Anyone care to recommend a good beer?

Cafe Society
41

[QUOTE=ultrafilter]
Dogfish Head Raison d’Etre is one of the best commonly available beers out there and is well worth a try.
[/QUOTE]

I cannot disagree enough. I bought a six of Raison (figuring, heck, I love the 60 (and moreso the 90) minute IPA, and I’ve heard the brewery is good for most anything they make), and had to suffer through the last three bottles (waste not, want not), after the first three convinced me it’s really not that good. It has too much of an aftertaste of raisins. Which I know is kind of the point of the beer, and it’s a brave experiment, but I had to fight to choke it down.

For an easy to find everyday beer, I typically have Yuengling* or Killians in my fridge. Occassionally Old Speckled Hen, Bass, Newcastle Brown, or Smithwicks. Yeah, I tend toward the British and Irish beers. For a treat, I’ll try a Stout or a continental Doppelbock that I hadn’t tried (Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock is mighty tasty).

But really, just go out and try anything and everything. And keep note of what you like more or less.

*Not necessarily easy for anybody outside of the mid-Atlantic, as I understand it.

42

Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Terminator IPA

43

[QUOTE=What Exit?]
Oh come on Bass is a fine Ale and well worth trying. We cannot all be experts like you and Bass has an excellent flavor and drinks well both Cold and Warm.
[/QUOTE]
Count me in as liking Bass, too, although it’s one of the beers that seems to taste much better on draught than in the bottle. It’s not the greatest amber ale in the world by any stretch, but it’s readily available and always decent, kind of analogous to a good inexpensive red table wine. And like Jim says, it’s good warm and cold.

[QUOTE=August West]
I never comment on anyone’s taste. Everyone likes what they like. But no one should like Corona. Especially for what they charge for it. If you bought Milwaukee’s Best Light and put a lime in it you’d save money and have a better beer. Just pretend it’s called Acapulco’s Best Light.
[/QUOTE]
I’ll handle the relabeling, you do the distribution and marketing, and we can make a fortune.

Stranger

44

[QUOTE=RancidYakButterTeaParty]

Here is the list of top available beers in Missouri as provided by Ratebeer.com:
Name Brewer
1 Bells Expedition Stout Bells Brewery, Inc.

2 Abbaye des Rocs Brune Brasserie de lAbbaye des Rocs 52

3 Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock Brauerei Aying

4 North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout North Coast Brewing Company

5 St. Bernardus Abt 12 St. Bernardus Brouwerij

6 Rochefort Trappistes 8 Brasserie Rochefort

7 Abbaye des Rocs Grand Cru Brasserie de lAbbaye des Rocs
8 Bells Kalamazoo Stout Bells Brewery, Inc.

9 Fullers London Porter Fullers

10 Bells Batch 7000 Ale Bells Brewery, Inc.

11 Third Coast Old Ale Bells Brewery, Inc.

12 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze 3 Fonteinen

13 3 Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek 3 Fonteinen

14 Chimay Bleue (Blue) Chimay

15 Unibroue Trois Pistoles Unibroue (Sleeman)

16 Schneider Aventinus Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn

17 Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Brouwerij Het Anker

18 New Belgium La Folie New Belgium Brewing Company

19 Two Hearted Ale Bells Brewery, Inc.

20 Abbaye des Rocs Triple Impériale Brasserie de lAbbaye des Rocs

21 Traquair Jacobite Ale Traquair

22 Rogue Imperial Stout Rogue Ales

23 Samuel Smiths Imperial Stout Samuel Smith

24 Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout Samuel Smith

25 Koff Porter Sinebrychoff (Carlsberg)
[/QUOTE]

The problem with lists like this one is that they are compiled by people who like beer. They are next to useless when used by someone who is just starting out with the beverage. Right off the bat I would eliminate #2-7, 12-18, 20-23. As much as I love those beers, they aren’t what you use to grab the newcomers. Ditto the recommendations of IPAS, Imperial Stouts and other beers with intense levels of hops. No, the kind of list the OP needs is like the one liberty3701 gave…easliy accessible brews that are a step above the usual mass-produced swill. wm–, find yourself a good brewpub and sample things. If you don’t like a brew, it doesn’t mean squat to anybody but you. Keep notes, and we can let you know of other beers that resemble ones you do like.

