Beer in the new era

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What new brews have you been trying? I just had my first Sinebrychoff (Koff) Porter IV, a Finnish beer, and my first taste of Scandinavian darks. It's quite nice, remarkably smooth and drinkable for a dark with 7.2% alc content. Almost a dark chocolate flavour but not in a chocolate stout way and not with any lingering bitterness.

Sundar, Monday, 28 May 2007 01:00 (5 years ago) Permalink

Last night I drank a Widmeyer Hefeweizen, which I found meh, and a Maresdous 8, which was very tasty in the tradition of tasty Belgian strong ales. A bit on the sweeter side of what I like but not over the line.

Hurting 2, Monday, 28 May 2007 02:21 (5 years ago) Permalink

Oh, I'll keep an eye out for that. I've been meaning to start exploring Belgian beers. I was putting it off till I'd tried every English stout but I should probably start sooner.

Sundar, Monday, 28 May 2007 02:25 (5 years ago) Permalink

It's almost summer! Time to put the stouts away!

Hurting 2, Monday, 28 May 2007 02:27 (5 years ago) Permalink

Oh yeah, I had something called Sunset Wheat the other night which tasted like orange and was surprisingly good considering that fact.

Hurting 2, Monday, 28 May 2007 02:28 (5 years ago) Permalink

nooooooooooooooooo!!!

(I'm assuming you're talking about Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat, which I declared a vendetta against because it is the single least-pleasant beer I have ever had)

bernard snowy, Monday, 28 May 2007 13:04 (5 years ago) Permalink

When I was in Belgium last week I totally was rocking all the kriek. But not the Hoegaarden (because that's utterly disgusting). I also had a Trappist (Chimay Bleu) which was pretty intense at 9% ABV

Stevie D, Monday, 28 May 2007 13:18 (5 years ago) Permalink

sundar iirc you are in OTT or MTL? where are you getting these amazing beers from in whichever of those two cities you're in?

if you are from neither of those places i apologize, i just remember you saying it once or something. i may be making it up.

Will M., Monday, 28 May 2007 14:04 (5 years ago) Permalink

I'm from Ottawa (and lived in Mtl 2001-2002) but I've been living in Buffalo NY for almost 2 years now.

Sundar, Monday, 28 May 2007 14:19 (5 years ago) Permalink

When I was in Belgium last week I totally was rocking all the kriek. But not the Hoegaarden (because that's utterly disgusting). I also had a Trappist (Chimay Bleu) which was pretty intense at 9% ABV

Where exactly?

nathalie, Monday, 28 May 2007 14:26 (5 years ago) Permalink

BTW if near West Flanders: Should have tried the Brugse Zot!

nathalie, Monday, 28 May 2007 14:26 (5 years ago) Permalink

(I would imagine that at least Mtl should have good places for this? I couldn't help you though. I drank Colt 45 from the dep when I lived there. Ah, callow youth.)

Sundar, Monday, 28 May 2007 14:36 (5 years ago) Permalink

To be fair, I haven't really looked past my local deps, but the few bars I've found that have bigger selections were pretty disappointing... one place that was recommended highly as a place with a bunch of beers had that greek beer whose name I forget as the rarest one. mythos?

i'll have to check ch0whound or something.

Will M., Monday, 28 May 2007 14:47 (5 years ago) Permalink

Let me know if you find (or have had) Dieu du Ciel Aphrodisiaque. The ratebeer.com folks rank it as the best sweet stout on earth but I haven't found any around here.

Sundar, Monday, 28 May 2007 18:14 (5 years ago) Permalink

yes. mythos. it's not bad!

The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall, Monday, 28 May 2007 18:34 (5 years ago) Permalink

I think I am going to drop by Dieu du Ciel tonight, actually. Everything they have is actually to a pretty high standard... the reason you probably haven't found it is because they aren't actually bottling any of their brews yet. Apparently they're opening another brewery north of the city though, and they're going to start bottling there! I can't remember where I heard that. I read it today after doing a bit of ch0whound research. I will see if I can talk to the owners or something tonight (I'm going early so hopefully the place will be near empty, I'm not much of one for the crowd there). I've not had the aphrodisiaque, don't know if it's "in season" (they only brew most things a couple times a year), but if they have it I'll give you a review!

Will M., Monday, 28 May 2007 18:37 (5 years ago) Permalink

Where exactly?

