Beer of the Day thread (and ci-derp)
 

As a slight offshoot of the brewing thread, I tried this brew tonight:
http://www.breckenridgebrewery.com/i...1_ESB_12oz.jpg

Small Batch Beers 471 Double IPA & ESB from Breck Brew - India Pale Ale, Extra Special Bitter Colorado Beers

I'm not normally an Ale guy (especially the more bitter ones), but I figured I'd give Breckenridge a chance with their ESB. I did enjoy it and has a nice after taste.

Also, there's finally something good to come out of Houston: SPEC's Liquors Online: Wines, Spirits, Cigars and Finer Foods. They've been expanding like crazy here in Austin. They just opened a new one less than a mile away from mi casa. Good times. They have the best alcohol selection and prices in town, bar none. I also love getting singles to try new beers, as opposed to being stuck with a 6 pack of shitty beer.

This is what I enjoyed last night: http://en.ayinger-bier.de/usr/usr_images/cont_118.jpg It gives Shiner a considerable run for it's money.

Chris

My local selection sucks. Need to brew my own.
Rolling Rock was on the menu tonight, the gf doesn't mind the taste and she bought this time. It'll do.

This thread is relevant to my interests.

My choice

LOL, Steel Reserve. Suprisingly good for its price. I still say Abita Purple Haze cant be beaten. I find myself thinking about it randomly throughout the day. I havent had one in a few months though, cant drink lately.

yuck ... steel reserve is good only for getting drunk and telling people (your woman): "its just a beer, im not hella drunk. Jeez, i've only had 3 tonight honey".

Ya, so a Sierra Nevada bigfoot ale followed by Pabst blue ribbon was on the menu for today.

I'm not sure Shiner should be used as a baseline for comparison. you need to leave texas and drink some good beer once in a while.

lets see... last night I had a Boulder Never Summer Ale:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/...45d792535f.jpg

Nice and hoppy-- keeps you warm when it's cold outside and there's 6 inches of snow on your miata. Also washes down spicy indian food very well.

I noticed this a few weeks ago while picking up some tuna steaks, and how odd that it looked exactly like it was a Unibroue bottle. Untill I read Unibroue on the cap and knew it was going to be a good beer.


http://beerbellyadventures.files.wor...51a4408c72.jpg



It's a beer with active yeast which not only kicks up the alcohol content after it's been bottled, but changes the taste over time. This was alot more mild than some of the other Unibroue beers such as Maudite and La Fin Du Monde, and lacks the tomato overtones that some of their beers have.

mmm unibrow canadian beer. i'll have to see if our local TJs has that.

If you guys want to try a really unique beer I recommend Hofbrau Hefe Weizen. Its German, and very different from what I normally would imagine beer to taste like. I like it.

I normally drink Baltika 9. Also recommend it if you can find it.

+1
So you like the dark ones, do ya? Try Spaten Optimatorhttp://stickandballguy.com/blog/wp-c...timator_01.jpg


I enjoy the Weizen or wheat beers myself. I frequent a local place that has on tap Paulaner Hefe-Weisse,http://starbrandimports.com/images/p...ight_weiss.jpg

Franziskaner Dunkel-Weisse,http://www.boabebint.com/images/Franziskaner-Dunkel.jpg

And last week ran out of Hofbrau Hefe Weissehttp://www.hofbraupcb.com/images/photo/main_home_02.jpg

But since you are a fan of the darker beers, please let me direct you to one of the more complex dark wheat beers (Dunkel Doppel Bock Weizen) called Aventinus http://www.bavarianbeershop.com/cata.../Aventinus.jpg





For my wheat beer needs in a pinch, most of the local bars/restaurants are carrying Blue Moon now. Non-frosted glass, hold the fruit.

FWIW- The Ayinger Brewery where your Celebrator comes from is a short street car ride from downtown Munich and has a nice inn and restaurant.

Limited production run. The local stores that get a shipment only allow 2 per customer. Very nice. Only comes in 22oz sizes so it's a bit of an asswhuppin to finish one off by myself.

sixshooter, are you just into german hefes or do you also like the spicier belgian whites?

I like Baltika 8, but it has been out of stock locally for 4 months.

