Southern) German ones...

Samuel Adams was one of the original, and perhaps best known "micro-breweries" or small batch craft brewers that burst onto the American beer scene a few years back.

Best known for their excellent Boston Lager, Samuel Adams Pale Ale is one of the brewery's Brew Masters selection. It's seasonal, available during Spring/Summer only.

This ale pours light gold in the chilled pub glass, it actually looks a little watered down.

It's not.

The initial hop aroma is much more subdued than other Pale Ale's reviewed on this thread. It's got a slight pine forest note, which is nice, but I generally prefer a more aggressively hopped Pale Ale. One gets the feeling the brewer is trying hard not to offend neophyte Bud Lite drinkers.

English hops are used, Fuggles and East Kent Goldings.

American Amber 2-row malt is used, which explains it's really quite light complexion.

The finish is dry, with no discernible aftertaste.

All in all, a decent beer, but pretty unremarkable. Grab a Bass Ale instead.

6.99 a sixer, WWW.SAMUELADAMS.COM

Sam Adams is one of those beers that I really liked at first, maybe it was the brainwashing from the commercials.. then it started to just get too sweet and yeasty for me. Now I can't stand it. I haven't tried any of the other varieties, yet.

My favorite beer is Warsteiner, it's in a class all it's own. In a pinch I'll drink Heineken, and if I have to slum it a bit - Coors & Shiner Bochs are pretty good for the U.S. beers.

Warsteiner Premium Dunkel: If you have not tried this yet, find it. One of, if not the best dark beer I have ever had. Im lucky enough to have found a store that will order it for me. $30 bucks a case tho.

http://www.warsteiner-usa.com/product2.jsp



My favorite beer is Warsteiner, it's in a class all it's own. In a pinch I'll drink Heineken, and if I have to slum it a bit - Coors & Shiner Bochs are pretty good for the U.S. beers.

I've never been to Texas.

When I was 17, (about a hundred years ago) and a scared recruit at Parris Island for USMC boot (Platoon 3022. Third herd!) my best buddy and squad leader was from Texas.

The D.I.'s used to like to insult him by asking "Where are your horns? The only things that come out of Texas are steers and queers" HAW-HAW.

Hey, Chaucer they weren't.

Shiner Bock was first brewed by the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, TX in 1913. The brewery boasts of being Texas's oldest independent brewery. Independence is always a good thing, in my humble Irish opinion. :)

Bock beer was/is traditionally brewed in Der Fatherland to celebrate the arrival of Spring. It's an old style European lager. The Czech and German farmers built the brewery in 1909, because they wanted a taste of the Old World.

Shiner Bock pours a rich, ruby red in the chilled pub glass.

Where are the hops!?

The initial hop aroma is pretty much non-existent. Of course, Bock beer is not about the hops, but the malt. And malt it has.

In spades. The good kind of spades, you toxoid VNNF racist.

The head is full and long lasting, which is usually a good thing :)

This is a classic Bock beer, with a deep malt taste that "really grabs you by the boo-boo", as my GF says. I'm not exactly sure where my "boo-boo" is, but I'll consider it grabbed.

The mouth feel is surprisingly light and smooth for such a malty brew. Not heavy or sweet at all.

Bock beer, like some other styles, is an acquired taste. If your regular brew is anything akin to Bud Lite, you are not going to like this..lol.

The finish is not as clean as I like, just a little bitter. But really not enough to be a distraction.

It's a decent American example of the very old German Bock Lager style, but look across the Atlantic for the real thing.

6.99 a sixer at Giant Eagle. No website listed.

I worked at a Bavarian Rathskeller in Washington, DC and a regular customer was the late Werner von Braun, the V2 inventor brought to America by the Berlin airlift; no doubt he came looking for a little bit of home. I have his autograph somewhere on a cocktail napkin. The music was from an accordion, a violin, and two pianos. A large percentage of the customers always sang along to the popular songs in German. It was always very festive. The food was authentic, the chef from Argentina, and the customers all very decent. Lowenbrau was on draft, both light and dark, and in September the draft bock beer arrived. While I like dark beer, my favorite has always been Lowenbrau light draft, even at Oktoberfest.

Recently, I tried Bohemia from Mexico in glass and it is very good. The local grocery carries it and, for the price, I recommend it.

KWAn Beer is gahhhbage, however Sam Adams is not bad and sometimes they have Yankee brands with seasonal ales that are good too. European or homemade beer is the best way to go.

Sam Adams is owned by a kike, I heard.

The best cheap,local beer I've had is Yuengling Lager.

My favorite is Guinness.

My favorite beer is Warsteiner, it's in a class all it's own. In a pinch I'll drink Heineken, and if I have to slum it a bit - Coors & Shiner Bochs are pretty good for the U.S. beers.

Warsteiner...Mmmm. Bought a case a couple of weeks ago.



MASHER

In the early-19th century, Our White ancestors, in the form of the British Empire, ruled India. Land of Tigers. And "Holy Men" who drink their own piss. I'm guessing Altoids were a big seller in India in those days. Anyway, the Brits had a bit of a sticky wicket with their troops Pale ale supply. It spoiled on the weeks long schooner trip from Jolly Old England. Which really pissed (no pun intended) the lads straight off, as India tends to get rather hot, and Gatorade had not been invented yet. (for you public school graduates) To solve the problem, Those crafty Aryan brewers started adding large amounts of hops during the lagering (aging) of the ale as a preservative. They then shipped the ale off in new oak-lined kegs, and "hopped" for the best.

When tapped by thirsty British troopers, the normally golden pale ale had turned a deep copper, and the extra hops had indeed preserved the ale to perfection, and added a fruity bouquet that was truly distinctive. They christened the transformed brew "India Pale Ale." (IPA) Honest. I don't make this shit up. I was on Jeopardy! dammit!

Still reading? Or did you run off to check CNN to see if David Duke is the real father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby? :)

I've tried Lots of IPAs. It's one of my favorite styles of ale. Goose Island India Pale Ale hails from the Goose Island brewery in Chicago. Which seems to make sense. I've never had one. Let's try one together, shall we?

This ale is the color of strong iced tea. The head is tan and creamy. Aroma is hops hops hops. I catch a whiff of orange and a very light undertone of what smells like fresh-cut grass, if that makes sense. Very pleasant. Smells like Spring. This ale is lightly malted, allowing the full flavor of the very aromatic hops to dominate. If you don't like hoppy beer/ale, you will Hate this one. The beer (all ale is beer, but not all beer is ale. Wrap your minds around that) is very light in both texture and flavor. It really does have a fruity taste to it, more so than other IPAs. It's not unpleasant though, and gives it a strong hop/bitter aftertaste. (As all IPAs have)

The alcohol content is going to be a little higher than you are used to if you consider Michelob imported. (It's not). The higher alcohol content is what allowed the ale to survive the voyage to the hinterlands of British India, which we once owned, and where now I have to call every time I need any sort of customer support. Fuck You Gandhi! In summary: It's a good IPA. The carrier boasts that it is "Recognized as among the world's finest". Only if the judges were niggers smoking assloads of crack. Don't get me wrong... It's a good IPA. But for a true example of a World Class India Pale Ale, look to England. I know I am. 6.1 on the scale. 7.99 a six. I'm guessing it's regional. WWW.GOOSEISLAND.COM


I had occasion to try this beer again last night, and my 6.1 score was a little low. Might have gotten a light struck sixer last time. This is a pretty good IPA. Revised score: 8.7

Warsteiner Dunkel!

Get some!!!

88

Just got back from my local version of Oktoberfest. Granted it is a very meek substitute, but I digress.

Featured: Warsteiner beer

Hefeweizen Very good stuff. Has the color and the hint of cloudy amber you expect from Hefe. The major difference from a regular Hefe and Warsteiner is the spice. Upon the first sip you can taste a mild cinnamon or nutmeg spice to it. Before you start to think about spiced beer, the rest of the flavors kick in to add richness and body to it. The spice flavor is very mild and blends in well with the overall taste of the beer.

Some Hefe is made better by a dash of salt or a squeeze of lemon, but this one has a perfect flavor right out of the tap. A+


Dunkel: This is one of my favorite beers of all time, as seen in a post below. This beer has a wonderful reddish brown color and mouthwatering aroma. Many people are turned off at the sound of a “dark” beer. They have not tried the Dunkel.

After the first sip you know you have never had a beer like this. A hint of spice and a slight berry flavor leads to the clean flavors of malt. This beer leaves no heavy aftertaste like those other dark beers you have had. Dunkel does not make you feel like you are drinking a heavy meal at your Thanksgiving table. For all the flavor and dark color it is surprisingly refreshing and light. This is a beer I could drink all day and night if it wasn’t for that pesky alcohol limiting my intake. A++

If you like Bud, Miller, Coors or any of the other major American brands, forget spending the extra cash for real beer. Real beer has flavor, Warsteiner is not for you.

I dont know if it is related to the beer or not, but the last 2 nights I have been drinking Hefe and have had very lucid dreams just before I woke up. I am an active dreamer, but these were unusual. Could just be me, could be the beer, I really have no idea

If you have suffered through many of these reviews, you no doubt wonder why I review so many Pale ales?

What's with all the questions? You a bunch of fucking Kikes?

I kid, because I care.;)

OK, I know...I'm not nearly as funny as I think I am. You should see the negative rep I get. Alex called me a "perpetually inebriated Celtic goat fucker" once.:) Or maybe that was Dad?:confused:

Anyway:

Saranac Pale Ale is touted as "..a classic English Pale Ale.." brewed in Utica, Jew York. Why, I have no idea.

The beer pours a rich copper-amber in the chilled pub glass. Bright White head which lingers as a noticeable skim until the bottom of the glass, and laces the entire glass.

Kent Goldings & Fuggles hops are used for both bittering and finishing, and I mean an Auschwitz-bound Hops Uber Alles boxcar full of 'em.

Initial aroma is strong. Very fruity. I'm talking Richard Simmons-fruity. This is another pale ale that is aggressively hopped.

Did I mention it's got a lot of hops?

The mouth feel is medium, with a hint of caramel (caramel malt, I assume?) and pretty bitter. Not too bitter, mind you.

Finish is crisp, no aftertaste. Sahara-dry.

If you don't like hops, you shouldn't purchase this ale. You probably shouldn't even look at it on the shelf at Beers R Us..

This ain't Miller Chill, vato blanco.

I like it, 7.1 on the scale.

5.7 ABV. 6.99 a sixer, www.saranac.com

I've got like 4 more beers to review tonight.

I'm Irish. I get funnier as I drink.

I promise. Stay tuned.

If you have suffered through many of these reviews, you no doubt wonder why I review so many Pale ales?

What's with all the questions? You a bunch of fucking Kikes?

I kid, because I care.;)

OK, I know...I'm not nearly as funny as I think I am. You should see the negative rep I get. Alex called me a "perpetually inebriated Celtic goat fucker" once.:) Or maybe that was Dad?:confused:

Anyway:

Saranac Pale Ale is touted as "..a classic English Pale Ale.." brewed in Utica, Jew York. Why, I have no idea.

The beer pours a rich copper-amber in the chilled pub glass. Bright White head which lingers as a noticeable skim until the bottom of the glass, and laces the entire glass.

Kent Goldings & Fuggles hops are used for both bittering and finishing, and I mean an Auschwitz-bound Hops Uber Alles boxcar full of 'em.

Initial aroma is strong. Very fruity. I'm talking Richard Simmons-fruity. This is another pale ale that is aggressively hopped.

Did I mention it's got a lot of hops?

The mouth feel is medium, with a hint of caramel (caramel malt, I assume?) and pretty bitter. Not too bitter, mind you.

Finish is crisp, no aftertaste. Sahara-dry.

If you don't like hops, you shouldn't purchase this ale. You probably shouldn't even look at it on the shelf at Beers R Us..

This ain't Miller Chill, vato blanco.

I like it, 7.1 on the scale.

5.7 ABV. 6.99 a sixer, www.saranac.com (http://www.saranac.com)

I've got like 4 more beers to review tonight.

I'm Irish. I get funnier as I drink.

I promise. Stay tuned.

I had that beer once when I was in the finger lakes area of NY. It takes a little getting used to. I'd give more like a 6.5. Reminded me of Bass Ale.

GREL

Warsteiner is the Budweiser of Germany as Grolsch is the Bud of Holland. Heineken is overcarbonated without much flavor otherwise. Pilsner Urquel and Stella Artois are great lagers with awesome full flavor. Try a Corona/lime and a single malt/rocks in the other hand; sip back to back, prepare to see GOD........

Warsteiner is the Budweiser of Germany as Grolsch is the Bud of Holland. Heineken is overcarbonated without much flavor otherwise. Pilsner Urquel and Stella Artois are great lagers with awesome full flavor. Try a Corona/lime and a single malt/rocks in the other hand; sip back to back, prepare to see GOD........
Corona is bitter mexican pisswater ...the lime makes it more tolerable.

Dos Equis is decent beaner swill ...my fave hands down is Sam Adams lager.

Single malt Scotch is awesome, I drink it straight ....but I thought this thread was about beer .... :D

Corona is bitter mexican pisswater ...the lime makes it more tolerable.

Dos Equis is decent beaner swill ...my fave hands down is Sam Adams lager.

Single malt Scotch is awesome, I drink it straight ....but I thought this thread was about beer .... :D

I never drink hard liquor of any sort. I'm a big guy, and I get mean.

I'm a happy drunk on beer!:D (Although I rarely imbibe past the point of slight intoxication these days...The hangovers do indeed "hurt more than they used to")

I'm not a fan of Corona. Never was. Corona has a good marketing dept, and that's about it.

Dos Equis is indeed better, but not by much. Simpatico is decent beer, I think it's from Mexico. I haven't had (or seen one) in years.

I've got a couple of bottles of Samuel Adam's Boston Lager in the fridge as I write. I usually drink ales, but when I want a lager more often than not it's a Sam Adams.

I've recently discovered Summit brewing's line of beers out of Wisconsin. Some of the best American beer I have sampled in a long time. I'm going to review their "Extra Pale Ale" later this week.

John Smith's bitter tastes great I have only just discovered it.

John Smith's bitter tastes great I have only just discovered it.

I've never seen it. Is it domestic or an import?

Achtung VNN beerophiles!

Summit doesn't brew good beer.

Summit brews great beer.

I want to get that out of the way right from the start.

The brewery, started in 1986, is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Saint Paul must be the patron Saint of hops and malt.

I've recently just discovered this brewery, as it's new to my region. I have tried a number of their ales, along with their pilsner offering. They have all been world-class.

Summit Brewing Co's India Pale Ale pours the color of strong Iced Tea in the chilled pub glass. The minimal head is cream colored, and quickly dissipates to a light skim that remains to lace the glass all the way down.

Nice.

The initial aroma is noble hops, (Northern Brewer & East Kent Golding are used for bittering, Dry-hopped with whole hop flower East Kent Golding) spicy and with a trace of citrus. A slight "warm biscuit" aroma is also there.

The taste is full bodied, with the malt playing the perfect subdued-but-there low note for the big hoppy bitterness that finishes Gobi Desert dry. Making you really want another.

This stuff is like crack, without the niggers.

Not that I smoke crack.

It's called a metaphor, you public school graduate bastards.:D

But I digress.

Mouth feel is very light, (2-row pale malt is used) and non-coating.

6.4% ABV, so like all true IPAs, it packs a noticeable non-Bud Light kick.

12.99 for the "Holiday Pack" that includes 3 India Pale Ales, 3 Extra Pale Ales, 3 Winter Ales and 3 Pilsners.

