Bier (Beer) Drinkers! Need A Little Help, Please.

[Quasimodem]

On Oktober 2nd, we're having our own Oktoberfest right here at Casa Quasi (and y'all are invited - just gotta let me know ny 9.19 if you're coming or not!) and I am special-ordering beers from this place: http://www.vintagecellar.com/.

We had guests last night and my wife says the Paulaner and Warsteiner beers are "too bitter" for her, so for those ladies who are leaving it up to me to choose, what German Bier can I order that won't be deemed too "bitter"?

MY favorites are any Hefe-Weitzen or a Pils (usually Bitburger), but I can't state that those are too bitter or whatever and I don't want to disappoint anyone (especially the ladies - some guys of my past acquaintance would drink my piss if I told 'em it came from the Fatherland), so what do y'all receommend?

Thanks and remember, you're invited and there's plenty of room for everyone to spend the night. We even have the neighbors ready with a bed or pallet or two!

Q

[MPB in Salt Lake]

Konig Pilsener is excellent beer, as is the Erdinger Dunkel Weiss...

Prost!!!


ETA--That beer selection looks absolutely amazing; When I die, that's where I want my ashes scattered... (For anyone who has ever visited the beer section of a Utah State Liquor Store, you will know what I am talking about)

[Johnny L.A.]

right here at Casa Quasi

You mean the Quasischloß? (Das Kwasischloß?)

[WILDJC]

Too bad Grimbergen Double is not on your link. This Belgian beer with a 6.5% alcohol content is smooth and kick-ass. Great for the ladies too. I would definitely search your local distributors for this brew. You won't regret it. Don't get the Blonde - it has a bite to it that some do not find favorable. I place Grimbergen on top of Chimay Blue, which is considered the best in the world.

[Quasimodem]

Ja, ja. Das Quasischloß, John and you know that you and "The Roomie" are very welcome. Hell, we'll even take you down to Florida with us (if it's still there!) to visit the "Quasi-Kid" Jason!

König Pils and the Erdinger Dunkel-Weiss!, Got it, MPB and thank you! If you're not here, we'll just tell everyone it was highly recommended by some Mormon who says it's a great aphrodisiac!

J/K, j/k!!!! Thanks, very much MPB!:)

Quasi

ETA: For WildJC: Thanks! I bet we can find that locally, right? I just wanted avoid the additives and that place in VA. claims to have the "real thing". I hope that's right.

[Anamorphic]

I'm a fan of Kolsch, the regional beer of Cologne. Looks like they've got a few in your online place, but I can't really make a comment about any of those specific brands... it's been a while since I've had the real thing.

Have a great time!

[MPB in Salt Lake]

Too bad Grimbergen Double is not on your link. This Belgian beer with a 6.5% alcohol content is smooth and kick-ass. Great for the ladies too. I would definitely search your local distributors for this brew. You won't regret it. Don't get the Blonde - it has a bite to it that some do not find favorable. I place Grimbergen on top of Chimay Blue, which is considered the best in the world.

A traditional Oktoberfest celebration with Belgian beer, eh?

What about a Cinco De Mayo party with pizza and eggplant parmigiana?

(The OP was born in Germany and is having a German-themed party, so a Belgian beer probably doesn't cut it)

:p

[mnemosyne]

If someone thinks Paulaner and Warsteiner are too bitter, there's a chance they might not like a lot of beer selections, IMHO! Those are pretty easy to drink!

I want to buy one of each of the beer on that list and drink it. I love German beer (then again, I love beer!) I can't make it to your part, Quasi, but I hope you have fun!

[Quasimodem]

I'm a fan of Kolsch, the regional beer of Cologne. Looks like they've got a few in your online place, but I can't really make a comment about any of those specific brands... it's been a while since I've had the real thing.

Have a great time!

Thanks, and Kolsch Jawohl!! You don't visit Köln and ask for Bitburger. I learned that the hard way, Anamorphic!:)

When Georgia first started selling the more-alcohol content beer, I went nuts and found Bitburger right away. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the Bit people have stopped exporting to my state so I'm stuck with these single bottles that can blitz you right off the face of the earth. Is "Philosopher" one of these - I can't remember?

Thanks

Quasi

[samclem]

Since there's not correct answer here, let's move this thread from GQ to Cafe Society.

samcelm, Moderator

[WILDJC]

A traditional Oktoberfest celebration with Belgian beer, eh?