Brussels. and Paris, but that's obviously not in Belgium. May I also suggest that if you do go to France and decide to try the local brews, Kronenbourg tastes like piss. stay away.

Stevie D, Monday, 28 May 2007 20:07 (5 years ago) Permalink

I've developed a fondness for Zywiec lately - I don't even usually like lagers much but it's so smooth and tasty. Perfect warm weather beer.

Hurting 2, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 00:45 (5 years ago) Permalink

it is. and that red-temperature indicator on the back is key!

The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 01:08 (5 years ago) Permalink

König Ludwig Weissbier is majorly tasty, if a bit pricey.

I recently tried this weird Belgian beer, "La Chouffe." Unpasteurized, 8% and quite good. (Although the floaty yeast cultures were somewhat of a turn-off)

Michael Servetus, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 02:08 (5 years ago) Permalink

Oh yeah, I've had La Chouffe - very nice. There are so many good belgian beers it's amazing.

Hurting 2, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 02:16 (5 years ago) Permalink

I just remembered I have a beer question:

In Mexico I tried Bohemia (regular, not dark) and it was fantastic - at the moment I thought it was one of the best beers I'd ever tried.

Recently I tried some Bohemia in a U.S. Mexican place and it was meh. Is it possible I was getting a different "export" version, or that the transit did something to the beer?

Hurting 2, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 02:18 (5 years ago) Permalink

Man...I have had so much "skunky" imported beer, could that be it?

On a related note, what do you do when your beer is obviously off and you've already drank a couple? Can you take the rest back to the store.?

;)

Michael Servetus, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 02:23 (5 years ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

Oh yeah, I went back to Dieu, but no Aphro... was available. I didn't get a chance to ask when/if it was coming back... next time! Maybe I'll go tonight, I would like to dig into my new book and my house smells like cat piss and I am not currently poor.

Will M., Tuesday, 12 June 2007 18:21 (5 years ago) Permalink

Oh man! I didn't see that you guys were talking about Biere D'Achouffe. I thought it was a Quebecois beer for so long! True story. Apparently the first place they started exporting to was Quebec! It is very delicious. I don't remember finding any little floaters, though...

Will M., Friday, 15 June 2007 19:31 (5 years ago) Permalink

Response from Dieu du Ciel to two questions I asked via e-mail:

Hello Will,

Thanks you for your comments. It is much appreciated.

1-) We brew the Aphrodisiaque only 2 or 3 times a year. The next batch
will probably be avaible something like next september.

2-) Yes, it's true, we are in the process of building up a bottling
plant in St-Jérôme. There will also be a pub there. We hope to be able
to sell our first bottles at the end of July.

Cheers!
[dude's name removed by me]

Will M., Friday, 15 June 2007 21:07 (5 years ago) Permalink

currently - harviestoun Butter and Twisted is amazinhg, but we've just come back from North East France (ie very near the Belgian border and lots of Flemish beer-making tradition) and have been loving L'angelus which is beer's swankiest bottle I fear, gold foil and everything. Also Maredsous, Amadeus (lemon flavoured, should be wrong but oh so right) and god's own beer - Orval.

Porkpie, Sunday, 17 June 2007 00:05 (5 years ago) Permalink

erm that's bitter and twisted of course

Porkpie, Sunday, 17 June 2007 00:10 (5 years ago) Permalink

When alcohol content is shown on U.S. beer, it is often labelled by weight. Since alcohol is lighter than water, this can leave the mistaken impression that U.S. beer has much less alcohol, on average, than Canadian beer. A 3.2% beer in the U.S. (by weight) would be equivalent to a 4% beer in Canada (by volume).

Wikipedia I LOVE YOU. Did anyone know this? It boggles the mind! WHY?!

Will M., Friday, 22 June 2007 18:02 (5 years ago) Permalink

let's have a sesh

hstencil, Friday, 22 June 2007 18:03 (5 years ago) Permalink

link?

dan m, Friday, 22 June 2007 18:07 (5 years ago) Permalink

my girl friend brought me a 6 pack of Hitachino Nest White Ale. Pretty good stuff. nice floral aromas ,perfect for a hot summer day. i think it's kind of pricey though

carne asada, Friday, 22 June 2007 18:12 (5 years ago) Permalink

carne asada, Friday, 22 June 2007 18:14 (5 years ago) Permalink

link, sorry: Canadian Beer

Will M., Friday, 22 June 2007 18:19 (5 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Apparently they have Aphrodisiaque in now. And I'm destitute poor and going away for the weekend! NOOOOO!