45

[QUOTE=Only Mostly Dead]
I cannot disagree enough. I bought a six of Raison (figuring, heck, I love the 60 (and moreso the 90) minute IPA, and I’ve heard the brewery is good for most anything they make), and had to suffer through the last three bottles (waste not, want not), after the first three convinced me it’s really not that good. It has too much of an aftertaste of raisins. Which I know is kind of the point of the beer, and it’s a brave experiment, but I had to fight to choke it down.
[/QUOTE]

Well, it’s not really so much a brave experiment as a very successful take on Belgian strong/dark ales. It’s a drink that’s meant to be drunk slowly, preferably not straight out of the fridge, and in a bulb, wine-type glass.

I’m not a huge fan of Belgian strong dark ales, but I do enjoy one from time to time. It’s not a beer that you really can pound back. Looking at the type of beers you drink, I can see why you didn’t like this one. Try a few other Belgians (like Chimay Blue or Trois Pistoles) and see whether the problem is with the style, rather than particularly Raison d’Etre.

46

I love very hoppy beers.

Which means one of my all-time favorite beers is Liberty Ale.

Yum. :slight_smile:

47

[QUOTE=liberty3701]
My favorites are, in no particular order:
Rogue Dead Guy
Magic Hat #9 (as Bouv mentioned)
Saranac Mountain Ale
Bells Oberon
Guiness (of course)
and some of the best times of my life have happened under the influence of Pabst Blue Ribbon
[/QUOTE]

It will show me for the light weight I am, but while I like the Saranac Mountain Ale, I prefer the Pale Ale and I cannot stand Guinness or Magic Hat #9. It is a matter of taste, I do not like heavy beers but instead I like lighter flavorful beers.
Stranger On A Train & August West, I glad you both commented on Corona, I know Beer is a matter of taste, but I just cannot comprehend what makes people like Corona. At least with Milwaukee’s Best or Olympia you know you are drinking a cheap, inexpensive Beer. Corona taste like a cheap inexpensive Beer but you pay a premium for it.

Jim

48

[QUOTE=What Exit?]
I know Beer is a matter of taste, but I just cannot comprehend what makes people like Corona.
[/QUOTE]

It’s the mystique. Corona was the surfer’s beer, back when. It was a “foreign” beer with a name blondes with artificial chests could pronounce, but it didn’t have any flavor that required you to have tastebuds. It also came in a clear bottle, while the other beers didn’t (ever wonder why?) Instant hit! (Mexicans think we’re nuts, by the way. There are so many really good Mexican beers available, and the gringos drink that swill!) So many people now actually think the skunkiness is what it’s supposed to taste like that Corona couldn’t switch to brown bottles if they wanted to.

49

[QUOTE=pulykamell]
Well, it’s not really so much a brave experiment as a very successful take on Belgian strong/dark ales. It’s a drink that’s meant to be drunk slowly, preferably not straight out of the fridge, and in a bulb, wine-type glass.

I’m not a huge fan of Belgian strong dark ales, but I do enjoy one from time to time. It’s not a beer that you really can pound back. Looking at the type of beers you drink, I can see why you didn’t like this one. Try a few other Belgians (like Chimay Blue or Trois Pistoles) and see whether the problem is with the style, rather than particularly Raison d’Etre.
[/QUOTE]

I believe, via recommendations from BeerAdvocate, I tried it in a merlot stem and, because it was my normal drinkware, a pint glass. I don’t think I had any from the bottle. However, all were started within two mintues out of the fridge. It could be the beer type, and I will readily admit that I don’t have too much experience with Belgians (or a lot of other German and Belgian beers like hefeweisse/weisbier/witbier, gueuze, gose, or pilsner). More research is needed. Good thing there’s a DC Dopefest tonight at a beer bar :smiley:

50

[QUOTE=silenus]
It’s the mystique. Corona was the surfer’s beer, back when. It was a “foreign” beer with a name blondes with artificial chests could pronounce, but it didn’t have any flavor that required you to have tastebuds. It also came in a clear bottle, while the other beers didn’t (ever wonder why?) Instant hit! (Mexicans think we’re nuts, by the way. There are so many really good Mexican beers available, and the gringos drink that swill!) So many people now actually think the skunkiness is what it’s supposed to taste like that Corona couldn’t switch to brown bottles if they wanted to.
[/QUOTE]

Ah, its the skunkiness. Now it makes sense at least. :smiley:

51

[QUOTE=wm–]
I’ve never been much of a beer drinker; I preferred wine and mixed drinks. I’d have one or two if it was the only thing on hand at a party (Bud Light and Select, Michelob, the occasional Fat Tire). Recently though, I decided to make an effort to branch out a little (Red Stripe, Heineken, Boulevard) and I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I do like beer after all, just not any of the kinds I’d tried before.

