Beer appreciation thread

[SydneyK]

I recently tried Red Hook's Winter Hook Winter Ale. Of all the winter warmers I've had, this is probably my favorite. (Of course, I'm not entirely unbiased since I'm generally a fan of both Red Hook and ales.)

Winter Hook is flavorful without tasting like it's been flavored (if that makes sense). It doesn't have a fruity or spicy taste which many winter brews tend to have, and that goes a long way with me. It isn't too heavily carbonated, so it is quite drinkable without feeling watery. Slightly bitter with a dry finish.

Not the typical winter brew, but definitely one I'll buy again.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by SydneyK

I recently tried Red Hook's Winter Hook Winter Ale. Of all the winter warmers I've had, this is probably my favorite. (Of course, I'm not entirely unbiased since I'm generally a fan of both Red Hook and ales.)

Winter Hook is flavorful without tasting like it's been flavored (if that makes sense). It doesn't have a fruity or spicy taste which many winter brews tend to have, and that goes a long way with me. It isn't too heavily carbonated, so it is quite drinkable without feeling watery. Slightly bitter with a dry finish.

Not the typical winter brew, but definitely one I'll buy again.

I had this for the first time this winter and enjoyed it. As you said, a solid beer that doesn't try too hard with its flavors.

I've become a huge fan of the Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, so that and Sam Adams Old Fezziwig Ale are really my favorite holiday beers.

[Lil' Hannah]

Bumping my favorite thread. I haven't been appreciating much other than Miller Lite after softball games these days, but I'm going to Boston at the end of the month and we're going to tour the Sam Adams brewery and I'm really looking forward to it. What's good with beer these days?

[AlphaFrog]

I was in Charleston last April for the Piccolo Spoletto festival and went to the South End Brewery. I had their Oatmeal Stout and East Bay Brown. I love dark beer. I liked the Stout better - it was richer with a coffee/dark chocolate flavor. The East Bay was weak in comparison...it probably would have been better if I started with that one.

I have Bridgeport Black Strap in my fridge right now. It's decent, but not my favorite.

[RaggedyAnn]

Alright, it's sinful to ask this, I know, but does anyone know of any good tasting non-alcoholic beers?

[Lafayette79]

My cousin, who could not drink for health reasons, swears by Kaliber from Guinness. He requires any family member who invites him to their house, to stock it. I tasted it once and it's good.

[RaggedyAnn]

I didn't know where to put this. This is wrong, wrong, wrong...fried beer.
http://consumerist.com/2010/08/fried...ys-it-all.html

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by RaggedyAnn

I didn't know where to put this. This is wrong, wrong, wrong...fried beer.
http://consumerist.com/2010/08/fried...ys-it-all.html

I saw this on FaceBook - NASTY! There are much better things I could think of to do with Guinness. Straight up comes to mind, but if you're going to do something with it, THIS is not it.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by RaggedyAnn

I didn't know where to put this. This is wrong, wrong, wrong...fried beer.
http://consumerist.com/2010/08/fried...ys-it-all.html

[ISUKappa]

I'm enjoying a Le Fin Du Monde tonight. It's 9% abv. I only have one left, or I'd probably have another one. It's been that kind of night.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

I'm enjoying a Le Fin Du Monde tonight. It's 9% abv. I only have one left, or I'd probably have another one. It's been that kind of night.

That's probably my favorite beer. Good stuff.

ETA: That brewery is overall excellent. I also like their Blanche De Chambly and Trois Pistoles.

[Lafayette79]

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

I'm enjoying a Le Fin Du Monde tonight. It's 9% abv. I only have one left, or I'd probably have another one. It's been that kind of night.

I'm not familiar with that beer, but I have a cousin who has a friend who flies with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) to Germany. They ship things over and come back empty, so they are allowed to bring their own things back from Germany. Our friend brings back 8 or 9% German beer with ceramic caps. A couple of those will get your attention.

[Dionysus]

Tried five new beers this weekend...

O'Fallon's Wheach
New Belgium's Mothership Wit
Big Sky's Moose Drool Brown Ale
Hoegaarden Original White Ale
Charleville Tornado Alley Amber Ale

I was a big fan of the Mothershp Wit and Moose Drool. I liked Mothership Wit because of the piney taste, it tasted like I bit off a branch of a Christmas tree. Moose Drool tasted like a nice stout, but without the super bitterness.

[Tulip86]

There are so many great beers around here!

I currently live in the town where Grolsch is brewed, so that's everywhere! It's quite heavy and bitter, but I do love it.
Absolutely hate Heineken, sickly sweet!

I really like Kriek, beer made with Cherries, really nice on a cold day.

[modorney]

This thread couldn't have come at a better time! I just finished the FAFSA for my son, which means I have my Income taxes done. And I boxed up my son's science fair project to ship off to Washington DC. So, tomorrow, after work, I'm grabbing a quality beer, and you have given me a bunch of wonderful ideas.

On another note, one of my favorites is Newcastle Brown. A Newcastle keg uses a different tap than a Coors, Bud, etc. tap. Just in case the house forgets to order a tap, I always carry a 1/4-20 nut, and 1/4-20 jam nut (thinner), made of 316 stainless. It spaces the tap plunger just enough to make a conventional tap work. Any other mechanical engineers out there with keg tricks?

And, for a non-alcohol beer Kaliber is the best.