The Beer Thread

[JackofDiamonds]

I had the Night Shift Ever Weiss last night. It was delicious.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I couldn't agree more with that article. St. Louis' recent craft beer explosion is a perfect example. The first and most famous products most of them put out were good beers but considerably over-hopped. Because to the masses, that's what "craft beer" means- way too much hops. Less hoppy styles like porters, stouts, and some bocks are seen as winter-only, while the other stuff dominates the rest of the year.

It's pretty much spot on, for me at least. I thought I was weird/didn't want to admit that microbrews were too hoppy for my liking. I don't mind one or two, but if it's going to be a night of drinking, I would much prefer 'horse-piss' as the article calls it to almost any craft beer.

[Freed Roger]

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/drin ... ingle.html

It seems like beer fans were noticing and bickering about bad hoppy beers a few years ago. The backlash and adjustment is almost played out. And perhaps even the response to hoppiness in brewhouses - hardcore barleywines, bourbon-barrell etc has run it's course.

Worth noting, good local brewers - Urban Chestnutt and Civil Life focus on the less hoppier ales. Though, admittedly I am a big fan of UC's Hopfen too (their STLIPA - not so much)

The article claims our palates have been destroyed by hops, so that we don't even notice -I don't think so.

It seems like bars and restaurants of late have been overrun with saisson and farmhouse ale offerings. (9 times out of ten, I don't like them). Just like too many hops can cover errors -whenever a brew is skunky you can deem it farmhouse. or put an orange wedge in it

All in all, it's still a very good day to be a beer drinker.

[JackofDiamonds]

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/drin ... ingle.html

It seems like beer fans were noticing and bickering about bad hoppy beers a few years ago. The backlash and adjustment is almost played out. And perhaps even the response to hoppiness in brewhouses - hardcore barleywines, bourbon-barrell etc has run it's course.

Worth noting, good local brewers - Urban Chestnutt and Civil Life focus on the less hoppier ales. Though, admittedly I am a big fan of UC's Hopfen too (their STLIPA - not so much)

The article claims our palates have been destroyed by hops, so that we don't even notice -I don't think so.

It seems like bars and restaurants of late have been overrun with saisson and farmhouse ale offerings. (9 times out of ten, I don't like them). Just like too many hops can cover errors -whenever a brew is skunky you can deem it farmhouse. or put an orange wedge in it

All in all, it's still a very good day to be a beer drinker.

I agree. My response on the last page to the Dogfish 60 review was essentially this - I drank way too much over-hopped "EXTREME BREWS" for a few years, retreated to farmhouse, saison, barleywines, witbiers, etc.. I'm ready to add appropriately hoppy beers back into the cycle and the few that I've had recently suggest that the world has self-corrected.

[lukethedrifter]

Agreed on both accounts. The hop craze got ( and to some extent still is) out of hand. But the response- or natural evolution- to that with the wide wide variety of craft brew styles now available is fantastic.

[jim]

I have gotten to the point where I enjoy an IPA once in a while, but I just can't drink there every day or even every week. I have really settled into what I think is a nice core group of beers that I generally have 2-4 of these stocked in my fridge:

PBR - a cheap American beer that tastes like water after an IPA but on it's own is really good, especially on a Saturday afternoon with lunch.
Tecate - This is my go-to Mexican beer, maybe because we have a large population of Mexican people this is very easy to find and cheap. I bought a case Wed. for $16. To me it's better than Corona and cheaper - I lime it up like I will a Corona - but way cheaper.
Bohemia Clasica - Another Mexican beer that I really enjoy.
Sam Adams Boston Lager - popeye got me on to this.
IPA - Right now it's Ranger in the fridge, but I'll vary.

[Freed Roger]

Agreement all the way around. I'll drink to that.

This past week or so I've had either at home or out, I've had

DeSchutes Mirror Pond Ale
Ranger IPA
Urban Chestnut Zwickel
Schafly Pale Ale
Stone Ruintation IPA
Founders Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale.
Odells Myrcenary Black IPA.

the Ranger was the least enjoyed of the lot, but decent value. No overhop crisis. Variety. yes, more hops in the Deschutes and Schlafly than an English version. But What's not to love?

[cardinalkarp]

Still probably the best tasting & well rounded IPA out there is the Bell's Two Hearted Ale. Lagunitas & Bear Republic's Racer 5 probably round out my top 3. I'm up for trying all different kinds, but in alot of cases I end up disappointed & wish I would've bought one of the 3 above.

There's always the limited release one's like Hopslam (which is a very good beer, especially at 10% ABV), but it has become overhyped & WAY overpriced.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I guess this is as good a place as any to talk about this.

I'm in charge of providing the booze for my wedding reception. There'll be I dunno like 200-300 people. I was thinking of doing it this way: 150 bottles of wine. Roughly the equivalent of 1000 1.5 oz servings of various liquors and then beer. Do roughly 200 bottles of beer on ice (probably Sam Adams, Stella and Miller Lite). I figure people will drink that early on. Then 1 or 2 kegs of Bud Light or Budweiser. I figure those that just want beer will stay with the keg beer and others will move on to wine or liquor. But, I don't want to have any keg beer leftover as it obviously doesn't keep. So, I'm leaning towards only getting 1 keg.

[JL21]

My go-to options- the stuff I'll buy if nothing else grabs me:

-Shiner Black
-Schlafly Oatmeal Stout
-Schlafly Weizen Bock (when I can find it)
-Urban Chestnut Schnickelfritz
-Left Hand Milk Stout

And when it was available, the Perennial Vermillion Winter Ale.

I really wish Schlafly would bring back the Bavarian-Style Weissbier. I loved the hell out of that.