WWW.SUMMITBREWING.COM

since I moved i have not been able to pick up on my hobby of brewing beer... But soon i'll be. since i moved i was short on supplies so from the beging is just got what they sent me for my first brew:
crystal malt grain
cascade hops
some syrup
ect...

However i have been trying some of this beer they been selling at the Jewle.. its from a oregon micro brewy??? dead goo ale it has a skeleton sitting on an old wooden keg very cool, i collect beer bottles from micro brewss... BUT WHEN EVER POSSIBLE TRY TO GET MICRO BREWS FROM AMERICAN MICRO BREWERIES

sounds like beer from Rouge brewery

http://www.rogue.com/images/UpdatedLabels/Dead_Guy_Ale.gif

Some of their stuff is pretty good

YOU NAILED IT! THATS THE STUFF. AND YEA ITS GOOOOOD!

I love to drink Guinness, but it don't half pile on the pounds. I don't know if you have what we call Real Ale in the US (stuff like bitter beer) but I know you have Guinness. I will be visiting the Orlando FL in mid January and will very soon be sampling large amounts of US beer. I only hope it is better than what I tried on my usual vacations in Spain!

Advice on the best beer in Florida would be greatly appreciated! :)

In my humble opinion, they don't make a beer in the states. Unless it's micro-brew. IN fact most of us yearn for the day they will get to sit down in a real irish pub and have a nice bitter ale..

In my humble opinion, they don't make a beer in the states. Unless it's micro-brew. IN fact most of us yearn for the day they will get to sit down in a real irish pub and have a nice bitter ale..

Samuel Adams passes for beer. It ain't quality, but it's the best large scale domestic.

GREL

In my humble opinion, they don't make a beer in the states. Unless it's micro-brew. IN fact most of us yearn for the day they will get to sit down in a real irish pub and have a nice bitter ale..

This is not good news, IMHO there is huge amounts of great Ales to be found throughout the British Isles and Éire too. Spain was disapointing but it was easy enough to find pubs or bars that sold beer imported from the UK. Guinness is a drink I've never been disappointed with wherever I've drank it, whether brewed in Dublin or London, it is always great, unfortunately it does put weight on yer!

Cheers for the advice Comrade.

Samuel Adams passes for beer. It ain't quality, but it's the best large scale domestic.

GREL


Sam Adams is ok, but the idea of paying import prices for mass-produced American beer makes me mad.

Quote:
Originally Posted by General_Lee
Samuel Adams passes for beer. It ain't quality, but it's the best large scale domestic.

GREL


Sam Adams is ok, but the idea of paying import prices for mass-produced American beer makes me mad.

Especialy considering the company is owned by a jew.. aannd,,,NIGGERHATER NICE TO SEE YA BACK BUDDY!!!

Sam Adams is ok, but the idea of paying import prices for mass-produced American beer makes me mad.

I agree. I usually drink Guinness or Bass Ale if I'm drinking beer. But I live in a rural area of Mississippi and the good stuff isn't always available.

GREL

I enjoy a great micro brew just because its the principle behind the matter!

I dont really like many mass-produced beers, from here in the US.
Theres a little brewery called Three-Rivers in Farmington NM that makes Hop-Scotch Ale, which is really good, and another somewhat-mass-produced micro called Old Dominion, which is a really excellent barley-wine style beer. Its available more on the east coast, I think.

I love to drink Guinness, but it don't half pile on the pounds. I don't know if you have what we call Real Ale in the US (stuff like bitter beer) but I know you have Guinness. I will be visiting the Orlando FL in mid January and will very soon be sampling large amounts of US beer. I only hope it is better than what I tried on my usual vacations in Spain!

Advice on the best beer in Florida would be greatly appreciated! :)


BAWHAHAHAHAHA

BAWHAHAHAHAHA

WTF? :confused:

WTF? :confused:

Here is what i was talking about Sid. American beers for the most part suck, Sierra Nevada is pretty good though.

I will be visiting the Orlando FL in mid January and will very soon be sampling large amounts of US beer. I only hope it is better than what I tried on my usual vacations in Spain!

Here is what i was talking about Sid. American beers for the most part suck, Sierra Nevada is pretty good though.

Damn it! Looks like I'll have to stick to imported beer, and Jack Daniels.

Mind you, there is every chance that my vacation will be cancelled or postponed. Strike action by our wonderful and greedy 1970's style unions is set to close all the major airports here next month. :(

I agree. I usually drink Guinness or Bass Ale if I'm drinking beer. But I live in a rural area of Mississippi and the good stuff isn't always available.

GREL


I like most of the Sam Adams line of beers. I think I reviewed their Pale Ale a while back. The Boston Lager is quite nice.

There are much better beers available in every style they offer to be sure, but Samuel Adams is usually a safe bet if it's down to that or Bud Lite.:p

Here is what i was talking about Sid. American beers for the most part suck, Sierra Nevada is pretty good though.


I'm having a Sierra Nevada Pale ale right this moment. There is a review of it somewhere on this thread (I think).

Sierra Nevada is good beer.

Augusteiner Brau is by far the best German beer, the only kind I drink. It costs $35.00 plus tax and is well worth the price. I first had it while stationed in the Fatherland and have been drinking it for over 20 years now. It goes well with many kinds of food or all by itself. If you have the money to spare you can't go wrong.

Augusteiner Brau is by far the best German beer, the only kind I drink. It costs $35.00 plus tax and is well worth the price. I first had it while stationed in the Fatherland and have been drinking it for over 20 years now. It goes well with many kinds of food or all by itself. If you have the money to spare you can't go wrong.


Never heard of that one.

When I drink German beer, which isn't very often since most offered locally are lagers and I'm an ale guy, I drink St. Pauli Girl or Paulaner.

I assume Augusteiner Brau is a lager or pilsner?

I am not a beer drinker. Tried it many, many years ago. My main reaction was that I did not like all that gassy regurgitation effect (drank part of one beer and had beer with me all day... :ewww). I did once have a dark German beer in a restaurant and it had pretty good flavor and body. I have never bothered buying or checking out beer further because there are so many different types and brands I would have no idea where to start - and it seems to be worse today. I walk into the market and the beer aisle is staggering! I really don't want to buy six pack after six pack trying different beers I will end up not liking.

Can someone provide a brief description of just what the difference is between ales, lagers, pilsners, etc. and what brands you think are the best? You've all listed different brands here but it is like the market ... a very long list indeed. Where to start????

Thanks for any suggestions and info!

I am not a beer drinker. Tried it many, many years ago. My main reaction was that I did not like all that gassy regurgitation effect (drank part of one beer and had beer with me all day... :ewww). I did once have a dark German beer in a restaurant and it had pretty good flavor and body. I have never bothered buying or checking out beer further because there are so many different types and brands I would have no idea where to start - and it seems to be worse today. I walk into the market and the beer aisle is staggering! I really don't want to buy six pack after six pack trying different beers I will end up not liking.

Can someone provide a brief description of just what the difference is between ales, lagers, pilsners, etc. and what brands you think are the best? You've all listed different brands here but it is like the market ... a very long list indeed. Where to start????

Thanks for any suggestions and info!


Glad to. A lot of the better beers are "bottle conditioned", which means they carbonate naturally in the bottle. A whole lot less "gassy" as you described. Most mass produced beer has the Co2 injected.

All ale is beer, but not all beer is ale. Read that again...lol.

Ale is brewed with top-fermenting yeast, and at warmer temps. Lager (Pilsner is a form of lager) is brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast. Just do a search on "ale vs lager" and you will have more information that you will ever need.

As for what is best, it depends on what you like. Some beer is very "hoppy" or bitter, some is malty.

Ale can be an acquired taste, so I would suggest starting with lagers/pilsners.

A good lager? Sam Adams is decent beer, and widely available. Summit makes an excellent lager, as does Goose Island. Pilsner Urquell is probably the premier pils available.

Lots of breweries put out a "sample pack" with several different styles in one sixer or twelve. Easy way to try several beers/styles without buying a sixer of everything.

Beer is much, much more than Budweiser and Miller Lite.

Enjoy the trip.

Thanks for the info. I'll check that out online and see what is available in the stores, especially in a sampler pack. Will give it a try.

Out here on the west coast there is a chain of bar/restaurants called "The Yard House" The one near me has about 100 beers on tap. At one time they offered a sampler. 3 or 6 glasses of different beers in small tumbler type glasses.

This gave the ability to taste many different beers with out huge waste/drunkenness.

Thanks for the info. I'll check that out online and see what is available in the stores, especially in a sampler pack. Will give it a try.

Supposedly beer can make women more attractive. They actually did studies on this and found it to be true.

YouTube - Beer Makes Women Beautiful

Like being in Munich, well almost:

http://www.franziskaner.com/3_products/3_1_product_spectrum/images/fla_hell.jpg

Can gimmick:

http://www.liquidsolutions.biz/product/images/bodingtons.gif

I have a feeling Micro breweries will come to be the norm in the U. S. and the world...

Recently tried a beer called Smithwicks. It's made by Guinness. I kind of ruined the virgin experience of it as I had been drinking domestic all night, but I loved it. Had to be the smoothest beer I've ever tried. I've made it my "go-to-beer" for the foreseeable future.

I'm no beer connoisseur, so I can't really analyze the nuances of it, but the taste of hops and malt seemed so balanced as to almost cancel each other out. I'm not sure quite how else to put it. It was interesting to me anyway, as one who is just now expanding his horizons beyond just the usual crap. Also not one to really care about the color of beer, but I did enjoy the dark copper look of it. Looks like ice tea with froth.

My favorite beer is Paulaner(correct spelling), it's described as a "wheat beer" (lager I suppose).


It's 5 0/0 alcohol and tastes really good to me.

this is my favorite bieer:

http://www.beerstore.com.au/beerstore/uploads/beerImages/Bavaria_Large.jpg

and now i presents to you best Croatian black beer:

King Tomislav Rex Croatorum - beer what is made to be strongest, best black beer in the world - i never asked for 5. pinch, it is so strong...

http://www2.hgk.hr/znakovi/kvaliteta/slike/tomislav_boca.jpg

my favs. are velebitsko tamno, tomislav, guinness and harp...:D

http://www.tnpsc.com/downloads/Beerfest.jpg

http://www.wayfaring.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/beerfest.jpg

that is party!!!

I like my beer like I like my women - smooth and pure with exquisite taste!


http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/9f/a0/Warsteiner_Premium_Dunkel-resized200.jpg


http://www.ftd.de/asset/Image/2008/02/18/warsteiner.jpg

If you haven't tried Warsteiner Dunkel you're not living! Select roasted barley malts, brewed the same way since 1753 and in accordance with the German Beer Purity Law of 1516.

:swastikasmiley:

http://www.ilmorosrl.com/html/images/NEGRA%20M.jpg http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/res/68.$plit/C_71_article_1028172_image_list_image_list_item_0_image.jpghttp://justbeer.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/paulaner-oktoberfest.jpg

I fell in love with the idea of brewing beer some 8 years ago… this thread is great and Donnie great writing… Just recently cancelled my subscription for beer of the month www.BeerMonthClub.com
I truly had no option… yet I am delighted by the selection of beers sent and they had this little piece of paper where they would outline the different brew's that were sent. I would grab a unique cold one and read the description of the beer and really have a good time. I believe that is the true responsible way to drink… well okay there are other reasons as well but to think that I didn’t have a formaldehyde watered down bud in my hand made it even better. And to this day, since I started brewing, I have set my sights on opening a brew pub. But first thing first. By this I mean that I must start growing hops. And when spring hits I will try my hand at it for the first time.. I think I’m a hop junkie too, who isn’t? When it comes to enjoying nature, the legal way, then a simple cascade hop starter kit can really bring a family together.

in some ours bars this bier is banned:

http://www.worth1000.com/web/media/228429/Source/heinekencaptin.jpg


becouse it has red communist star...and that we dont like

I fell in love with the idea of brewing beer some 8 years ago… this thread is great and Donnie great writing… Just recently cancelled my subscription for beer of the month www.BeerMonthClub.com
I truly had no option… yet I am delighted by the selection of beers sent and they had this little piece of paper where they would outline the different brew's that were sent. I would grab a unique cold one and read the description of the beer and really have a good time. I believe that is the true responsible way to drink… well okay there are other reasons as well but to think that I didn’t have a formaldehyde watered down bud in my hand made it even better. And to this day, since I started brewing, I have set my sights on opening a brew pub. But first thing first. By this I mean that I must start growing hops. And when spring hits I will try my hand at it for the first time.. I think I’m a hop junkie too, who isn’t? When it comes to enjoying nature, the legal way, then a simple cascade hop starter kit can really bring a family together.




Thanks, bro.

If you can find it, check out Hop Devil IPA from Victory brewing.

www.victorybeer.com

I'll begin adding more reviews soon.

Victory brewing does have a good variety of beers. I was able to have “Hop Devil” brew sent to me in the different beers at beer of the month. I was able to enjoy the brew and it was very tasty… I live in an area that has an old brewing company, now converted to apartments, called Star Uion Brewing ompany. It operated in the late 1800 to about 1920, I guess it was during the prohibition times… I found the information on www.beerme.com and they have a very great list of many breweries around the world… I think that a good beer for one to brew would be a M*A*SH brew. It would be the Idea of the bottle only or even a line like the TV series… Though M*A*S*H is probably not a trademark because it is like using a USMC or ARMY logo… being a FAN of the series I would be the first to buy…
Lately I had the Sam Adams winter brew. I can’t describe the taste except that it is weak or something but high alcohol content. If anyone can taste it and describe how the taste is then I could use it to help in describing beers…

First I want to thank you all who provide the ability for us to have a place to go... Your fortitude to press on in this suck of a life that America has become is a godsent and, to me very welcomed.
As i have time now to enjoy my different brews that have adorned the shelves of my local grocery store, I have decied to use it to tell of a new one I have never heard of before... Hoegaarden , a winter brew from belgium I think, is unlike the Sam Adams winter brew and is much better. For even on the bottom there is settelment from the brewing process, I hope. Well ,any way... the brew is a winter style, now that I know what a winter brew tastes like but with body??? I guess.. very good...

Anyone ever tried this:

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/3f/e/AAAAAiKV6ScAAAAAAD_tDQ.jpg

We have one of those Meskin stores downtown that carry nothing but Meskin merchandise for those wayward Meskin's who are here doing the jobs that our unemployed (read: Dametrius and LaVarious) won't do, and who are a tad homesick.

Having nothing better to do, I went in yesterday evening looking for coca cola made in Mexico. I had heard that in Mexico, it's made with sugar, instead of the high fructose corn syrup they use here. I'd heard it tasted better, and bought a couple of bottles. Sure enough, it's made with sugar, not corn syrup, but I could taste no appreciable difference. The place is like a tiny little wal-mart, with everything from clothes to groceries, but all the merchandise is 'hecho in Mexico'. They have a whole isle full of nothing but dried peppers hanging from peg boards. Every color and shade and size of pepper you can imagine. It made my eyes water just hanging out in there for a few minutes.

The beer isle caught my eye. I thought I had tried most Meskin beers, but they had a dozen or more kinds that I've never had. The head Meskin in charge, who was obviously proud of his beer selection, came over while I was standing there and started telling me about all of them. I ended up buying a couple of the litre bottles of Corona Familiar. He said it was made by the same company that makes Corona Extra, but that this stuff was more akin to malt liquor and that it is what the common Meskin drinks.

Maybe this is what makes them so crazy when they get drunk. I haven't tapped into it yet -- saving it for Friday in case it causes a massive hangover or something.

Anyone ever tasted this stuff?