Is this beer of the day, or name every good beer I can think of?

I'll jump in with:

http://www.pyramidbrew.com/assets/Im...lickBottle.jpg

Really good beer. Only drank 2 of the sixer last night so not only was it yesterday's beer, its today's beer as well.

All you east-coasters have the biggest boners for Dogfish head, surprised to not see any posted up yet.

it's aight.

more exciting to me is that flying dog has a brewery in maryland!!!11

There's a Dogfish alehouse a couple miles away from me, been there several times. The boner has subsided considerably since I moved here (east) compared to when I lived out in Seattle where their stuff was both more difficult to find and more expensive. When it's a 10 minute drive away and cheaper, it doesn't seem as special. Mostly I give them credit for trying original things, and most of their brews are good. I like their Shelter pale ale and Chicory stout, but don't remember seeing those on the west coast. Probably because they realize that you lefties will only buy stuff with >10% ABV and/or >120 IBU. :D

Yesterday's beer of the day was Smuttynose IPA.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PMnluCoFIx...20/IPA.bot.jpg

how do you guys drink that black shit? I'm an IPA or a Pale kinda gay.

Here's the best damn beer I've had in a long time.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/14...779593.jpg?v=0

Hustler,
That's the strongest argument for proofreading I've seen all day.:)

ahh... now this is my kind of thread:)

Currently my favourite everyday lager is Asahi, very easy to drink (this can be a good or bad thing, depending on what time you have to work the next day);)

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...-cl-799614.jpg


A couple of weeks ago I came across this tasty beer:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...0e7a123920.jpg

Brewed locally to me, not very strong (3.9%) but again, easy drinking.

:eek5: Ouch!

You're right though, we hate bitter beer. You used to live here, you know :) Kinda strange when you consider hops are washington's largest cash crop haha. Are there any bars on the east coast with Mack n Jacks? My all time favorite beer.

Shiner was the only Double Bock I could think of, and it's no comparison to Celebrator, that's for sure. Any one of the Shiner varieties beat the cheap beers hands down. Their Hefe is a great bang for your buck, cheaper than Widmer and almost as good.

It's hard for me to find a Weisse beer I don't like. I've tried (and enjoy) all of the beers you mentioned except Aventinus, I'll have to look for it.

More details? Only available in NW?

Chris

The Aventinus is a special brew by the Schneiderweisse brewery. It has some of the banana flavor that many wheat beers have, but with a chocolate overtone. Nice and warm in your throat too. At the moment Weihenstephaner is my favorite hefe-weisse. I could drink weisse beer for breakfast lunch and dinner every day. It is the perfect beer to me.

I have been trying to expand my pallet more though. I like some IPAs. I really don't like overly bitter beers because I think it destroys the flavor and aftertaste. This local beer is great. I've had their IPA and their Belgian style triple. Great beers with a meal. Very refreshing and subtle. Captain Lawrence Brewing Company

I'm right there with ya on most of the IPA's. I try then but don't enjoy them as much as Wheat Beer or a good Belgium style.

Are you an Ommegang fan? I wish I had visited them when I was in Yankee territory last year, they are tasty as well.

Chris

my beers of "every day" that are some of the best stand bys:

anderson valley boont amber
rich and delicious with a hint of caramel-malt flavor.
http://www.avbc.com/wp-content/theme...eers/amber.jpg


flying dog old scratch amber lager
also a very drinkable beer with a hint of malt.
http://www.flyingdogales.com/images/...tch-bottle.gif

victory prima pils
smooth and bright and super drinkable. everyone would love this.
http://www.victorybeer.com/images/beer_pp.jpg

I've only had it once. It was the triple. I think it was good but, honestly it got me drunk mighty quick and I can't recall how it tasted. I've shunned American re-creations of Euro beers because I'm blessed to live somewhere where I have access to a huge selection of imported beers and if I'm spending money on an expensive six pack I want to know that I'll enjoy it. I'm only now getting into American micro-brewed beer.

Incidentally I had the worst beer of my life the other night. I wish I could remember the name. It was an American wheat beer in a can. It literally tasted like Aluminum with a spritz of lime.

