Let's talk beer

[frogprin01]

Fav types? Fav brands? Fav time to drink?

I like almost all types at one time or another, from lagers/ales to IPAs to stouts, etc depend on my mood. Generally I drink lighter beers in the warmer months, heavier ones in the cooler months. IPAs I can drink almost any time, but not ALL the time. And I admit the contrarian in me wanted to drink them less when it became the trendy beer to drink....

I admit I'm kind of a beer snob. I don't drink that Bud/Miller/etc stuff anymore (to those that do, to each their own). All hail craft breweries Beyond that, I've tried many, including some local ones, and there are far more good than bad. I am mostly not a fan of fru-fru "flavored" beers, esp anything with a fruit flavor of any kind, gross. Fruit does not belong in beer. There is one exception in that I have had some pretty good pumpkin ales that come out in Sept. I think Blue Moon's was the best, and the Sam Adams one was good too.

May I recommend home brewing! It’s a great retirement hobby. The ingredients and equipment has improved so much over the years and you won’t believe how a fresh brew taste compared to store purchased or even draft beer at a microbrewery. And if you happen to have a local home brewing club in your neighborhood that provides great social interaction.

 

[B-Guy]

May I recommend home brewing! It’s a great retirement hobby. The ingredients and equipment has improved so much over the years and you won’t believe how a fresh brew taste compared to store purchased or even draft beer at a microbrewery. And if you happen to have a local home brewing club in your neighborhood that provides great social interaction.

...and you can get started for a fairly minimal investment. Starter kits can be had for under $200, for a 5G batch. There is something very gratifying with drinking your own brew!

 

[motley]

I appreciate the idea and your enthusiasm, but tbh it just doesn't grab me.

Back to various beers, a friend brought me a local brew (of his) so doubt most of you have access, but it's Alewerks Pumpkin Ale, best pumpkin ale I've had in a long time. Most of them are too sweet and too much cinnamon.

 

[GaryInCO]

My current favorite is Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA

My faves are the Belgian Style Ales, New Belgium Trippel for one.

Glad you like 'em! They're brewed about 2 miles from my house.

We have around 25 breweries in this town of 150k. Lots of fun places to go hang out and check out lots of different beers. We also get fun stuff like Tour de Fat, New Belgium's crazy bike parade / party.

I bought one of the new-fangled all-in-one brewing systems last year. Took a little getting used to, but it's really cut down on the time it takes to brew and I like the fact it's electric.

Did you get it from TheElectricBrewery.com? A buddy of mine in Canada designed the whole thing and open-sourced it. But he'll sell you pre-built control boards &etc if you're not up for building it from scratch.

 

[Lorenzo]

Did you get it from TheElectricBrewery.com? A buddy of mine in Canada designed the whole thing and open-sourced it. But he'll sell you pre-built control boards &etc if you're not up for building it from scratch.

That looks more like a pilot brewery setup aimed at someone looking to start a commercial operation.

 

[B-Guy]

That looks more like a pilot brewery setup aimed at someone looking to start a commercial operation.

Yes, but if they gave it to me I'd find a place to put it.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Did you get it from TheElectricBrewery.com? A buddy of mine in Canada designed the whole thing and open-sourced it. But he'll sell you pre-built control boards &etc if you're not up for building it from scratch.

I went from a traditional 3-vessel system (converted Sanke keg for boil pot and two Igloo coolers) to a Brewzilla. No more propane, yay!

 

[sengsational]

I live past the sticks, but will look for it next time I'm in the "big city". You can't go wrong with a good Belgium in my book.

If you like Belgians, you can often find Duvel in the grocery store. And I think I mentioned Bronzen Schild, sold at Lidl.

 

[GaryInCO]

That looks more like a pilot brewery setup aimed at someone looking to start a commercial operation.

It does kinda look that way -- Kal does good, professional-quality work. But I know of a number of people (including Kal) who have that setup in their basements.

