I would have insulted the bartender. And then educated him by using the german word for "piss" for that particular beer.

Blah blah. I much prefer wines from New Zealand, or Chile.

same situation there--those countries also dont have strict regulations on appellations. I like me some good southern hemisphere shiraz for a table wine.

My favorite easy to find beer. New Belgium 1554 Ale. I have some in the fridge right now.
http://www.newbelgium.com/images/beer_label_1554.png

Excellent on tap, not so easy to find, Schneider Aventinus Doppelbock. Best beer on the planet IMO. My local Flying Saucer carries it on tap from time to time.
http://www.schneider-weisse.de/img/b...produkt.01.jpg

When I was in England a few years ago I tried this beer, Theakston Old Peculier. It is hard to find here but also very, very tasty.
http://www.theakstons.co.uk/uploaded...ulier-clip.gif

Old Crustacean
I2PA
Imperial Stout, Rogue
Bigfoot
Harvest Ale
Gnarlywine

I'm in full support of experimentation as long as it doesn't involve fruit.
Most adjuncts corrupt flavor but if done correctly, i.e. coffee porter, then it can sometimes sort of work.
Wheat beer is ass. I've stopped trying to find one which is drinkable.
Also noteworthy, the beer-drinking venue and application are critical. A Thanksgiving feast would support the heaviest of Imperial Stouts. A delicate breakfast of poached eggs and salmon needs a lighter, top-fermenting style to join the party, like a Pilz. Then there's boat-beer; the cheap shit you put in a cooler and drink ice-cold all day long, and also happens to encourage females to imbibe. For this I'd opt for flavorless and otherwise useless Coors Light. But if it's just me, and I have the funds to support it, then it's a small batch barleywine every time...

Well this is what I get for not checking the forum for about a week; Joe Perez beat me to the punch not once, but twice.

+1 on Austin Homebrew for info and supplies.

+1 as well on the Flying Saucer. I've not been to the one in Addington, however I have been to the "Mothership" in Ft Worth and frequent the one here in San Antonio. (Another similar, but more relaxed, beer buffet can be found here: http://www.pubcrawler.com/Template/R...t/BrewerID=856)

As to my beer preference, it varies. However, the current contents of my beer shelf:
- Dos Equis
- Breckenridge Vanilla Porter
- Shiner Bohemian Black Lager
- Homebrewed Belgian Abbot
- Homebrewed Nut Brown Ale
and
- Homebrewed Amber Ale

And before anyone asks; (1) yes, I am married, (2) yes, I said beer shelf (The top shelf of the 'fridge has been reserved for beer since before I started dating my wife...) and (3) no, I don't homebrew, just have a hook-up willing to prepare whatever recipie I want for the simple "tax" of a 6-pack.

Now, time to grab a pint glass and the church key...

- L