What about a Cinco De Mayo party with pizza and eggplant parmigiana?

(The OP was born in Germany and is having a German-themed party, so a Belgian beer probably doesn't cut it)

:p


Quite true, but I love this beer so much it's worth sneaking in a bottle.

[Anamorphic]

Thanks, and Kolsch Jawohl!! You don't visit Köln and ask for Bitburger. I learned that the hard way, Anamorphic!:)Indeed! I spent a week in Köln and survived on pretty much nothing but Kolsch and bread!

[Swords to Plowshares]

Do they like somewhat malty beers? Oktoberfest beers (marzens) are decently malty but have low bitterness. Ayinger is probably the best.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/29

[MPB in Salt Lake]

Quite true, but I love this beer so much it's worth sneaking in a bottle.

Just some good-natured ribbing; One of my favorite trips of my life was simply hanging out for a week, just bumming around the museums, restaurants and bars of Antwerpen/Brussels/Ghent and then taking a train ride over to Cologne and Dusseldorf, drinking several different brews each and every day of the journey, with no car or driving responsibilities to worry about.

Fine, fine times....;)

[Quasimodem]

Do they like somewhat malty beers? Oktoberfest beers (marzens) are decently malty but have low bitterness. Ayinger is probably the best.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/29

I was wondering about the Hefe-Weitzens for the ones who say "too bitter", Swords to Plowshares, what do you think? Also what's the fart hazard? I just need to know if we need to avoid lighting candles.

I will definitely check out your suggestions, however. Having those beers shipped is going to be mucho expensive, and I can only get one per person who gives us a specific brand they like. Spending limit : $200.00 including shipping, depending on attendance.

For the rest of the party, hmmmmm. I don't know. Recommendations?

Verdammt! (Dammit) I wish some of y'all could make it. We'd have a blast and I'd hold y'all at gunpoint if you threatened to leave! :);):D

Thanks

Q

PS: My wife, the beautiful Dondra, says to tell y'all she does like Amber Bock and has always wanted to try Shocktop. She sounds like she's underage to me, how 'bout y'all? :)

[Quasimodem]

I believe that beer I mentioned above is called "Three Philosophers". $6.95 a bottle last time I checked.

Thanks

Q

[Hello Again]

I was wondering about the Hefe-Weitzens for the ones who say "too bitter", Swords to Plowshares, what do you think? Also what's the fart hazard? I just need to know if we need to avoid lighting candles.
I'm not much of a beer drinker, but Hefe-weizen is a beer I do like. So in my opinion, it's not bitter.

Belgian White beers, like Hoegaarden, or the more commercially available Blue Moon, are similar and are also good choices for the not-bitter-wanting beer consumer.

I hate to stray into the realm of the Hated English :D but another option is hard cider. It's beerish but also apple-y and slightly more sweet. The most common import seems to be Woodpecker, and the most common domestic is Woodchuck.

[Quasimodem]

No t in Weizen, Dummkopf Quasi! Thanks for not correcting me, y'all. I will punish myself and my family in Germany for my mistake! ;)

Q

[Ellis Aponte Jr.]

I think you want to try a "Helles" style beer, which are light, malty lagers popular in Munich and Bavaria as a whole. From your beer supplier, it looks like Augustinerbräu Lager is a Helles and Hofbräu Original is definitely a Helles. I love this type of beer and order it whenever possible. I don't care for anything too hoppy and these aren't.

[Swords to Plowshares]

Why do you have to get the beers shipped?

[Quasimodem]

Because that is the only way I can get them without the additives they have to be shipped with to be sold in our package stores. The formaldehyde and stuff, right?

Q

[Swords to Plowshares]

I'm sorry, I don't understand. Are you in a dry county or something? No Total Wine or large alcoholic beverage store nearby?

[EvilTOJ]

Additives? They don't put additives in beer to ship to the states. When you buy things locally that have been imported, they arrive there the same way as when you're buying them online. And formaldehyde is a deadly poison, I doubt they're putting that in beverages.

You could cheat a little and get the american hefeweizens for the ladies. The yeast profile is a lot milder and not as spicy as German hefs, and it's 'traditional' to add a piece of lemon or orange to the glass. Or you could mix up some radlers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shandy#Radler) for the girls. Berliner Weisse is also a very mild beer too that I like in the summertime.