Will M., Tuesday, 31 July 2007 14:50 (5 years ago) Permalink

Recommend some beer. Not too heavy, not too wheaty, crisp and refreshing in the style of Tsing Tsao or similar.

Also recommend some beers like Paulaner or the white Kronenberg with the fruity taste whose name escapes me.

I am in the mood for trying different beers.

Ronan, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 14:53 (5 years ago) Permalink

Dude, Zywiec

Hurting 2, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 14:54 (5 years ago) Permalink

(re: light, crisp, refreshing, not wheaty)

Hurting 2, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 14:54 (5 years ago) Permalink

I was at the nashville beer fest and the best thing there was a homebrewed bock that they ran out of by my second go-round. After a while though all you care about is that the beer is cold, because it's nearly august, and you're outdoors in nashville.

I think I might have talked my dad into getting a 30-gallon kit from Boot Lager. (ha ha, "boot lager")

El Tomboto, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 15:02 (5 years ago) Permalink

I also finally made myself a michelada with a little kosher salt on top of a can of tecate with a lime in it. not half bad, if you don't mind a bit of foamy foam foam.

El Tomboto, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 15:04 (5 years ago) Permalink

Sundar, have you tried Flying Bison? I can't quite remember which bars serve it (I think the Ulrich's, but they have closed, I think). I miss it dearly.

molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 15:08 (5 years ago) Permalink

I swore by Aviator Red (which you can get at Wegman's) for a while. I still think it's good but have gone off it a bit. Are there other good FB beers?

I wanted to make it to Dieu du Ciel when I visited Mtl earlier in the month but couldn't make it. Drank a lot of St-Ambroise (and some nice micro wheats) instead.

Sundar, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 15:49 (5 years ago) Permalink

They have seasonal beers (which I can remember the name of), that friends would bring me in growlers. I never managed to locate the brewery, which apparently is on the West Side (on Niagara, maybe?). Anyway, I remember enjoying the summer and winter ales quite a bit.

Available in Wegmans!? Ahh! This was not so when I lived there! I love you, Wegmans!

molly mummenschanz, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 15:51 (5 years ago) Permalink

"Dude, Zywiec"

One of the benefits of my area of London filling up with large numbers of young eastern Europeans is the availablity in the cornershops of excellent Polish beers at ridiculously cheap prices.

Zywiec is one of the better ones, at about £1 a bottle. The dark lagers especailly are a revelation.

bham, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 16:00 (5 years ago) Permalink

Ronan WTF?? This is truly a new era for you!

Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 16:01 (5 years ago) Permalink

Saku from Estonia is pretty good

El Tomboto, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 16:03 (5 years ago) Permalink

Saku or Saku Kuld, anyway. The dark variety has that soy saucey aftertaste I can't get with.

El Tomboto, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 16:04 (5 years ago) Permalink

Ronan WTF?? This is truly a new era for you!

is this a joke? heh...I don't get it if so. is it that unusual that I ask about trying new beers?

Ronan, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 16:13 (5 years ago) Permalink

I had a Saku Porter that had a weird aftertaste, that was probably the same one.

Wheats: Last night I was drinking Sprecher Hefe Weiss, which was all right.
Non-Wheats: Last night I was also drinking New Holland Mad Hatter, which was goddamn awesome.

dan m, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 16:21 (5 years ago) Permalink

I guess I am in the dark :/ I thought you were still teetotalling because of your stuffed-upedness-in-the-cabesa.

Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 31 July 2007 16:27 (5 years ago) Permalink

It gets better.

a monolithic testament to shiftlessness and lost productivity (dan m), Tuesday, 14 May 2013 20:01 (1 week ago) Permalink

i like the torpedo ipa a lot more than reg sierra nevada, it's v widely distributed in the uk now.

i've started to see ska stuff around london a bit now, that's better than a lot of the us stuff that gets over here imo.

... (LocalGarda), Tuesday, 14 May 2013 20:05 (1 week ago) Permalink

My new springtime beer is Mother Earth's Endless River kolsch

Heez, Tuesday, 14 May 2013 20:24 (1 week ago) Permalink

That's brewed in the city I was born in. A very unremarkable town. I've had their beers though, not bad.

