The Beer Forum - It's really a thread but we're too drunk to notice. - Page 53

Kaubel · 05/22/07, 8:37 AM

Out of both, I'd definitely say I prefer the White Ale. It has a touch more hops to it than the Summer Ale.

I've see Breckenridge Avalanche quite a lot. I'll give it a try sometime.

Phalanx · 05/22/07, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by malthrin

I finally ran across some Double Bock in my local stores and it's amazing - it's almost rich and malty enough to pass for a milkshake.

That's what I didn't like about it. It tastes almost identical to the Rogue Dead Guy Ale but a bit sweeter with less bite (probably less bite because it's sweeter). I wouldn't turn one down, though.

I also picked up a 6-pack of Sam Adams Summer Ale. Every single bar and restaurant around me seems to have that right now (on tap, too). It's aptly named, a great summer beer.

Kaubel · 05/28/07, 10:05 AM

Had some Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre with steaks cooked out on the grill. It reminded me a lot of a Mavrodaphne wine, only with the sweetness replaced by a subtle, hop bitterness. No joke, this tasted more like a wine to me than a beer.

Nocturnus · 05/28/07, 1:21 PM

Anyone live in a place where they can get Smithwick's all year in bottles? In America I mean, I know that the euros probably have a much easier time getting it than I do. It's on tap a few places here (Virginia Beach), but only in bottles within a few weeks of St. Patrick's.

Also, Samuel Adams white is great, and you can cook with it pretty effectively as well. Been drinking alot of Gordon Biersch's Schwarzbier lately as well.

Humbaba · 05/29/07, 9:39 AM

I saw Smithwick's stocked at the liquor store Sunday afternoon. I'm in SW Missouri. I also saw a Unibrou gift pack that had 8 12 oz bottles. There were 6 different brews since they doubled up on La Fin and Maudite, but for $18 I thought it was worth a shot just try the new (to me) stuff. I had Trois Pistoles last night. It was very good.

I had a Scottish Wee Heavy (from Scotland, though I don't recall the name now) Sunday afternoon and I damn near needed a fork to drink it. I've heard of "sippin' whiskey," but I didn't realize there was "sippin' beer." I nursed it for a couple hours, starting off chilled and ending at room temperature, and it held up very well across all ranges of temperature. I think a bottle of Wee Heavy and a glass of orange juice might make a full breakfast.

Kalman · 05/29/07, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Kaubel

Had some Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre with steaks cooked out on the grill. It reminded me a lot of a Mavrodaphne wine, only with the sweetness replaced by a subtle, hop bitterness. No joke, this tasted more like a wine to me than a beer.

Bought a 6 pack of it and had the same reaction. Which explains why I didn't particularly like it; I don't generally like wine.

Also bought a 6 pack of Rogue's Brutal Bitter; very enjoyable. Most of the flavor of a good IPA without being quite as strong on the hops flavoring.

Fellwraith · 05/29/07, 10:36 AM

I had the opportunity to try out a number of seasonal brews this weekend.

The best I had all weekend was Leinenkugel's Summer Ale. It has an interesting hint of blueberries to it (but in a good way). It's a little sweeter than what I generally like, but it's worth picking up for a summer cook-out.

I enjoyed the Sam Adam's summer ale more than the Honker's summer ale we picked up. Of the three, I'd buy the Leine's again.

Docjowles · 05/29/07, 1:38 PM

Originally Posted by Nocturnus

Anyone live in a place where they can get Smithwick's all year in bottles? In America I mean, I know that the euros probably have a much easier time getting it than I do. It's on tap a few places here (Virginia Beach), but only in bottles within a few weeks of St. Patrick's.

I live in Boston, and definitely see it in bottles year-round.

Random beer-related anecdote: On the way home from my sister's place this weekend, I stopped into a broken-down liquor store in the middle of nowhere to grab a six pack. I was expecting expecting a selection along the lines of "Bud, Bud Lite, and some more Bud" but they ended up having one of the best micro-brew selections I've ever seen. I ended up snagging some Rogue Dead Guy Ale (based on this thread), and it was very tasty. I'll definitely be having that again, if I can find it! Very pleasant surprise to find ~30 microbrews in Nowhere, USA.

