The Beer Forum - It's really a thread but we're too drunk to notice. - Page 65

Beaglemage · 07/26/07, 9:58 PM

That sounds like a winner to me. A good ale and a burger is really a deadly combo.

I know this is a beer thread, but this sort of relates - food that goes great with beer - try this burger if you get a chance. It's basically a Gyro version of a burger served in a pita pocket. I made them last night and good lord - heaven.

Greek Lamb Burgers

Humbaba · 07/27/07, 10:14 AM

The big question I'm pondering on a Friday morning: Dos Equis Amber or Negra Modelo with my Mexican food at lunch? It's further conflicted since I can get the Dos Equis draft but the Negra Modelo is bottled. This is a burden I've borne in silence every time I've gone to this particular Mexican joint. Until now, Kalman. Until now.

I like tend to hoppy beers with red meat or grilled chicken. A good American hamburger goes well with a good dead president--Sam Adams Boston Ale. I'll go for an American wheat or a witbier with spicy food that's not Mexican. Mexican food demands Mexican beer; Japanese food that's not sushi demands Kirin Ichiban, but sushi demands Sapporo. Hefeweizen can be substituted with practically anything. These are not immutable laws of beer theorycrafting; just my own personal guidelines.

Kalman · 07/29/07, 4:10 PM

Originally Posted by Humbaba

The big question I'm pondering on a Friday morning: Dos Equis Amber or Negra Modelo with my Mexican food at lunch? It's further conflicted since I can get the Dos Equis draft but the Negra Modelo is bottled. This is a burden I've borne in silence every time I've gone to this particular Mexican joint. Until now, Kalman. Until now.

I like tend to hoppy beers with red meat or grilled chicken. A good American hamburger goes well with a good dead president--Sam Adams Boston Ale. I'll go for an American wheat or a witbier with spicy food that's not Mexican. Mexican food demands Mexican beer; Japanese food that's not sushi demands Kirin Ichiban, but sushi demands Sapporo. Hefeweizen can be substituted with practically anything. These are not immutable laws of beer theorycrafting; just my own personal guidelines.

I honestly don't believe in the ethnic beers with ethnic foods thing anymore. I haven't gone to the extent of the characters in Zodiac (double blind taste testing), but honestly, Mexican beer is mostly not that great. Dos Equis and Negra Modelo aren't *bad*, but rather than pay the import pricing on them, I'd rather drink a decent domestic. Kirin and Sapporo are not good, and I'd rather drink just about anything else.

Country of origin doesn't matter with beer; what matters is if it's good, and if it matches well with what you're eating. Which has very little to do with where it came from. What are you, some kind of roleplayer? :p

Ragnor · 07/30/07, 3:15 AM

It depends for example Asahi is an excellent Japanese beer imo, but I agree about Kirin and Sapporo pretty average. Thai beer is interesting too, the story goes german monks settled in Thailand ages in the past and brought over their beer making techniques, as a result Thai beers are actually pretty good and go well with the excellent Thai style food.

Maligne · 07/30/07, 8:40 AM

Originally Posted by Ragnor

It depends for example Asahi is an excellent Japanese beer imo, but I agree about Kirin and Sapporo pretty average. Thai beer is interesting too, the story goes german monks settled in Thailand ages in the past and brought over their beer making techniques, as a result Thai beers are actually pretty good and go well with the excellent Thai style food.

I think pretty much the story goes that German and Belgian monks settled everywhere that's not Germany or Belgium and that's why these places have beer. I've heard that story so many times for at least 3 different places.

And Kalman is right - just because it's an import doesn't necessarily make it good. Keep in mind that most of the big name imports are just the Budweisers of their countries. Asahi especially. In Japan they are one of the biggest beverage companies and make everything from coffee to beer to soft drinks. The beer is nothing special, but being able to buy it from vending machines and drink it on the subway makes up for that.

Humbaba · 07/30/07, 10:43 AM

The local places have limited options for beer. The local Japanese steak house has the aforementioned Japanese beers, Bud, Bud Lite, Coors, Miller and Boulevard. I like Boulevard, but I'd rather have something else with my Japanese food. I like Sapporo with the sushi since it's fairly light but has more flavor than the entirely bland Asahi. I like Kirin Ichiban with the hibachi since it has more flavor than Sapporo.

