Beer Aficionados?

[Lefty Kev]

Sam Adams (the regular Boston Lager), Newcastle Brown Ale, Dos Equis Amber, Fat Tire, Pete's Wicked Ale, Stella Artois (a very smooth lager for those hot summer days), and just about any amber micro-brew (one of my current favorites is B.J.'s Piranha Ale...goes down well with their Blackened Chicken Baked Potato!).

A little early in the morning to be thinking about beer but still...

[Endo Verendo]

Originally Posted by jasonmason

You...have...pure...hoppiness...

When did you happen to get down to the brewery to get some?

Got the Pure Hoppiness at a small whole foods like market called Windmill Farms near SDSU. Limit 2 per customer.

[RustyIron]

My favorite style is pale ale, on the hoppy side, but not overdone. My favorite region is the Western U.S., mainly for our magnificent hop varieties. I find them more exciting than English and European hops.

My all time guzzling favorite is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Red Seal Ale is good, as are several offerings from Mendocino and Humbolt breweries.

If you want to dabble in the eclectic, think "Belgian."

Belgians typically have a complex flavor and are worth exploring. They're for savoring, not guzzling. For me, Trappists are the most intriguing. There are only six Trappist monestaries left in the world, and the beer must be brewed there to be called a Trappist ale.

Don't be tricked. There are some domestic breweries that use names and labels that LOOK Belgian. Read the fine print.

Two of my favorite Belgians are La Chouffe and Cordesonk. Both will knock your socks off. They're worth hunting down.

Saison is a style brewed in the south of Belgium and northern France. Saison Dupont is probably the most recognizable, but even it is not readily available. Whenever I see a Saison on the shelf, I'll snap up at least one bottle.

Lambics are mystical and magical. They're for sipping. I find the style intriguing. Right now there's a bottle of Lindeman's Pomme Lambic in the cupboard. I prefer these fruit flavored ones. The idea behind lambics brings out the alchemist in me, and I can't resist.

[northshore]

Blue Moon for me!

[Endo Verendo]

Originally Posted by RustyIron

Don't be tricked. There are some domestic breweries that use names and labels that LOOK Belgian. Read the fine print.

I don't have to read the fine print to know that some domestic Belgian styles are better than a lot of real Belgians!!!

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by Endo Verendo

I don't have to read the fine print to know that some domestic Belgian styles are better than a lot of real Belgians!!!

*cough* Russian River *cough*

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by RustyIron

Two of my favorite Belgians are La Chouffe and Cordesonk. Both will knock your socks off. They're worth hunting down.

Saison is a style brewed in the south of Belgium and northern France. Saison Dupont is probably the most recognizable, but even it is not readily available. Whenever I see a Saison on the shelf, I'll snap up at least one bottle.

Lambics are mystical and magical. They're for sipping. I find the style intriguing. Right now there's a bottle of Lindeman's Pomme Lambic in the cupboard. I prefer these fruit flavored ones. The idea behind lambics brings out the alchemist in me, and I can't resist.

The crazy thing is that you can find La Chouffe, Corsendonk, Dupont, and Lindeman's at BevMo these days. Nice to see the craft beer movement going mainstream. Me likey.

Have you tried a straight lambic without the fruit? Think Cantillion Gueze or similar Guezes. Killer stuff. Here is a shot of me at Cantillon in May in front of a stack of Rose de Gambrinus. What a blessed place.



Open air spontaneous fermenter (the yeast and bacteria come from the air and the ceiling!)

[DeeZee]

When I was in Belgium this was the best beer I tasted.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by jasonmason

they've even got multiple Jolly Pumpkin beers somehow!

Jolly Pumpkin? I've never seen that for sale in CA. I've always brought that back from Michigan. They make fantastic beer! La Rojo is my favorite though I want to try Perseguidor if I can find it.

[jasonmason]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

Jolly Pumpkin? I've never seen that for sale in CA. I've always brought that back from Michigan. They make fantastic beer! La Rojo is my favorite though I want to try Perseguidor if I can find it.

