So you walk into a bar and A........walks in.
polycounter lvl 17
So I was recently realizing alot of Polycounters who I thought were way up in the food chain and alot older then me were around the same age range. And I got to thinking of fun things people like to do. And usually like most 20 something year olds its going out and having a Good drink.
Now normally my dad and I use to drink Scotch growing up (johnny walker black) (And Ebagg can tell you of my mixing of Drinks and rums at his parties) But I really grew a taste for dark beers.
And I realized how many beers where out there. So I wanted to get a intellectual survey of Good recommended beers to try.
Now I had a beer called crowninburg (Im probably butchering that spelling) that was awesome, it was a light amber. But I usually drink Dark Ales That have a more sweet/ not so bitter taste. But Its really hit or miss. What do you guys think is the good drink of choice?
(THIS PART ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON , And all you suckers who are around here once we hear some good answers lets go to the belgium beer hall in freemont and try some of these!!)
Now normally my dad and I use to drink Scotch growing up (johnny walker black) (And Ebagg can tell you of my mixing of Drinks and rums at his parties) But I really grew a taste for dark beers.
And I realized how many beers where out there. So I wanted to get a intellectual survey of Good recommended beers to try.
Now I had a beer called crowninburg (Im probably butchering that spelling) that was awesome, it was a light amber. But I usually drink Dark Ales That have a more sweet/ not so bitter taste. But Its really hit or miss. What do you guys think is the good drink of choice?
(THIS PART ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON , And all you suckers who are around here once we hear some good answers lets go to the belgium beer hall in freemont and try some of these!!)
Replies
Fat Tire: http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/fat-tire
Ommegang: http://www.ommegang.com/
Three Floyds: http://www.3floyds.com/ The three floyds beers are really unique. They just kinda grab whatever is laying around and make beer out of it.
Bell's: http://www.bellsbeer.com/
You can try an Old Speckled Hen, English fine ale.
Americans and drinking, hahaha
I normally just go around trying all local brews as the taste is much much better, I dont know about local brews in the states but in the uk we have a mighty fine selection. Come on over and enjoy.
Aye, and you can't go wrong with Bishop's Finger either.
My favorite beer is Hoegaarden and most of the Belgium's brands and exactly after that comes the Magners
Gulden Draak - Godly beer. Dark, full of flavour and all around amazing
Rochefort 8 - Another amazing Belgium, again dark and full of flavour.
XO - If you are up for something a bit different look for this, it's a great cognac beer. You can definitely taste the cognac, and the beer, which I think is awesome!
Those are just 3 of my favourites, but generally with the belgiums you are pretty safe getting any (Not hoegaarden and stuff, it's not bad, but look for the non-mass-market stuff). But yea, I've gone through a full 4 page Belgian beer menu at a local pub, and almost all of them were top notch.
For other stuff... there's so many and I'm at work so I'll keep it short.
Rogue - Awesome american microbrews. They do all kinds of good stuff
Pyramid - Again some awesome american microbrews, pretty safe buying from them
Innis & Gunn - Tasty English beer brewed in Scotch casks, I love it.
Anyways, back to work, I may post a more extensive list later.
By the way, if you really want to get into good beers I suggest seeking out a good beer store with knowlegable staff. There's a lot to look for in a good beer, and if you can find a good place they'll have a better selection of microbrews and harder to find stuff (98% of the mass market stuff is shit), and will be able to direct you to the stuff you want. I find that my tastes change depending on my mood. If you are like that good staff will be able to point you in the direction you want to go, which is especially useful if you are just getting into beer.
Oh, and just thought of another company I really like... not positive the name is right, but I think it's Dogfish Head or something. They make some awesome stuff. If you see Midas' Touch it's a fun one to try. Based on the residue found in the bottom of a jug in what they believe is King Midas' tomb if I remember right.
A little expensive but at 9% alc and 75 cl its worth it, especially for how great of a beer it is.
But mostly I just go brew my own at a little place in Edmonds, after a few times you start to get creative and brew almost exactly what you want.
Basically, Belgian Trappist ales, which are the most genuine of abbey beers you'll find, as well as being terribly delicious!
edit: Tulkamir - Belgian, but good suggestions nevertheless
If I'm ever in Canadium we should have some drinks!
E-freak, careful what you say now, heh
I mostly drink Dogfish Head brews:
if you like hops give their 60, 90 and 120 minute IPAs, they have a higher ABV (alcohol by volume) and IBU (international bittering unit aka hoppiness) than most beers so be prepared.
Raison D'Etre is a good smooth drinking Ale, it's got 8% ABV so it'll still kick you in the pants a bit
Indian Brown Ale is a cool hybrid ale, malty and hoppy at the same time
another nice beer I've only seen once was Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan, it's a nut brown ale brewed with pecans.
Ahaha, woops! That was silly of me. Absolutely come on over and we can find some tasty brews!
Justin - I totally agree about the dogfish head IPAs, I love that stuff. I'm a big fan of really bitter, hoppy beer. There was one Imperial IPA I had recently that was awesome, I just wish I could remember which one it was. :P
haha yea total title fail I wrote Your instead of you
Rum is where its at! Although since moving up here to Seattle I cant find a single store that sells anything but Wine or Beer except for bars. WHAT IS WITH THIS TOWN!
Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar
Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan
Hoegaarden
Flying Dog Old Scratch
I, myself, like a Guiness, or a half-and-half with Guiness and something els.
Mmmmmmm.