Jeff, Tuesday, 14 May 2013 21:05 (1 week ago) Permalink

Just got Sierra Nevada Hoptimum last night. O.M.G.!

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/sierra-nevada-hoptimum/117825/

New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 19:27 (6 days ago) Permalink

I fucking love hops

Treeship, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 19:34 (6 days ago) Permalink

And also, ipas whose names are cheesy portmanteaus involving the word "hops"

Treeship, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 19:35 (6 days ago) Permalink

i kind of want to poll those

call all destroyer, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 19:45 (6 days ago) Permalink

And all of the humorous descriptors on bottles/cartons.

New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 19:50 (6 days ago) Permalink

i kind of want to poll those

too many to ever catalog

precious bonsai children of new york (Jordan), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:10 (6 days ago) Permalink

Had an Anderson Valley barrel aged stout last night (Wild Turkey 101 barrels). Wasn't bad, but not that impressive compared to the ones I've tried before (I think Anchor's and especially Firestone Walker's 2011 Parabola ruined me for anyone else's). The bourbon flavor wasn't very pronounced, not sure I detected any at all, in fact. Had some pleasant chocolate notes, fairly low alcohol (6.9%), kind of a BAS for people that don't like beer, maybe.

nickn, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:16 (6 days ago) Permalink

i had a Left Hand Good Juju last night. pretty light but not bad, i've always wanted a ginger beer that was also beer.

precious bonsai children of new york (Jordan), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:18 (6 days ago) Permalink

I actually ordered that Anderson Valley stout the other day, but the bar had run out. The low ABV is what caught my eye.

i, norbit (jaymc), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:23 (6 days ago) Permalink

$10 for a bomber at BevMo, so I didn't feel ripped off, just expected more.

nickn, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:25 (6 days ago) Permalink

had an aged deschutes/hair of the dog collab named conflence #1 last night - smelled like an amazing sour, tasted like garbage

AMERICA IS ABOUT RIESLING (jjjusten), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:26 (6 days ago) Permalink

My local Whole Foods is having a sour beer tasting the 23rd, will try to go. Whatever you say about WF, the one near my work has a beer/wine bar upstairs and most Thursdays they have a beer tasting at a fairly low price. This is where I tried the Parabola. How common are bars in WFs elsewhere?

nickn, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:31 (6 days ago) Permalink

none in mn

AMERICA IS ABOUT RIESLING (jjjusten), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:34 (6 days ago) Permalink

The taproom at the WF in Santa Rosa, CA (Sonoma County) is world class:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=517858771615191&set=a.208033072597764.51713.204629756271429&type=1

Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:34 (6 days ago) Permalink

The WF deathstar in Lincoln Park, Chicago has an extensive beer bar. Craft bottles are $2.50 across the board there, or at least they used to be.

a monolithic testament to shiftlessness and lost productivity (dan m), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 20:35 (6 days ago) Permalink

It's a great happy hour bar. If you can stand the people who have happy hour at WF.

Jeff, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 21:43 (6 days ago) Permalink

Yeah, and you can buy prepared food and bring it to the bar area. Fish and chips with Cuvee de Jacobins sour!

nickn, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 22:12 (6 days ago) Permalink

xpost there should be a best relatively unobscure IPA poll, that just includes fairly well known ones like dogfish head 90 min, sierra nevada hoptimum, Stone IPA, goose island maybe idk what the other really well known ones are

Treeship, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 22:16 (6 days ago) Permalink

bell's two hearted for sure

precious bonsai children of new york (Jordan), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 22:18 (6 days ago) Permalink

surly, summit

AMERICA IS ABOUT RIESLING (jjjusten), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 22:19 (6 days ago) Permalink

btw speaking of cuvee, i have some pretty good inside info that says that it is going out of stock for 5 months some time soon, and then going on much stricter allocation, so stock up maybe

AMERICA IS ABOUT RIESLING (jjjusten), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 22:19 (6 days ago) Permalink

haha Surly cannot be considered well-known if you live outside of MN! i wish.

there are a ton that are ubiquitous in WI (ale asylum hopalicious for ex.) but don't distribute out of the state.

precious bonsai children of new york (Jordan), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 22:21 (6 days ago) Permalink

I just had the Ale Asylum Bedlam Belgian IPA last weekend. That's worth driving to Hudson for imo.

