BEER

[Zarathustra]

Malik, I name you BeerFriend!

Oh god, as if I don't sound like an alcoholic already! But thanks.

All this talk has made me thirsty . . . I think it's time for a trip to my "cellar" (i.e. a box in the basement).

[Zarathustra]

I just got through brewing my biggest beer yet. An IPA that should turn out around 8% ABV. In addition, I grilled a 1" thick angus ribeye while brewing. Damn, it was sublime. Crispy and charred on the outside, juicy and rare on the inside.

I had it with a Goose Island Bourbon County Stout . . . holy crap this is a good beer. It will run you $5 a 12 oz. bottle, but OMG is it worth it. 11% ABV. Aroma: Sweet, ginger bread aromas. Cake dipped in coffee, drizzled in chocolate. Alcohol and bourbon. Taste: Creamy, sweet, alcohol, melted tootsie rolls. Dark fruits: fig, dates. Chocolate. Mouthfeel: Luxuriant, lush, dense. Hot with alcohol. Overall: freakin’ awesome. One of the best beers I’ve ever had.

[Loredoctor]

I just got through brewing my biggest beer yet. An IPA that should turn out around 8% ABV. In addition, I grilled a 1" thick angus ribeye while brewing. Damn, it was sublime. Crispy and charred on the outside, juicy and rare on the inside.

I had it with a Goose Island Bourbon County Stout . . . holy crap this is a good beer. It will run you $5 a 12 oz. bottle, but OMG is it worth it. 11% ABV. Aroma: Sweet, ginger bread aromas. Cake dipped in coffee, drizzled in chocolate. Alcohol and bourbon. Taste: Creamy, sweet, alcohol, melted tootsie rolls. Dark fruits: fig, dates. Chocolate. Mouthfeel: Luxuriant, lush, dense. Hot with alcohol. Overall: freakin’ awesome. One of the best beers I’ve ever had.

I bet you're drooling all over your keyboard.

[Cole]

I'm a man of simple pleasures. Just picked up a slab of Carlton Draught and that suits me fine.

[drew]

Anyone into the Whitebeer? (Or witbier)

Hoegaarden from Belgium is I guess the originator...I was doing a little research on it, and I guess the WhiteBeer is has more CO2 causing it to be a litttle fizzier...almost like drinking Soda. But the taste; my GOD the taste...it doesn't even have that much alcohol content, only like 4%...but its so good.

I saw that that American Co. Samuel Adams has a white beer...has anybody tried it? I don't think that SA imports to Canada, but Rickards (A good Canadian brewery) has aded a white beer to their selection (that brings them up to TWO beers, Red and now White)-It'll probebly a little more reasonably priced that Hoegaarden, it's nearly three dollars a bottle at the liquor store.

[Menolly]

I have never heard of it, drew. Hyperception may know of it, but has never mentioned it to me.

I will look for Hoegaarden, as neither of us have been impressed with any SA. With the selection available at Ward's I am bound to find it and if not, I bet they would order some in upon request. Is it drunk warm or cold?

I have yet to find any beer I like, but am willing to keep trying new ones...

[bloodguard bob]

Anyone into the Whitebeer? (Or witbier)

Yeah, I tried the Hoegaarden white and the Sam Adams white. True, quite tasty but a little too fizzy for me and not enough alc%.
Chimay makes a white, it's ok, but for taste and alcohol and sediment( i like the sediment) look for Wittekerke.
Having delivered beer for years dealing with broken cases, leaky keg lines and two inches of old beer on the floor I can't really stomach the American beers, but the Abbey and Triple Ales are a real treat. If they're over 10% Alc. and are cloudy or have bits floating in it that's for me.
I get mine at the The Jug Shop here in San Francisco but if I were out on a limb I would contact Global Beer Network because they have all of my favorite Belgian Ales.

[drew]

Leffe Blond is nearly as good as Hoegaarden...and nearly seven percent.

sometimes high alcohol content can ruin the taste...McEwens is like, nine percent, and tates like shit.

10 Penny (which they just stopped making) was ten percent and never tasted very good.

Labats Maximum ice is seven percent...and its not bad though.

[bloodguard bob]

I remember now, I've had the Leffe. It's competing distributor was pushing it for a while so it's become quite popular in the city. Very tasty, light and not too bitter.

[drew]

neither of us have been impressed with any SA.

They make a tonne of beers...I thought they were supposed to be the Be All and End All of American beer...I've never been impressed with Bud or Coors-even the Canadian versions they brew up here, I was planning on trying a few different adam's next time I'm in the States.

Is it drunk warm or cold?

Like most beers, its better cold...but I find that to be a determining factor to a good beer...if it still tastes good when it has warmed up-even towards room temprature, I concider it a better bee. -and Hoegaarden is fine when its not ice cold.
I find that if a beer is only good when its Ice Cold, then its not a good beer.

[Menolly]

neither of us have been impressed with any SA.

They make a tonne of beers...I thought they were supposed to be the Be All and End All of American beer...I've never been impressed with Bud or Coors-even the Canadian versions they brew up here, I was planning on trying a few different adam's next time I'm in the States.

I do not know if this is true, as I am not really informed on SA, but I think when SA was still a real "micro-brewery" that may have been the case. But I do not think they are considered a micro-brewery anymore and understand the quality may have suffered because of mass production.

I'll look over the selection next time I'm at Ward's, and try to find out which of the micro-brews are considered top-notched. Then I'll post them here so you can try them for yourself if interested.

...although as a former professional in the business, BGB may already have a list of the good ones on hand...

[stonemaybe]

I enjoy a pint of Hoegaarden occasionally - and I'm not a beer drinker at all! I love the fruitiness of it, but I HATE the havoc it causes with my guts!

Edit - love the big chunky glasses too - feels more like a bucket than a pint!

[drew]

I used to hate drinking Beer out of a stein or a mug...now I won't have it any other way.

[stonemaybe]

I'm talking about one of these... ( this image doesn't do them justice cos it doesn't show the circumference - i struggle o get my hand around one to lift it!!! )

[bloodguard bob]

...although as a former professional in the business, BGB may already have a list of the good ones on hand...

Oooh, I forgot to mention New Belgium Brewing Co. out of Colorado. Those are good and they have a White. I like the 1554 , a black ale that'll stain your tongue, and the Trippel though it's nowhere near the alcohol content of most trippels.

[drew]

I'm talking about one of these... ( this image doesn't do them justice cos it doesn't show the circumference - i struggle o get my hand around one to lift it!!! )

I will trade you my soul for that!

[stonemaybe]

at the crossroads?

[drew]

...the cup has to be full though...or no soul for you!

[stonemaybe]

how far are you from toronto, drew? Planning visiting a great-aunt-in-law there next year - can you wait?

[drew]

I cant wait that long...I'll just buy my own glass.

I've already sold my soul to the world of Beer anyways!

Plus it's like a two day drive for me to the T-dot