This is a most illuminating thread. It's making me thirsty.

My husband and I are huge fans of German Krystal Weissen beers, particularly of Tucher's Krystal Weissen. You can get Tucher's at most upscale beer/wine retailers, and often Whole Foods carries it.

Krystals are nice and clear, not to be confused with Hefe (chunky dark wheat) Weissens.

Cheers

Why would anyone in Australia need to know what beer is being served in 2 stateside alehouses?

Any of you guys ever go to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver? I'm strongly considering it this year, and just wondering if anyone that's been before has any protips? GABF

Never gone myself, but many of my close friends have--and to extremely positive reviews. One of the lessons, though, is apparently to "get there early".

Several of my co-workers are big beer festival nuts, and have gone a couple of times. They, like me, are not huge fans of large crowds, and seem to think the event has gotten a bit too big for it's own good. That said, if you don't mind fighting the crowd somewhat, you probably can't do better. It's pretty much the biggest baddest beer fest of them all.

The general advice they had was: get there early, eat before you go (so you can spend your time in the beer and bathroom lines, not the food lines), and of course, have some way to get home/back to the hotel that doesn't involve you driving!

Myself, I think I may hit up the Oregon Brewers Festival this year, depending on if I can get up to Portland in July or not.

I was pretty wowed by Southern Tier's Iniquity. The finish and mouthfeel are just... masterful is the word that comes to mind.

I could see that about Phin and Matts vs their IPA... even their porter has "that ST taste" but the magic of ST is in their bombers, especially their imperials... OAT, Unearthly, Iniquity... Pumpking... Huge beers that are on par quality-wise with offerings by Stone imo. I really urge everybody to find Iniquity. I Haven't been this excited about a new beer in a long time.

Going to the brewery next weekend, can't wait. Get to have a Gemini poured from the taps... awww yeah.

Been grabbing Iniquity every chance I get. It is a wonderful Black IIPA.

The Pumpking they make has one of the best beer aftertastes I have ever come in contact with. It is also one the hardest to find of the stuff they make. I have to grab some in July if I want to enjoy it in the Fall. It really sells out fast in the few places in my area that get it. Going to try to order a case this year to get around that.

You try their Creme Brulee Stout? That is the closest I can find to a Vanilla Porter in my area.

So I talked a coworker into picking up a four pack of Goose Island's Bourbon County Stout. It's not beer. It's very thin tar that tastes sort of like beer and a lot like bourbon. It reminds me a lot of the Sam Adams triple bock I had a year or two ago: at best a sipper, but realistically, at least for me, not something I actually will enjoy.

It's not for me... I can only stand a few sips of it at most, it is just way too overboard. I think it is very well crafted though and sure as heck tastes like Creme Brulee. I just don't want to really drink Creme Brulee from a snifter

This news is a couple months old, but apparently the worlds largest manufacturer of beer coasters is going bankrupt and may stop production all together.

I've always enjoyed collecting coasters from the bars that I visit when I'm off traveling, and it's a sad thought thinking that they might disappear altogether.

So do your part and support the industry by going for a drink with some friends! (this will also help counteract a worldwide decline in beer consumption that has lead to the closure of some good breweries, like Montana's Lang Creek: Goodbye Lang Creek Brewery » Grizzly Growler)


(news link for the coaster company, Katz Group: Last Orders?: Tough Times for the Humble Beer Mat - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International)

Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado: Avalanche Amber Ale - American Amber Style Beer, Avalanche Beer, Colorado Microbrew is pretty nice. It has an almost savory quality, and it's better than some of the other random stuff I've tried lately.

Breckenridge definitely makes some quality beers; I am surprised they distribute all the way out to your area. I can also recommend their IPA and stout as very tasty, though not "WOW", beers if they're available. As a bonus (for me), they have a brewpub directly across the street from Coors Field. Though really, if you are drinking in Denver anywhere but Falling Rock Tap House, you're doing it wrong. Their tap selection is ridiculous.

The only other one on the shelf at the nearest grocer was the vanilla porter, which doesn't sound like it would tickle my fancy. DC area craft beer selection generally impresses me, though, whether at the grocer or at random dive bars.

On the topic of the GABF:

Been just about every other year since 2002, friends have been every year. And it has gotten more and more packed. When I first started going you were able to stand and actually talk with the brewers and get a real feel for it. It was crazy packed last year, from the time the doors opened to closing. Line wrapped around the building, etc.

But with all that being said; I will be there again this year, glass in hand and beer in the gut.

For those of you in NorCal, there is only 1 beer for you to drink should the beer gods smile down apon you and it is in stock: Russian River Brewing Co.

I have to second this, and if you can find it, their double IPA is fantastic for the hop lover, as is Pandora's Bock (it gives Shiner a run for its money).

I managed to get some Dogfish head Festina Peche on draught last night (and some Dogfish beer glasses). It's a nice summer drink at 4.5ish % ABV, very tart (not sweet). One might even characterize it as fizzy beer-lemonade, but I found it enjoyable.

I'm drinking some Wild Blue blueberry lager right now. As a beer, it's shit. As a fruit soda with 8% alcohol, it's not too shabby. Guess I'll give the new blackberry Samuel Adams a try tonight too while I'm at it.

Does the Wild Blueberry taste like American Lambic at all (Lindeman's etc)?

The Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier was like watery beer juice to me, blech. I know lots of people who love it, so maybe I got a bad 6 pack or something. It was just so thin.

Not really. Lambic has a distinctive taste that this stuff is lacking. It's unique to say the least.

I won't be buying another 6-pack of it, but it's not so horrible that I refuse to drink it. If nothing else, it's an easy way to get buzzed.

The only blueberry based beer I liked was the one Sweetwater makes. That one is excellent. All of Sweetwater's beers tend to be good though. I hada really awful blueberry stout once, but I do not remember the name. had it when I was visiting a buddy of mine down in Memphis, TN, and I did not recognize the brand.

Got a few new beers last weekend that I am all excited to try. Southern Tier's Trippel, Dogfish Head's Sahtea and Southern Tier Mokah. Also was able to stock up on Alagash Black, first time I have seen it in a local store!

In other good news, Liquid Solutions is fianlly restocking Ninkasi again, so I can get Tricerahops. I love that IIPA, it's pretty amazing, just hard to get here.

Sea Dog, out of Maine, makes a pretty good blueberry wheat beer called Blue Paw. Seems like a more appropriate base for a blueberry beer than a stout would be. I'm generally not too big on fruit beers but I could have a few of those without gagging from the sweetness. My fiancée absolutely adores it.

The Sea Dog Microbrewery and Restaurant