I love beer. I’ve loved beer since college, almost two decades ago. Unlike my college years, though, I don’t drink to get drunk any more – I haven’t been drunk in at least 10 years. In the last 10 years, I’ve actually learned about beer and tried most different styles that I can find. Perhaps I’m a beer connoisseur, in that I spend time and money in searching out the best beers (for me, at least), and don’t drink cheap, mass market beers, unless nothing else is available (say, at a barbecue).
But despite all the time and effort, and all the trends that come and go (and even the ones, like IPAs, that seem to stick around), I still love simple lagers and ales the best – high quality (and probably “craft beer” or imported) Pilseners, Munich Helles Lagers, English bitters and ESBs, German Marzens, Vienna-style lagers, and similar (I call these “simple” because their taste, character, and color all seem to fall into a relatively narrow range, in my understanding and experience, that matches the most popular styles of the last century or so). I like IPAs, stouts, and porters every once in a while, and wheat beers and Belgian style beers (which always seem a bit sweet to me) perhaps a bit more frequently… but 90% of the time, I just want a basic lager or ale – nothing too bitter, too dark, or too malty, that can be drunk glass after glass for an hour or two without feeling full or drunk.
Anyone else feel the same? Or differently? Is my palate too simple, or too unpracticed, or is it just a matter of personal preference? Is my characterization of “simple” wrong? Let’s talk about beer!
No pale ales, no fruit, nothing where the brewmaster took special pride on how many handfuls of hops he could throw in the pot. I don’t want to have to fight my beer to get it down, and if I wanted alcoholic fruit juice, I’d drink a wine cooler, and it better be 95 degrees in the shade.
So, Belgian ales, stouts, porters, saisons, bocks and maibocks are my usual lineup. Sadly, here in the Midwest, those are mostly seasonal or expensive. Or seasonal AND expensive.
I tend towards the more hopped side of the line up. I like IPAs, bitters, with the occasional stout for variety. I cannot stand pilsners, and if I drink an ale I like it balanced. If it tastes like rice water, I better be eating sushi.
I used to like beer better than I do now. Don’t get me wrong, beer is still good. But as I grow older, I don’t feel compelled to seek it out as often. Back in Bangkok, a monthly ritual was the end-of-month beer, but that’s largely gone by the wayside now. I might have a beer or three once or twice a month now, maybe even less.
BEER! I love beer! The first IPA i had was, I believe, called Oregon IPA. That would have been in the mid-ish-90’s and it was the first that I’d realized that beer could taste awesome. I will never tire of a good IPA, and will also enjoy the hell out of a good stout. (Old Rasputin, I’m talking about you.) My favorites as a regular beer are still IPA’s. Chicago has a good one in Revolution’s Anti Hero as well as the many offerings from Lagunitas and many other local brewries/Brewpubs. Firestone Walker from the west coast makes 2 of my all time favorites: Double Jack and Union Jack. While we’re talking beer, I would also like to mention New Belgium’s Ranger, and Sierra Nevada Hoptimum.
I think of the kinds of lager you describe as “beer-y beers”, because I was raised on that being the default beer, like most Americans. I still like 'em, especially when they’re well made. Even though they are all of the same family of beers, there’s plenty of variation. The Vienna and Marzen styles are generally sweeter, with a thicker mouth feel, while the Czech influenced pilsners tend to be drier and less thick feeling.
And they’re all delicious stuff when done right. Local favorites of mine are Lakewood’s Lakewood Lager and All Call Kolsch, and Real Ale’s Hans’ Pils.
Two that I also love that might be a bit much for some looking for a beer-y beer are imperial versions of lagers. Real Ale’s Phoenixx is a double ESB. Everything you’d get in an ESB turned up to 11. The only bad part is that at 8%, you can only drink about half as many before you’re drunk.
The other is one that sadly, you can’t get anymore. Rahr’s Pecker Wrecker imperial pilsner. It was a bit hoppy for a pils, but I still loved it.
I don’t drink except on occasions where it is expected and I usually stick with the"brands", Coors or Amstel Light. And yes, I know I am a Phistine, but I just don’t particulary care for alcohol.
I enjoy a well-balanced IPA; occasionally I’m in the mood for an* un*balanced hopped-up monster. In season, a bit of fruit or spice flavor can work. And I’m fond of specialties like Buried Hatchet Stout. In our very long hot season, wheat beers & cream ales can hit the spot.
But a recent favorite is 5 O’Clock Pils from Houston’s St Arnold:
I am currently enjoying Sagefight, an imperial IPA from Deschutes…Still have a HopSlam by Bells in the fridge from the case I was able to finagle as it is very highly located and only available about 2 or three weeks a year.
I exclude NO good beer from my repertoire but my personal tastes run towards HUGE IPA’s, Golden ales, Imperial Stouts and Strong ales.
Damnit…now I think I am gonna crack my last HopSlam and toast us all!
I drak the malt coolers and when zima went out I cried and drank more bourbon … once in a while id go to the hood rat liquor store and get a fruit flavored st ides…
I love beer. I got back into homebrewing last year to make available to myself beers I want to drink in the 3-4% alcohol range. I don’t want high octane beer. Sheesh, I want to drink two in an hour and not worry if I can drive legally.
Don’t get me started on the so called “session” beers. Most are just a hair under 5% alcohol.
It’s a challenge but not an impossible one to brew decent beers with taste and body, and have them come in under 4% ABV. Even under 3% is possible.
All beers matter. I love the amazing variety I can choose from.
I can have a hazy, juicy, IPA like the Pizza Boy Murren River I’ve been drinking lately and then have an AleSmith Hawaiian Speedway Stout to change things up.
And let’s not forget Sours and Ciders. They’re all good.
I’m a fan but I’ve yet to enjoy more than one or two at a sitting. It’s too filling for me.
But when I do drink beer, I enjoy something like a Chimay or the seasonal (not pumpkin) offerings from Sam Adams.
When in unfamiliar territory, I’ll go with something that favours hops, bitters and is more amber and cloudy than pale and clear. German beers are my least favourite, but perhaps I’ve not had the right one.