Proeliata · 05/29/07, 1:47 PM

So I was at a restaurant this weekend and felt like having a beer instead of wine (chowder shack type of place), and thanks to this thread I decided to try Hoegaarden since they had it on tap. It was really interesting! Had an almost jasmine taste to it. I liked it a lot.

Thanks, thread!

LucidityAxel · 05/30/07, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Kaubel

Had some Dogfish Head Raison D'Etre with steaks cooked out on the grill. It reminded me a lot of a Mavrodaphne wine, only with the sweetness replaced by a subtle, hop bitterness. No joke, this tasted more like a wine to me than a beer.

Yeah, I'd say that's pretty spot-on. The raisins in that brew give it those wine flavors you picked up on -- yeasts will quite happily much on those raisin (aka dried grape) sugars and give some of the same esters and fermentation byproducts you'd get in a wine. It's definitely not a conventional beer.

I picked up a six-pack at the local store and enjoyed it as a session beer. I'd like to try something a bit more straightforward and beer-like from Dogfish, but my only choices were the Raison D'Etre, Midas Touch (which sounds even less conventional than the Raison), or an IPA. I'm not much of a hophead, but perhaps I'll give a sixpack of one of their IPAs a try sometime.

Originally Posted by Proeliata

So I was at a restaurant this weekend and felt like having a beer instead of wine (chowder shack type of place), and thanks to this thread I decided to try Hoegaarden since they had it on tap. It was really interesting! Had an almost jasmine taste to it. I liked it a lot.

If you are a fan of the witbier style (orange peel and coriander), then try the Hummer from Sweetwater some time. It's a nice domestic version of the style and a lot less expensive than imports like Hoegaarden or Delerium Tremens.

Kaubel · 05/30/07, 1:14 PM

The 60 Minute IPA isn't as hoppy as you'd think. To me, even something like Pilsner Urquell (mmmm, me likey) has more bite to it. If you want to try something that's pretty good and probably a bit cheaper, buy Sam Adams Pale Ale.* If you can handle that, you can handle the Dogfish Head.

*I'm only comparing bitterness, not overall taste.

macka · 05/30/07, 1:47 PM

if you want a good straightforward, non-IPA offering from Dogfish head, go for the indian brown ale. the raison d'etre always tastes a little flat (as in poorly-carbonated) to me.

Humbaba · 05/30/07, 2:08 PM

I want to be very clear: everyone that keeps posting about Dogfish Head is an asshole. Here's the Dogfish Head distribution map. Notice how none of those are in Missouri. Notice how none are remotely close to SW Missouri. Screw you guys (and gals)!

I just put a post on my guild forum asking someone to bring me some bottles when everyone comes to a guild meet in mid-June.

Maligne · 05/30/07, 2:35 PM

Originally Posted by Humbaba

I want to be very clear: everyone that keeps posting about Dogfish Head is an asshole. Here's the Dogfish Head distribution map. Notice how none of those are in Missouri. Notice how none are remotely close to SW Missouri. Screw you guys (and gals)!

I just put a post on my guild forum asking someone to bring me some bottles when everyone comes to a guild meet in mid-June.

We should all really use the power of our geographic disparity and get a beer trade going. I'm pretty sure all of us have access to beers that others don't and it'd be cool to get some trading started for some of the rarer stuff.

Phalanx · 05/30/07, 2:47 PM

Originally Posted by Humbaba

I want to be very clear: everyone that keeps posting about Dogfish Head is an asshole. Here's the Dogfish Head distribution map. Notice how none of those are in Missouri. Notice how none are remotely close to SW Missouri. Screw you guys (and gals)!

I just put a post on my guild forum asking someone to bring me some bottles when everyone comes to a guild meet in mid-June.

I feel the same way about people who talk about New Belgium stuff.

I'd be willing to trade some 90-Minute IPA for Fat Tire.