The Beer Forum - It's really a thread but we're too drunk to notice. - Page 106

Chirality · 12/12/08, 8:16 PM

Originally Posted by nethermind

Ah, this thread is bringing back memories of my 2 year stint in the UK. I had the opportunity to travel to a small town in Northern Ireland and had a proper pint of Guinness there. Actually I had several.

Guinness is one beer that can taste radically different depending where you get it. I made a point of trying it all over the UK and preferred the serving I had in that tiny Northern Irish pub. Glasgow also had a few great Guinness spots, but we lived about a block away from the Tennent's factory so you can guess what we ended up drinking most times. Admittedly I never made it out to Dublin where the Guinness is reportedly legendary...

Edit: I suppose it would actually be the Tennent's brewery.

I've gotta be honest, here...When I was in Ireland, I had Guinness in Dublin, and I had Beamish and Murphy's in Cork (the locations of the breweries. Side note: both are superior to Guinness, in my opinion), and I really didn't think they tasted that different. Maybe a small amount, but nothing like what the legends say. I was a bit dissapointed. Smithwick's was the beer that actually stood out as tasting different.

<shrug>

Edit: According to wikipedia: "Smithwick’s for the domestic market is brewed in Kilkenny and the higher strength export variety is brewed in Dundalk. " Guess that kinda explains that.

• malthrin · 12/17/08, 1:42 PM

So, it's winter. Anyone got any cider recommendations? A friend mentioned Strongbow as a starting point.

Docjowles · 12/17/08, 1:49 PM

I am not a huge cider fan, so take it with a grain of salt, but Woodchuck is my favorite brand in my limited experience. They're Vermont based and I was able to get it easily when I lived in Boston, not sure how large their distribution is. They make several flavors, including Granny Smith, Amber and Pear.

Magners is the big name in cider, but I don't particularly care for it. It comes on nicely, but has an odd aftertaste I really dislike. It's the cider most likely to be on draft at a pub, though, so give it a shot as I know many people like it.

I thought Strongbow was alright, but several of my friends absolutely despise it (while enjoying other ciders). Similar to Magners in that regard, I suppose.

Apate · 12/17/08, 3:04 PM

I agree with Doc. Ciders are hard to recommend.

If I correctly recall your location, you should be able to find a good number of bars that serve some cider to find a starting point.

Masataka · 12/17/08, 9:16 PM

Woodchuck is about as good of a cider I've ever seen, I'm partial to their Granny Smith and Pear both are wonderfully crisp, I can find them here in South Carolina so I would assume it's at least an East Coast Distribution thing? Hornsby (spelling?) isn't too bad not as good as Woodchuck's though.

Nemantopia · 12/17/08, 9:18 PM

Further reccomendation for Woodchuck. Granny and Pear are great if you're into cider, but ask around your local establisments. *swigs his Mike's* )_)...(_(...what? Baby steps.

NorthPark · 12/18/08, 3:18 PM

I'm not a big cider fan but enjoy snake bites every once in a while (Black n tan with Guiness + Woodchuck Amber).

The granny smith wood chucks tastes a little too much like sprite or one of those smirnoff drinks for me

Feyna · 12/18/08, 3:39 PM

I know a lot of people who love Strongbow, and Woodchuck cider is definitely really good. I too am partial to their Granny Smith, it's nice and tart. Not too sweet.

I've seen Woodchuck across the country, can't say much about the west coast but everywhere between New England to Colorado, I've seen it. Strongbow's a little harder to find on the east coast but not impossible.

And if you want to add alcohol to regular cider (hot or cold) I used to like Goldschlager in it, but a friend recently turned me on to Tuaca and cider. It's pretty fantastic, especially after a day of skiing.

Denogran · 12/22/08, 2:19 PM

So enough of the cider talk. It's almost beer, but unless you're a celiac - seriously just grab a real beer :p.