I lived in California for a few years in the early '80s and the closest store to me was a Mexican grocery two blocks down.
It was there that I first noticed Corona cervesa.
I tried it and like it and I liked the price (cheaper than Bud) until Sean Penn and the other Hollyvitz rat-packers popularized it.
I stopped drinking it after that as the price jumped up to that of Heineken.
I figured if I'm going to spend money on an import it might as well be Euro.
(I'm a big fan of Guinness stout.):D

Having nothing better to do, I went in yesterday evening looking for coca cola made in Mexico. I had heard that in Mexico, it's made with sugar, instead of the high fructose corn syrup they use here. I'd heard it tasted better, and bought a couple of bottles.


They actually sell that mexican coke in glass bottles in the Walmarts here in SoCal, sometimes displayed right next to the checkout line.

Steinlager was first brewed in response to a challenge by then Finance minister Lord Nordmeyer. In his "black budget" he threatened to cut International beer imports to boost the flagging economy, and laid down the challenge for New Zealand's leading brewers to "come up with an International style lager beer". So Steinecker was born. In 1962 it changed it's name to Steinlager.

Steinlager is now exported all around the world. Steinlager won the Les Amis Du Vin competition four years in a row in the late 1970's, after which the organisers politely asked if it could refrain from entering "to give the others a chance". In 1985 at the Brewers' International Exhitibition in London, it was judged the World's Best Lager. In 1998 it was awarded two Monde Selection gold medals in Belgium. More recently Steinlager won a gold medal and 'Best in Class' in the lager division at the 2006 Australian International Beer Awards.
Steinlager's success around the world is credited to its distinctive taste and use of only pure, natural New Zealand ingredients. It has a dry, tangy finish and the green bullet hops deliver a clean, crisp bitterness.
Steinlager compliments any spicy dish, such as a Thai curry and it's characteristic bitterness sweeps the palate leaving it refreshed and ready for more. Steinlager is also perfect with tomato based pasta dishes, as the herbacious nature of the hops enhances the herbs, bringing subtlety to the meal.

Key Facts http://www.lion-nathan.com/Client/Images/dots_transparent.gif
Websitewww.steinlager.com (http://www.steinlager.com)
Date of launch1958
StyleLager
ABV5%
Standard drinks1.3
Total carbs g/100mL3.10
Energy kj/100mL167
Energy cal/100mL40
Major sponsorshipsNew Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team www.allblacks.co.nz (http://www.allblacks.co.nz)







http://www.beerstore.com.au/beerstore/uploads/beerImages/steinlager_large.jpg
:D

First I want to thank you all who provide the ability for us to have a place to go... Your fortitude to press on in this suck of a life that America has become is a godsent and, to me very welcomed.
As i have time now to enjoy my different brews that have adorned the shelves of my local grocery store, I have decied to use it to tell of a new one I have never heard of before... Hoegaarden , a winter brew from belgium I think, is unlike the Sam Adams winter brew and is much better. For even on the bottom there is settelment from the brewing process, I hope. Well ,any way... the brew is a winter style, now that I know what a winter brew tastes like but with body??? I guess.. very good...



Thanks for the review, Ty.

I see you like Anchor Steam. It's one of my favorites. I think I reviewed it on this thread, but if not, I'll get a review up soon.

Yea, the sediment you see on the bottom of the bottle is due to the fact that Hoegaarden (they also brew an excellent summer Wheat beer) is bottle-conditioned, meaning that a bit of live yeast is added during the bottling process, allowing the beer to naturally carbonate.

Many of the better ales/beers do this.

Winter brews are heavy on the malt, so I think you are picking up on that when you describe "with body".

As you can see by what I review, I'm pretty much an ale kinda guy, but Steinlager is very tasty indeed. I drink a least a couple sixers of this lager every year.

It's the quintessential summertime beer.

Thanks for the great review. I'm going to make it a point to do more lagers/pilsner reviews this summer. :)

Anyone ever tried this:

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/3f/e/AAAAAiKV6ScAAAAAAD_tDQ.jpg

Anyone ever tasted this stuff?


Never seen it, and I've been around the beer universe for a while. However in all fairness to Mexico, brewing is not one of the things that leaps to mind when one thinks of Mexico.

Man, you gotta post a review of that stuff.

Man, you gotta post a review of that stuff.

Here goes: I said I was going to wait till tonight to drink it, but the anticipation got to me so I broke into it last night.

It's malt liquor. That's all there is to it. Malt liquor with a little more twang than an American malt liquor would have. But none-the-less, malt liquor. No hops at all. And that's what the Meskin told me, that it was similar to malt liquor.

But that's ok with me because I like some malt liquor every now and again. I just hate that I paid $12 for two quarts of imported malt liquor.

Here goes: I said I was going to wait till tonight to drink it, but the anticipation got to me so I broke into it last night.

It's malt liquor. That's all there is to it. Malt liquor with a little more twang than an American malt liquor would have. But none-the-less, malt liquor. No hops at all. And that's what the Meskin told me, that it was similar to malt liquor.

But that's ok with me because I like some malt liquor every now and again. I just hate that I paid $12 for two quarts of imported malt liquor.

You must have been in a good mood the day you bought that Grel. Ya know you can't really expect those brown squat subs to have a discerning palate. Meskins will always fuck up everything beer included, + their devious and dishonest! Once you get that shit outta your system getcha some Warsteiner Premium Dunkel -it'll make it all better!

YouTube - Most Racist Australian Commercial

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2100/1815151412_08372fb00f_o.jpg

I'll keep my eye out for those Croatian brews, Adolf.

The Tomislav sounds very good indeed.

I'll keep my eye out for those Croatian brews, Adolf.

The Tomislav sounds very good indeed.

Tomislav is goood...

maybe you will see in store this bieer:

http://www.ezadar.hr/repository/image_raw/48554/large/

it is most saled bieer in Croatia.....Karlovacko

in some ours bars this bier is banned:

http://www.worth1000.com/web/media/228429/Source/heinekencaptin.jpg


becouse it has red communist star...and that we dont like


Not a big fan of Jewish communism myself, either. :D

Heineken is one of those beers that seems to be always light-struck or "skunky" when you purchase it.

Sunlight (actually UV rays) spoils beer, and the green glass used by Heineken does not offer much protection.

I've heard it is much better if tasted fresh in Holland.

That is one of the problems with imports here in America. They have to travel great distances, and usually the freshness of the beer suffers.

Not a big fan of Jewish communism myself, either. :D

Heineken is one of those beers that seems to be always light-struck or "skunky" when you purchase it.

Sunlight (actually UV rays) spoils beer, and the green glass used by Heineken does not offer much protection.

I've heard it is much better if tasted fresh in Holland.

That is one of the problems with imports here in America. They have to travel great distances, and usually the freshness of the beer suffers.


you have good beers in US...that Coronas are good....

how many sorts of beer do you have in US?

how many sorts of beer do you have in US?



Thousands of brands at this point.

There are 3 major brewers in the U.S.: Anheuser-Busch, Miller & Coors. They once enjoyed a tremendous market share, peaking in the 1970s with selling almost 90% of the beer purchased in the states.

That has changed dramatically.

In the late 1980s many small local breweries (micro-breweries) began opening up all over the United States.

There are hundreds of them now, each crafting many styles of beer.

The big 3 are losing market share every year, as the small breweries and imports continue to gain ground.

Thousands of brands at this point.

There are 3 major brewers in the U.S.: Anheuser-Busch, Miller & Coors. They once enjoyed a tremendous market share, peaking in the 1970s with selling almost 90% of the beer purchased in the states.

That has changed dramatically.

In the late 1980s many small local breweries (micro-breweries) began opening up all over the United States.

There are hundreds of them now, each crafting many styles of beer.

The big 3 are losing market share every year, as the small breweries and imports continue to gain ground.

competition is good

best beer is that one what can drink all night (and be drunk hard) and in morning you must be fresh as nothing happend last night, no brain pain...

http://awallens.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/hangover_link1.jpg


it needs many long nights to find out which one is the best

http://www.gastro.hr/var/plain/storage/images/savjeti_i_trikovi/10_savjeta_za_pijenje_alkohola/36502-2-cro-HR/10_savjeta_za_pijenje_alkohola_article_full.jpg

A few times in a man's life, if he is really lucky, he gets to sample perfection. A state of bliss, if you will.

It can be that all-important pitch in the big high-school game that the moment it left your nervous fingers you just fucking knew was an untouchable strike, or the nervous but willing cheerleader at the victory party afterwards.

Avery India Pale Ale is such a form of perfection. I know I have reviewed a lot of IPAs, as it is far and away my favorite style of beer. I've tried at least 75 brands. I'm a happily confirmed racist, and I'm a confirmed hop-head as well.

Simply put, Avery brewery's version is the best I have ever had.

The Avery brewery is located in Boulder, Colorado, and is touted on the website as being "Colorado's hoppiest pale ale".

And it is, brothers and sisters, it is.

The pour looks like the color of sunset in summer. Yellow hinting at burnt orange. A substantial and lingering 2' inch foam is elicited from an aggressive pour.

The first thing you notice is the overwhelming citrus-floral bouquet of massive amount of hops used (Simcoe, Cascade, Columbus & Centennial) with slight earthy tones. It smells like a summer garden.

The taste is all hops up-front, pleasantly herbal and bitter, perfectly balanced in the finish by the two-row Munich barley used. Caramel malt is also used, and adds a slight sweetness to the crystal-clear finish.

If you see it, buy it. Period.

6.3% ABV, so it packs a substantial punch. www.averybrewing.com

http://www.averybrewing.com/Home/index_html/contentPic1

that is best beer....ok !!!

i like how you passoned expresed opinion about that beer

http://www.averybrewing.com/Home/index_html/contentPic1


That's it. :)

looks good....:)

I started this thread two years ago today. :D

The first review was a pale ale from a local brewery, Columbus Brewing. My how time flies. We now have a non-White President of the United States. It's like living in an episode of The Twilight Zone.

I purchase most of my beer from a local Mom & Pop convenience store that has been in the same (Irish) family for close to 60 years. The owner is a great guy, and likes good beer, so he always has a truly impressive selection of beers and ales from regional micro-brews and foreign offerings.

Now, anyone who has read this thread knows I like the India Pale Ale (IPA) style of beer. Really like it. Turns out that Columbus Brewing makes an IPA. My store carries it now. Cool.

I'm going to blast The Byrd's 8 Miles High (they were a band from....don't ask how long ago :D) from the Bose system and find out if it's any good.

Bottle says: "Unfiltered to preserve the distinctive hop aroma, this IPA pours a hazy pale orange. Our unique balance of malt and hops will please even the most discriminating hophead".

To quote the young folks: Orly?

As Bloody Bill Anderson was said to shout at the enemy before every charge during the Civil War: Let's dance!

Initial aroma is very fruity. I'm talking Republican Congressman in an airport bathroom fruity.

Strong hints of orange, grapefruit and citrus. Almost no malt in the aroma, they must use an assload of hops, and I'm betting this IPA is dry-hopped as well. Very pleasant aroma. If you like hops, and who doesn't? :D

An aggressive pour into our nonic settles quickly to a tight and compact lingering cream-colored head that laces to the bottom of the glass, Color is indeed unfiltered and hazy (it's not pasteurized), and pale orange as touted on the bottle.

Taste is an explosion of (cascade?) hops up front. Pretty much overpowering any other notes. Real bitter, and very earthy. Tastes fresh. There is the slightest hint of caramel malt, but it is barely there. Mouth feel is quite light, not coating or oily at all. Finish is crystal clear, and real dry, man. No aftertaste at all. Well done.

A sneaky and well-hidden 6.9 % ABV packs a wallop.

These guys brew a good IPA. It's recommended. A solid 9.0 on the VNNF Beer-Geek scale, $8.99 a sixer. Grab it if you see it.

www.columbusbrewing.com

"Sidewalk scenes, and black limousines..."

I am a Carlton girl ;)

Carlton Draught is one of Australia’s biggest selling tap beers, thanks to connoisseurs who appreciate the smooth, refreshing flavour of a traditionally brewed, full strength lager.

Carlton Draught is brewed with sun-ripened Australian barley malt, which contributes to its distinctive smoothness, then it’s hopped with Carlton’s own special ‘Pride’ variety of hops for an emphatic edge. Cool-fermented with Carlton’s unique pure culture yeast for an easy-drinking palate, and has a true refreshing after-taste.

http://www.annandalecellars.com.au/SiteFiles/annandalecellarscomau/images/large_4620_Carlton%20Draft%20stubbie.jpg

http://www.vnnforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5538&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1232511008
Excellent wheat beer, excellent lost track of a Sunday drinking the above.

YouTube - How to open a bottle of beer with a piece of paper

I've heard a lot of great things about Bell's brewery out of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

In fact, on the beer/home-brew forum I post on, it is considered the "holy grail" of regional mid-west breweries.

Picked up a sixer of their India Pale Ale offering just now, Two-Hearted IPA. First time I have seen it offered.

Pours straw-yellow into the chilled nonic, substantial and lingering 2' white head is elicited from an aggressive pour. Looks like a beer commercial.

Initial aroma is actually pretty subdued, less hoppy than many I have reviewed on this thread.

Don't get me wrong, the hop notes are there, but do not dominate. No malt aroma at all, which is not surprising, since I am certain they use some sort of (English?) pale malt. Slight alcohol aroma as well, but it is not unpleasant.

Taste is quite mild for an IPA. Tastes more like a traditional pale ale. Not much hop bitterness at all. Nice level of carbonation. Probably bottle-conditioned, although it does not specify. Malt is there in the finish, but whisper-thin. Slight alcohol burn in the finish as well, it's a healthy 7% ABV.

It's good.

Not great.

Better IPAs at a cheaper price point out there to be sure.

A little dear at 10.99 a six.

www.bellsbeer.com

You better hope they don't get their water out of the Grandriver:ewww

The Full Sail brewery is located in Hood River, Oregon.

From visiting their (very nice) website, it seems as it is a small independent brewery (47 people) ran by erstwhile hippies...lol.

The bottle boasts: "12 fluid ounces of ridiculously tasty India Pale Ale concocted by our massive brewforce of 47"

The pour is golden sun-bleached copper in look, strong almost orange head that reduces fairly quickly to a healthy foam skim that remains to the bottom of the glass.

The initial aroma is pretty subdued for an IPA. Grapefruit, mango & slight citrus notes are prevalent, along with that "fresh grass" (type of hops?) aroma that some IPA's have. Malt in the nose as well, slight fresh bread smell.

Taste is pretty true to the aroma, not a "hop bomb" by any stretch. The initial flavor you get is a little fruit, then the hops do kick in. Some pleasant pine notes in the middle, the finish is very clean, very balanced. Great drinkability.

This is a good IPA in the English style. Nowhere near as hoppy as American IPAs. In fact, it's closer to a traditional pale ale, not that that's a bad thing.

It's recommended.

6.0% ABV

7.49 a sixer

www.fullsailbrewing.com

Excellent review. Makes me want to crack open a beer. :D

I have been to Michigan Lately to help my parents with their lake cottage. I have been traveling from chicago through Grand Rapids, MI. and stopping at the Large Mejier Stores, whom by the way have thier roots in the Danish Community of Greenville Michigan. However the beer selections include some veryfine michigan breweries. They even sell the beers that have "spent yeast" still on the bottom of some varieties. I am sorry that I am not able to exactly pin point the names of the breweries but if anyone is traveling throught that area, thake a gander... grab a micro brew and enjoy some of the great White Michigan cities before they are infested with the spick element that is really just reeking havoc on the communities...

