Booze The recommend-a-beer thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter Obediah
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Someone talk to me about rauchbier.

Specifically, give me an idea of where to find them and which are the best.

Thanks.

Depending on what's around you (Bevmo/Total Wine/other), they may be pretty easy to find. The first ones I tried were from Schlenkerla. You can find the marzen, urbock, and dopplebock. IMO, the dopplebock was the best as the smokiness was a bit more tame. With the marzen and urbock the smokiness is quite intense and can be overwhelming for most. Stone Smoked Porter is widely available and I remember it being good, but that was a while ago. Alaskan Smoked Porter is a seasonal that should still be on shelves and is quite good.

I've kind of grown a bit tired of the style, as most smoked beers I've had will assault you with their smokiness. And it makes you wonder if all they did was dump some liquid smoke into the brew kettle. Not really a smoked beer, but one of the best I've had was Ommegang Cup O Kyndnes which is a belgian style scotch ale that I believe they lightly smoked with peat like scotch. That beer had a lot going on and the smokiness was a nice underlying base without completely overtaking everything else.
 
I prefer to prevent getting tired of such and such style by often switching up on the different types of beers. which is probably why I have many different beers in the closet and the fridge readily available.
 
$23 is too high for my liking. I really want to try one of those Nebraska Brewing beers. or those Bruery ones til my wench caved in. I didn't particularly like it.

I saw one of the BA Black Betty Imperial Stouts at Total Wine for 26 bucks I think it was. Just cant drop that much for a beer anymore that I have no idea is worth it or not. Black Tuesday I'll pump out 30 for a bottle without question.
 
I am at an odd point the past 6 months cause i dont have enough money to drop on expensive beer and whenever i do i find myself resorting to buying only stuff i know i love (Delirium Tremens, Chimay, Russian River brewing Co., Murphy's..).
 
There's still quite a lot of brews to explore without dropping so much cash. Plenty of regular release stuff and the average sixer price I see is about $11. I like Chimay, but honestly I think their beers are a tad overrated. Just my opinion.
 
There's still quite a lot of brews to explore without dropping so much cash. Plenty of regular release stuff and the average sixer price I see is about $11. I like Chimay, but honestly I think their beers are a tad overrated. Just my opinion.

Though I disagree to a degree on Chimay, I agree 100% on what you say. There are a TON of great beers out there for $12 a six pack (or less). We are smack dab in the middle of the best era to experience outstanding beers in a variety of styles and/or flavors at fairly reasonable prices from all over the world. It's never been as good as it is right now. Hopefully it only gets better. And if it doesn't, I'll just make more homebrew!
 
There's still quite a lot of brews to explore without dropping so much cash. Plenty of regular release stuff and the average sixer price I see is about $11. I like Chimay, but honestly I think their beers are a tad overrated. Just my opinion.

Though I disagree to a degree on Chimay, I agree 100% on what you say. There are a TON of great beers out there for $12 a six pack (or less). We are smack dab in the middle of the best era to experience outstanding beers in a variety of styles and/or flavors at fairly reasonable prices from all over the world. It's never been as good as it is right now. Hopefully it only gets better. And if it doesn't, I'll just make more homebrew!

Along these lines...Again, both Sam and Jim entirely failed to address the real issue. I have problems with both brewers in that most of their "unusual" beers do absolutely suck and should have never made it to market. And that has nothing to do with how big they are. But what would you expect from marketing guys turned "brewers" but shuck and jive?

Straw man argument re-surfaces in response to ?overrated? thread | Beernews.org
 
I saw one of the BA Black Betty Imperial Stouts at Total Wine for 26 bucks I think it was. Just cant drop that much for a beer anymore that I have no idea is worth it or not. Black Tuesday I'll pump out 30 for a bottle without question.

What is it about Black Tuesday that I'm missing? I don't see the hype? I have a few bottles...but they will be all for trade now.
 
What is it about Black Tuesday that I'm missing? I don't see the hype? I have a few bottles...but they will be all for trade now.

I am finding most enjoyment these days in 12%ABV + beers, even more so if they are barrel aged. Black Tuesday is around 18%, but so drinkable because it certainly is not that strong in the taste. The chocolate, bourbon, and caramel blend so nicely and creates an imperial stout to me that is out of this world. I cant get enough of it!

Its not as hyped as it was the first year, because The Bruery is producing more each year which diminishes much of the hype. I think thats a great thing and makes it available to more consumers.
 
My favorite Belgian Style! If you want help critiquing it, please let me know, I would be honored!

This is my first Belgian Strong Dark. I made a Belgian Strong blonde and I think it compares favorably to Duvel in flavor, just a bit hotter. I got this recipe from the local home brew shop. This one should finish at 11-12% ABV. I'm looking forward to having this in the upcoming Autumn and Winter. I really hope the recipe is solid. Btw, I added vanilla bean to their recipe just for the hell of it.
 
Make sure to pick me up on the way!

Always got a seat saved for Doug!

Home brew update. Got the Belgian Dark Strong racked to secondary. Short story long - poured a half pint to taste. I also had a Lagunitas Doppel Weizen poured and tasted them side by side just to pick out flavor notes. Funny and weird and inexplicable - all 3 of my buddies and I agreed that the homebrew tasted an awful lot like the Lagunitas, only the homebrew had a much more pronounced caramel flavor in it. Soooooooooo, that all being said, and factoring in the wishing and hoping aspect - I think this batch is going to be VERY good.

Going out on a limb here, but if I ever get to meet any of y'all at a game this year AND if you leave a good impression on me - you might qualify for a bottle sometime around Autumn/Winter later this year. Obejuan (DEARLY MISSED!!!!!), Mitch, and Phos already have dibs, and maybe the Rat just because. Well, and maybe Birdman and Ecktore.... Well, let's just see how things go.
 
Don't know where you guys are all located but it would be cool to get together and have a tasting. Or, as long as Blue Palms in Hwood is still open, meet up there pre-game and ride the subway to the Stapler.
 
Don't know where you guys are all located but it would be cool to get together and have a tasting. Or, as long as Blue Palms in Hwood is still open, meet up there pre-game and ride the subway to the Stapler.

I'm in SLO County but when I have to go to LA for work and Kings schedule haven't worked this season. I'm hoping to head down in February sometime and will be sure to post when I'm headed down. Would love to hit a place that caters to craft brew fans. Have talked about it with Obejuan a few times and just haven't had the chance to get down in awhile.
 
Next game I'm going to is the Feb 25th Saturday game vs. the Blackhawks. Hopefully Blue Palms is still open then.
 
*ahem*

well, I don't see another game in the near future for us. unless something pops up on the day of or before.
 
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