I don't know why it's taken me this long to try, but I just had the Stone Russian Imperial Stout last weekend and thought it was fantastic. Pours like motor oil, rarely have I seen a beer so viscous. 10.8%ABV, but goes down o-so-smoothly. If you like Imperial Stouts, you should definitely try to get your hands on a few of these beers. Not sure on distribution outside the San Diego area though.

Monocle · 12/22/08, 3:46 PM

Originally Posted by Denogran

So enough of the cider talk. It's almost beer, but unless you're a celiac - seriously just grab a real beer :p.

I don't know why it's taken me this long to try, but I just had the Stone Russian Imperial Stout last weekend and thought it was fantastic. Pours like motor oil, rarely have I seen a beer so viscous. 10.8%ABV, but goes down o-so-smoothly. If you like Imperial Stouts, you should definitely try to get your hands on a few of these beers. Not sure on distribution outside the San Diego area though.

Fortunately that beer was pretty much distributed all over this past year. It was one of the first ones Stone released nationwide here in the US after openning up their new plant. May be a little hard to find now, it's been at least 7 months since it started to pop up, but it is one that they do each year, so if you can not find it now, start looking for it in March.

If you want to try a really different take on the stout style, Allagash makes an extremely excellent Belgian Stout. Fittingly named Allagash Black, it's another smooth beer, but this one is a bit sweeter then the ones Stone makes. It is one of the most drinkable stouts I have ever had.

As for myself recently I managed to have Dogfish Head's Pangaea which was a ginger beer. Very interetsing taste, piney without being based around the pine taste you get with a lot of styles of hops. Spruce-esque is the best term I can think of. It's not a holiday beer, but it really did feel like one, and I enjoyed it so much I grabbed another bottle to enjoy later this week!

Westvleteren · 12/23/08, 1:18 PM

Originally Posted by Denogran

I don't know why it's taken me this long to try, but I just had the Stone Russian Imperial Stout last weekend and thought it was fantastic. Pours like motor oil, rarely have I seen a beer so viscous. 10.8%ABV, but goes down o-so-smoothly. If you like Imperial Stouts, you should definitely try to get your hands on a few of these beers. Not sure on distribution outside the San Diego area though.

I get them in Buffalo NY with no trouble. Thankfully!

If you ever have the chance, try to get your hands on Southern Tier OAT. I think you would enjoy. Also, if you haven't had it yet, try and find Oskar Blues Ten FIDY. It almost makes Stone RIS seem like a light beer.

Targh · 12/23/08, 4:13 PM

Never been a stout fan, and (though i've only been to the states a couple of times) I haven't found any particularly outstanding beers there so far. English ale is excellent (and contrary to rumour shouldn't be warm!) - any fans of fullers ales around?

FAME · 12/26/08, 12:49 PM

I was never a huge fan of seasonal beers but I had Harpoon Winter Warmer a few weeks back and its was by far the greatest thing to grace my taste buds. I ended up placing an order for three cases of that stuff.

Fellwraith · 12/26/08, 1:47 PM

We were out in Milwaukee earlier this week and I had a chance to sample a few of the seasonal micro-brews.

Sprecher has a limited edition bourbon barrel dopplebock that is absolutely amazing. It's a little heavier, but very smooth and has almost a butterscotch-like flavor to it. You're probably only going to find it at specialty liquor stores that carry this type of thing (and it only comes in 20 oz bottles), but it's worth getting if you find it.

If you're into "fruity" beer, there's a belgian beer called Kasteel Rouge, it tastes a bit like a "good" cherry cough syrup. That will probably be easier to find.

Fatbox · 12/28/08, 4:22 AM

Finding a light, fruity winter seasonal beer may be tough. It's just not very characteristic of the season.
Some of my favorites right now...
Flying Dog Winter Seasonal
Left Hand's Milk Stout (yes i understand how hilarious that sounds. I'm sure they do too.)
And yes chastise me if you will, but the Sam Adams Winter Lager is always a great choice for a nice winter beer.