I have been to Michigan Lately to help my parents with their lake cottage. I have been traveling from chicago through Grand Rapids, MI. and stopping at the Large Mejier Stores, whom by the way have thier roots in the Danish Community of Greenville Michigan. However the beer selections include some veryfine michigan breweries. They even sell the beers that have "spent yeast" still on the bottom of some varieties. I am sorry that I am not able to exactly pin point the names of the breweries but if anyone is traveling throught that area, thake a gander... grab a micro brew and enjoy some of the great White Michigan cities before they are infested with the spick element that is really just reeking havoc on the communities...

I have posted a letter to my mayor about the city crime and great diversity that the "wonderful" hispanic community is brining to our mikghty whity neighborhood. I need suggestions take a look, it is in Aryan Communities, under "urban home steading"

I have been to Michigan Lately to help my parents with their lake cottage. I have been traveling from chicago through Grand Rapids, MI. and stopping at the Large Mejier Stores, whom by the way have thier roots in the Danish Community of Greenville Michigan. However the beer selections include some very fine michigan breweries.



Yea, Mejier does indeed have a good selection of beer. Picked up a sixer of Victory Brewing's excellent Hop Devil IPA from there a couple of days ago. Saved one for a review I will do later this week. Only place around that carries it locally.

The beer selection at Giant Eagle is even better, if you see one around.

Glad you have been getting to sample some, Ty.

It's no secret I like hops. If there was a hop-based cologne, I would be totally awash in it. Like Steve B. is in Brut. I have no idea how to make an umlaut.

Victory Brewing Co. hails from Downingtown, PA. Their IPA offering is called Hop Devil.

From the bottle:

"The Mythical HopDevil resides in the lore of farmers. Our HopDevil is the real deal. Bold, spicy and menacingly delicious. He's the product of distinctive American hops and meticulous craftsmanship. Arising from the heady wilds of our Hopback* and gently tamed with time, this Devil makes a great companion!"

So cry havoc! And let slip the HopDevils of war...

The pour reveals a solid and lingering two-finger creamy head atop a deep orange brew.

Initial aroma is very strong, and all hops. This beer is probably the hoppiest smelling I have reviewed to date. One gets hints of grass and a lot of spice in the nose.

Taste is exactly what you would expect. Fresh hops. The malt is nowhere to be found in this beer. It really is quite spicy. There is a slight alcohol taste near the end (It's 6.7% ABV, which explains that) along with an almost indiscernible (caramel?) flavor.

The finish is IPA dry, with no real aftertaste to speak of.

This ale is a real Hop bomb....If you don't like Blitzkrieg-level aggressively hopped beers, you might want to give it a pass.

I, however, find it to be absolutely delicious. Hop-Heads of the world unite!

A solid 9 on the VNNF beer-geek scale. 8.99 a sixer.

www.victorybeer.com

* A "hopback" is a large tub filled with whole-flower hops that the beer is filtered through.

The Founders brewery is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I don't know what the weather in Grand Rapids was today, but around here, it was a postcard classic Indian summer 67 and sunny. So I took the cover off of the "fun" car and took one last 2009 ride into town.

There is a lot of good buzz about this regional brewery in the craft-brewed beer universe, and when I saw their Centennial India Pale Ale offered at my local beer shop today, I knew I had to pick it up, push that 440 Mopar to it's limits along deserted country roads lined with seemingly endless dead corn stalks and left-over pumpkins to write a review for all the beer-geeks on VNNF Post-haste.

Both of 'em. :D

The bottle boasts that this ale is unpasteurized, and dry-hopped. It comes in at 65 IBUs, so a little bitterness is to be expected (and relished, I hope).

An aggressive pour into our pub glass gives us a freshly minted penny-colored brew with a 2-finger head of stubborn off-white foam that laces the entire glass. This is a good looking Ale. I'm talking Christina Ricci in Sleepy Hollow-kinda good looking. Carbonation is typical for a bottle-conditioned ale.

Initial aroma reveals a quite strong earthy aroma, with pine & citrus notes up front as well. I do get some grapefruit, mango & peppery spice too. This is a heavily hopped IPA, including dry-hopping, and it shows in both the hop-oil hazed look of the brew and the very inviting aroma.

Taste is all fresh, green hops & citrus/spice up front, with the malt sweetness (not cloying at all) hitting the middle in near perfect balance. Dry, crisp and clean finish. Mouth feel is light, with the hop oils coating the palate.

There is a slight alcohol warmth there as well, as it is 7.2% ABV, which is a little on the high end, even for an American IPA. I'm glad I got a sixer, because I really want another one.

Highly recommended, a 9.5+ on the VNNF beer-geek scale.

A bit pricey at 9.99 a six, but worth it.

www.foundersbrewing.com

North Coast Old Rasputin Stout
Red Hook Belgian Abbey Ale
Mack & Jack's Black Cat Porter
Mack & Jack's African Amber
Deschutes Black Butte Porter

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa47/burnjewburn/37548b89.jpg

Don't leave your dark beer alone with your light beer.

In the craft beer community, every year at this time we wait anxiously on pins and needles for the annual release of HopSlam D.I.P.A*. from Bell's Brewery (Kalamazoo, MI) in January.

It has just hit the stores locally, and all is right with the world.

The distribution for Bell's is pretty limited, but if you like hoppy beer, this is a must get if you come across it. It is released just once a year, and won't last long.

Be forewarned, it's 10% ABV, and dangerously drinkable.

www.bellsbeer.com





*Double India Pale Ale

Nugget Nectar from the Tröegs Brewery in PA. Down to my last bottle for 2011, thought I better get a review of it up.

Poured into a Duvel tulip.

A: Amber-ish, opaque deep copper with a sticky two-finger bright white head that leaves substantial, determined lacing which lasts to the very last sip. Looks outstanding.

S: Big aroma of fresh-cut fruit. Apricot, mango. Hoppy as Peter Rabbit on Meth. Not getting any malt in the nose. Honestly, it smells like an IPA, though billed on the label as an "Imperial Amber", which is pretty much a catch-all style.

T: Blitzkrieg bitter up front, then jack-rabbit (second rabbit reference, for those VNNers scoring at home) quick rounds out with a mouth-watering citrus fruitiness. Just wow. Such balance. The finish is crisp and clean, it begs for another sip. Alcohol is totally absent. Some don't, but Nugget Nectar is a beer that lives up to the hype it gets from beer geeks.

M: I found it quite light. Perfect level of carbonation.

D: High. It's so smooth, so quaff-able. It's a limited release, brewed once a year, and I buy all I can find.

It is just that good.

"The birth of Pilsner beer can be traced back to its namesake, the ancient city of Plzen (or Pilsen) which is situated in the western half of the Czech Republic in what was once Czechoslovakia and previously part of the of Bohemian Kingdom. Pilsner beer was first brewed back in the 1840's when the citizens, brewers and maltsters of Plzen formed a brewer's guild and called it the People's Brewery of Pilsen.

The Czech Pilsner, or sometimes known as the Bohemian Pilsner, is light straw to golden color and crystal clear. Hops are very prevalent usually with a spicy bitterness and or a spicy floral flavor and aroma, notably one of the defining characteristics of the Saaz hop. Smooth and crisp with a clean malty palate, many are grassy. Some of the originals will show some archaic yeast characteristics similar to very mild buttery or fusel (rose like alcohol) flavors and aromas".

Fans of The Beer Review Thread (both of them) know that I'm an "ale" kinda guy.

I don't dislike lagers, I just find them to (usually) be far less flavorful than ales.

That being said, lagers are the perfect "lawnmower" beer when the air outside is the approximate temperature of the surface of Venus, which it has been locally. Fucking Al Gore. And Pils was known to be Hitler's favorite style on the infrequent occasions he would drink beer.

Anyway, for all the lager fans out there (almost all mass-produced American beer is lager) this one is for you, my Beer Review Thread homies.

I like the Sierra Nevada Brewery.

I've tried and enjoyed many of their beers over the years, they rarely miss the mark, and their pale ale is a universally-recognized classic.

Summerfest is (one of) their seasonal offerings, available in...drum roll, please.....summer.

Pils is an easy style of beer to fuck up, because the lightness of the beer leaves no margin for error. Any off flavors are going to be readily apparent.

A: The beer pours perfectly clear, golden body. Has a very minimal amount of small-bubbled head, off-white in color, that vanishes faster than a Jew when the check hits the table. Looks almost watery.

S: Sweet, honey malts. Grassy and grainy smelling. Some slight banana esters. Nice dose of spicy hops, typical of the Pilsner style.

T: Flavor starts off with thin, cracker malts. Moves into banana and honey sweetness. Finish showcases floral and spicy hops, with a decent amount of bitterness. Good carbonation gives a nice bite, but there is also a creamy component to the mouth feel.

D: This is a classic summer beer. Not too challenging, and highly drinkable. Great introduction for those just weaning themselves off BMC* beer. It's basically Budweiser brewed by people who give a fuck, and don't use corn adjuncts in their beer.

I'm never necessarily looking forward to this beer, because I'm an ale guy and all that, but I do end up picking up a 12 pack every year because it's a great representation of the style.

WWW.SIERRANEVADA.COM



*Brewed for mass consumption

‪I Am A Craft Brewer‬‏ - YouTube

‪I Am a Craft Brewer parody‬‏ - YouTube

Fuck corn!

"Spawned from the English Brown Ale, the American version can simply use American ingredients. Many other versions may have additions of coffee or nuts. This style also encompasses "Dark Ales". The bitterness and hop flavor has a wide range and the alcohol is not limited to the average either".


The mornings are getting crisp. The leaves on the trees out back are starting to turn ever so slightly.

It feels like fall, my favorite time of the year. Did you know you don't capitalize the seasons? I learned that on VNN.

I'm a big fan of the Sierra Nevada brewery out of Chico, Ca. I've reviewed several of their offerings heer on the VNNF beer-geek thread.

They brew truly great beer at a rock-bottom price, and do a wide variety of styles.

The cooler weather is a good excuse to try some darker ales, so I picked up a sixer to review.

A: Tumbler pours into the Duvel tulip with a beige 2-finger head that quickly falls away to a thin, tiny-bubbled skim. Dark clear strong-tea color. Stubborn lacing than coats nicely. Mild butterscotch/vanilla notes. Smells much more spicy than herbal.

T: Caramel, fresh coffee and malt all the way with a nice hint of roasted nuttiness. It has some of that cider tang indicative of the style. That aspirin-like bitterness in the end that seems suggestive of both certain malts as well as muted hop presence. This is not a hoppy beer, but it's not supposed to be.

M: Somewhat thin at first but the body builds as you sip. Seems strange, but it does. Carbonation is a bit harsh for the laid back richness of the flavor.

D: This will probably be one of the beers served at our annual neighborhood-renowned Halloween party. It's a nicely crafted version of a classic style. Recommended.

WWW.SIERRANEVADA.COM

The Eight Beers Americans No Longer Drink

Posted: September 9, 2011

Some of America’s most famous beers have lost a tremendous amount of their national sales over the last five years. Mostly, they are full-calorie beers, and they have lost sales to lower-calorie products, as well as imports and craft beers. 24/7 Wall St. looked at the 23 largest selling beer products in America and found eight that have lost a staggering 30% or more of their sales between 2005 and 2010.

Most of the beers whose sales declined that much have one thing in common — they are “full-calorie” beers, or about 145 calories a can. Instead, beer drinkers have turned to “light beers,” which have 100 calories a can, and “ultra-lights,” which are closer to 90 calories.

Surprisingly, Budweiser, the best-selling beer in America for years has lost 30% of its sales over the five-year period. Given that Budweiser sold 18 million barrels last year, this is a massive loss – more than 7 million barrels less. Sales of Bud Light, on the other hand, held steady at just over 39 million barrels during the five year period. Six products on our list have lost half their sales since 2005.

Other than lighter-calorie beers, drinkers have also turned to imports, such as Corona, and to craft beers, which are produced, and usually also consumed, in relatively small regions, according to Eric Shepard of beer marketer’s INSIGHTS. Overall, sales of beer from 2005 to 2010 rose 1.9 million barrels to 208.4 million barrels. But sales of the top 20 brands dropped 10 million barrels to 149 million, a sign that Americans have turned to craft beers and imports.

24/7 Wall St. used two databases to do its analysis. One is kept by SymphonyIRI Group, one of the largest consumer research firms in the U.S. The other is from specialist research firm, beer marketer’s INSIGHTS, Inc.

These are 24/7 Wall St.’s “Beers Americans No Longer Love.”

8. Budweiser
> Sales loss (2006-2010): -30%
> Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
> Barrels sold (2010): 18 million

The self-proclaimed “king of beers,” Budweiser’s lager was originally sold in 1876. The company still refers to itself as The Great American Lager, despite the fact that the brand is now technically owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, a Belgian company. For years, it was the most popular beer in the country, until Bud Light took its place in 2001.

7. Milwaukee’s Best Light
> Sales loss (2006-2010): -34%
> Brewer: MillerCoorsBrewing
> Barrels sold (2010): 1.3 million

Milwaukee’s Best Light was introduced in 1986 as the light version of Milwaukee’s Best. Now owned by MillerCoors, the beer has the tagline “brewed for a crisp, full taste.” Sales of the beer peaked at 2.1 million barrels in 1998 and 1999, but have declined steadily every year because of the success of larger brand name light beers like Bud Light and Miller Lite.

6. Miller Genuine Draft
> Sales loss (2006-2010): -51%
> Brewer: MillerCoors Brewing
> Barrels sold (2010): 1.8 million

Miller Genuine Draft, often referred to as MGD, is MillerCoors’ unpasteurized beer. It was introduced by Miller Brewing in 1985. The beer is actually made from the same recipe as Miller High Life, but is treated differently post-brewing. The beer is cold-filtered, rather than pasteurized, and is considered a draft beer. Sales of the beer peaked in 1992 at 7.1 million barrels. It now sells barely a quarter of that each year.

5. Old Milwaukee
> Sales loss (2006-2010): -52%
> Brewer: MillerCoors Brewing
> Barrels sold (2010): 525,000

Old Milwaukee is the flagship of the high -nd products made by faltering Pabst Brewing Company — once one of the largest brewery companies in the world. In 1990, Old Milwaukee sold over 6 million barrels. This brand, along with others made by Pabst Brewing, almost certainly have been hurt by the huge marketing budgets of MillerCoors Brewing and Anheuser-Busch InBev and their ability to leverage the large sales volumes for better positions in stores.

4. Milwaukee’s Best
> Sales loss (2006-2010): -53%
> Brewer: MillerCoors Brewing
> Barrels sold (2010): 925,000

Milwaukee’s Best is one of Miller’s economy brands. It is part of the line named “Milwaukee” meant to capitalize on the name of America’s former brewing capital. The product sold an impressive 7 million barrels in 1990. Its competition, which includes Pabst and Keystone, have been successfully taking market share at the bottom of the market.

3. Bud Select
> Sales loss (2006-2010): -60%
> Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
> Barrels sold (2010): 925,000

Bud Select is Anheuser Busch’s primary product in the ultra low calorie beer segment. It has only 99 calories per can. The large brewery has put a large amount of money behind the marketing of the beer, which has Jay-Z as a spokesman. The product was introduced in 2005 and has steadily lost sales since then.

2. Michelob Light.
> Sales loss (2006-2010): -64%
> Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
> Barrels sold (2010): 525,000

Michelob Light was launched in 1978 as Anheuser Busch worked to combat the huge success of Miller Lite in the mid-1970s. The plan did not work well. Miller Lite was the No.2 selling beer from the early 1980s until 1994 with sales of 14.7 million barrels that year. Michelob Light sales reached only 2 million barrels by 1994. The beer has steadily lost sales since, and is now barely selling over a half million barrels each year.