Vendome's got jolly pumpkin too; at least the one placentia/fullerton store does, don't know about their other locations. Oro de Calabaza, La Roja, Calabaza Blanca, Madrugada Obscura, and Luciernaga (i think i remember this one there...). Supposed to be some Noel de Calabaza floating around socal too, but i haven't tracked any down yet.
They've got Blag Flag Imperial Stout at T&C too; have had it for a while since no one buys it but me i think...
Don't know if you noticed last time, but Roscoe's now has Alaskan IPA in bombers too!

[un-kola]

I usually have Stone IPA,Eye of the Hawk-Select or Red Tail Ale,and Anderson Valley-Boont Amber Ale always in the fridge.This year I was a little disappointed in Stone's 11th anniversary.To me the 10th was better. I much prefer their Ruination Ale.I have also lately been enjoying a beer from Montana called Black Dog Ale.Back in the early '70s,when I was stationed in West Germany,we were told that every village had a brewery.That was something like 2200 breweries!!! You can be sure we tried to taste them all!-Lloyd

[Do Work]

Hmmmm....very interesting stuff
Lots of good beers being thrown around here and hopefully i can try a few of them and get me some beer ejumacation post-ride thursday..."24 Beers in a case, 24 hours in a day-coincidence...I think not! "

[atomrat]

My choices in order:

My Homebrew IPA, 100+ on IBUs
My Homebrew Red Ale
Anything Stone
Sierra
Pyramid Snow Cap
NO Yellow Fizzy Beer (water instead)


For those that do not know what IBU is, it is the measurement for how much hop bitterness is in a beer. The hoppier, the higher the IBU number.

Yes, I am a Homebrewer.

Ask pcemkr about my IPA.

[un-kola]

Originally Posted by atomrat

My choices in order:

My Homebrew IPA, 100+ on IBUs
My Homebrew Red Ale
Anything Stone
Sierra
Pyramid Snow Cap
NO Yellow Fizzy Beer (water instead)


For those that do not know what IBU is, it is the measurement for how much hop bitterness is in a beer. The hoppier, the higher the IBU number.

Yes, I am a Homebrewer.

Ask pcemkr about my IPA.

On the last item of your list I usually refer to it as "Fizzy,Pissy,Yellow Beer!"I also liked the one that I believed someone posted here that said"Light beer is for people who like to PEE alot!"Light beer-what a waste of good water!- Lloyd

[Endo Verendo]

Originally Posted by un-kola

This year I was a little disappointed in Stone's 11th anniversary.To me the 10th was better. I much prefer their Ruination Ale.

Ditto!

Originally Posted by un-kola

I also liked the one that I believed someone posted here that said"Light beer is for people who like to PEE alot!"

Actually....... it's the hops that make you pee so light beer makes you pee less than that high IBU IPA!

I'm not a homebrewer.. I just have to pee a lot!

[katonk]

Originally Posted by jasonmason

They've got Blag Flag Imperial Stout at T&C too; have had it for a while since no one buys it but me i think...

I bought Black Flag at Bevmo in Cypress. You don't just drink Black Flag; you have a beer event.

It looks like I'm missing out on the Belgian beers. I've not gone much past the Trappist and White Beers. I had a couple of Labics that didn't agree with me and have since shied away from exploring Belgians. Maybe I just wasn't buying the right stuff. You guys have motivated me to get back on the Belgian beer horse. Where should I start?

[Endo Verendo]

Originally Posted by katonk

Where should I start?

Don't go too far....

[atomrat]

Originally Posted by katonk

You guys have motivated me to get back on the Belgian beer horse. Where should I start?

Lost Abbey makes some really good Belgian beers. Plus they are a SoCal brewery.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by katonk

I bought Black Flag at Bevmo in Cypress. You don't just drink Black Flag; you have a beer event.

It looks like I'm missing out on the Belgian beers. I've not gone much past the Trappist and White Beers. I had a couple of Labics that didn't agree with me and have since shied away from exploring Belgians. Maybe I just wasn't buying the right stuff. You guys have motivated me to get back on the Belgian beer horse. Where should I start?

Start with Orval or Duvel. The rest will take care of itself. Don't plan on driving after 2 Duvels.

Start with the real Belgian stuff from Belgium. Then you'll know what the American breweries use for inspiration and guidance.