New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 15 May 2013 22:23 (6 days ago) Permalink

Smuttynose

All those terrapins have hop names; hopzilla, hopsecutioner...

Mordy , Wednesday, 15 May 2013 23:27 (6 days ago) Permalink

cambridge brewing co. makes "the audacity of hops"

call all destroyer, Wednesday, 15 May 2013 23:47 (6 days ago) Permalink

at the fairly small liquor store near my dad's place in RI, I was pleased to find this, which i cannot remember seeing in NY

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28980/81049

nice mild IPA, not inna super hoppy style. more in line with something like the bklyn IPA or the firestone pale... nice brew.

i guess i'd just rather listen to canned heat? (ian), Friday, 17 May 2013 03:06 (4 days ago) Permalink

Hoptimum is a wonderful beer. Had two this eve and am feeling no pain.

Sleep Deprivation Thriver (B.L.A.M.), Friday, 17 May 2013 05:00 (4 days ago) Permalink

oberon + founders - could be worse!

Mordy , Friday, 17 May 2013 20:50 (4 days ago) Permalink

FKNL I could kill a keg of Oberon right now.

Tim, Friday, 17 May 2013 20:51 (4 days ago) Permalink

"the audacity of hops"

hahaha, that's awesome!

New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Friday, 17 May 2013 21:05 (4 days ago) Permalink

i really like Anchor Steam Beer. i had two with lunch today. the beer advocate posters make no mention of the hoppiness of it but i think it is nicely hopped, tastefully even.

Treeship, Friday, 17 May 2013 21:24 (4 days ago) Permalink

I haven't had Anchor Steam in ages. Their Liberty Ale is one of my alltime favorites for being hoppy yet well-balanced.

New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Friday, 17 May 2013 21:36 (4 days ago) Permalink

ooh, i never had that. i've only had the normal anchor steam because they have it at the diner i go to multiple times a week. need to check it out.

Treeship, Friday, 17 May 2013 21:39 (4 days ago) Permalink

mini oberon keg is awes

call all destroyer, Friday, 17 May 2013 21:46 (4 days ago) Permalink

that'll get you through a lot of lawn games

call all destroyer, Friday, 17 May 2013 21:47 (4 days ago) Permalink

picked up a bottle of stone's russian imperial stout espresso. my store limited it to one a person so i was worried it would be really pricey but it only ended up costing $10!

Mordy , Friday, 17 May 2013 21:48 (4 days ago) Permalink

idg why they're limiting that beer (it was limited at stores here too), i didn't hear about anyone kicking down doors for it

call all destroyer, Friday, 17 May 2013 21:49 (4 days ago) Permalink

I was going to say, I've seen it in plenty of places and haven't ever really been specifically seeking it out. I did grab one though.

i kant believe it's not buffon (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 17 May 2013 21:52 (4 days ago) Permalink

so limited apparently they weren't letting employees buy them

Mordy , Friday, 17 May 2013 22:59 (4 days ago) Permalink

mini oberon keg is awes

Bell's market a few different beers in the 5 liter keg, I've seen (bought) Oberon, Two Hearted, and Best Brown.

a monolithic testament to shiftlessness and lost productivity (dan m), Friday, 17 May 2013 23:28 (4 days ago) Permalink

Maybemidwest only idk

a monolithic testament to shiftlessness and lost productivity (dan m), Friday, 17 May 2013 23:33 (4 days ago) Permalink

bought a growler of "Live", and american pale ale from the southern tier brewing company. it's really good... very flavorful yet light, crisp and floral, i could drink buckets of this stuff

Michigan seems like a dream to me now (Treeship), Saturday, 18 May 2013 23:03 (3 days ago) Permalink

*an

Michigan seems like a dream to me now (Treeship), Saturday, 18 May 2013 23:03 (3 days ago) Permalink

I almost bought a 6 of the live today, sounds like I will be going back and giving it a shot

AMERICA IS ABOUT RIESLING (jjjusten), Saturday, 18 May 2013 23:06 (3 days ago) Permalink

Drank too much over the last three days. I'll have t review he data to remember what I liked.

Jeff, Saturday, 18 May 2013 23:12 (3 days ago) Permalink


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