The Beer Forum - It's really a thread but we're too drunk to notice. - Page 139

Shabadu · 04/03/10, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by thornmallow

I'm looking for recommendations regarding sour beers. I've had Festina Peche, and after a few moments of confusion (I didn't know it would be so sour!) wound up liking it. I also had a Vichtenaar the other night, and I'd like to try others -- preferably stuff that's not too hard to find on the East Coast (NC or FL specifically).

Brute - Ithaca Beer Company - BeerAdvocate is from NY, and one of the better received Sour Ales. Don't know the availability of it in the southeast though.

Docjowles · 04/03/10, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by thornmallow

I'm looking for recommendations regarding sour beers. I've had Festina Peche, and after a few moments of confusion (I didn't know it would be so sour!) wound up liking it. I also had a Vichtenaar the other night, and I'd like to try others -- preferably stuff that's not too hard to find on the East Coast (NC or FL specifically).

La Folie by New Belgium is very good if you can find it. Some better known ones are Duchesse de Bourgogne and Rodenbach Grand Cru.

nataku · 04/04/10, 2:07 AM

Originally Posted by thornmallow

I'm looking for recommendations regarding sour beers. I've had Festina Peche, and after a few moments of confusion (I didn't know it would be so sour!) wound up liking it. I also had a Vichtenaar the other night, and I'd like to try others -- preferably stuff that's not too hard to find on the East Coast (NC or FL specifically).

If you can find Russian River Brewing beers, their Consecration (brown ale aged with currants) and Supplication (wild yeast ale with cherries during aging) are both really good.

thornmallow · 04/04/10, 11:03 PM

Malthrin and I did a make-your-own 6 pack today, and we got some interesting ones. In order tonight:

Kasteel Rouge: As Putricide says "Tastes like cherry!" It's definitely unsubtle, it's like fizzy cherry juice (actually rather yummy as such). Malthrin says "it has more in common with a sparkling wine that it does with a beer. There is interesting stuff going on under all that cherry, if they'd dial the cherry down from 10 to say, 4, it could be quite good."

Avery White Rascal: Malthrin says "pretty standard Belgian white, light and crisp with some fruit notes. Not too strong in any direction, but refeshing." My first impression, on the other hand, was sweetness and tropical fruit, though I agree about refreshing. Good for a warm day like today.

Rochefort 8: Wow that's a lot of head. 9.2% and you can taste and feel that. I get something of a raisin flavor, but the alcohol is kind of overpowering, and unfortunately I think it smells a bit like vinyl. As it warmed, however, the alcohol flavor got less overwhelming and the dark fruit flavor came through more clearly. Malthrin says "I'm not sure what it is. It's like fizz, and strong, but I'm not sure what it is." He also mentions rum soaked cherries, or alcohol soaked fruit.

Duchesse De Bourgogne (how do you say that, anyhow?): Yay, a sour beer! It smells of apple cider vinegar, only sweeter. While cold, my comments on taste were 'sweet, sour, and apples.' The sweet and sour have blended together as the beer has warmed. It does have a rather dry finish. Malthrin mentioned that sour apples was his impression of the smell as he poured it.

OK, apparently not finishing the 6 pack tonight.

Shabadu · 04/05/10, 12:16 AM

If you like Duchesse, see if you can get your hands on Unibroue's green apple Ephemere.

Aod_Macabre · 04/05/10, 12:34 PM

All this chat of hoppy beers has revived a memory of Flying Monkey's Hoptical Illusion (Almost Pale Ale) that I had over Christmas this year. To tell you the truth, I did not like it all that much but it was worth the try.

futured · 04/05/10, 3:06 PM

When I had the Kasteel Rouge on tap a couple weeks ago I actually thought it was far too fruity for my preferences. The beer wasn't poorly done but just way too sweet. People I was with though made a mimosa with it the next morning however and said it was extremely tasty.

thornmallow · 04/05/10, 6:45 PM

Originally Posted by Shabadu

If you like Duchesse, see if you can get your hands on Unibroue's green apple Ephemere.

Ephemere is actually one of the 2 beers from that 6 pack that we didn't get to last night, and I've had it in the past. It's one of my favorite summertime beers. I'll probably drink it tonight, though no sharing with Malthrin this time, as I'm sadly back in Florida, without him...

Olgaz · 04/05/10, 6:58 PM

I've followed this forum off and on with some interest for a while now, and haven't seen what is currently in my fridge mentioned in the last year, and it's quickly becoming a favorite.

I picked up Surly's Furious IPA last night, having had it on tap last fall several times, this was my first time from a can. The aroma from the pour is really what does it for me, its absolutely phenomenal. Hoppy yet almost tropical in fruitiness. Taste follows through too: initially smooth, then quite hoppy and flavorful with a reasonable aftertaste.

It's pretty cheap, for how good it is, around $10 for a 4pack. I'm not entirely sure how much it would cost for someone out of state to pick it up, but again, it should be reasonable and well worth your time. I'm definitely going to Stubb and Herbs to grab this on tap again, way too good.

bonlain · 04/05/10, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Malan

Is Glissade just now rolling out to stock? Neither my grocer or the local liquor store, both of which have a few Sierra Nevada varietals, had that one.

I live about 90 miles south of Chico, where Sierra Nevada is located, and we've had it in stores for quite awhile now, maybe they are just rolling it out to the east? Not sure, though.

Had my fantasy baseball draft on Friday and bought a six-pack of New Belgium Abbey, Belgian style ale, and really, really like it. Very smooth, and much darker than I expected.

Apate · 04/06/10, 9:21 AM

Random beer is random.

We've had Glissade at the local grocer, but I have to dig around for Torpedo.

Alerian · 04/07/10, 10:50 PM

Drinking Boulevard Brewing Co.'s Bourbon Barrel Quad tonight. It's at 11.8% abv and it's delicious. Bourbon-flavored cherry taste, along with vanilla, wood (oak?), and other sweet tastes. Lots of carbonation, but a very cozy beer. I really enjoy the tartness.

Sinusoid · 04/08/10, 5:21 AM

That reminds me of a Goose Island Bourbon Stout I had a few days ago. Very thick, poured with virtually no head and no carbonation. Smelled and tasted of...bourbon. At 13% ABV, I found it to be not enjoyable as a whole and couldn't help but thinking, "Why didn't I just buy a bottle of real bourbon?"

Shabadu · 04/08/10, 4:01 PM

I find that my enjoyment of a beer depends more on setting and mood than anything else. Last night I had an Oskar Blue's Gubna and was absolutely not feeling it, despite it being a pretty damn solid DIPA and being great just 2 nights prior. Probably would've rather had a hefe since it was still nearly 90 degrees at 8pm.

Docjowles · 04/08/10, 4:11 PM

It's a big factor, and there's even been studies done to prove it. I think it was in the benefactor's bar but someone linked this article about how people will remember a $4 bottle of wine enjoyed on a really special night much more fondly than they will a $50 bottle drunk after a shit day at work. I can definitely see a huge 11% beer being undrinkable when you're dehydrated and hot as hell, but absolutely amazing when snowed in in the middle of January.