In general the American wheats are very different from the German variety. The American variety is always hoppy from what I've experienced while the German kind has virtually no hop flavor. That's what makes it so drinkable to me. My uncle used to be a lumberjack in Bavaria. He told me on cold mornings they would actually drink weissebeer that they had warmed up to start the day.

Asahi is very crisp and clean like many of the rice beers. I drink it with sushi and it complements the delicate flavors well. Asahi is controlled by Sumitomo Industries in Japan. The same folks that make some of the machines I sell.
http://www.lbxco.com/img/700LX.jpg
And through Sumitomo, Asahi also has a connection to Mazda.
Small world.

I was talking to a guy at Spec's the other night and he said Cans might be making a come back. They have significant storage advantages over glass (light and seal). The insides can be made inert. The biggest drawback is that you need to pur it in a glass to enjoy it.

This isn't really a drawback for me, as I enjoy beer more out of a glass (or stein).

Chris

Me too. It opens up the flavors. These are some of the spare glasses that are on the shelf over the computer desk. These are the overflow from the kitchen collection. Most I brought back from Germany, a couple were promotional give-aways from the World of Beer bar here locally.

Beer of the day: Homebrewed London Pub...

Haven't seen it anywhere out here. Nor Manny's pale ale, nor Deschutes Black Butte porter, nor Mirror Pond pale ale. Might be able to get them in stores, but I've never seen them on tap around here. I miss being able to walk into any bar and order a really good beer, and in most restaurants around here, Sam Adams is the best they've got, maybe SNPA if you get lucky. Fortunately I have Total Wine nearby and their selection is excellent.

For the barleywine lovers... a few years ago I was shopping at a QFC (grocery store chain, for those who don't know) in Seattle. I picked up a sixer of Bigfoot, the only one I saw in the store, and I couldn't find a price label anywhere on the shelves. I took it up to the checkout with the rest of my food, and the cashier couldn't get it to scan. She just told me to take it and not worry about it, so I got a sixer of Bigfoot 2005 for free. As a grad student, it was like hitting the lotto. :D

Austin guys, I assume y'all know about the Whip In? They have some good stuff. The homebrew club I belonged to in Houston used to do an annual pubcrawl to Austin, and we always had the bus driver stop at the Whip In on the way home. :beer:

My BOTD tonight is Troegenator double bock. Malty & sweet, >8% ABV, it's a good beer for a cold night.
http://www.troegs.com/images/Troegen...0web%20200.jpg

Aventinus FTMFW!!!! That is my favorite beer. One of the local pubs has it on tap from time to time. It is outstanding on tap, but still good in the bottle.

Celebrator is good too. I tried some of that recently.

I am also not into hoppy beers like IPAs. I prefer the dark non-hoppy full-bodied stout variety. Heffeweisens are good too, but I agree, hold the fruit.

For some good U.S. brewed dark beer fare, try New Belgium Brewery 1554 Black Ale. It is made by the same people that make Fat Tire which is the one I buy as my 'normal' beer. It is an 'ale' but not to hoppy and has a nice dark flavor.
http://www.newbelgium.com/files/beer...beers_1554.png

And this may sound totally gay, but try drinking the darker beers out of a good snifter or a large red wine glass. It concentrates the aromas and helps bring out the flavor of the beer. The pub I get Aventinus at serves it in a snifter. Some other microbreweries I have been to do the same thing.

ZX and other's, anyone else have a Flying Saucer membership: http://www.beerknurd.com/images/headerGraphic.jpg

The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium - www.beerknurd.com

ScottFW, Whip In is in my part of town but I haven't been there yet. The previously mentioned Spec's has a bad ass selection, but I've been meaning to check it out.

Chris

Im a member!! It has all the elements of a great bar......Huge selection of beer and short skirt slutty looking waitresses. Has anyone tried the Avery beers? This one is 15%

My beer of the Day: http://www.konabrewingco.com/uploads/beers_pipeline.png

I actually have a six pack of this good stuff.

Chris

I am not a member but that is where I go to get Aventinus on tap when they have it. That is a great place to go get a beer. Massive selection on tap, and hot waitresses in skimpy outfits. And they serve decent bar food.

for some reason, their wailua wheat tastes like B.O.

i do like the longboard though.

