What beer ya drinkin'?

[usedtobefast]

I usually stick to what I brew at home. See above.

nice.very nice.

 

[screaming fist]

 

[TRDean]

My everyday beer is Pabst Blue Ribbon!! Used to be Schlitz but that was kicking the crap out of my guts!!

Favorite all time beer is Orangeboom in Jopies Piano Bar, Arnhem Netherlands!! Good times.

 

[knewcleardaze]

Now that I think about it, I don't recall the last time I refused a beer.

 

[Anonymous]

Now that I think about it, I don't recall the last time I refused a beer.

Kinda like pizza. Some are ok, some are incredible, but all are edible.

 

[pedaling squares]

Was in Seattle the other night and had the chance to try my first Belgian ale. Duvel, I recognized it from this thread. It was... ok. Kind of like "La fin du monde" from Quebec. Light, fruity, strong, it was decent but I was not sure if I liked it enough to order another. Then the bus boy poured water in my nearly empty beer glass et voila, I had one more chance to savour and evaluate.

I'm going back there in a few weeks and will visit the Stumbling Monk, a bar that specializes in Belgian ales, including Trappist. Can anyone recommend some Belgian beers that are more in line with my love of Irish ale, or am I just going to have to gain an appreciation of a whole different style of beer?

 

[Bag_O_Wallet]

Was in Seattle the other night and had the chance to try my first Belgian ale. Duvel, I recognized it from this thread. It was... ok. Kind of like "La fin du monde" from Quebec. Light, fruity, strong, it was decent but I was not sure if I liked it enough to order another. Then the bus boy poured water in my nearly empty beer glass et voila, I had one more chance to savour and evaluate.

I'm going back there in a few weeks and will visit the Stumbling Monk, a bar that specializes in Belgian ales, including Trappist. Can anyone recommend some Belgian beers that are more in line with my love of Irish ale, or am I just going to have to gain an appreciation of a whole different style of beer?

I'd guide you away from the tripels (which are bright and bubbly blondes) and guide you towards the darker stuff... like dubbels and quadrupels or for a lack of a better term the Belgian strong ales.

Selection is fairly limited here in Ontario, but the darker Belgian's that I've had and REALLY enjoyed are:
Chimay - Red/Premiere and Blue/Grande Reserve (Trappist)
Westmalle Dubbel (Trappist)
Konigshoeven Dubbel and Quadrupel (Dutch, but Trappist)
Rochefort 8 (Trappist)
St. Bernardus Abt 12 (not Trappist, but you could fool me)

Oh, and Unibroue (from Quebec) makes a respecatble dubbel - Maudite.

I hope you have a chance to try a few of these.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd guide you away from the tripels (which are bright and bubbly blondes) and guide you towards the darker stuff... like dubbels and quadrupels or for a lack of a better term the Belgian strong ales.

Selection is fairly limited here in Ontario, but the darker Belgian's that I've had and REALLY enjoyed are:
Chimay - Red/Premiere and Blue/Grande Reserve (Trappist)
Westmalle Dubbel (Trappist)
Konigshoeven Dubbel and Quadrupel (Dutch, but Trappist)
Rochefort 8 (Trappist)
St. Bernardus Abt 12 (not Trappist, but you could fool me)

Oh, and Unibroue (from Quebec) makes a respecatble dubbel - Maudite.

I hope you have a chance to try a few of these.

Great call BOWallet.

100% agree. The tripels tend towards a complex fruit/hoppiness that takes a little getting used to. Although there are exceptions such as Tripel Karmeliet (golden in color, fruity and hints of carmel) and Gulden Draak (Gold Dragon) that is an unusual dark tripel that explodes your taste buds. Good luck trying to figure out what you are tasting with that one. I think both of those are phenomenal.

Also, maybe add Rochefort 10 to the list above... just make sure they don't pour the whole bottle in the glass as there is sediment/yeast in the bottom. In fact, that may have been part of the problem with the Duvel that was tried. It is a "living" beer and the yeast changes its' flavor if it finds it's way in to the poured glass.

Finally, the biggest problems you will have with Belgian beer is that it is generally not poured properly and served too cold.

 

[quadsRme]

Wow! Thanks to all the responses I have started to drink more imports again!!

The Rochefort 8 was what I was looking for.

The liquor store was out of Rochefort 10, but I am going there straight from work... you know what I mean.

Let the weekend begin

 

[Hugh Januss]

Great call BOWallett.

100% agree. The tripels tend towards a complex fruit/hoppiness that takes a little getting used to. Although there are exceptions such as Tripel Karmeliet (golden in color, fruity and hints of carmel) and Gulden Draak (Gold Dragon) that is an unusual dark tripel that explodes your taste buds. Good luck trying to figure out what you are tasting with that one. I think both of those are phenomenal.

Also, maybe add Rochefort 10 to the list above... just make sure they don't pour the whole bottle in the glass as there is sediment/yeast in the bottom. In fact, that may have been part of the problem with the Duvel that was tried. It is a "living" beer and the yeast changes its' flavor if it finds it's way in to the poured glass.

Finally, the biggest problems you will have with Belgian beer is that it is generally not poured properly and served too cold.

Ahh, a topic upon which we can be in complete agreement.

 

[Anonymous]

Ahh, a topic upon which we can be in complete agreement.

Cheer to you

 

[Bag_O_Wallet]

Great call BOWallet.

100% agree. The tripels tend towards a complex fruit/hoppiness that takes a little getting used to. Although there are exceptions such as Tripel Karmeliet (golden in color, fruity and hints of carmel) and Gulden Draak (Gold Dragon) that is an unusual dark tripel that explodes your taste buds. Good luck trying to figure out what you are tasting with that one. I think both of those are phenomenal.