1. Michelob
> Sales loss (2006-2010): -72%
> Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
> Barrels sold (2010): 175,000

Michelob was first brewed in Adolphus Busch, the founder of Anheuser Busch in 1896. It was named for one of the small towns in the hops-growing region of Germany. When Anheuser Busch needed a super premium beer to compete with high-end imports like Heineken in the 1970s, it positioned Michelob to take that place.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Read more: The Eight Beers Americans No Longer Drink - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2011/09/09/the-eight-beers-americans-no-longer-drink/#ixzz1Xpla2ZEY

The Boulder Brewing Company here in Colorado sells a beer locally, but only through the fall, Cold Hop. The pizza restaurant within walking distance of my house just tapped a keg yesterday.

It's one of the few craft beers around here that doesn't have a strong and bitter, hop aftertaste. Not that I mind the strong hoppy beers, but I also like a change from time to time. What hoppy smell there is, is just slightly perfumed...the herb marjoram comes to mind. The barley taste and smell is also mild and pleasant. Oddly, just the kind of craft beer that I usually don't seek out and drink.

This one is very nice though and I drank three with dinner last night. Very pleasant brew. The alcohol is 6.3% by volume. It's presented as a British style ale, and of course, it's served a little too cold. I'm used to that, though. Very few places here serve ale at anything like the correct temperature.

Mike

The Boulder Brewing Company here in Colorado sells a beer locally, but only through the fall, Cold Hop. The pizza restaurant within walking distance of my house just tapped a keg yesterday.

I've had several beers from BBC. Enjoyed them all. Colorado is a good place to be a craft beer drinker. Avery brews one of my favorite beers.

It's one of the few craft beers around here that doesn't have a strong and bitter, hop aftertaste. Not that I mind the strong hoppy beers, but I also like a change from time to time. What hoppy smell there is, is just slightly perfumed...the herb marjoram comes to mind. The barley taste and smell is also mild and pleasant. Oddly, just the kind of craft beer that I usually don't seek out and drink.

This one is very nice though and I drank three with dinner last night. Very pleasant brew. The alcohol is 6.3% by volume. It's presented as a British style ale, and of course, it's served a little too cold. I'm used to that, though. Very few places here serve ale at anything like the correct temperature.

Mike

Sounds tasty.

Thanks for the review, Mike.

Recently tried Yuengling Traditional Lager for the first time. Brewery has been in continuous operation since 1829, listed as the oldest American brewery still producing Beer. It's in PA.

Not a bad beer at all.

From Wiki:

The German brewer David Gottlob Jüngling immigrated to the United States in 1823 from Aldingen, a suburb of Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of Württemberg. He anglicized his surname from Jüngling to Yuengling and began the "Eagle Brewery" on Center Street in Pottsville in 1829. His eldest son, David, Jr., left the Eagle Brewery to establish the James River Steam Brewery along the James River in Richmond, Virginia.

The first brewery burned down in an 1831 fire and the company relocated to W. Mahantongo Street at 5th Street, its current location.

The Eagle Brewery changed its name to "D. G. Yuengling and Son" in 1873 after Frederick Yuengling joined his father David in running the company. Although the company's name changed, the bald eagle remained the company's emblem. During the late 19th century, breweries were also opened in Saratoga, New York City, and Trail, British Columbia, although they were eventually merged with the Pottsville plant.

Frank Yuengling began heading the company in 1899 after his father Frederick died.

During the Prohibition era, Yuengling survived by producing "near beers" (beverages with a 0.5% alcohol content) called "Yuengling Special", "Yuengling Por-Tor", and "Yuengling Juvo".

The company also ran a dairy which produced ice cream and opened dance halls in Philadelphia and New York City.

After the 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933, Yuengling sent a truckload of "Winner Beer" to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in appreciation, which arrived the day the amendment was repealed — particularly notable since Yuengling beer takes almost three weeks to brew and age.

Richard L. Yuengling and F. Dohrman Yuengling succeeded Frank Yuengling after their father's death in 1963.

Yuengling suffered from the rise of large commercial breweries during the 1970s. It was able to survive owing to demand from its customer base in Schuylkill County. The company also experienced an increase of sales after a renewed interest in history owing to the United States Bicentennial in 1976.

Yuengling bought the rights to use the Mount Carbon (Bavarian Premium Beer) name and label when Mount Carbon Brewery went out of business in 1977. Yuengling initially brewed beer at Mount Carbon but eventually abandoned it. The dairy remained in business until 1981, but its vacant building sits across Mahantongo Street from Yuengling's 1831 brewery and still carries Yuengling signage to this day.

In 1985, the Yuengling brewery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the oldest brewery in the United States. It was also so listed in the Pennsylvania Inventory of Historic Places at some unspecified date. (The company's website mentions only a vague national and state registration in 1976). Yuengling has been a registered trademark since 1995. The Pottsville brewery was featured on an episode of The History Channel's American Eats.

Richard L. ("Dick") Yuengling, Jr. took over as the 5th-generation company president in 1985. In 1987 the brewery reintroduced a lager they had not made in decades to take advantage of a spike in heavier-style beers. Since this time, Yuengling Lager has become its flagship brand, accounting for 80% of production and much of its rapid growth.

In the early 1990s, demand throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware outstripped the existing brewery's abilities. In 1999, they increased their manufacturing capacity by purchasing a Stroh Brewery Company plant in Tampa, Florida, hiring the former Stroh employees, and began working with a trade union for the first time.

In 2000, the company built a third brewery in Pennsylvania, in Port Carbon in Schuylkill County near Pottsville. With production at the Port Carbon, Tampa, and original Pottsville plants, the company has been able to expand throughout the East Coast.

After management threatened to shut down the factory and close shop if workers kept union representation, Yuengling employees filed for union decertification in 2006. As a result, Yuengling did not renew a contract with Teamsters Local 830 of Philadelphia in March 2006. In response, the trade union began boycotting Yuengling products.

As of 2011, Yuengling is a moderately priced beer popular northward through New York, westward until Indiana and Kentucky, and southward through South Carolina. The Tampa brewery supplies the Florida Gulf Coast, the Florida Keys, Central Florida, North Florida, the Florida Panhandle as well as Alabama and Tennessee. The brewery uses corn from Minnesota and hops from Washington as ingredients in its products.

Yuengling began distribution in the state of Georgia on October 27, 2008. Yuengling also expanded distribution into West Virginia in May 2009, and Ohio in October 2011.

Richard Yuengling only has daughters, so the family name itself will discontinue with him. However, his daughters are being groomed to continue the Yuengling tradition as the 6th generation of the brewing family. According to a guide of the free tour that the brewery offers at their flagship location, each succeeding owner has bought the company from his father at full market price, and that tradition will carry on with the 6th generation.

President Barack Obama has stated that Yuengling is his favorite beer.

On Friday March 19, 2010, President Obama sent a case of Yuengling to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper along with a case of Molson Canadian to cover a friendly wager on the outcome of the 2010 Winter Olympics hockey final. The beer was delivered by US Ambassador to Canada David Jacobson, who delivered it while wearing a Canadian national team hockey jersey as part of the bet.

Picked up a sixer to review.

Alpine Spring is a lager in a style that is not brewed very often today, at least here in North America. It's a keller, which Beer Advocate describes as:

Keller Bier / Zwickel Bier

Description:
A rather old, rare, and unique German beer style, Kellerbiers are unfiltered and unpasteurized lagers that date back to at least the Middle Ages. The beer is matured, unbunged (beer is exposed), in deep vaults. The final product is a smooth, naturally cloudy beer that's rich in vitamins (from the yeast). Hop bitterness can be high and alcohol will vary. Zwickel Bier is similar to a Keller, but not as pronounced.

Average alcohol by volume (abv) range: 4.0-7.0%

From the brewery:

Borne of our brewers’ many trips to Germany, Alpine Spring features a unique blend of lager attributes: the balanced maltiness and hoppiness of a Helles, the smoothness and slightly higher alcohol of a traditional spring bock, and the unfiltered appearance of a Kellerbier. The beer is brewed with Noble Tettnang hops to add a unique, bright orange-citrusy aroma and flavor.

I really enjoyed the last spring offering from BBC, Noble Pils, so I wanted to try this beer. It's headed to 80 degrees today, so now is the perfect opportunity.

A: The beer pours straw-gold & cloudy, almost like chill haze. The head is stark white with good retention, minimum lacing however.

S: Big citrus up front, with earthy herbal notes in the back. Grassy, in the best possible way. Looks like a beer commercial. If you live in Germany and it's the 1700s, that is.

T: A touch of malt sweetness, then a wash of lemony, herbal grassiness is quite pronounced.

M: Decent body with a very smooth finish. This beer goes down easier than Snooki after a bottle of Patron.

D: Very drinkable. Perfect after mowing the grass, or invading Poland.

Recommended.

Has anyone else noticed the increased shelf space that craft beer is now getting in most major stores?

Market share for craft continues to grow steadily, cashing in now on the "locavore" movement.

WN could learn a lot from the craft beer "scene".

I'll probably get pooh-poohed for this, but in the summer, I like Miller High Life in the bottle, ice cold.

I'll probably get pooh-poohed for this, but in the summer, I like Miller High Life in the bottle, ice cold.

You sir, should be shot.

You sir, should be shot.


I've been brewing my own beer on and off for about 30 years now, all kinds of it.
I've seen the cult of beer snobs sprout up over the last 20 years or so.
Most of them are every bit as obnoxious as your average Mill Valley wine snob sitting around sipping their $60 a bottle Cabernet and bitching about the price of BMW maintenance.

American Macros have their market.

I'll probably get pooh-poohed for this, but in the summer, I like Miller High Life in the bottle, ice cold.

I understand. I'm not fond of Miller High Life, but out of all the micro-brews here in Colorado no one seems to brew a good Pilsner style beer that is what I might call easy going (I don't want to use the word light. Now Lite or light means 'diet' and I find those beers repugnant.) When a micro brewer does make what could otherwise be a good summer beer, he gives it 6.8 % alcohol by volume...not what you need on a hot summer's day.

None of the standard premium or near-premium beers are good to my tastes or I'd be drinking them from time to time.

I've never been to Czechoslovakia to really give the Pilsners a tasting. The best beer I ever had of this style was on a train in Switzerland. No extreme tastes, just a good drink to quench the thirst. Probably not too alcoholic, served slightly chilled.

Nothing like that from a Colorado brewer.

Mike

The Baptist Ladies, the 4th (and most powerful) branch of government in Mississippi have, for as long as anyone can remember, prohibited sales of beer above 4% alcohol content. This has meant that we could only get the standard stuff as craft beers usually have a higher alcohol content than that.

Either the Ladies were sleeping this year or they're softening up a bit because we finally got a bill through the legislature and signed by the governor that allows sales of beer with alcohol content up to 8%!

I'm seeing all kinds of beers I've never seen before.

I've been brewing my own beer on and off for about 30 years now, all kinds of it.
I've seen the cult of beer snobs sprout up over the last 20 years of so.
Most of them are every bit as obnoxious as your average Mill Valley wine snob sitting around sipping their $60 a bottle Cabernet and bitching about the price of BMW maintenance.

American Macros have their market.

I really do need to start using emoticons a lot more often. Comedy ain't pretty sometimes. I don't really think you should be shot for enjoying the liquid abortion that is Miller High Life, Chris. :D I fucking hate emoticons. Every time I use one I feel like I'm 14.

I've been a home-brewer for quite a long time myself, although I don't brew near as often as I once did. Great to have another zymurgist on the forum.

If I had to pick an adjunct lager, it would be Olympia. Good summer beer, that.

I understand. I'm not fond of Miller High Life, but out of all the micro-brews here in Colorado no one seems to brew a good Pilsner style beer that is what I might call easy going (I don't want to use the word light. Now Lite or light means 'diet' and I find those beers repugnant.) When a micro brewer does make what could otherwise be a good summer beer, he gives it 6.8 % alcohol by volume...not what you need on a hot summer's day.

None of the standard premium or near-premium beers are good to my tastes or I'd be drinking them from time to time.

I've never been to Czechoslovakia to really give the Pilsners a tasting. The best beer I ever had of this style was on a train in Switzerland. No extreme tastes, just a good drink to quench the thirst. Probably not too alcoholic, served slightly chilled.

Nothing like that from a Colorado brewer.

Mike

I don't know if it's available there in CO Mike, and it's not a CO local, but if you see it, I highly recommend Prima Pils from the Victory Brewing Co. out of PA. World class, IMO.

If you can't get it there, I trade beer all over the US, and would be happy to ship you a sixer if you would like. Gratis, of course.

Speaking of Pilsners, I just took one out of the fridge. The Wright Pils from The Great Lakes Brewing CO. heer in Ohio. Cleveland, to be exact.

It's got a scene from the first flight at Kitty Hawk on the label.

I don't know if it's available there in CO Mike, and it's not a CO local, but if you see it, I highly recommend Prima Pils from the Victory Brewing Co. out of PA. World class, IMO.

If you can't get it there, I trade beer all over the US, and would be happy to ship you a sixer if you would like. Gratis, of course.

Damn, Donnie...I found the web site for Victory Brewing Co. http://victorybeer.com/beers/prima-pils/ .

Just looking at the brew made me put on my drool bib. Even the description is perfect:

2 row German pilsner malt Hops:
German and Czech whole flowers
Alcohol by volume: 5.3%

I may find it here. I'll let you know.

Mike

The Baptist Ladies, the 4th (and most powerful) branch of government in Mississippi have, for as long as anyone can remember, prohibited sales of beer above 4% alcohol content. This has meant that we could only get the standard stuff as craft beers usually have a higher alcohol content than that.

Either the Ladies were sleeping this year or they're softening up a bit because we finally got a bill through the legislature and signed by the governor that allows sales of beer with alcohol content up to 8%!

I'm seeing all kinds of beers I've never seen before.

4% must have made the pickings mighty slim. Like anorexic.

Budweiser sees big sales drop

Anheuser-Busch isn't seeing hot sales of the iconic American beer. But more profitable brews are selling well.

By Kim Peterson

Is Anheuser-Busch Inbev (BUD +0.80%) killing American beer? That's the theme of this very persuasive Businessweek article, and the company's latest results show that Americans continue to turn against Budweiser.

The brewer's flagship beer saw a 7% decline in U.S. sales in the third quarter. That's a pretty dramatic fall, continuing a trend we've seen for years. Coors Light booted Budweiser from the No. 2 spot in America last year, though Bud Light still has the top spot. The company also makes Stella Artois and Beck's, and said overall U.S. beer sales fell 0.9%.

But Anheuser-Busch is still making plenty of profit. Its North American profit was $1.82 billion in the quarter, Reuters reports. That disappointed analysts who expected to see $1.92 billion. But overall profit rose 15% from a year earlier to $2.34 billion.

The company is trying to reverse its downward spiral by introducing new products, and it seems that drinkers have responded to Bud Light Lime-A-Rita and the more potent Bud Light Platinum. But getting consumers to buy those new drinks came at a cost: Selling and marketing expenses rose 12.8% in North America in the quarter.

Try as it might, Anheuser-Busch cannot sell more beer. Organic volume -- which removes the impact of acquisitions and disposals -- fell by 0.3%. Analysts expected a 2% increase, Bloomberg reported. Much of that volume slowdown was due to Brazil, one of the company's largest markets. Europe and Russia also saw lower quantities of beer sold.

We're now on two straight quarters of volume declines; Anheuser-Busch saw volume fall 0.1% in the second quarter. But overall organic sales rose 9.1% in the third quarter, beating the 7.5% Analysts expected.

So how can sales be rising on falling volume? Higher prices. Beer drinkers are moving away from Budweiser, but they are embracing the more expensive Bud Light Platinum and Lime-A-Rita. That's bringing revenue up.

