My sincerest apologies to those who, I sincerely hope, have gone before…
As I am certain I am an “unknown quantity” to those who have been so kind as to read one of my very early postings, I’ll provide you a very little information. My name is b_anthracis: in my first real job, I helped to manufacture anthrax vaccine. Right now I live in upstate NY, much, much nearer to Canada than NYC (looking at a map, I’m close to the corner of NY, VT, and Canada). For approximately the last six years of my life I have become a full-blown micro-brew devoté - starting near Lansing, Michigan, I found this wonderful little brew-pub called “The Michigan Brewing Company”, where they manufactured such gems as a 15% a.b.v. Russian Imperial Stout (proper “kick-you-in-the-teeth”, “that’ll grow hair on your tongue” stout), an 8% a.b.v. Scotch Rye (I’d describe it as drinking buttered toast, and before long, you’re toasted!). Soonafter I learned of Bell’s Beer, a company located near to my “Alma” doesn’t “Mater”, where my love affair with stouts truly began. I have since relocated to my present domicile, which has allowed for day trips to Lake Placid Pub & Brewery (hope I got the link right!), where they brew a Hefeweizen that is to die for! - the Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood Company, and a perhaps better-known Montreal (okay, it’s really in Chambly, about 20 minutes outside Montreal without traffic) called Unibroue, where I’d say it’s a toss-up for my favorites between “Les Trois Pistoles” and the “Ephemère - Pèche”.
As I have now been unemployed for approximately five months, I figured it would be wise to begin a little “caché” of brew-pub knowledge for my likely relocation. My parents, God love them, signed me up for the “beer-o-the-month” club last Christmas, and it’s provided me some great beers. Nevertheless, there is no possible way that a modest twenty four varietals could hold a candle to the knowledge base represented by my fellow pint-tipping SDMB participants. (Hey, where else could I learn about how to insert a link? Now if I could just learn how to search the threads…although I have a fear that will require the “initiation fee” Mr. Zotti referenced in the footnotes to the application allowing me to submit this post.)
Really, really looking forward to your assistance - if things work out (i.e., I land a job in your area), I might just have to buy you a pint!
We are all droogs here. Let me be the first to offer you some advice - bring your own goat. Don’t ask why, just do it. You’ll thank me later.
As for brewpubs…let’s see. I have great and intimate knowledge of quite a few in Southern California, if you should happen to relocate this way. The head brewers at BJ’s, Riverside Brewing Company, and several others are friends. What specifically do you want to know? Ask away…the drunks will reply!
In response to “what specifically do you want to know?”, I would say that I would most like to know which micro-brews make you want to stop your friends from cracking open a can of anything (cans impart a nasty flavor, IMHO) and say “oh, don’t do that. You’ve got to try THIS…” To restate the idea in a way I hope more accurately conveys my inquisition:
What’s your favorite micro-brewery, and why?
Thank you, silenus, for the welcome, as well as for the assistance. Here I was, feeling all pleased with myself for figuring out the [url=…] box-codes…
Well, my default brew is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. For a summer brew, I am particularly fond of Buffalo Bill’s Orange Blossom Cream Ale. Tastes like an alcoholic Creamsicle. I am also quite fond of the brews produced by Full Sail Brewery out of Portland, Oregon.
One last thought before I begin my evening dose of tasty suds: I’ve “Googled” breweries for many of the locations I have had occasion to visit, and thus far have been very upset with the results when hung on the balance with the advice of people I’ve met. People who have tasted beers have much more informative opinions than the majority of web-listings.
Thanks, and with any luck, I’ll check back with you in the morning!
I have a soft spot for Abita Amber. Their Turbo Dog too, but I have to be in a mood for that one. Turbo Dog’s got a faint chocolately flavor. Sierra Nevada is good too though if I can’t find an Abita.
-Lil
I am the world’s laziest home-brewer, and can brew stuff in my kitchen that is as good, if not better (and stronger) than any micro-brew.
Head off to “Austin Homebrew” dot com, and get yerself the kit of the beer you most like and burn one up yerself.
I have discovered the secret to the kick-ass Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: Over dry-hop in secondary fermentation! Makes it more flavorable and seems to have more “kick” (yes, I know its the sugars, but I swear its the “Chronic”!)
Seriously. Brew your own. Once youd, you’ll only go back to bars for P*$$% (female companionship) and cigarette smoke.
(am I a class act, or what? Yes, I have been drinking homebrew tonight.)
Well, here in Madison and surrounding areas, there are some wonderful beers.