[Remember|me]

Was it really a Paulaner Hefeweizen aka Weißbier that your wife called "too bitter"? If it was a Paulaner Pils or Lager, then the solution might be to offer a Hefeweizen instead. If it was a Hefeweizen, well, I don't believe you will find anything less bitter than that. As already advised you could try a Kölsch (e.g. Gaffel) or maybe an Altbier (e.g. Uerige).

Another idea might be to offer Alster/Radler which is a half and half mix of Pils and a lemon soda (e.g. 7up) - a welcome drink with the ladies and "beer-beginner" here. You might want to experiment with the exact quota (I prefer it with a little more beer).
Another popular option is "Altbierbowle". There are many many different recipes, but the main indegrients are Altbier and canned fruit cocktail. Some people include sparkling wine, sugar, Schnaps or water - but all that comes down to personal preference and experiment. I've never seen a guy order Altbierbowle but many women I know prefer it occasionally to a bitter Pilsener or yeasty Hefeweizen.

[Pitchmeister]

Another vote for Helles - it's got a really pleasant taste. Do they have Augustiner? Also, to go with the theme of your party, Oktoberfestbier (of any brewery) is very similar and won't fail to please. I myself like Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu and Paulaner.

Prost!

[Quasimodem]

I'm sorry, I don't understand. Are you in a dry county or something? No Total Wine or large alcoholic beverage store nearby?

Yes, we do have full service liquor stores, but they aren't going to have the brands of beer I'd like to serve, Swords. No one can get Bitburger for me, for instance.

Can someone please straighten me out about the formaldehyde and/or other additives put in German beer before import? I know I've read that somewhere, just can't remember where it was. It isn't enough to kill anyone, but from what I read there is some in there.

Just found an article which says it's China that does that.

But then tell me, what happens to German beer that makes it taste different here, then?

It wasn't Hefe in both beers, Remember. I looked at the labels, but I think y'all are right a Helle's would be great for her.

Thanks

Q

[Quasimodem]

I'm going to call that place in Virginia and talk to them. If there really isn't any difference in their import and what I can get here, then why pay shipping, right?

I saw their ad in Beerfaqs.

Thanks

Q

[Quasimodem]

I found this about the German Reinheitsgebot of 1516: http://patto1ro.home.xs4all.nl/reinheit.htm

Q

[Panurge]

I'm a big fan of Weihenstephaner Vitus - a weizenbock. Their hefeweizen is good, too. Neither are overly bitter - my wife certainly appreciates it whenever I bring Weihenstephaner home.

[WILDJC]

Just some good-natured ribbing; One of my favorite trips of my life was simply hanging out for a week, just bumming around the museums, restaurants and bars of Antwerpen/Brussels/Ghent and then taking a train ride over to Cologne and Dusseldorf, drinking several different brews each and every day of the journey, with no car or driving responsibilities to worry about.

Fine, fine times....;)

Yeah! My son often has gigs in Germany playing for Blackmore's Night and the beers he tells me about is fascinating, not to mention that he brings some of this good stuff back home, including the Absinthe.

[WILDJC]

I'm not much of a beer drinker, but Hefe-weizen is a beer I do like. So in my opinion, it's not bitter.

Belgian White beers, like Hoegaarden, or the more commercially available Blue Moon, are similar and are also good choices for the not-bitter-wanting beer consumer.

I hate to stray into the realm of the Hated English :D but another option is hard cider. It's beerish but also apple-y and slightly more sweet. The most common import seems to be Woodpecker, and the most common domestic is Woodchuck.

Correction. Blue Moon is a Belgian "style" beer brewed by the Coors Brewing Company. Ugh.....

[Quasimodem]

So I called that place in Virginia and the guy told me that other than the fact they have some very rare good tasting German beers not sold in a package/liquor store, there is no difference between their beer and what I would get off the shelf.

Maybe the difference I am noticing is that even though the beers have a little higher alcohol content over here, they still are not as strong as most German beers and this accounts for the difference in taste?

Also no additives or preservatives other than what the brewers use.

Thanks, y'all for your patience!

Quasi

[Swords to Plowshares]

It may be that some of the imports you've tried were skunked because they were lightstruck. If a beer is in a green (or worse, clear) bottle is has a very high probability of being lightstruck by the time it makes it to your house. Try to stick to brown bottles for the most part. (I make an exception for Yuengling because it's brewed so close and it has a very high turnover rate in the store.)