Favorite Beer?

[Heidenlarm]

Oh boy...like I said I was pretty hammered by the end. But my highlights were:

A locally homebrewed beer was probably my favorite. They called it a tropical pale ale. It was bitter/hoppy enough to be called an IPA, really. Here's the description of it in the manual "Riding the cusp of Pale Ale and IPA, it has an assertive bitterness with the malt to back it up. Aggressively dry hopped with American "C" hops for your quaffing pleasure. 7% ABV and 65 IBUs." It smelled absolutely amazing, with a ton of tropical fruit smell. The taste was the same, without being too sweet. It was super refreshing. I must have smelled it 20 times while drinking. Went back for seconds as well.

Other honorable mentions (first time drinking and enjoyed them): Stone Vertical Epic 11.11.11, Founder's Breakfast Stout, Ballast Point Big Eye IPA, Dark Horse Plead the Fifth Imperial Stout, Southern Tier Chokolat Stout, Sierra Nevada Estate and Floral IPA, New Belgium Red Hoptober and Lips of Faith Tart Lychee (Surprisingly good), Hoppin Frog Hopped Up Goose Juice.

Stuff I've had before and still liked: Old Rasputin RIS, Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA, Firestone Union and Double Jack IPAs (of course), Modus Hoperandi (must have had 5 of these), Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA, Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

Yeah I was holding out a little bit of hope.

I definitely like my IPAs with more of a citrus/tropical bite than the more bitter/piney style. I just looked up the C hops and Columbus is one of them, which I just used in my first homebrew, so hoping for a good "fruity" hop flavor out of it.

I really like Dark Horse, Founders, and Southern Tier beers, but I've never had those. Really been wanting to try the Founder's KBS.

 

[Heidenlarm]

That's kind of what I was thinking. I'm biased though because Belgian wits are probably my least favorite beers.

As far as beginner beers, I'd probably recommend lighter wheats, like Boulevard or 312. Or red/amber ales like Fat Tire or something. Magic Hat #9 was one of my intro beers that is worth trying for a beginner. Also, quality pilsners like Left Hand Polestar. Maybe even a lighter/sweeter stout/porter like Milk Stout or something if someone likes coffee or roasted flavors.

...Tapatalking

I don't really care for them that much anymore. I got burnt out of them from drinking way too many when I was younger. Same with hefes, but every once in a while I do enjoy one, I have to be in the right mood though. And generally I don't like American brewed Belgian styles. I guess probably because Belgians are my favorite beers and most American breweries can't seem to touch the best of the Belgians. Allagash does a pretty good job, but I can get an actual Belgian bomber cheaper than an Allagash bomber, might as well get the real deal.

 

[zack54attack]

If you are a fan of Moose Drool, give Trout Slayer a try as well. Same company (Big Sky brewing) but a little more refreshing. Both are really good.

Labatt Blue may be my top one. A pretty well balanced beer in my opinion.

Yup, had that before. It's pretty good too.

 

[R_Mac_1]

So I notice today at the store that Stone now sells 4 packs of 12oz bottles of their Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale. Used to only come in bombers.

Me =

 

[MDB111™]

downed a 6 pack of hofbrau dunkel last night. A beautiful beer. But I gotta say at its price point it reminded me of Becks

 

[R_Mac_1]

Mmmmmmm

...Tapatalking

 

[MDB111™]

Mmmmmmm

...Tapatalking

i have to try this. If you like black IPAs i've been pimping Uinta Dubhe for a month now. It is delicious

 

[coop54]

Kostritzer, awesome german beer! Have been trying to find it up here for a long time now. the only place ive been able to get it is in florida

 

[R_Mac_1]

i have to try this. If you like black IPAs i've been pimping Uinta Dubhe for a month now. It is delicious

I'll keep an eye out for it.

The SSRA is great beer. The nose is amazing.

...Tapatalking

 

[Heidenlarm]

Kostritzer, awesome german beer! Have been trying to find it up here for a long time now. the only place ive been able to get it is in florida

I'm going to have to look for that. Schwarzbiers are awesome and it looks like they've got great reviews on beer advocate. They only brew four beers too, I like that.

 

[MDB111™]

I'll keep an eye out for it.

The SSRA is great beer. The nose is amazing.

...Tapatalking

it's on my list. i will sniff the bejesus out it as i drink !!!

 

[onebud34]

I think it's more about style than anything. Two are Belgian wit styles, why not simply recommend a good Belgian wit to begin with? Allagash white? Or if you want to go broader, three of the four are wheat beers. I think your mention of Weihestephaner would be a better recommendation. Wheat beers in general seem to be easy gateway beers. The first beer that turned me on to exploring more was Franziskaner.

And if dude simply wants to drink High Life there's nothing wrong with that either.

Or Schlitz

 

[Heidenlarm]

Or Schlitz

Indeed. Schlitz is probably the best crappy American adjunct out there.

 

[MDB111™]

the wife and i went to VA's wine country last week. anyone ever been down around charlottesville?

the breweries were fantastic as well. Blue Mountain, Devil's backbone and flying fox. They all collaborated on a 10% tripel belgian black. Shit was delcious. Could not get it in anything but a growler so it's gone already. But Blue Mountains IPA full nelson and Devils Backbone O-Fest was great.