SquattingCow

Actually, the other beer I'm really keen on at the moment is a local australian one called Beez Neez - brewed with honey wheat, it's extremely tasty and highly drinkable. Of course, this makes me a metrosexual fairy, but there are more important things at stake here than self pride.

 

kharen

If you're ever in the UK and want to pick up some bottled beer, i can wholeheartedly recommend Brakspear Triple, probably my favourite ever bottled beer (it's a triple-fermented, bottle-conditioned old ale, which probably couldn't be legally called beer in most US states, since it's 7.2% ABV).

Also, as Moogul pointed out, Black Sheep do some amazing beers (only the standard Black Sheep Ale is commonly available around the entire country, but if you're ever nearer the brewery in Yorkshire, try to get your hands on some Riggwelter)

 

◊ Maniq

Chimay is a cherry beer as I remember, it is singularly responsible for one of the most awesome nights of my life.

My friend and I had both had quite a long week at work, so decided to go out for a drink or two on a friday night, way out in the deepest darkest corners of the UK. We decided on the pub to go to based on a) cuteness of barmaids that we could see and b) on the fact that there were tables free.

So we sit down and ask what the barmaid reccomends, she suggested Chimay, so 3 or 4 glasses later, we are having quite a good start to the night, one thing is bothering the both of us, why the hell is this great pub, with good food and cute barmaids so empty, when usually either0 of these would mean it was packed on a friday night.

At this point, in walks the entertainment, two middle ages guys with guitars, who start to try and play various songs. Now when I say try and play, I mean try because if I'm honest, I dont think they hit one chord in about 5 songs. By the time they took their break, we were commenting on how bad they were to the barmaids, when they came over - apparently our visible whincing had been quite apparent.

Now normally we'd have just apologised, if it wasn't for that damn Chimay - by now we were on the 8th or 9th drink, we tried to give them a few pointers, to which their response was "If you're so good, you do better", to which our response was "fuck yeah". (I feel I should point out that were both in the same band at this point.)

Luckily we managed to stand un-aided and we step up and quite frankly kick some ass all the way through "Stand by me" and "House of the rising sun" - at that point we decide to quite whilst we are ahead, they go back to their god awful Journey covers, we head to the back of the pub and enjoy free beer for the rest of the night.

And possibly the worlds most psychadelic vomit and a hangover that would kill a rhino the next day.

 

Jaizha

The beers I tend to like best are real ales and Belgian beers. Chimay, Leffe and Duvel are all excellent examples of the latter. Chimay and Leffe have several varieties of their beer, all with varying tastes. I think Chimay Rouge was served at a pub near me for some time, but it's now under new management and they don't stock it any more. Chimay Bleu I found at the New Barrack Tavern in Sheffield, which stocks a glorious range of beers including the 'local' Kelham Island brews. Kelham Island beers are even less well-distributed than Black Sheep; you probably won't find them outside of Sheffield unless you're at a beer festival, but if you do have the opportunity to try one, I'd certainly recommend it.

Going back to the more widely available real ales, I can't fault Brakspear in the slightest. They also do a bottle-conditioned organic beer that's slightly lighter than Triple at 4.6%. I don't normally go for organic beers but that is delicious. I also have to recommend Marston's - Pedigree is probably their best-known beer and is commonly available throughout the UK, but it's also worth looking out for Old Empire and Double Drop (a malty beer that I have only ever seen bottled).

If you ever happen to be in Prague, look up U Fleku. Their dark beer (Flek) is easily one of the best I've tasted. I'm not sure if it's generally available outside the Czech Republic; if it is please let me know as I would probably import crateloads of the stuff. Staropramen's also good if you prefer the taste of lager, and this is available in some UK bars.

 

norg

Another vote for Hoegaarden. Also Leffe Blonde and Waggledance honey beer, which seems to only be available on tap in a solitary pub in south London.

 

◊ Maniq

There is a pub in Greenwich that serves Waggledance, Leffe Blonde and Hoegaarden, at non-typical london prices.

They also do a 'cocktail' that is a shot of every single clear spirit behind the bar, with a dash of lemonade.

 

norg

Aha. It's sold bottled most places, even in supermarkets, but I can never find it on tap. The only place I'd ever seen it was in a pub right next to Borough Market near Southwark/Tower Bridge. It's nice to be able to saunter over to the market and get a chorizo panini then go eat it on a bench with a pint of Waggledance. :)

 

◊ Maniq

Borough Market is amazing, the cheese from Neal's is amazingly good, their own brand yoghurt is great as well.

 

Hober

The alcohol content of Guinness actually varies from country to country. I went on a trip to South Africa and the Guinness there tasted so much sweeter and fruitier than the Guinness I get at home (Ireland) and was 8%

 

oldmandennis

I don't know if it's the same one they serve in Kenya, but that one is very fruity too.