Mac N Jacks Amber
Redhook (all good)
Blue Moon
Widmer Hefe
Rogue Dead Guy Ale
Arrogant Bastard Ale
We should have a polycount meetup/ bar run on Capitol Hill and definitely hit up the Stumbling Monk, tiny place with rare but awesome strong beers! I haven't been in awhile but this thread is definitely making me thirsty for some! Also the Malt & Vine in Redmond has great beer selection, sort of a grocery store/beer tasting joint I haven't been to but heard many great things. Another great place is the Taphouse, great happy hour, tons o beers on tap.
Autocon- You have to goto Liquor Stores in WA, here we have the shitty Liquor Control Board!
When I was in Seattle, I drank pale ale called ESB or EFB, something like that I think?? I really liked that beer, never saw it in the Netherlands though.
Oh and I am big fan of whiskey. If you like whiskey with a strong flavor try Aberlour a'bunadh (beware of the 60% alcohol though). If you want a smooth drinking whiskey go for Scappa, Longmorn or Dimple. Those are my favorites.
i think it was a Czech beer or something (i dont really remember but hits the shops usually in autumn)
You're likely thinking of Redhook ESB, which is awesome, and brewed near Seattle in Woodinville. The Redhook Brewery is great, a delicious restaraunt with a beer-oriented menu, they give tours of the brewery for $1 during which you sample a bunch of their flavors, and during the summer they have a huge patio open and weekly they'll turn the lawn into a movie theater to watch movies like the Big Lebowski while enjoying BEER! It's like an amusement park for BEER!
Macallan's 10 year and Bowmore darkest (a new favorite of mine after a deadline crunch with a scotsman who swore by it).
(taken from here: https://www.lfw.co.uk/diageo/flavourmap.html)
I had always found the Ardbeg and Talisker too smoky for me, but liked the Glenkinchie and Glenlivet, and know I understand why. This has helped me explore more whiskys that I'll probably like.
As for beer, I'm a great fan of Kruovice, both light and dark. Erdinger Dunkel Weiss is a great dark beer from Germany. Germany is also home to Paulaner, and they make a few great beers.
bah I was afraid this was the case, what a silly thing to have.
btw, i never thought i'd live to see the day that kronenburg was described as "awesome". Tramp's piss. And from not a very nice tramp, at that.
never tried it.
If you can pick up Japanese brewed Asahi it's worth the price of entry. (not the filth that's brewed by licensed brewers, terrible)
Since moving to Boston I was stunned at their absolute failure in beer(they also totally fail in coffee except for in Nantucket they have an AWESOME coffee house):
Dubel, Leffe, Grimbergen Double (Dubbel), and if you can't find those get Sam Adams...for a domestic beer in the Boston area that's pretty much the best, and only thing you'll find.
Growing up in Seattle I really got into:
Fat Tire, Alaskan Amber, Mac and Jacks, and when I was in college (Western Washington Univ) up in Bellingham they had a brewery, Boundary Bay. They make an oatmeal stout that is to die for.
B
http://www.stonebrew.com/12th/ale/default.htm
Speaking of oatmeal stouts, I had a few bottles of this given to me last year, not sure if you can still get it but it was awesome! I feared oatmeal and chocolate would make it some kind of fruity beer, that needed a tiny paper umbrella... but it was fantastic.
this stuff is like nector for me (sorry if already mentioned)
Vig: I'll definitely check that stuff out. The bars out here are pretty pathetic for beer availability (No Tap House...Nothing like that bar in Bellevue with the like 100+ taps, and oh how I miss Seattle bars. *single tear*.). However, the liquor stores in Boston stock the goods...and a small local restaurant brings in all kinds of awesome new beers:)
B
Oooh a lot of you guys like hoegaarden blond! maybe you guys should try Hertog Jan - weizener (dont forget the WEIZENER part, because I think you have other blond beers)
Ofcourse you also have dark beers from Hertog Jan and Leffe
Haha, I remember being horrified by both the beer and coffee when I lived in Boston. I remember having a drink in the Purple Shamrock right after I had my interview with the INS and some guy was raving about Sam Adams, and I swear, I could barely finish it. And hey, the coffee ain't that bad, as long as you like Dunkin' Donuts...
First thing I did when I got back to London was go to a pub for a pint and man, it was like having McDonald's after years of dieting.
This time, I'm going to do my research so I don't end up drinking Natural Ice. Are liquor stores still closed on Sundays in Mass?
Blue Moon, Anchor Steam, Hefeweizen, I prefer the pale. To my eternal Irish shame, I just don't like Guiness...
I don't like Guinness on it's own, but I love a Black Velvet.
Some of these drinks are great I think we need a
"Poly-Beer-Count"
Anyone up for a adventure in fine drinking?
My favorite beer on the planet is still a microbrewed 'Granville Island Pale Ale' found only in Vancouver. Otherwise I stick to Kroenenberg and Stella.
Default to Corona or Dos Equis.
Sometimes I'll go for a Heineken, or any asian beer (which seems to taste exactly like Heineken - Kirin, Sapporo, Asahi)
If you like it dark, you should try some of the microbrewed stuff in quebec. Tastes like you're drinking a steak, and it feels like your liver is actually tasting it. Dieu de Ciel, or the Unibroue Maudite.
*gasp
Redhook is good. Fat Tire, Alaskan Amber, some of the DogFishHead brews.
I like a few blonde brews as well, like Spaten and Harp. A local brewery in Reno (Silverpeak) had an awesome one called XXX Golden Blonde, which really hit the spot.