What's your favorite Lager? What's your favorite Ale?

[Lonesomedave]

man, I don't normally fall for advertising, but I have to say Samuel Adams is not lying when they talk about the freshness of their lager.

it is truly my favorite lager.

as far as ale...i am sold on Boddingtons... when I had my first Boddington's served on Nitrogen about 10 years ago, it opened my eyes. it was like drinking soft, velvety mellowness.

yep, those two are my favorites...what are yours?






ps-edit- and by Samuel Adams, I mean the kind on draft (have never had a bottle)- we have a restaurant in town called the longhorn steakhouse. i am sure some of you have them in your cities also. the waiter there told me that Samuel Adams does make sure that all their kegs are used up by the "sell by" date and they always have fresh beer. Their draft is really good

[James Hart]

Lager... I'm liking Spaten's doppelbock "Optimator" (I need to pick up some)
Ale... Newcastle Brown Ale

[skychief]

My fave lager is brewed by my DRUMMER!! he (his wife, actually) grows his own hops. So, you cant get much fresher than that.

Sam Adams is a good lager, IMO, but nothing beats a finely crafted microbrewery lager.

[jmattbassplaya]

Lazy Magnolia's Southern Pecan is a pretty good Brown Ale. I'm not much of a fan of Lagers (or Pilsners or IPA's for that matter), and prefer to stick with ales, wheat beers, and ciders.

[UncleFluffy]

Lager? I'm with Mr Hart on the doppelbock, though I may go for the Ayinger Celebrator rather than the Spaten, though Optimator is a damn good beer as well.

Ale? Delirium Tremens. In vast quantities.

[bobunit]

Originally Posted by James Hart

Lager... I'm liking Spaten's doppelbock "Optimator" (I need to pick up some)
Ale... Newcastle Brown Ale

Optimator! Excellent choice.

I loves me some Sam Adams Boston lager, but there is always room for Rainier or Genesee. I love Deschutes Brewery Black Butte porter. Oh, for you eastern folk, if ya like specialty beers, check out Horseheads Brewing. They have this Maple Amber ale that is amazing. Grab the waffles n' butter. So yummy.

[MakiSupaStar]

Yebisu - gold label.

[96tbird]

Beck's. Boddington's (there is no equal).

[pie_man_25]

hmmm....

in terms of lagers, I'm not sure. I've bascially given up on finding a pale lager or a pilsner that I like, other than Steamwhistle, and I've yet to have any lager other than the standard pale fizzy one except perhaps laker red, but that doesn't count as beer.

I have more experience with ales, although even then not much. I don't really like many "imperial" beers either, I like my beer's ABV to be under 10% for the most part. I'd have to say my favourite ale would have to be bell's two hearted ale, although I can't get my hands on it too often being the 20-year old Ontarian that I am.

[Waffles and Scotch]

Originally Posted by bobunit

Grab the waffles n' butter. So yummy.

You rang? Oh...wait...butter. Sorry about that.

[Actium]

I don't really know the difference. But Newcastle has Ale in it's name so...that counts right?

[96tbird]

Originally Posted by pie_man_25

hmmm....

in terms of lagers, I'm not sure. I've bascially given up on finding a pale lager or a pilsner that I like, other than Steamwhistle, and I've yet to have any lager other than the standard pale fizzy one except perhaps laker red, but that doesn't count as beer.

I have more experience with ales, although even then not much. I don't really like many "imperial" beers either, I like my beer's ABV to be under 10% for the most part. I'd have to say my favourite ale would have to be bell's two hearted ale, although I can't get my hands on it too often being the 20-year old Ontarian that I am.

Blue, eh?

[Lonesomedave]

Originally Posted by Actium

I don't really know the difference. But Newcastle has Ale in it's name so...that counts right?

hey, finally i can answer a question... you DO want to know, right?

Lagers are "Lagered", which means matured at low temperatures for a few months to complete secondary fermentation. they are known as "bottom fermented" because the yeast settle to bottom of the fermentation vessel and continue their work of fermentation. this normally takes place at temperatures in the 30's.