Also, maybe add Rochefort 10 to the list above... just make sure they don't pour the whole bottle in the glass as there is sediment/yeast in the bottom. In fact, that may have been part of the problem with the Duvel that was tried. It is a "living" beer and the yeast changes its' flavor if it finds it's way in to the poured glass.

Finally, the biggest problems you will have with Belgian beer is that it is generally not poured properly and served too cold.

Thanks SoCal. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a gold dragon.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks SoCal. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a gold dragon.

MMMMMmmmmm

 

[Anonymous]

Stop the presses!!!

For those interested I just ran across this site;

http://shop.belgianshop.com/index.html

They claim to ship globally... and THAT IS VERY GOOD NEWS.

 

[Kingsley A]

I've just got back from drinking this:

One of the finest traditional ales available in the UK. This golden hued bitter has a delicate aroma that is barely noticeable on a well kept pint. The first sensation is of a very light, sweet beer but this quickly changes to a bitter hoppy after taste. The only carbonation comes from the sprinkler on the hand pull and it should be ideally served with approx a 10-20mm head.

Sadly the small family brewery is already brewing at capacity with no room for expansion without moving. This means it is almost impossible to obtain outside of the South-West corner of the Black Country and North Worcestershire (although they do have a single outlet in North Wales).

Bathams have been brewing since the 19th century and have won numerous awards, including best bitter at the Great British Beer Festival at least once. (Their mild has won more awards than the bitter - even though it is not a true traditional mild ale.)

Unfortunately, the bitter I drank tonight had a slightly tart/acidic taste showing that is was 'green' and need another 4 or 5 days in the cellar to allow the secondary fermentation to complete and allow this cask-conditioned ale to reach it's prime. It was still rather enjoyable though.

If you ever find yourself in the right part of the UK, I strongly recommend that you seek out one of Bathams' tied houses or one of the several free houses that stock their beers. Perhaps not the most typical of British trad ales but definitely the finest of a traditional local variation.

 

[pedaling squares]

Thanks to BOW and Scott, I'll keep your words in mind when I make it to that bar next month. Will let you know what I think. This is a very useful thread!

 

[Rock7586]

I haven't been to belgum, but here in southern california I think we have a palce that at least treats beer like they do.

http://www.thebackabbey.com/

Fantastic

 

[Anonymous]

I haven't been to belgum, but here in southern california I think we have a palce that at least treats beer like they do.

http://www.thebackabbey.com/

Fantastic

Yes, amazing. Have the food too.

Welcome to the beer thread!

 

[usedtobefast]

this place is real good

http://www.tustinbrewery.com/

 

[Kingsley A]

this place is real good

http://www.tustinbrewery.com/

Interesting to see several India Pale Ales on that list as well as a porter. These styles have been out of favour here now for a long time. Greene King is pretty much the only major brewery in the UK now that has an IPA and I don't recall the last time I saw a porter other than bottled in an off-licence.

It seems CAMRA may need to visit California and buck up their ideas!

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting to see several India Pale Ales on that list as well as a porter. These styles have been out of favour here now for a long time. Greene King is pretty much the only major brewery in the UK now that has an IPA and I don't recall the last time I saw a porter other than bottled in an off-licence.

It seems CAMRA may need to visit California and buck up their ideas!

Hoppy to very hoppy beer is the rage in the US at the moment. I prefer a more malty complex beer, which is why Belgian beer has my undivided attention.

 

[St. Elia]

Kinda like pizza. Some are ok, some are incredible, but all are edible.

Not sure you have tried Korean beer or pizza for that matter!


I love Belgium beers, bikes and chocolate.


However I live in a very hot climate and find that most belgium beers are too heavy any suggestions on lighter beers (not light beers if you get what I mean)?

 

[Hammerhed]

light beer

I've recently gained ten more pounds and am now probably thirty pounds overweight, and I cannot seem to ride it off: I assumed the weight must be related to my beer consumption (four a night.) I had to make a move, so I bought a twelve pack of Beck's Light, 64 calories. I know, I know. But doggone, it was actually good. I was a Beck's drinker from a few years back, so I have some perspective, and I'm here to testify! I haven't lost any weight yet, but at least I took a wee step for ...

 

[Oldman]

I had a chance to have one of these, Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock;

Random review -

"Real dark walnut colour nearly opaque with a great tan head that slowly dissipates leaving a decent lacing.

Aromas of molasses toasted malt and faint date scent in the background. Also quite a few doughy notes coming through.

Tastes like a combination of roasted hazelnuts molasses and some type of nut brittle all with a slightly darker tone too it. Finishes with a little bit of drying hops but not too much, definitely still a little sweet towards the finish as well as up front, but plenty of roasty balance to it.

Great smooth weighty feel to this beer, carries the intense roasted flavours very well thanks to this and goes down very very smooth.

For such an intense beer goes down very easily and carries the alcohol well"

If you can find one of these, by all means, try it.

I like the little plastic goat, too. Celebrator was the star of an impromptu tasting session we ended up naming "BEER RACES". Everyone brings several beer types, not necessarily exceptional. You need a picnic table with separate boards making up the top. This will allow for the necessary sub catagories that emerge from the blind tasting.
Each participant takes a small 6 oz glass and pours some of their beer and passes it to another taster. The beer's container is moved forward or back as each critic weighs in on the merits of the brew, multiple samples do occur. Eventually one beer will be farther ahead until it reaches the end of the table.
I will vouch for the fun factor as the commentary becomes equally important with each taste.

 

[craig1985]

Having a yarn to a friend on facebook earlier, and he told me of his adventures in Belgium, where he had chocolate beer. He said it tasted more "fruitey" then anything, for a non beer drinker he liked it. I have to say I have not heard or tried this before.