 

[CarbonaNotGlue]

Count me in for the Trappist Belgian ales. My favorite is Rochforte 10. All I need is one 11 oz bottle and I’m set. When I can’t get a good trappist, nothing beats a well poured Guinness draft.

 

[B-Guy]

If you like Belgians, you can often find Duvel in the grocery store. And I think I mentioned Bronzen Schild, sold at Lidl.

I saw that, but I haven't found anywhere that sells it yet. I've tried most of the Belgian beers mentioned in this thread, except for Bronzen Schild. There's a great beer store in Omaha, NE with a vast selection, but it's three hours away, so I hardly ever go. When I do make the trip, I usually grab my favorites and always keep an eye out for new beers to try.

 

[B-Guy]

Any home brewers here ever had a cornelius keg freeze on them? I once had a 5-gallon keg freeze with Belgian inside. Surprisingly, the alcohol and some water didn't freeze. Thinking the beer would never taste right, I decided to bottle what remained liquid. I didn't have a way to measure the alcohol content then, but I'd guess it was about 50% ABV. I had to let it mellow for many years before it was palatable. Just 3-4 ounces was enough for one sitting! I think it was Sam Adams that had something similar like that many years ago which had a 35% ABV, it was my first time enjoying a beer that was really meant to be sipped.

 

[sengsational]

Utopias was/is that Sam Adams high ABV beer. I don't think they use the ice technique. There have been a few home brewers that have done the ice thing on purpose to increase the ABV. Not a common thing around here, and I'm not sure about the results. One buddy of mine had his fancy cooler (refrigerator) get stuck on the chilling mode, and his entire "cellar" froze. The bottles that didn't have anything escape were OK when they thawed, but too many caps blew.

 

[B-Guy]

Utopias was/is that Sam Adams high ABV beer.

Around 1996, I remember trying a bottle of Utopias, and honestly, I didn't care for it. The same goes for every barley wine I've sampled. I think it might be the high alcohol content in beer that doesn't sit well with me. Oddly enough, I think I liked my ice beer maybe because I hate wasting any beer I've brewed.

 

[mh]

We're nearly neighbors. Any recommendations on breweries/pubs around Ventura-Oxnard-Camarillo? My go-to place has been Institution Ale in Camarillo.

My favorite beers are Belgian triples and dark IPAs. I'd rarely have more than one glass at a time; maybe two. But the high alcohol content has an effect.

i'm in thousand oaks. Enegren In moorpark is good, but they're focused on german beers for the most part. that said they're good quality. the oktoberfest there right now is pretty good. and one of their regulars is Valkyrie, an Altbier , which is a dark malt amber ale. you night like those especially the altbier. tarantula hill in thousand oaks has a wide offering that usually includes a bunch of IPA's

 

[mh]

I would be willing to try them again. Can you name a few that aren't hoppy?
I really don't care for IPA because of the large amount of hops that are present. I did have my first one from a store selling beer making supplies that the owner brewed and really liked it. That was in the 70's. Then over a couple of decades I drank a few others and decided to strike it from my choices. For the past decade I have been occasionally drinking a few specific Stouts and Porters.

Try English Bitter's - they're not that prevalent, but if you can find them, they are a bit like IPA's but less hoppy

 

[mh]

Sierra Nevada makes a solid Pale Ale and IPAs that you can get just about anywhere in the country. I like that they distribute variety packs too. They make other seasonal ones such as Nooner Pils, Summerfest, Oktoberfest and Winterfest.

I live in SoCal and there are 4 breweries in my town, so I pick up the hometown stuff here and there, but it is more expensive. I like the fresh hop IPA brews when they come out (right about now!) There are another 150 breweries in San Diego County, so there is always something fun to try. Mexican lagers are very big right now. I suggest stopping into Total Wine and sleuthing out a couple of interesting choices--and report back to us lol!