Ales are known as "top fermented" because the yeast form a frothy head on top of the fermentation vessel & do their work much more quickly and at temperatures of @ 65 degrees or so. they are usually bottled or kegged within @ 2 or 3 weeks after being made. ale yeast will stop working if they are dropped to Lagering temperatures.




ps- edit- Newcastle is indeed an Ale, as are all the other beers which are styled "Ale". one characteristic of Ale is a lot of different esters in the beer which contribute to the taste and smell

[Cabazon]

Bell's Two-Hearted Ale is currently my favorite ale. I've never cared too much for lagers, though.

[spade2you]

Not much of a lager guy. Moretti, Sam Adams Noble Pils, some Oktoberfests, and a local lager are the only ones that come to mind.

I like a lot of ales. Way too many to list.

[Actium]

Originally Posted by Lonesomedave

hey, finally i can answer a question... you DO want to know, right?

Lagers are "Lagered", which means matured at low temperatures for a few months to complete secondary fermentation. they are known as "bottom fermented" because the yeast settle to bottom of the fermentation vessel and continue their work of fermentation. this normally takes place at temperatures in the 30's.

Ales are known as "top fermented" because the yeast form a frothy head on top of the fermentation vessel & do their work much more quickly and at temperatures of @ 65 degrees or so. they are usually bottled or kegged within @ 2 or 3 weeks after being made. ale yeast will stop working if they are dropped to Lagering temperatures.




ps- edit- Newcastle is indeed an Ale, as are all the other beers which are styled "Ale". one characteristic of Ale is a lot of different esters in the beer which contribute to the taste and smell

Cool thanks! I read the wiki page a few years ago on them but it didn't really sink in. Are there specific tastes or flavors attributed to one or another?

I mean I've only ever gone by if I liked how a beer tasted or not. Not by what type it was.

[steamthief]

I've been on a Stella Artois kick lately due to sale pricing at the local market - smooooth, one turns into four real quick!

[Tituscrow]

Lager - Stella Artois or Kronenberg 1664. Brussels pubs have the best draught lager I've tasted anywhere, ever.

Ale - nah, not really.

[totallywink]

My brother just recently brought me back a case of Fat Tire Amber Ale from the New Belgium Brewery - brings back some great memories of when I used to live in CO. Good stuff....

[Lonesomedave]

Originally Posted by Actium

Cool thanks! I read the wiki page a few years ago on them but it didn't really sink in. Are there specific tastes or flavors attributed to one or another?

I mean I've only ever gone by if I liked how a beer tasted or not. Not by what type it was.

well, lagers are generally thought of as more CLEAN tasting... not very many of the esters that feature so prominently in ales. this is because the long period of cold secondary fermentation which they undergo does not provide conditions for making a lot of esters.

the main difference in the taste of Lagers can be attributed to the mash schedule (at the beginning of the beer making process), which converts the starches to fermentable sugars.

most german and European lagers are produced by what is called a "step-mashing" process, where the water temp is gradually raised from 120 or so, to a final mashout of @ 160 dgrees, this produces the very distinctive taste profile'

most american lagers, on the other hand are mashed by a one-step mash whereby the grain-water mixture is immediately raised to @ (i think) 150 degrees or so and left to convert the starch to sugar. this results in the typical american lager flavor profile.

which one is better? depends on what you like.

as far as ales, there is a whole world of flavors available, with various specialty grains, flavor/sugar additives and things like hops, cloves etc added to achieve the desired flavor.

and then there is Belgium, often referred to as the Disneyland of beer. they seem to violate almost every rule of beer making (including, often, the one that says you should have as clean an environment as possible to avoid contamination). the variety of flavors is amazing, and as said by others here, results in some really good brews.

you have approached the subject absolutely right! buy and drink what you like. try a number of different beers (including english ales such as Boddingtons, Tetley's etc which are kegged or canned on nitrogen as opposed to straight carbon dioxide--the resulting creaminess and smoothness are not to be believed until you try it...)

beer is generally good and well made by people who care about the taste. go forth, my son, and try, try, try... you might be surprised what you like -- try Boddington's on nitrogen!



ps- you can also learn a lot about beer, and even try your hand at brewing your own, from a man called Charlie Papazian-- here is a link to one of his books-- well, damn, can't get the link to attach, but look him up and the book is The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing; very interesting man and read

here it is: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Complete-Joy...item230ee00a05