 

Chimp

A friend buys the most obscenely good chocolate slices/brownies from Borough Market. Arrghg i'm actually starting to drool just thinking about them :(

 

oldbread

Hoegaarden is amazing.

New England has great micros. For stout, I recommend Gritty's Black Fly. For a nice clean ale, Long Trail. For an IPA, Dogfish 90 minute if you can find it, or 60 minute. Shipyard Fuggle's IPA is also excellent. Magic Hat makes good beer but they always add some unusual flavor which makes for an interesting drink, but outside the mainstream. Their unfiltered wheat is amazing (St. Gootz, Winter). I would also recommend Geary's Hampshire Special Ale alongside Long Trail Double Bag, both of which are high alcohol (6.7 and 7.2) dubbels.

If you are in NH, get Smuttynose. All are good but the IPA is particularly well done. Their summer ale this year is an unfiltered Hefeweizen and it is the least American, most Euro hefe I've had here.

German beer is lame and so are all lagers and pilsners, which basically taste like upscale Bud. At least they're cheap in CZ. Stouts are good, as well as most dark ales, but they don't really test the strength of your palate. Real men drink IPAs.

Harpoon's rasberry hefeweizen is a very good fruit beer.

Brooklyn Brewery is excellent.

Utah actually has some interesting beers too, because the Mormon's fucked up and capped alcohol by weight, not alcohol by volume. So Utah beer actually gets to about 4.1 ABV, which is the same as many other beers. Many great ales abound, such as Polygamy Porter (More fun when you have six!), Evolution Ale (Darwin approved: brewed in 27 days, not 7) and Provo Girl.

If you are ever in Maine, find a Beale St. BBQ and get the Pemaquid. Only comes in draft. Religious experience.

As far as carbombs go, why do some people believe you don't need whiskey? Guiness and Bailey's do not an explosive make.

PBR is the best cheap beer.

If you need to get a lot of people drunk for cheap, you can always make skippy (aka hop skip): 30 rack of cheap beer, handle of cheap vodka, and one canister of Country Time Lemonade.

In Norge, they make this drink where they take a shot of espresso, drop a coin in, and pour grain alcohol in until you can see the coin again. Beats redbull and vodka by miles (ie. good for raiding).

 

norg

Sausages from The Ginger Pig. 'Nuff said.

 

Digo

If you can, at least once in your life, try Delirium Tremens. Preferably the Pink Elephant variety. It's the richest, most divinely god-splitting drunk you can possible get off a beer. I drank a full bottle and then tried to do the orb for Razorgore. It was like conducting a symphony with acid fairies on strings and little eskimos dancing around the room. Glorious.

 

• Lurchington

Personally, my macrobrew of choice is Yuengling's Traditional Lager. Brewed, with distinction, in America's Oldest Brewery (tm) located in the heart of Pottsville, PA.

It's found primarily on the east coast as far north as New England, as far south as Florida in certain parts, and as far west as Ohio.


Kaubel, based on the "EJ 6 mans amusement park" thread I've gathered you're in Texas (correct me if I'm wrong). If so, there's a crap-ton of great local-brewed things to try and by going to your local store you'd be hard pressed to go wrong with anything from Texas.

 

◊ Praetorian

Yes, Yuengling is excellent -- in the Northeast, or, well, in NYC in particular at least, it's usually classified by most bars as a "domestic" alongside the likes of Bud and Coors, which leads to many a dirt-cheap pitcher of some very good beer. If you're in an area where it's available (pretty much between NYC and DC), it's a reliable and solid choice.

 

Judia

Great beer that.

 

Judia

Delete

 

Chupa

Wow, you're really on top of this thread

Edit: HA

 

Kytrarewn

Yeah, it's unfortunately unavailable anywhere in Connecticut, but I make sure to pick some up if I head to NYC or PA.

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ


Jesus don't want me in a sunbeam
Sunbeams are always made on me
Don't expect me to cry, for all the reasons I'm gonna die
Don't ever ask your kick of me.

 

Judia

I saw something I replied, I read 3/4 posts on, I noticed I was slow, I asked for my thread to be deleted.
You just happened to reply even faster than I read.

 

Schnappi

/em gives a Gnomish welcome to the flexing cow.

For those who like Hoegaarden, try getting a Hoegaarden Grand Cru. It has a very similar taste, but more profound. It's a bit heavier on the % too.

Other great beers are Duvel and Westmalle Trappist. If you like sweet fruit beers Kriek might be just what you're looking for. It's a cherry beer. Or just take a Jupiler when looking for pils.

Edit: The official Hoegaarden hot air balloon

 

Judia

If your ever in London for a beer I know a few places that do a good pint of guiness.

 

Dozer

It really is amazing how much the Guiness can vary from pub to pub. Three weeks in London and Cambridge showed me this (and very well thank you very much!)

 

subscience

I had that for the first time a week ago and it was very, very good. But how can you talk about IPAs and forget to mention Anchor Steam? :)

Guinness and Jameson is all you really need. :toot:

Mmmm..