Although it may not look good, these numbers are pretty much where Anheuser-Busch wants to go. People aren't drinking lower-margin Budweiser but they're trying the more profitable Bud Light Platinum and Lime-A-Rita. Anheuser-Busch is paying for that attention, hoping that eventually it can bring down those marketing costs once consumers are sold. Overall gross margin rose to 58.4% in the quarter from 57% a year earlier.

It all jibes with Anheuser-Busch's intense and aggressive focus on profit at all costs. Here are some of the moves made by CEO Carlos Brito to shore up profits, according to Bloomberg Businesweek:
•Shifted the brewing of Beck's from Germany to St. Louis, alienating fans who said the taste was weakened.
•Laid off 1,400 people, or 6% of its American workers.
•Sold the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens theme parks.
•Made its labels smaller, the glass in its bottles thinner and cardboard packaging weaker.
•Used broken rice instead of whole grains in its beer, something previous management would not do.
•Cut the number of employee BlackBerry phones and told execs to start flying commercial.
•Cut purchases of high-quality hops, like those from Germany's Hallertau region, in favor of cheaper hops.
Investors have applauded every step along the way, making Brito one of the most well-known CEOs in business. Shares of Anheuser-Busch have risen by 50% in the last year.

And where does that leave Budweiser, once an American icon? Anheuser-Busch has tried several times to revive Budweiser, without success. For now, it seems happy to place Budweiser on the back burner while it brews up more profitable beverages.

http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=05e1af69-653a-40f1-9c7a-7b72498f6afe

I did my damnest to try every German bier when I lived there, and failed miserably. My favorite was from a little village near the Czeck border, Konigstein (about 11km west of Vilsek). It was a dunkel style bier brewed and only available in that town.

I would drive 4 hours round trip on Fridays to fill up a few growlers for the weekend. It was worth it.

There are a few local micro breweries in my area, and one of them has a good oatmeal, and red.

As far as branded beers go, living in Germany really ruined them for me. I do like a Sam Adams Octoberfest fresh from the tap each fall. Pete's Wicked Ale used to make a Honey Wheat back in the 90's that was excellent, but now discontinued. Yuengling Lager is based right here in PA, and is probably the closest thing to a "label" beer that I can stomach.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/blogs/99bottles/yuengling.jpg

I did my damnest to try every German bier when I lived there, and failed miserably. My favorite was from a little village near the Czech border, Konigstein (about 11km west of Vilsek). It was a dunkel style bier brewed and only available in that town.

From Beer Advocate:

Munich Dunkel Lager

Description:
An old friend of Bavaria, Munich Dunkels are smooth, rich and complex, but without being heady or heavy. They boast brilliant ruby hues from the large amounts of Munich malts used, and these malts also lend a fuller-bodied beer. The decoction brewing process also lends much depth and richness. Bitterness is often moderate, with just enough to balance out any sweetness. Hop varieties used tend to be of the German noble varieties, like: Tetnang and Hallertau.

Average alcohol by volume (abv) range: 4.0-6.0%

I would drive 4 hours round trip on Fridays to fill up a few growlers for the weekend. It was worth it.

A WN that knows what a 'growler' is. Well played, sir.

There are a few local micro breweries in my area, and one of them has a good oatmeal, and red.

It's getting to be that time of year, when a roasted oatmeal stout starts to sound really, really good.

As far as branded beers go, living in Germany really ruined them for me. I do like a Sam Adams Oktoberfest fresh from the tap each fall. Pete's Wicked Ale used to make a Honey Wheat back in the 90's that was excellent, but now discontinued. Yuengling Lager is based right here in PA, and is probably the closest thing to a "label" beer that I can stomach.

I pick up a sixer of SA Oktoberfest every year. Good stuff. Wheat beers are just not my thing, I've given the style a fair shot, It just ain't happening.

PA has some great breweries. Victory & Tröegs leap to mind. I tried and enjoyed Yuengling, the lager at least.

Oskar Blues! In Ohio!

There is a God! I apologize for that whole 'I'm an atheist' thing, Lord. I asked, and I did receive. Praise Jesus.

All these years of having to UPS Columbus IPA out to Colorado trading for cans of Dale's or Mama's Little Yella Pils or GUBNA...The mind boggles...The mouth waters.

The only down side is that it happened two days before the end of the world. Still, at least it happened.

www.oskarblues.com

I tasted a beer a few nights ago. A friend suggested that I taste it and I was given a sample. My first thought was that it tasted of walnuts and I thought it would like many beers have a sweet aftertaste. I'm not fond of sweet beers or any sweet taste in beer. It did not.

The bartender (my friend - imagine that) said that the beer was usually described as having a coffee taste, but was not made with coffee. I drank two pints.

Certainly one of the best beers I've ever drunk. No sweetness, no cloying aftertaste. It had no extreme bitter or hoppy taste, yet was substantial. I'm told that it is a fairly rare beer. Damnit! I can't remember the name. I shall remedy that and soon.

Mike

If you are ever in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.......

The Old Mecklenburg Brewery Company. http://oldemeckbrew.com/welcome.php

We toured the brewery last year when we were down there on business. Quite an operation. The brauhaus is modeled the ones that I frequented while living in Germany.

Their Copper Altbier is truely authentic. It is brewed to the Rheinheitsgebot purity laws of 1516, and you can tell the difference between a true bier and the American beers, even micro brews and IPA's found on market. It was my favorite.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zT5sBTPZc2I/T6O4qoXXrSI/AAAAAAAAAP0/_tLPTOlJTdo/s1600/beer+045.jpg

Unfortunately, because the bier has no preservatives, you can only find it locally. Like I said, if you are ever in the Charlotte area.....

Unfortunately, because the bier has no preservatives, you can only find it locally. Like I said, if you are ever in the Charlotte area.....

Always looking to try a new brewery. I see the Altbier was rated 'A' on BA. Nice.
Thanks for the tip.

I trade with fellow beer-geeks in NC, so I'm sure I could work a trade for some Columbus IPA. (also rated 'A')

I tasted a beer a few nights ago. A friend suggested that I taste it and I was given a sample. My first thought was that it tasted of walnuts and I thought it would like many beers have a sweet aftertaste. I'm not fond of sweet beers or any sweet taste in beer. It did not.

The bartender (my friend - imagine that) said that the beer was usually described as having a coffee taste, but was not made with coffee. I drank two pints.

Certainly one of the best beers I've ever drunk. No sweetness, no cloying aftertaste. It had no extreme bitter or hoppy taste, yet was substantial. I'm told that it is a fairly rare beer. Damnit! I can't remember the name. I shall remedy that and soon.

Damn, Mike. One of the best beers you've ever had? Get that name, I want to try it.

I tasted a beer a few nights ago. A friend suggested that I taste it and I was given a sample. My first thought was that it tasted of walnuts and I thought it would like many beers have a sweet aftertaste. I'm not fond of sweet beers or any sweet taste in beer. It did not.

The bartender (my friend - imagine that) said that the beer was usually described as having a coffee taste, but was not made with coffee. I drank two pints.

Certainly one of the best beers I've ever drunk. No sweetness, no cloying aftertaste. It had no extreme bitter or hoppy taste, yet was substantial. I'm told that it is a fairly rare beer. Damnit! I can't remember the name. I shall remedy that and soon.

Mike

For God's sake man, do remedy that ASAP!


I recently started drinking Leffe Blonde, a damn good beer I must say.

If you're in NorCal, get this on tap:

http://www.eelriverbrewing.com/sites/eelriverbrewing.com/files/BLO%20png.png

Lightly bitter, crisp, with a fresh hop aftertaste. On tap is sooooooooooo good!

I never have liked IPAs. Pliny the Elder though... man what a great beer. I've never tasted anything similar to it in my life.

I never have liked IPAs. Pliny the Elder though... man what a great beer. I've never tasted anything similar to it in my life.

You should try Pliny The Younger. It's a Double (Imperial) IPA. Brewed once a year, available only on tap. It's the Moby Dick of India Pale Ale.

Yeah, PTE is indeed world-class.

Usually brought up along with Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point Brewery in discussions over "the best India Pale Ale". Not available locally of course, so I have to trade with a buddy in CA for my Pliny fix. The guys at Russian River Brewery produce some fantastic beers, that's for certain. Try Blind Pig from them as well.

India Pale Ale is far and away my favorite style of beer, and I've tried hundreds of different ones over the years. I've found that the assertiveness of the hops in IPAs can be an acquired taste, but you could say that for ales in general, I would think.

If you're in NorCal, get this on tap:

Not big on Blondes. The ale style or the women.

I'm not quite sure I want to try more IPAs. I tried 4 or 5 before Pliny, and honestly, it's not my thing. I'll make an exception though and try the ones you recommended if they're as unique as Pliny the Elder.

I'm not quite sure I want to try more IPAs. I tried 4 or 5 before Pliny, and honestly, it's not my thing. I'll make an exception though and try the ones you recommended if they're as unique as Pliny the Elder.

Yeah, there are styles of beer I'm not that fond of as well. Not big on Belgian Ales. Drain pours for me, the lot.

http://www.thebeercave.com.au/cave/images/uploads/tooheys_new.gif

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3138/3006969841_5787953ef8_o.jpg

http://www.gyc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/tooheys-new1.jpg

Best beer or best beer?

http://bloginterpreta.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/budweiser.jpg

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Best beer or best beer?

http://bloginterpreta.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/budweiser.jpg :ewww:ewww:ewww:ewww:ewww:ewww:ewww:ewww:ewww:ewww:ewww


The only thing worse than that is Bud Light.

Bud Light, the official sponsor of race mixing.

I might be on my own with this one, but I absolutely love this. Maybe it's a girl thing:

http://justbeer.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/samuel-adams-cherry-wheat.gif

It's like a beer soda!

I might be on my own with this one, but I absolutely love this. Maybe it's a girl thing:

http://justbeer.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/samuel-adams-cherry-wheat.gif

It's like a beer soda!

Yeah, it is a girl's thing. And yeah, you're on your own. :)

Best beer or best beer?

I'm really hoping you mean Budweiser Budvar from Budweis, in which case you would have a good contender.

Budweiser (the American one) has good brand recognition as the quintessential "American beer", but that's about it.

Taste is a subjective thing of course, but I would hazard you could find quite a few adjunct lagers that surpass Budweiser both in flavor & representation of the style. Olympia & Yuengling leap to mind.

As far as Pilsners, which Budweiser arguably is, it's not even close. Budweiser isn't even top 100. Or 300 for that matter.

Try Pilsner Urquell , Prima Pils or Stella Artois.

Not big on Blondes. The ale style or the women.I'm very big on blondes, especially the women.

I'm very big on blondes, especially the women.

It's like picking your favorite Muscle Car or Fender guitar. There aren't any wrong choices, just personal preferences.

It's like picking your favorite Muscle Car or Fender guitar. There aren't any wrong choices, just personal preferences.Yeah that's true. And you know, I never had Prima Pils, or don't remember ever having it. Will purchase some next time.

Yeah that's true. And you know, I never had Prima Pils, or don't remember ever having it. Will purchase some next time.

It's a very good beer.

I'm primarily an ale drinker, but I made a conscious effort this past summer to drink more Pils/lager to get a better appreciation of the style.

Great "lawnmower" beers.

It's a very good beer.

I'm primarily an ale drinker, but I made a conscious effort this past summer to drink more Pils/Lager to get a better appreciation of the style.

Great "lawnmower" beers.

I'm starting to get more and more into ales... I've been primarily a pils/lager drinker.

That Leffe blonde is a very good ale, and it's 6.6% alcohol by volume. :cool:

I'm starting to get more and more into ales... I've been primarily a pils/lager drinker.

That Leffe blonde is a very good ale, and it's 6.6% alcohol by volume. :cool:

6.6% is creeping into IPA-levels.

I know it's a highly acclaimed beer from a brewery that had its start in the 13th century, and believe me that has been pointed out to me every time I've tried one.... but I personally can't finish a bottle of that stuff.

Something about the yeast they use in Belgians that kills it for me.

6.6% is creeping into IPA-levels.

I know it's a highly acclaimed beer from a brewery that had its start in the 13th century, and believe me that has been pointed out to me every time I've tried one.... but I personally can't finish a bottle of that stuff.

Something about the yeast they use in Belgians that kills it for me.

Yeah, we each have our own taste buds. You know, it's funny... I tried a bottle of Leffe once many years ago and I [too] didn't like it. Now I do. Guess my taste buds changed with age.

So which ales would you recommend?

Yeah, we each have our own taste buds. You know, it's funny... I tried a bottle of Leffe once many years ago and I [too] didn't like it. Now I do. Guess my taste buds changed with age.

I've heard it said that the taste buds change over time. Not sure if that's a scientific fact, but from personal experience I would tend to agree.

So which ales would you recommend?

www.beeradvocate.com

Donnie,

I will be in Charlotte, NC for business in 2 weeks. I'm making a stop at OMB. Would you like me to pick up a few pints for ya?

Just called OMB to see what they will have available when I'm there. The expect to have:

Copper (Altbier)
Dunkel
Captain Jack Pilsner
Baltic Porter

Dunkel bier was my favorite when I lived in Germany, and cant wait to try theirs. I have 3 large growlers that I am taking with me.

I've heard it said that the taste buds change over time. Not sure if that's a scientific fact, but from personal experience I would tend to agree. I believe it; evidenced by the fact that my taste buds changed over time, foods I used to not eat I now eat and enjoy. Hell I even crave.

www.beeradvocate.com

Thanks for the link.

Got a shock while I was out today. I saw a beer I haven't seen for maybe 25 years or so. Had no idea it was still being brewed.

Hamms.

I passed.

Got a shock while I was out today. I saw a beer I haven't seen for maybe 25 years or so. Had no idea it was still being brewed.

Hamms.

I passed.

I've never even heard of it. Probably because 25 years ago I was still drinking milk.

I've never even heard of it. Probably because 25 years ago I was still drinking milk.

You didn't miss anything, man.

1979 Hamms Beer Commercial - YouTube

You didn't miss anything, man.

1979 Hamms Beer Commercial - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP8JgQxXO8U&feature=player_detailpage) LMAO! Thanks for sharing.

Awesome thread, Hibernian. I fucking hate cheap beer, and the people who drink it piss me off to no end.

Lately I've been quite fond of Belgian ales and other similar strong ale.
I'm drinking a glass of Chimay right now. It's hopped just enough to offset the maltiness, and the high alcohol content ensures a clean aftertaste, with just a hint of sweetness.

There are several beers made in Quebec that compare favorably to Trappist ales. My personal favorites are Don de Dieu and Trois Pistoles.

http://i.imgur.com/sQ8xno1.png

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m04pcqOEMB1r47bczo1_1280.jpg

Bought a 12-pack of Beck's Sapphire this evening. It is a pretty good beer I must say.

I saw it at various stores and it was, well, overpriced, especially since I had no way of knowing if I'd like it or not; and it was either a $10 6-pack or $17 12-pack. But today I saw it for $10.99 [for a 12-pack] at this one liquor store, so I bought it. I figured what the hell, I want to try this beer. It's good, am glad I bought it.

Trying a Spaten Dunkel lager, it tastes very good, but you will have to
have an affinity for dark beers.

They should focus more on brewing the beer so it doesn't taste like corn-infused liquid sadness, but hey, it's no more stupid than the "vortex bottle" from Miller.

Budweiser Dresses Up Its Can With a Bow Tie
By Tom Rotunno | CNBC

Budweiser introduces bowtie-shaped can.Budweiser is turning to modern technology to emphasize a piece of its past.

The company is unveiling a bow tie shaped can that will mirror the brand's longtime bow tie logo. The can will be available in eight-packs nationwide beginning May 6 and is the result of several years of technological advancements and investments at the breweries can-making facility in Newburgh, N.Y.

