Craft beer

cosmicevan · #1 12-12-2009, 07:34 PM

I've recently gotten into craft beer in a big way (after getting a membership to the beer of the month club for my bday a year ago) and have been loving exploring different beers that the great local bevy has to offer. I was wondering if anyone has some good recommendations?

I've been really digging on everything that the Ommegang brewery has to offer and have been really into the Flying Dog brewery as well. Rogue Dead Guy ale used to be my fav, but I think 3 philosophers is at the top of the list now. I was wondering if anyone has any good recommendations to check out? I just picked up a Maudite by Unibroue (after a friend suggested it) along with some of the Ommegang's I haven't tried yet. Any other rec's? My bevy is really good and can usually get whatever. There are plenty more to go through, but would love some suggestions on what to try next.

Linas · #2 12-12-2009, 08:17 PM

I pretty much love anything by bells. Im drinking a bells expedition stout tonight... awesome and just so full of flavor.

doctorjazz · #3 12-12-2009, 09:12 PM

Ommegang is brilliant, their Abbey Ale is possibly the most perfect beer I've ever tasted.

burk48237 · #4 12-12-2009, 09:15 PM

Can you get it with the Mac and cheese too?

arbitrary · #5 12-13-2009, 07:28 AM

Allagash makes some great stuff. I really like their Belgium White.

kcamsdog1387 · #6 12-13-2009, 11:57 AM

Yea it definitely seems like you have a thing for Belgian's. If you can find any Delerium Tremors pick up some it's considered a "Belgian pale ale". Also, similar to Ommegang, Unibroue's trois Pistoles and le fin du monde some amazing brews as well. I suggest trying out a bunch of different styles and see what kind you like best. I happen to prefer big bold IPA's the best (Dogfishhead 120 min is a personal fav), but now that the cold is settling in it's goin to be a great winter for stouts.
There are these guys from Boston that made an amazing craft beer site/forum that is very educational called BeerAdvocate. It really helped me get deeper and deeper down the rabbithole, so to speak.

warwick.hoy · #7 12-13-2009, 01:19 PM

Rouge has some great beers.

Here are some of my favorites

Gotta Love any Beer with a Cork in it.

This is all organic and imported from England. The alcohol content is little low compared to a beer like Dead Guy or Kilt Lifter (I think it is around the same as Buttwiper)

Elysians is one of my favorite breweries from Seattle.

New Belgium makes some great beers even thought they are starting to get a little big for their britches.

cosmicevan · #8 12-13-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctorjazz

Ommegang is brilliant, their Abbey Ale is possibly the most perfect beer I've ever tasted.

i'm enjoying one of those right now. definitely a winner, but the three philosophers is still tops to me. had a hennepin the other day too and it blew me away. REALLY digging all the offerings from ommegang.

can't wait to try out some of the other suggestions. one of my buddies who is really into the craft's suggested the allagash stuff also. he also really recommended brooklyn's local 2.

warwick.hoy, i've had a few st. peters in the past and loved them. never tried the organics though.

fine beer is a little like a fine bass, no?

Philbiker · #9 12-13-2009, 05:14 PM

If you haven't already, you need to visit and tour the Brooklyn Brewery.

The best beer I've ever had is from the tiny Stoudt brewery in Adamstown, PA. You may not be able to find it in New York, but if you ever see their champagne bottles, give them a try. I personally love their Stout and their Ale. Their Abbey, not so much.

tigerbass · #10 12-13-2009, 05:22 PM

Try anything from Southern Tier. Their stuff is terrific and always higher gravity than most. Kinda like extreme beer!
Their really crazy beer comes in bombers and their more down to earth beers come in sixers.
Drank some Old Man Winter yesterday...mmmmm!

warwick.hoy · #11 12-13-2009, 05:39 PM

The St Peter's stuff is absolutely awesome,...even their stouts are thirst quenching.

Brother Thelonius is a bit higher AC beer I think around 9.5%. That's about as high as I can go without retching. Spaten Optimator and Kilt Lifter is too sweet and the alcohol content kind of kills the palette.

From Elysians I also like the Wise.

coreyfyfe · #12 12-13-2009, 05:54 PM

Enjoying this tonight.... Stone Kona/Macadamia/Coconut Porter.

tigerbass · #13 12-13-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

Enjoying this tonight.... Stone Kona/Macadamia/Coconut Porter.

WOW!