I have a thing for fat tire, although its a bit mainstream to sound cool around you elitist pricks. All the other new-belgium shit tastes like soap to me.

Today's beer is Highland Brewery's Gaelic Ale. It is brewed in Asheville, NC.
http://www.highlandbrewing.com/images/beers/st04.jpg

I have found only a few red ales that really tasted like red ales. Many taste more malty like brown ales or lighter/hoppier like pale ales. This one gets it right.

I have only recently discovered this one, but must recommend it to fans of red ales. And I just found it on tap locally.

haha i've been there! we drove over there when we were in glacier nat'l park.

Today's selection: Homebrewed Oatmeal Stout.

Used to wash down the corned beef, cabbage, red potatoes and carrots...

(Ain't life grand!)

- L

More beer tasting tonight:

After today's events (watching 10 of my co-workers finish their last day with the company) tonight's beverage of choice is Maker's Mark...

Ouch... I am assuming it was an economic driven layoff. What company if you do not mind me asking?

Someone needs to make a stout called Stock Market. It would be the darkest, hoppiest (bitter) beer on the planet. :bowrofl:

Larry I really like Oatmeal Stouts. If your homebrew is good I would really like to try some. Are you going to be at the Texas Mile? I hope to have the car back on-line and tuned by then but it will be close.

tonights beer is:

http://www.williamsburgalewerks.com/...d%20Marker.jpg

MMM.. had some of that the other night, good stuff!

No beer for me though until next month, after my PT test.. fatty needs to lose an inch off of his waist. :giggle:

My beer tonight is Real Ale Brewing Company Brownhouse Brown Ale. I bought it because the brewery is in a nearby town (Blanco, Texas).
Ehhh... It is decent, but I am not doing backflips over it. Personal preference.

Here's my choice for tonight.

We did the brewery tour did last month. I like their Brewhouse and coffee porter as well.

That is a good porter. Hopefully Oregon doesn't pass the ~1000% alcohol tax. It would affect my beer of the night:

http://www.widmer.com/images/w09_top.jpg

The widmer is my favorite of the season with this belgian style a close second:
http://www.newbelgium.com/files/beer...e/beers_tr.png

Chris

I'm a defense contractor. Our customer's funding for the project dried up, therefore same with the contract. Yesterday's group, in the words of management, was "the first wave"...

As to the Mile, I am not planning to participate this Spring. I may (or may not) have a job, so I've put off getting a hardtop, rolling the fenders and getting new tires until my financial status re-stabilizes. - I may however drive down just to watch and spend "quality time" with fellow gear-heads...

For my homebrews, I cheat. I have a (now former) coworker who's husband brews almost every weekend. (All grain, not extract...) I "shop" at Austin Homebrew Supply and have kits sent to their house. When everything is bottled, she brings them to work. (I guess I'll have to start driving across town to pick up now...) - The London Pub, Nut Brown, Belgian Abbott, Honey Kolsch and Oatmeal Stout have all turned out well.

- L

Hmm...usually either...
Spaten Optimator or
http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200609/17...4_15341371.jpg

Tilburg's Dutch Brown Ale.
http://soheil.callage.com/photo%20Ga...rown%20Ale.jpg

or...Paulaner Salvator
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UJYbd5G4f6...Doppelbock.jpg

For local beer, I prefer Firemans Four which is a out of Blanco, TX.

Salvator is good shit.

Tonight's brew, appropriately enough:
http://www.abita.com/images/page_gra...s_template.jpg

and another Pipeline porter.

Chris

gay as fuck

512 #4 ftw!

I had this last night:Untitled Document Southern Tier Brewing Unearthly India Pale Ale. It was much better than I expected. Really smooth, a lot of flavor and not bitter. I would have this IPA again.

Also had this: 100 Barrel Series 26 - Catamount Maple Wheat - Harpoon Brewery - Brewers of Harpoon IPA and UFO Hefeweizen Harpoon Catamount Maple Wheat. I would skip this. Pretty flavorless with a slight maple after taste, but pretty unsatisfying.

I don't see anyone ranting about American Pale. Why is it a lost art?

Pale Ale sucks.

Actually Spec's has a good selection.

Chris