"We explored various shapes that would be distinguishable in the marketplace but also viable from an engineering standpoint," said Pat McGauley, vice president of innovation for Anheuser-Busch. "Aluminum can be stretched only about 10 percent without fracturing, which requires that the angles of the bow tie be very precise."

Budweiser officials say creating the can requires a 16-step process-10 steps to form the bottom part of the can and the rest to form the top.

While the new design is the result of technological innovation, it is ultimately the result of consumer research.

"This can is certainly a conversation starter: eye-catching, easy to grip, trendy and according to our research very appealing to young adults" McGauley said.

Consumers will be giving up about an ounce of beer to get that conversation started. The new can holds 11.3 ounces rather than the standard 12 ounces. The bow tie can is not replacing the traditional 12 ounce can and will be available only in the United States.

The Budweiser bow tie first appeared in national advertisements in 1956. The brewery says the bow tie look was introduced when too many consumers were using the term "Bud" when ordering the beer in a bar. So the company added the double triangles to emphasize the full Budweiser name.

Imo craft beers are shit. They taste like shit, are marketed to snobs who get off on the smell of their own farts and worse put union brewery workers out of jobs. One of the reasons Rainer, oly and weinhards were bought out by miller.

Imo craft beers are shit. They taste like shit, are marketed to snobs who get off on the smell of their own farts and worse put union brewery workers out of jobs. One of the reasons Rainer, oly and weinhards were bought out by miller.

So market-share lost to a competitor who puts out a superior product is somehow...bad? There is a reason the large breweries continue to lose ground and have resorted to outright transparent gimmicks to sell their beer.

Maybe it's a style issue. If you enjoy Olympia (I do) you really should try some other Pilsners that are out there.

I can recommend quite a few excellent ones that should be available to you locally if you're willing to try them.

So market-share lost to a competitor who puts out a superior product is somehow...bad? There is a reason the large breweries continue to lose ground and have resorted to outright transparent gimmicks to sell their beer.

Maybe it's a style issue. If you enjoy Olympia (I do) you really should try some other Pilsners that are out there.

I can recommend quite a few excellent ones that should be available to you locally if you're willing to try them.

You damn faggot beer snobs make me so mad I wanna stop eatin my boogers. Just like my little wife (also my bubba's daughter - she calls me uncle honey) said today, "Uncle honey, set yoself down and eat some canned corn and tater-buds. And have yoself a miller lite."

Now that's a real beer!

Mike

Imo craft beers are shit. They taste like shit, are marketed to snobs who get off on the smell of their own farts and worse put union brewery workers out of jobs. One of the reasons Rainer, oly and weinhards were bought out by miller.

Craft Beer: A conspiracy to keep down the 'hard working' white niggers of America's unions.

Talk about fart sniffing.

Craft Beer: A conspiracy to keep down the 'hard working' white niggers of America's unions.

Talk about fart sniffing.

So you too damn good to sniff your farts, beer snob? Ha! You probably eat cheese what don't squirt out of a can. Ha!

Mike

You damn faggot beer snobs make me so mad I wanna stop eatin my boogers. Just like my little wife (also my bubba's daughter - she calls me uncle honey) said today, "Uncle honey, set yoself down and eat some canned corn and tater-buds. And have yoself a miller lite."

Now that's a real beer!

lol. It's never easy bringing dry-hopped light into flavorless darkness, is it? White man's burden, Mike.

I've yet to find a "light" beer that I actually enjoy. Amstel Light & Sam Adams version are both tolerable, and at least have a "beer" taste.

Those extremely low-cal beers (Miller 64, Bud Select 55, etc.) must taste like water someone soaked a hop-pellet in for a couple of minutes. /shudder

Craft Beer: A conspiracy to keep down the 'hard working' white niggers of America's unions.

In honor of Greg, I drove to those corporate fucks down at the Hopping Frog Brewery yesterday, and screamed union slogans at their entire workforce, Norma Rae-style. All three of them.

Sly bastards were quickly able to buy my silence with a few bottles of Mean Manalishi Double I.P.A., however.

I'm down with Che and all, but...it's a Double IPA, so screw the masses.

Craft Beer: A conspiracy to keep down the 'hard working' white niggers of America's unions.

Talk about fart sniffing.

So thinking a person being paid what he's worth is a "white nigger"? Basically, if it wasn't for unions everyone who actually has to work for a living would have lower wages, longer hours and dangerous work conditions. So I as a member of a union wanting these basic rights makes me a nigger, WHATEVER.

As for the topic at hand there is a very good mid sized brewery on the other side of the canadian border, columbia which produces kokanee, my personal favorite at the moment.

" I contracted the human papillomavirus by drinking Old Milwaukee from the can."

-M. Douglas

As for the topic at hand there is a very good mid sized brewery on the other side of the canadian border, columbia which produces kokanee, my personal favorite at the moment.

I've had it. It's a fine Pilsner. Have you tried Mama's Little Yella Pils from Oskar Blues?

It's my go-to Pilsner at the moment.

I've had it. It's a fine Pilsner. Have you tried Mama's Little Yella Pils from Oskar Blues?

It's my go-to Pilsner at the moment.

Does it have Valium in it?

Does it have Valium in it?

No. No it doesn't.

But it does have a really cool can, and that, Colonel, has always been at least 50% of the battle when marketing beer to the proletariat.

Zymurgist of the world unite!

No. No it doesn't.

But it does have a really cool can, and that, Colonel, has always been at least 50% of the battle when marketing beer to the proletariat.

Zymurgist of the world unite!

Is the really cool can aerodynamic? I think that's what the Colonel really wanted to know.

Is the really cool can aerodynamic? I think that's what the Colonel really wanted to know.

No way. Lord Akins?

No way. Lord Akins?

The one and only, to quote the not late and not great Chesney Hawkes.

The one and only, to quote the not late and not great Chesney Hawkins.

I pity you, Bev.

You are about to engage in a vicious and protracted war. Whatever Gods you call your own, may they stand by you now, in the hour of your greatest need.

The one and only, to quote the not late and not great Chesney Hawkes.

How did you know it was Akins? *shrug*

I pity you, Bev.

You are about to engage in a vicious and protracted war. Whatever Gods you call your own, may they stand by you now, in the hour of your greatest need.

Why's that? For slagging off Chesney Hawkes or for getting his name wrong in the original post?

How did you know it was Akins? *shrug*


His magical program that changes his IP address doesn't work.

http://www.ziegenbock.com/Dark/ZiegenBock.aspx

Brewed in Houston, ZiegenBock is a beer of the South. Only available in Texas, this American-style amber lager, offers notes of roasted grains in the aroma and a sweet, smooth taste with a hop finish. The select imported hops and specialty malts create a taste worthy of a 2006 Great American Beer Festival Bronze Medal.

Twice a year, ZiegenBock hosts a music festival in Bryan-College Station and in Houston; to celebrate the history of the beer and the Texan love for good music. The event is produced and promoted by Mustang Music Group in Houston.

Ziegenbock is an amber ale brewed by Anheuser-Busch. It is billed as "for Texans by Texans."

Ziegenbock is an imitation craft brew marketed under Anheuser-Busch's ICS (Import - Craft - Specialty) brand, positioned as a Texan beer to compete with Shiner Bock. Ziegenbock is brewed at Anheuser-Busch's Houston brewery and is very similar to Michelob Amber Bock, but it is sold exclusively in the Texas market. Like Shiner Bock and Amber Bock, it does not conform to the BJCP style guidelines for a Bock, either in terms of flavor profile or potency. A Traditional Bock typically has an ABV range of 6.3 - 7.2%, where Ziegenbock is 4% (Shiner Bock is 4.4%; Amber Bock slightly truer in this respect at 5.2%.) Also lacking is the complex richness of Munich and Vienna malts. Shiner Bock comes somewhat closer to the flavor profile of a Bock.

Meh - was better than anything else on tap at Dallas/Ft. Worth airport.

Why's that?

I was referring to that intractable war you now have on your hands with The Badger of the Glen.

Meh - was better than anything else on tap at Dallas/Ft. Worth airport.

I've got a review of Shiner Bock in this thread... I think. Or maybe it's on BA.

S'ok.

So thinking a person being paid what he's worth is a "white nigger"? Basically, if it wasn't for unions everyone who actually has to work for a living would have lower wages, longer hours and dangerous work conditions. So I as a member of a union wanting these basic rights makes me a nigger, WHATEVER.

There is no such 'basic right'. You think you're worth more than your are, and that you're owed something by the rest of us. Yes, that makes you a white nigger. Keep your hand off my wallet.

Basically, if it wasn't for unions everyone who actually has to work for a living. . .

Ie, the non-union world. . .

would have lower wages, longer hours and dangerous work conditions.

. . .would have more jobs.

Spread your gospel of graft to the 'hard working' philosophers down by the river.

Ziegenbock is an amber ale brewed by Anheuser-Busch. It is billed as "for Texans by Texans."

Ziegenbock is an imitation craft brew marketed under Anheuser-Busch's ICS (Import - Craft - Specialty) brand, positioned as a Texan beer to compete with Shiner Bock. Ziegenbock is brewed at Anheuser-Busch's Houston brewery and is very similar to Michelob Amber Bock, but it is sold exclusively in the Texas market. Like Shiner Bock and Amber Bock, it does not conform to the BJCP style guidelines for a Bock, either in terms of flavor profile or potency. A Traditional Bock typically has an ABV range of 6.3 - 7.2%, where Ziegenbock is 4% (Shiner Bock is 4.4%; Amber Bock slightly truer in this respect at 5.2%.) Also lacking is the complex richness of Munich and Vienna malts. Shiner Bock comes somewhat closer to the flavor profile of a Bock.

How in the world did A-B(I) not name it Luckenbock???

Do they have Euro-Brazilian queers mismanaging their marketing department now???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luckenbach,_Texas

How in the world did A-B(I) not name it Luckenbock???

Do they have Euro-Brazilian queers mismanaging their marketing department now???

You see the Budweiser Super Bowl ad with the guy and his Clydesdale?

To paraphrase a once not-unhot Garofalo: It's OK to love your horse. You just can't love your horse.

You see the Budweiser Super Bowl ad with the guy and his Clydesdale?

To paraphrase a once not-unhot Garofalo: It's OK to love your horse. You just can't love your horse.

Ah, I missed that one.

I agree on historical JG. And her philosophy of horse husbandry.

There were only two jew products left to in my life to rid. Between the Philedelphia Flyers and Sam Adams, the Flyers went to the curb.

Ah, I missed that one.




2013 Budweiser Super Bowl Ad — Extended Version of The Clydesdales: "Brotherhood" - YouTube

[QUOTE=Leonard Rouse;1562208]There is no such 'basic right'. You think you're worth more than your are, and that you're owed something by the rest of us. Yes, that makes you a white nigger. Keep your hand off my wallet.







Um, I work in the private sector you idiot. None of my top scale wage comes out of your pocket. Im worth whatever my fellow workers and I at my company collectively bargain our contract with our employer for.

There is no such 'basic right'. You think you're worth more than your are, and that you're owed something by the rest of us. Yes, that makes you a white nigger. Keep your hand off my wallet.

Um, I work in the private sector you idiot. None of my top scale wage comes out of your pocket. Im worth whatever my fellow workers and I at my company collectively bargain our contract with our employer for.

You're worth what the market price is for your services. If you have gotten above that, via hook or crook (the latter in the case of unions, which use the government to secure ill gotten loot, thereby raising the price of goods and decreasing the number of jobs in the economy, screwing the public coming and going), then you should say 'thank you,' if anything, and leave it at that.

Instead, your go-to bleat is that there is a conspiracy among craft breweries to harm crap (ie, unionized) mega-breweries that is motivated by hatred for 'hard working' union members. Supposedly, they accomplish this tremendous, uneconomic feat by hoodwinking hapless employees into working (and living) for some fraction of the union wage, who profitably produce a more expensive product that is sold-out with 1/10 the market penetration and 1/100 the pricing power. Oh, and according to you, craft beer sucks, so they're conning the beer drinking public, who are abandoning major brewery brands in droves to pay more for this inferior product, which they actively seek and purchase repeatedly.

This is a crazy cult religious mentality. It is white nigger 'thought'.

No business can remain competitive with the artificial burdens government facilitates (and, in some cases, imposes) on private enterprise for unions. It's why the industrial bakery business (unionized) in this country is a mess. That's what a brewery is, essentially: a liquid bakery. Same cost structure. Same low margins and cutthroat competition. Unions artificially raise the price of labor and then produce a crap product. The product sucks so badly that craft breweries, collectively, can imperil union jobs by successfully selling a more expensive product with higher (non-wage) input and distribution costs and lower advertising budgets. They can do this even while absorbing upward trending input prices--which they already pay relatively more for with their dearth of purchasing power--because they lack the union wage and pension burden.

Union shops tend over time to please their unions rather than their customers. They cut their product quality to the bone in order to squeeze profit increases while satisfying union demands. The result is inedible bakery products that taste like gasoline (Hostess, et al) and undrinkable beer that tastes like watered-down gasoline (Budweiser, et al). One could say the same of anything Kraft produces, for another example of a unionized, overpriced crap food producer.

When micro-companies with no major backing and a more expensive product begin cutting into a major, established company's bottom line, it isn't them. It's you.

Is the really cool can aerodynamic? I think that's what the Colonel really wanted to know.I've been pretty busy lately. Of who's ilk is he this week?

You're worth what the market price is for your services. If you have gotten above that, via hook or crook (the latter in the case of unions, which use the government to secure ill gotten loot, thereby raising the price of goods and decreasing the number of jobs in the economy, screwing the public coming and going), then you should say 'thank you,' if anything, and leave it at that.

Instead, your go-to bleat is that there is a conspiracy among craft breweries to harm crap (ie, unionized) mega-breweries that is motivated by hatred for 'hard working' union members. Supposedly, they accomplish this tremendous, uneconomic feat by hoodwinking hapless employees into working (and living) for some fraction of the union wage, who profitably produce a more expensive product that is sold-out with 1/10 the market penetration and 1/100 the pricing power. Oh, and according to you, craft beer sucks, so they're conning the beer drinking public, who are abandoning major brewery brands in droves to pay more for this inferior product, which they actively seek and purchase repeatedly.

This is a crazy cult religious mentality. It is white nigger 'thought'.

No business can remain competitive with the artificial burdens government facilitates (and, in some cases, imposes) on private enterprise for unions. It's why the industrial bakery business (unionized) in this country is a mess. That's what a brewery is, essentially: a liquid bakery. Same cost structure. Same low margins and cutthroat competition. Unions artificially raise the price of labor and then produce a crap product. The product sucks so badly that craft breweries, collectively, can imperil union jobs by successfully selling a more expensive product with higher (non-wage) input and distribution costs and lower advertising budgets. They can do this even while absorbing upward trending input prices--which they already pay relatively more for with their dearth of purchasing power--because they lack the union wage and pension burden.

Union shops tend over time to please their unions rather than their customers. They cut their product quality to the bone in order to squeeze profit increases while satisfying union demands. The result is inedible bakery products that taste like gasoline (Hostess, et al) and undrinkable beer that tastes like watered-down gasoline (Budweiser, et al). One could say the same of anything Kraft produces, for another example of a unionized, overpriced crap food producer.

When micro-companies with no major backing and a more expensive product begin cutting into a major, established company's bottom line, it isn't them. It's you.

What he said.

Having actually worked at one of these fly by night shit breweries (sierra nevada in chico, ca, also owned by a jew, Ken Grossman) I can assure you that your idea that these "small" breweries produce a better product than their unionized competitors is seriously flawed.They paid shit wages, managed heavy handedly and had some of the most unsanitary working conditions i ever had the displeasure of experiencing.