Please share your thoughts on that!
Or if you prefer, please pm me your thoughts!

flipper_gv · #14 12-13-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmicevan

I've recently gotten into craft beer in a big way (after getting a membership to the beer of the month club for my bday a year ago) and have been loving exploring different beers that the great local bevy has to offer. I was wondering if anyone has some good recommendations?

I've been really digging on everything that the Ommegang brewery has to offer and have been really into the Flying Dog brewery as well. Rogue Dead Guy ale used to be my fav, but I think 3 philosophers is at the top of the list now. I was wondering if anyone has any good recommendations to check out? I just picked up a Maudite by Unibroue (after a friend suggested it) along with some of the Ommegang's I haven't tried yet. Any other rec's? My bevy is really good and can usually get whatever. There are plenty more to go through, but would love some suggestions on what to try next.

Hey! Since I'm in Canada I've got only a very limited access to the craft scene in the USA. But, I can recommand some stuff that is in Canada that is exported to the USA:

- Unibroue - La Fin du Monde (Tripel beer, their best brew)
- Dieu Du Ciel - Péché Mortel and Aphrodisiaque and Corne du Diable(first being an espresso imperial stout, 2nd a cocoa/vanilla stout, 3rd being an IPA)

For stuff in the USA:
- Dogfish Head 60 and 90 minutes IPA
- Russian River - Pliny the Younger (double IPA)
- Founder's - Kentucky Breakfast stout (coffee imperial stout)
- North Coast Brewing - Old Rasputin Imperial Stout
- Bell's HopSlam (IPA)
- Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (imperial stout)
- and many many more

From around the world:
- Delirium Tremens (Belgian pale ale)
- Trappiste Rochefort 10 (quad)
- Orval (Belgian pale ale)
- Duvel (Belgian pale ale)
- Aventinus (Weizenbock)

and many many more

look up for the site:

beeradvocate.com (no www)
It has to be the best beer community on the web with the best (read complete, extensive) reviews by FAR.

My account there is: flipper2gv if you want to see some of my personal reviews there.

blendermassacre · #15 12-13-2009, 07:04 PM

I second anything from Unibroue especially le fin du monde and trois pistoles. The boulevard smokestack series (sixth glass and their saison:both great). I like rogue dead guy ale, delerium tremens. HEbrew is an awesome kosher brewery with some great options.

kcamsdog1387 · #16 12-13-2009, 07:40 PM

Putting it out there for any stout lovers: On March 1st, Portsmouth Brewery (NH) is doing their yearly release of Kate The Great (Russian Imperial Stout,) If you're not familiar, its a Famazing stout thats brewed with a bit of Port Wine. BeerAdvocate voted it Best beer in America and 2nd best in the world in 2007.
Last year they brewed about 1,600 servings (900 bombers, the rest on tap) and they ran out in 1 day. If anyone from the NE area is interested, its quite an awesome and early beer day. Sadly, I was 15 minutes late for getting a ticket to buy any bombers, but this year they are selling all the bombers before they even open the bar and tap the keg. It was an all around good beer day because Smuttynose Brewery is right around the corner, and Redhook is 15 minutes away.
Linky for people interested about the event on the Brewery's site

Aside from the longwinded local beer talk, I really enjoy Victory's offerengs, Hop Devil is a personal fav. Troegg's has some really good beers and they're mix packs are good sellers. The rare one around here from them is Nugget Nectar. Its the closest beer taste to that little green bud-dy you can get, IMO.

Stone's beer is in a word... extreme. Really good but most need to ease into them. Their Ruination IPA has put off some from IPA's all together, but I'm a big fan of their Old Guardian Barleywine floored me when I had it aged 4 years on cask.

flipper_gv · #17 12-13-2009, 07:56 PM

I know Kate the Great but it's almost impossible to get. It's sold out in one day and the bottles are limited of only 2 per persons. But, I might go to their summer release this year, since I'll be 21 with time to waste.

Also, I approve all your beer suggestions.

doctorjazz · #18 12-13-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

A Belgian ale with a picture of Monk as a monk?

I must have this.

spade2you · #19 12-14-2009, 04:15 AM

There are tons directions you can go with craft beers.

With the weather being a little cooler, I like darker beers. A nice smoked porter can really hit the spot on a chilly day. The other day I had Rasputin. It's a little pricey, but I think it's worth it.

coreyfyfe · #20 12-14-2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerbass

WOW!

Please share your thoughts on that!
Or if you prefer, please pm me your thoughts!

It was pretty good, mostly strong on the coffee, light on the nuts but I also have a mild cold so I'm sure some of the flavors were lost on me.