So, would any beer fans care to recommend a good brew that could further nurture my nascent interest? :slight_smile:
[/QUOTE]

Well, being from St. Louis, you might try some of the selections from the O’Fallon Brewery, especially the Smoked Porter (my fave).

52

[QUOTE=silenus]
The problem with lists like this one is that they are compiled by people who like beer. They are next to useless when used by someone who is just starting out with the beverage. Right off the bat I would eliminate #2-7, 12-18, 20-23. As much as I love those beers, they aren’t what you use to grab the newcomers. Ditto the recommendations of IPAS, Imperial Stouts and other beers with intense levels of hops. No, the kind of list the OP needs is like the one liberty3701 gave…easliy accessible brews that are a step above the usual mass-produced swill. wm–, find yourself a good brewpub and sample things. If you don’t like a brew, it doesn’t mean squat to anybody but you. Keep notes, and we can let you know of other beers that resemble ones you do like.
[/QUOTE]

I see your point to a degree. However, the beer that got me to make the transition to the world of “good” beer is one that you would cross off the list “North Coast Old Rasputin”. This was the first micro I had ever tried–and from the moment I had it, I was in love. This spurned my interest in finding what else is out there.

If someone has good taste–then it won’t really matter what good beer they start with–they will realize that it is good. There are hardly any IPA’s on that list–so the hop bitterness won’t be too much of an issue either. The lambics might be overpowering for a newbie–but who knows what his tastes are like? Lambics are the only beer that my wife will touch, and I had tried everything under the sun before she took a drink of one of mine by accident once and realized that she loved the style.

The main reason for posting that list is because it details beers that are available in Missouri–so he might be able to find them with a little searching.

53

A wife that loves lambic…will wonders never cease! That one’s a keeper! :smiley:

What I hope wm– is getting from all this is to keep trying different beers. There is a wonderful world of flavor out there, once you break away from BudMillerCoors.

54

[QUOTE=silenus]
A wife that loves lambic…will wonders never cease! That one’s a keeper! :smiley:

What I hope wm– is getting from all this is to keep trying different beers. There is a wonderful world of flavor out there, once you break away from BudMillerCoors.
[/QUOTE]

I am lucky in that respect.

I agree with you on the main point–wm needs to experiment until he finds what he likes best.

By the way, it’s been awhile since we’ve had a homebrew thread…

55

[QUOTE=RancidYakButterTeaParty]
By the way, it’s been awhile since we’ve had a homebrew thread…
[/QUOTE]

Well, the last one I started flew like a paralyzed peregrine. But I’m always up for a good zymurgistic discussion.

56

[QUOTE=silenus]
Well, the last one I started flew like a paralyzed peregrine. But I’m always up for a good zymurgistic discussion.
[/QUOTE]

That’s because I haven’t been posting for awhile. Fire one up, and I’ll be sure to participate this time around.

57

Topic? We can go a lot of different directions here. :smiley:

58

Hey silenus, what was your opinion of the red beer in the tube last Friday (assuming you tried it)? I thought it was pretty tasty, as was the dark I got at the bar.

Any idea what the red beer was? I mean style, etc.

59

High Roller Red is a medium-bodied, moderately-hopped ale. Very middle-of-the-road. A decent choice when you are trying to get a beer everybody will drink, but their pale ale is better. So is their stout. Now that the Holy Cow is gone, I think my beer drinking will be confined to Main Street Station when I’m not at the Crown & Anchor.

The most fun was watching Yeti try to pour the giraffe. :smiley:

60

:confused: :o :mad:

I have revealed myself to be a Corona drinker in a beer-lovers’ thread … and now am paying the price! So gentlemen, please do fight my ignorance. I mentioned I’ve been imbibing all my life, and have settled down on Corona. My reasons are that it’s light tasting and refreshing (to me) and not all heavy and after-tasty. No surfer mystique here. I didn’t even know that. I agree it’s overpriced.

So – how about recommending ME something that fits my criteria. I’ve had Guiness, Grolesh, oogles and gobs of microbrews. All I want is something light and tasty and beerie I can sip on while I’m making dinner. I don’t want pee. I do like the taste of beer. I just don’t want something that grabs me by the scruff and shakes me around, which is how I feel after those strong European beers.

Ellen, outed Corona drinker.