I'm a real fan of Mendocino Brewing. Red Tail Ale, for semi-mass produced brew it suits my taste to a t.

I'm a real fan of Mendocino Brewing. Red Tail Ale, for semi-mass produced brew it suits my taste to a t.

I like their Peregrine Pilsner . Very floral nose.

A bit of a humorous story.

I was stationed in Katterbach, Germany for 3 years. The last summer we were there, one of my friends was promoted to SGT and he was moved off base to an apartment in a small village a few kilometers away (as there was no room for single NCO quarters on base). It was a small, 2nd floor apartment nestled in the middle of the village.

Being summer time, on the weekends, we would routinely get together for barbeques. I remember the first time he hosted. He had a small, covered patio for his apartment. There had to be 10-15 of us there that Saturday afternoon. We had about 4 or 5 charcoal grills on his patio cooking steaks, chicken, burgers, dogs, corn on the cob, and baked potatoes. Needless to say, there was a lot of smoke. Remember, this is on the 2nd floor.

I guess there was enough smoke pouring from his patio, that it actually alarmed the proprietors of the gausthaus across the street. I remember frantic pounding on his apartment door, and when we answered, there were a few frazzled and concerned looking Germans. Our mastery of the German language, shall we say, wasn't the best, and their English wasn't much better (they were older). We could tell they were alarmed and invited them in to find out what was the cause for their concern.

Long story short, it became apparent they were concerned because of all the smoke pouring from the balcony, and must have thought the apartment was on fire. We realized they were completely unfamiliar with an American style barbeque, and invited them to join us - which they were happy to oblige. We had a good time.

Next weekend, same scenario - BBQ at my friend's place - the same locals knock on the door, this time unalarmed, and with a rack of bier as a party gift. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves the first time around, and basically became BBQ regulars. International diplomacy at its best.

After a few weeks of this, they actually invited us to their gausthaus, and gave us the stammtisch (a reserved spot for the "regulars" of an establishment - an honor for us). One of their children was our age - and spoke very good English - and acted as interpreter. They operated the local brewery in town, and wanted us to try their newest batch of bier. It became a regular thing to do on a Saturday evening.

Wow! We became unofficial "taste testers" for them. How cool was that? The brewery had been in the family for over 250 years,and was actually a larger brewery - they bottled and shipped several labels.

The name of the town? Lichtenau. The name of the brewery? Hauff Brau.

http://www.hauff-braeu.de/

http://www.franconiabeerguide.com/CityDetail.asp?City=Lichtenau

^

I was in Munich in May 1970...just goofing off. I had a small room in a bed-and-breakfast (whatever the German for this is) near the train station. On about the second day I decided to walk to the site where they were building the Olympic village for the 1972 Olympics. I did, big deal...some dorms and buildings going up...nothing to see. I walked back a little less directly and on a small side street went into a small bar for a beer.

There was one bartender/proprietor and about five men sitting around a table. It was obvious that they spent lots of time there. I'd had two years of German in University and asked for a beer. The bartender eyed me, eyed the others who were all watching me...reached under the bar, brought out a bottle, opened it, and poured it for me. The attention from the other men seemed strange, but I was thirsty, so I drank.

On about the third drink, I was amazed. I turned to the bartender and flat out told him in probably bad German, "This is the best beer I've ever drunk in my life." Maybe it was only a good beer, plus the long walk, but it was a damn fine beer.

Well, it was their beer. There was a brewery and bottling set up below and the beer they'd decided to test on me was their best.

I stumbled out of the bar stuffed with wurst and kraut and beer, a few hours later, having spent nothing.

Munich is great in May. There is a Maibach festival...a little calmer that Oktoberfest. The weather is great. Never been back.

Mike

^

"Ich moctish ein grosse glasse krystalweisen mit citrona fom fauss bitte shoen."

The very first thing I learned to say (not spell, lol) in German.

Almost every gausthaus brews their own bier, and can only be purchased at that location. I tried my damnest to sample every bier in Germany while I was there, and failed miserably - but gave it on helluva try.

Thinking about all of this reminded me of that little place in Konigstein - they had the best dunkel bier I've ever tasted (I posted about it in this thread a ways back). I found their website for their hotel - and just emailed them to see if it is possible to order a few racks and have it shipped here to the US.

If I can get my hands on it, I would gladly share with anyone who is willing. DiO - you MUST try this if I can arrange a shipment. It will change your life!

Thanks for sharing the tales from the hop vines, guys. Good stuff.

I've been trying to focus more on pilsners and lager styles in general for the past couple of years or so now, even with my brewing. I've always been an ale guy, buy frankly I was getting a little burned out on the IBUs.

Brewing beer is an art. It's much harder to hide mistakes or off-flavors in lagers. That's the reason a lot of craft brewers start with ales.

Who likes Good News? Everyone!? - YouTube

Von:xxxxxxxxxxxx
Gesendet: Montag, 1. Juli 2013 19:05
An: info@koenigsteiner-hof.de
Betreff: Dunkel Bier


Gruss Gott!

I was stationed at Katterbach in the US Army from 1998-2001. I stayed at the Konigsteiner Hof for several weeks while I was attending a school in Vilsek. Your Dunkel Bier was the best bier I've ever tasted in my life. I would regularly travel from Katterbach to Konigstein on Friday afternoons to have a few bottles to bring home for the weekends.

I have no idea if it is possible, but I would desperately like to order some to have it delivered to my home in the United States. Please contact me via E-mail and let me know if something like this is possible and can be worked out.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

From: stefan.pirner@t-online.de
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: AW: Dunkel Bier
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2013 17:26:12 +0200


Hallo Mr. Anderson

This is no problem…

How many bottles „Schwarzbier“ you need J

(1 Kasten 20 Stück ?)

Best Regards from Königstein

Katrin Pirner

***********************************************

Anyone have a clue how I get this through customs?

Shipping alcoholic beverages by mail is prohibited by U.S. postal laws. The importer must be 21 to bring alcoholic beverages into the United States.

Shipping alcoholic beverages through a courier is permitted, however, duty will be collected on the entire shipment (there is no duty exemption for alcohol not accompanying a traveler), and the courier will probably charge handling and Customs Broker fees that could significantly raise the cost of the shipment.

Please be aware that State ABC laws govern how much alcohol a person may import into their state without a license and those laws are enforced by CBP. You must check with the state ABC board where your shipment will enter the country to determine their limits.

There is no federal limit on the amount of alcohol someone may import into the U.S. for personal use, however, large quantities might raise the suspicion that the importation is for commercial purposes, and a CBP Officer could require you to obtain an Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) import license before releasing it.

If you intend to have a large quantity shipped to you for personal use, we suggest you contact the entry branch of the port where your shipment will be entering the country to discuss your situation in advance.

Duty rates on alcoholic beverages are based on the percent of alcohol per liter in the product - not on units of packaging such as per bottle/case. Duty on wine and beer is generally low, $1-2 per liter, while fortified wines and spirits are considerably higher. Duty rates can be obtained in Chapter 22 "Beverages, Spirits and Vinegar," in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

Federal IRS Excise tax is also collected.

If you intend to bring in a wine collection as part of your household/personal effects, you will be subject to these same regulations.

*Military and Government Personnel are exempt from duty on alcohol and cigarettes, but not IRS tax.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/212/kw/import%20beer

Shipping via the US Postal service is a no-no. When they say courier, I wonder if they mean a person is physically accompanying it, or would a private shipping company (like FedEx) suffice? From reading elsewhere, it appears that 1 case is considered for personal use.

DHL - maybe.....has to go to a licensed alcohol retailer (such as a bar) - but they have to create a DHL account and be accepted. (I'm friends with a bar owner). No shipments directly to a consumer.

FedEx - no
UPS - no
Delta cargo - no


The search goes on.

Ciuc, premium pils from Romania. I paid $10 for a 6-pack but I am not disappointed. I like it better than Pilsner Urquell for example, which is also a good pils beer. I guess the problem with the Ro beer is availability. I got it at a Euro market store in Chimpcago.

Ciuc, premium pils from Romania. I paid $10 for a 6-pack but I am not disappointed. I like it better than Pilsner Urquell for example, which is also a good pils beer. I guess the problem with the Ro beer is availability. I got it at a Euro market store in Chimpcago.

Big Pilsner Urquell fan. If I'm drinking a pils brewed outside the states, odds are it's a Pilsner Urquell. Yeah, I've noticed prices on craft/imported beer starting to creep up. Gotta pay for quality.

I'm making a trip to Jungle Jacks next week. They have the best selection of beers I've ever seen. I'll look for Ciuc. Thanks for the heads-up.

DHL - maybe.....has to go to a licensed alcohol retailer (such as a bar) - but they have to create a DHL account and be accepted. (I'm friends with a bar owner). No shipments directly to a consumer.

FedEx - no
UPS - no
Delta cargo - no


The search goes on.

Everyone I know, and I know a lot of people who trade/ship beer, uses UPS. As you pointed out, using the USPS to ship alcohol across state lines without a permit is illegal, so don't do that shit, anyone.

UPS won't ask what you're shipping. If they do, it's yeast cultures in liquid containers. Which is correct.

Most serious traders just weigh the package/print their own UPS labels at home and just drop them off to ship. Easy as a Lohan on 'ludes. /shrug

Recently I've started to see an increasing number of craft breweries canning their beers. Boston Beer Co, Leinenkugel, Sierra Nevada. Also seeing more & more imported beers being shipped in cans.

Many European brands you buy in a bottle are light-struck or "skunked" to a degree, as exposure to sunlight damages the beer.

Canning eliminates this, and the cans used today don't impart any off-flavors as in decades past.

So good news.

Many European brands you buy in a bottle are light-struck or "skunked" to a degree, as exposure to sunlight damages the beer.






Why you want to only buy beer in dark bottles. Either that or squirt in lime juice to kill the skunk, as all Mexico does with its fine skunk pissners

We went to a new local place today, 35 biers on tap that rotate on a regular/unscheduled basis. I was hoping to find Sam Adams Octoberfest on tap, but they haven't switched over from Summer Ale yet. So, I tried 2 samplers (4 different biers each), and brought home 3 growlers of different brews. Well, 2 proper growlers (1 from Germany and 1 from the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery) and one twist top 'jug' from a local brewery.


Pictured from left to right/top to bottom.


http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b497/Mr_AAnderson/Picture1_zpsf1daf7fd.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/Mr_AAnderson/media/Picture1_zpsf1daf7fd.jpg.html)

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b497/Mr_AAnderson/IMG_20130809_180418_zpsaa4d62e5.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/Mr_AAnderson/media/IMG_20130809_180418_zpsaa4d62e5.jpg.html)

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b497/Mr_AAnderson/Public/IMG_20130809_180342_zpsca353ffa.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/Mr_AAnderson/media/Public/IMG_20130809_180342_zpsca353ffa.jpg.html)

The Sothern Tier Creme Brulee is definitely the most unique tasting bier I've ever had. It is absolutely a dessert bier. Sweet, flavorful, aromatic - it smells, tastes, and looks like a dessert coffee. I could literally drink this for breakfast! Absolutely amazing. Absolutely black, creamy, with a thick head that sticks to the side of a glass.

The Anderson Valley is a nice copper bier. Not quite as bitter as an Altbier because of the fruity tones - rasberry is what I notice the most. A very smooth bier and quite enjoyable to drink.

The Ithaca Apricot Wheat is a light colored (and tasting) bier. The aroma, taste and color scream of apricots. While I am not a fruity bier type of guy, I did find this very refreshing, crisp, and not overbearing in the least. The carbonation level was just right - not anywhere close to the over carbination associated with a 'shandy'. Bev would love this one!

Great reviews AA. Thanks.

I'm very familiar with Anderson Valley. Their Hop 'Ottin IPA is #12 on my own personal list of favorite India Pale Ales. Flower Power from Ithaca brewing is a real winner as well.

Various Octoberfest-Marzen beers have been available here locally for a while already. Fall is coming. I see more and more new breweries seemingly weekly.

There are a lot of lessons that WN could take away from the ongoing (very successful) craft beer culture that is seemingly being embraced by an ever-increasing market share of Americans.

Great reviews AA. Thanks.

I'm very familiar with Anderson Valley. Their Hop 'Ottin IPA is #12 on my own personal list of favorite India Pale Ales. Flower Power from Ithaca brewing is a real winner as well.

Various Octoberfest-Marzen beers have been available here locally for a while already. Fall is coming. I see more and more new breweries seemingly weekly.

There are a lot of lessons that WN could take away from the ongoing (very successful) craft beer culture that is seemingly being embraced by an ever-increasing market share of Americans.

Your taste in beer is that of bourgeois jew.

Your taste in beer is that of bourgeois jew.

Tough crowd. I'll try and work in some German Pilsners.

You happy now?

Had occasion to try Longboard Island Lager from Kona Brewing Company out of HI recently.

www.konabrewingco.com

From the website:

Longboard Island Lager is a smooth refreshing lager fermented and aged for weeks at cold temperatures to yield its exceptionally smooth flavor. A delicate, slightly spicy hop aroma complements the malty body of this beer.


Cool retro brown bottle that has Liquid Aloha embossed on it. Tasted like Strohs, but in a good way. Same hops, maybe.

Recommended.

By request.....

http://manjr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Oktoberfest2013.jpg

OK, so I'm not a beer snob, but man, do I love a good bier. I've tried some of what Great Lakes has to offer a couple times in the past, but this is the first time I've tried their Oktoberfest.

All in all, I find it a bit milder than what I'm used to in an Oktoberfest bier, but that's not a bad thing. It seems to be a little less bitter and less creamy than the Sam Adams or the Penn Brewery style. An easy start and finish, but I really can't comment on the aroma and exact flavors (that would be way too snobby for me, beyond my abilities on my best day, and well - I have a sinus cold at the moment.)

Of course, this is bottled - and I only drink the Sam Adams and Penn from the tap - so it is a bit of an unfair comparison. Next time I'm in Cleveland, I may have to stop by the brewery for the true experience.

Of course, I prefer my biers to be 'chilled', not cold like American's prefer. I find that letting cold beer from the cooler warm at room temperature for an hour or two definitely allows me to better judge the character. Chilled as opposed to cold is the difference between beer and Bier.

I found Great Lakes Oktoberfest even better once it wasn't so cold.

On a side note, DiO - this is the Great Lakes selection at my local mom and pop grocery.

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b497/Mr_AAnderson/IMG_20130928_170009_zps7b69b1d5.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/Mr_AAnderson/media/IMG_20130928_170009_zps7b69b1d5.jpg.html)

On a side note, DiO - this is the Great Lakes selection at my local mom and pop grocery.

[IMG]http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b497/Mr_AAnderson/IMG_20130928_170009_zps7b69b1d5.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/Mr_AAnderson/media/IMG_20130928_170009_zps7b69b1d5.jpg.html)

Nice. Nosferatu next to Bud Light. No...wait..it gets worse. Bud Light Lime.
Good selection of GL. Glad to see they keep the hop-intensive beers chilled.

Thanks for the review, man. I think you nailed it. It's a very approachable offering of the style. You're used to the actual fresh German Oktoberfest brews, you dream-billeted lucky bastard.

Touched on by AA above, and he's right about the temperature of different beers. Some styles (Porter, Stout, Märzen /Oktoberfest) which place more emphasis on the malt profile get better as they warm up a little.

If it's a Pilsner, colder the better.

Pro party tip:

As Captain Smith found out, salt water can get colder than fresh water without freezing. Add some salt to the ice in your beer cooler. Coldest beer you'll ever have.