Right here in town, the Great Dane and the Angelic Brewing Company put out some fantastic varietals, and in Middleton (the attached suburb on the west side of town) is my favorite, Capital Brewery. These beers have won tons of awards, and I not yet sampled a bad one. They’ve got a great bier garten too, and will also ship beer anywhere it’s legal to do so.
Also, south of Madison is the New Glarus Brewery, who make a divine ale called Spotted Cow, that’s definitely a local favorite.
Back when I was living in Baltimore, I was also partial to DeGroen’s.
Here in Metrowest Boston we have the Concord Junction Brewing Company among others. They make a pretty good porter that is available in bottles or on tap in certain locations.
I used to be pretty familiar with the brewpub scene in Boston itself but several places closed or changed management so I am not as up on it as I used to be.
In Cambridge near MIT you have the Cambridge Brewing Company. They have a Porter that is one of their regular beers but my favorite is their Tall Tale Pale Ale. They also do Belgian Ales as regular specialities and a Barley Wine that I make a point of sampling every winter.
Also in Cambridge but near Harvard is John Harvard’s brewpub (they have locations elsewhere including the suburbs). Haven’t been there in a while but reports I get indicate it hasn’t changed which means it is still worth a visit.
In Boston proper near Fenway park is the Boston BeerWorks. Huge, decent beers and good food. It really gets hopping (hoho!) before and during a game but if you can get in early enough (say, 11-11:30 for a 1:00 start) it is a great place to get a bite and some beers before watching a game. The beer served in the ballpark itself is both watered down and expensive.
Like I said there were several other brewpubs in Boston that I used to be familiar with but they have closed…a good thing in at least one case.
By the way I have had good luck finding out about brewpubs, microbreweries and beer in general from www.beeradvocate.com. A well run and informative place, kind of like this.
I probably don’t have to tell you that there are a lot of jobs in the biological sciences available in the greater Boston area. If you have any questions on that subject it would probably be best to open another thread in a different forum and I (and others I am sure) will try to answer them as best we can.
Good morning, and thank you one and all for the wonderful notebook on beers, brewing, and where to get the good stuff! For the record, Laughing Lagomorph, I am a HUGE fan of Sam 'n Max, Freelance Police (quoth Max, the bunny-looking gun-toting character): “I’m a lagomorph. LOOK IT UP!” Thanks to the very kind welcome I have received with just one evening on the boards, I had to break down and throw my two (okay, one thousand, four hundred ninety five) cents in and become a paying member. This place is great!!
Having a degree in chemistry and a friend who introduced me to home brew way back in college, I’ve always been a little fearful of cooking up the beer in my apartment: Jim’s dorm room had a peculiar odor for a couple of weeks; he says it ways the hops, and I’m inclined to think so only because I haven’t smelled anything like that in other dorm rooms. Still, if there’s one lesson learned in obtaining a degree in chemistry, it’s that if you have a good recipe, you’re golden.
Well, I’d best return to the world of online applications.
I guess this counts as a macrobrew rather than micro, but when I’m buying beer, I generally get Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss, Creamy Dark, Red or Bock. Leinie’s is generally available in Wisconsin & Minnesota, probably in neighboring states as well.
When I’m brewing my own, for my homebrewing supplies I go to Northern Brewer in St. Paul. I’ve tried over a dozen of their kits and have been massively satisfied with every one of them.
In the South, the best microbrew you’re gonna find in wide distribution is, IMO, the Sweetwater line of brews. Their 420 Pale Ale is astonishingly good, but everything I’ve had by them is worth drinking. They’ve won several awards in the year or two that they’ve been available.
If you come to Asheville, however, you’ve gotta make two stops:
Jack of the Wood, a brewpub, has a killer Golden Ale, and if you can ever find their nut brown ale (I’ve only had it twice), your life will be complete.
Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co. has great pizza and a lovely IPA.
if ya wanna get REALLY serious about microbrew, as well as blues, THIS is the place to be.
Over 50 microbreweries and 3 days of blues music (B.B. King is gonna be there this year, BTW). All in one of the most breathtaking places you have ever been in your life. What’s not to like?
Colorado has an absolutely amazing selection of microbrewed beers (both in quality and in quantity). My personal favorites are the really dark, really potent ones. If you can stand a spoon in it, I’m a happy girl. If the spoon dissolves, I’m even happier
The Northwest has an astounding array of micro-brews and brewpubs. One of my local favorites being Mack & Jacks. Their Pale Ale and African Amber are just astoundingly good.
(Hey, where else could I learn about how to insert a link? Now if I could just learn how to search the threads…although I have a fear that will require the “initiation fee” Mr. Zotti referenced in the footnotes to the application allowing me to submit this post.)
Yes, I have been drinking homebrew tonight.)
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