Lastly, I will never forget trying the Rauchbier in Bamberg, Germany. The town is known for this "smoked beer." Like nothing I had ever tasted. If you like smoked meats, almonds, etc, you will be amazed. You can find it at Total Wine!

enegren in moorpark has a rauchbier that they do periodically. they may do two different kinds , but i don't rememeber for sure. The Big Meat - Enegren Brewing Company - Untappd

 

[B-Guy]

Try English Bitter's - they're not that prevalent, but if you can find them, they are a bit like IPA's but less hoppy

I haven't had an English Bitter in forever. I believe the last time was at a tap house in Denver, and that was over 20 years ago when we lived there. Now I'm craving one again, but I'll have to wait until we're in a big city next to see if we can track one down.

 

[1242Vintage]

My favorite is Modelo Negra. Nice full bodied beer with a moderate 5.3% alcohol content.

Was in Boston last week and took the tour of the Sam Adam’s brewery. Fun day and a couple good brews to taste, including a tasty seasonal Octoberfest brew.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

Any home brewers here ever had a cornelius keg freeze on them?

I had a temperature controller on my keezer fail in the cooling position and wound up with two kegcicles as well as several sixers of frozen bottles. Thought for sure everything was a goner but after thawing it was mostly all good. Except the Belgian ale in a cork top bottle; it pushed the cork out. Surprisingly no bottles shattered.

I replaced the controller and after a year or so it happened again. I now have a different model, connected to WiFi with low (and high) temperature alerts sent to my phone.

BTW, I think what you did is legally considered distillation. Better turn yourself in to the revenuers.

 

[sengsational]

I haven't had an English Bitter in forever. I believe the last time was at a tap house in Denver, and that was over 20 years ago when we lived there. Now I'm craving one again, but I'll have to wait until we're in a big city next to see if we can track one down.

When I was hitting the UK ports on a cruise last fall, I visited many pubs that had "real ale" (cask conditioned, not force carbonated), and often those were ESB's. Such a pleasing beer style. With the moderate CO2, it did well with the traditional pub food.

 

[Cat-tirement]

I am not a beer connoisseur but I like chocolates and beers that have a chocolaty taste. I like Guinness and also Polygamy Porter, which I can only find on road trips to the Southwest. Any chocolaty beers you guys can recommend? Thanks

I drink mainly PNW regional beers, and don't know how widely these are distributed. Some recent chocolatey beers I have liked are Cavatica Stout from Fort George Brewing, Lava Lands Stout from Sunriver Brewing, Black Widow Porter from McMenamins (comes out each October), Woodsman Porter from Ferment Brewing, Death & Taxes Black Lager from Moonlight Brewing.

(Yes I keep notes on beers I drink )

 

[Cat-tirement]

When I was hitting the UK ports on a cruise last fall, I visited many pubs that had "real ale" (cask conditioned, not force carbonated), and often those were ESB's. Such a pleasing beer style. With the moderate CO2, it did well with the traditional pub food.

I am also a fan of "real ale". There is a local nano-brewery that makes only that and serves from imported English beer engines. They do an ESB, porter, Irish Red, Scottish Ale, and others. Great stuff.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

I drink mainly PNW regional beers, and don't know how widely these are distributed. Some recent chocolatey beers I have liked are Cavatica Stout from Fort George Brewing, Lava Lands Stout from Sunriver Brewing, Black Widow Porter from McMenamins (comes out each October), Woodsman Porter from Ferment Brewing, Death & Taxes Black Lager from Moonlight Brewing.

(Yes I keep notes on beers I drink )

I use Untappd to keep my notes! I try to write a mini-review (really, a note to my future self if I forget what I liked/disliked about this beer!) the first time I try any one beer.

 

[Phroig]

The last time I had a cask ale in this country was also, coincidentally, in Denver. English bitters are my favorite too. There was a time when you could find Boddington's or Tetley's in most liquor stores. Not anymore, although I did find some Robinson's a few months ago. Sam Smith Brown comes pretty close. (Their pale ale is also hard to find now.)
A can of Guinness provides the same experience with a different taste, so that's what I buy now.