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Craft beer

#21
I should add here...

Participating in homebrewing is a great way to appreciate craft beers. I've only brewed about 10-20 batches, and don't brew any more, but what I did gave me an experienced appreciation for different barley roasts, hops, yeast cultures, etc. Also, as a bonus, the beer you make usually ends up tasting very good.
 
#22
Glad to see some of my favorites already getting rep'd.

I agree with flipper_gv that everything Unibrioue is worth trying. You seem to like Belgians and Maudite in particular so I'd recommend trying their other beers. Although they're a Canadian company they are true to style and fantastic. I rate their beers as highly as the true Belgian greats.

La Fin du Monde is also my favorite but Tres Pistoles, Blanche de Chambly and Quelque Chose (which is served heated) are really good too.

Another second for Old Rasputin from North Coast if you like dark beers. It's my favorite Imperial Stout. I actually just had a bottle of the oaked and aged Old Rasputin on Saturday. So good. They also make the Brother Thelonius Abbey Ale. Very good stuff. Their other belgian styled offering is Pranqster which I also recommend.

Chimay is another belgian worth trying. I like Chimay Blue but the Red and White are good in their own ways.

When it gets warmer you might want to try a Belgian White. Hoegaarden is a solid choice but there are plenty of other good ones to try.

And Samichlaus is on the shelves now so if you get a chance (and don't mind paying a bit of a price - $5 a bottle here) it's a fantastic winter brew.

Those are some recommendations based on what you've already said you like. I can recommend a ton of beers but it helps to know what you like first.

But for anybody that digs microbrews I strongly recommend checking out "Life & Limb". It's a collaboration beer between Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head and is available for a limited time. I've bought a couple bottles but I haven't opened them yet. It was amazing on tap though.

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Only available on tap is the "small beer" version called "Limb and Life" which was also incredible.
 
#23
Philbiker said:
I should add here...

Participating in homebrewing is a great way to appreciate craft beers. I've only brewed about 10-20 batches, and don't brew any more, but what I did gave me an experienced appreciation for different barley roasts, hops, yeast cultures, etc. Also, as a bonus, the beer you make usually ends up tasting very good.
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+1. I assisited a friend's homebrewing adventures for a couple of years (we ended up building a 10-gallon, 3-vessel system in his garage). I fell in love with the smell of fresh hops :)

If there's one thing I've learned after many, many years of drinking beer, it's to keep trying new things. Some will be good, some will be great, some will leave a lifelong mark in your memories.
 
#24
Nearly anything by Avery. Their beer profile is pretty big for a microbrewery. Can you guys get them on the east coast? Blind Pig, Kaiser, and Maharaja are fantastic. I am also a big fan of Dogfish, Stone and O'Dells products. Full Sail too. Their Session lager is about the best I've had.
 
#25
Dogfish Head:
Greats: IPA, I just got Black and Blue (gonna try it later this week)

Not so great: FORT 18% alc by Volume
while it is certainly a strong (and by strong I mean nuclear) brew, its almost unenjoyable. Its mixed with raspberries but its one of those beers that has to be sipped
and has the feel of drinking a flavored vodka not a beer. If im drinking a beer I want a beer. If I want a flavored vodka cocktail Ill order a Cape Codder.

Some of my faves:
Delirium Tremens
Delirium Tremens Nocturne
Witches Brew
Val Dieu Tripel (Made in Belgium!!!Made by Belgian monks even better!!)
Flying Dog IPA
Flying Dog Tripel
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
 
#26
wow, that life and limb sounds REALLY interesting (been a HUGE fan of sierra nevada for years and have been exploring the dogfish head stuff ever since my brother-in-law turned me onto the nut brown ale earlier this year).

heading out in a little to grab some breakfast and then hit up another local spot with a great craft selection for a few finds for this upcoming snowy weekend.

checked out a flying dog event at Gingerman in NYC the other night and got to try their 20th anniversary beer, raging bitch. it was fantastic. i also picked up a flying dog Collaborator Doppelbock (open source beer) and an Ommegang biere de mars that i'm saving for NYE or some other special evening. really looking forward to cracking both of those open.

for any of the locals (NY, LI, NYC) maybe we can set up a little GTG and head over to brooklyn brewery for a tour and tasting? my wife and i have been eager to head over there. there is a great brewed in brooklyn walking tour happening today (http://www.beermenus.com/events/brewed-in-brooklyn-walking-tour-dec-19-2009) but the impending snow is keeping me away. if you are interested in meeting up for a few pints let me know and we can work it out. there are tons of great bars in the city that offer up a huge selection of crafts.

i'll definitely be looking out for some more of the suggestions from this thread when i hit the store today. i find that i do tend to like a beer that packs a punch. to me, there is nothing quite like uncorking a champagne style beer bottle and when it is polished off having a nice buzz.
 
#27
warwick.hoy said:
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Tried one today. REALLY good. it's been a while since I've had an Ommegang Abbey Ale, but tasted almost identical from my memory of the Ommegang. Certainly worth a repeat offense and packed a mighty punch too. Thanks for the suggestion.

Also picked up a Unibroue - La Fin du Monde, but that's for another night.
 
#30
Glad to hear you liked the Brother Thelonius, Cosmicvan. I got one for a friend for his birthday. He said it was the best gift of the day.

tdurden said:
widmer brothers brew an awesome hefeweisen, Corsondonk is a fantastic belgium brew, Celebration ale from Sierra Nevada only available around the holidays, ressurection ale from brewers art.
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I like the Widmer Hefe. Good with a lemon or orange slice on a hot day. (I've actually heard that the slice is to keep the bugs away but don't quote me).

The nice thing about the Widmer stuff is it is relatively low cost or at least always on sale around here. If you are on a budget but don't want to drink crap; Widmer is usually a safe bet.
 
#32
MrTAteMyBalls said:
i just moved to the denver, CO area. It seems there is a microbrewery on every corner. My favorite so far is tommyknocker brewery's naple nut brown ale. it is fantastic.

www.tommyknocker.com
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i had the pick axe and the butt head from beer of the month club not too long ago. i remember both being quite good.
 
#33
Giving this one a spin right now.

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Has anyone else tried it?
 
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#37
blendermassacre said:
I second anything from Unibroue especially le fin du monde and trois pistoles.
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Me too. To the OP, I tried Maudite and didn't find it very appealing. La Fin is especially good, a Belgian triple with (to me anyway) a light apple/citrus-y taste...just a delicious brew. Trois Pistoles is a very warm and boozy one, almost with a sherry element to it...great for fall and winter after a hearty meal. McCauslin, another Quebec brewer make some good stuff, like their Oatmeal Sout.

But my absolute fave goes to Aventinus Weisen Eisbock, a wheat ice beer from Germany. It's like a 12% ABV banana milkshake. You have been warned....
 
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#38
zortation said:
Me too. To the OP, I tried Maudite and didn't find it very appealing. La Fin is especially good, a Belgian triple with (to me anyway) a light apple/citrus-y taste...just a delicious brew. Trois Pistoles is a very warm and boozy one, almost with a sherry element to it...great for fall and winter after a hearty meal. McCauslin, another Quebec brewer make some good stuff, like their Oatmeal Sout.

But my absolute fave goes to Aventinus Weisen Eisbock, a wheat ice beer from Germany. It's like a 12% ABV banana milkshake. You have been warned....
Click to expand...

Aventinus is great stuff, no matter which version you try. I think the standard one was the first high gravity beer I ever tasted.

Lagunitas is another great brewery to check out, and fairly easy to locate in stores.
 

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