Mexican food is much the same. I can go for the classic American light lagers, Boulevard or Mexican beer. I actually like the Dos Equis Amber and Negra Modelo and would drink them without the Mexican food. Of course I don't actually buy either of them if I can get something else at the store, but there's nothing else at the Mexican restaurants.

I usually skip Italian beer and drink Chianti if I have Italian food. If Springfield had any decent French, German, Belgian or English restaurants (hey, we're a cultural black hole) I'd probably pair my food with a beer/wine from the respective country.

So I guess I am a beer RPer. I'm not sure how I feel about that title. I'm kinda shivering, actually.

Phalanx · 07/30/07, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Humbaba

The big question I'm pondering on a Friday morning: Dos Equis Amber or Negra Modelo with my Mexican food at lunch? It's further conflicted since I can get the Dos Equis draft but the Negra Modelo is bottled.

Negra Modelo.

[EDIT] For future reference, anyways.

Kaubel · 07/30/07, 3:09 PM

Sam Adams Boston Lager goes with pretty much everything, which is one of the reasons it's on my list of favorite beers.

And speaking of Hacker-Pschorr and favorite beers, their Oktoberfest Märzen is almost worth killing someone over. Soooooooo so good.

Deris · 07/30/07, 4:07 PM

I dislike "american" style beers, and don't particularly care for Kirin or Asahi (except the Kirin Winter Brew is very good).. But if you can find Orion from Okinawa.. now that is a fine, refreshing brew that goes down quick. Tastes awesome with fried greasy food

.

• Relwin · 07/30/07, 4:17 PM

After finding a new beer/spirits shop a small drive away I have a current selection for raid nights this week reading as(from memory): Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout, Victory Storm King Stout x2, Victory Hop Devil, Chimay, Duvel, and a 750 of Ommegang Three Philosophers to last through the first half of BT.

It should be a decent raid week I think.

New ones I'll be checking out from that list are the Storm King, the oatmeal stout, and the Duvel.

Deris · 07/30/07, 4:38 PM

Ommegang makes wonderful cheese that has hints of their beers in it if you can find it.

Chimay goes with my Dogfish 120. Only special occasions, if I drank it regularly i'd start to hate all other beer I think.

Docjowles · 07/31/07, 2:33 PM

Just came back from a week's vacation outside of Seattle, and had the chance to enjoy a few West Coast brews I'd never seen.

Pyramid - Pretty good in the warm weather beer department. Their summer seasonal is Curve Ball Kölsch and it's tasty. Sierra Nevada Summerfest still wins "best summer beer" hands down, but Curve Ball was good in its own right. I also had a pint of their Hefeweizen (they were pimping it intensely in the beer garden near Safeco Field). It wasn't that impressive, but I think that was because it had been sitting out for a bit and had like half a lemon soaking in it. I'd have to have it freshly poured or from a bottle to really give it a fair review.

Alaskan - Their Amber was really good, unfortunately the bottles went fast so I didn't get to sample much of it. There was a pack of their Summer beer around too, which I found very unsatisfying. Very watery and bland, I wouldn't recommend it.

Full Sail - I had a few bottles of their IPA, it was enjoyable. Not over-the-top hoppy like a lot of IPA's, so it was very drinkable. I enjoy a good hoppy IPA like Dogfish or Lagunitas, but it's hard to drink more than one at a sitting.

Kaubel · 07/31/07, 3:38 PM

Originally Posted by Deris

I dislike "american" style beers.

I'm probably the opposite of you since I can't really develop a taste for the Belgium/Trappist style of beer. It's the strong, herb-like hops that turn me off.

♦ Hotspur · 07/31/07, 4:28 PM

Otter Creek of Vermont recently released White Sail, a Belgian White. I had a bottle last night, and found it to be a very good summer beer. It has hints of Coriander and Orange, but not so much as to make it a "fruity beer". Overall I tend to like most of their brews, though I personally haven't developed a taste for their "standard" which is a Copper Ale. Go figure.

The company appears to be currently running a contest for a trip to Vermont, so if you're not close, that may be a way to get here to sample!

Jamor · 07/31/07, 4:30 PM

Originally Posted by Humbaba

The local places have limited options for beer. The local Japanese steak house has the aforementioned Japanese beers, Bud, Bud Lite, Coors, Miller and Boulevard. I like Boulevard, but I'd rather have something else with my Japanese food. .

My company HQ is in KC, and I love going down there because I get to drink Boulevard Wheat. Love that stuff. I would drink it with Japanese any day of the week.