^^Man, you weren't kidding! Racer 5 is delicious. Will be having more of that.
Right now I'm drinking one of these:
Apparently the flagship beer by Crouch Vale (a UK brewery.) It's very good, but lacks the depth of a really extraordinary beer (like Racer 5). Still, it's nice and light, if a tad watery, and has a slight peachy flavour. "Thirst quenching" says the bottle, and that's definitely true.
Bell's Oberon Ale came out a week or two ago.
Here it is getting the seal of approval.
Tried a Sierra Nevada Hoptimum last week, it was fantastic.
(not my pic)
Can anyone suggest a high ABV (over 10%) fruity beer?
I'm not a hop fan, I prefer malt and sweet sugary syrupness of my beer. I like Belgians Double and Triples, most stout and porter.
I know many beers fans who hate sweetness, and tend to avoid anything high ABV because of it. Me? I love wine, port, etc and have no problem when beers get to that point.
PHeller wrote: Can anyone suggest a high ABV (over 10%) fruity beer?
How "fruity" are we talking? Actual fruit in them? Or just sweeter and thicker?
Presuming the later, I highly recommend Kasteel Rouge. Kasteel Donker is good too. Samichlaus is very good as well.
Ommegang Three Philosophers is another good choice. It's less sweet, but still has a lot of body and flavor.
Tried something out of the ordinary this weekend: Milk Stout Nitro, from Left Hand Brewing Co. It's thick like Guinness but a bit sweet, with distinct overtones of coffee and chocolate. The Nitro designation signifies that it's nitrogen infused for a hint of carbonation. My wife thought it was weird, I thought it was very drinkable.
PHeller wrote: Can anyone suggest a high ABV (over 10%) fruity beer? I'm not a hop fan, I prefer malt and sweet sugary syrupness of my beer. I like Belgians Double and Triples, most stout and porter. I know many beers fans who hate sweetness, and tend to avoid anything high ABV because of it. Me? I love wine, port, etc and have no problem when beers get to that point.
If you'd like something all full of plum and date and anise-y flavors, Gouden Carolus Cuvee van de Kaizer ought to be right up your alley.
nderwater wrote: Tried something out of the ordinary this weekend: Milk Stout Nitro, from Left Hand Brewing Co. It's thick like Guinness but a bit sweet, with distinct overtones of coffee and chocolate. The Nitro designation signifies that it's nitrogen infused for a hint of carbonation. My wife thought it was weird, I thought it was very drinkable.
Funny, I just bought some last night. Definitely a good session beer, but a little mild for my taste. And sadly, I'm down to my last four of KBS. Trying desperately to forget they're there and let them age.
Oh, and I found a totally random left-over four of Leinenkugel Big Eddy on Saturday. Made for a good weekend!!! I'm starting to think this may be the best beer I've ever had.
I picked up the Magic Hat spring sampler for the +/- which was advertised as a dark and mild beer. I thought it would go nice with some cheese and crackers.
It wasn't dark and it was completely uninspiring. If you remember Michelob dark back in the day, it tasted exactly like that. Total crap.
I'm going to use the rest to simmer hot dogs or make some beer and cheese soup or something.
Left Hand Smoke Jumper: BIG let down. Tastes like someone dropped a condom into a batch of Fade To Black, and they were too cheap to flush it. Salanis: You have a PM regarding a job opportunity when you get back.
I just had a liter of the Monchshof Schwarzbier at a brat house in Durham. I don't know if it is because they just tapped the keg (I got the first pull) or what, but it was fantastic. Tons of flavor without being overpowered by hops.
It went with the Sauerbraten perfectly.
I can tell you this:
4eyes wrote:
Goes VERY good with this:
Went to Prague last weekend. Most of the beer sucked. They like to brew beer in such a way that it ends up with high levels of diacetyl, which is a flavor compound that tastes like buttered popcorn Jelly Bellies. Yes, buttery-ish beer. Yeck.
Oddly enough I had a really excellent check-brewed IPA called Raptor IPA. Not as high alcohol or high bitterness as most American IPA's (just enough to definitely be in the style), but it had tons of aroma from late hopping and dry hopping. So the huge hop aroma and flavor that makes IPA special, but super smooth and easy to drink.
Luke wrote: Or it could be that it's just not the weather for it at the moment (warm, balmy nights don't really suit heavy stouts).
Hmmmm, for me about the only time stouts aren't appropriate is whilst floating in the lake on a hot July afternoon.
Otherwise, all stouts all the time. Well, I'm also growing an affinity for IPAs as well.
My go to beer at our local pub lately has been Rogue Chocolate Stout. Hint of chocolate and coffee, lightly carbonated, and my favorite is the "dry" finish. I'm going to the liqour store tomorrow to have them order me a case of the 22oz bottles.
In reply to z31maniac:
Try a Rogue Chocolate Stout float sometime. It will change your life.
Lots of "meh" lately. Stone "Old Guardian" Barleywine was a letdown. Victory "Storm King" (impy stout) is Old Raspy-esque; perhaps a little hoppier. Nothing to write home about.
z31maniac wrote:Luke wrote: Or it could be that it's just not the weather for it at the moment (warm, balmy nights don't really suit heavy stouts).Hmmmm, for me about the only time stouts aren't appropriate is whilst floating in the lake on a hot July afternoon. Otherwise, all stouts all the time. Well, I'm also growing an affinity for IPAs as well. My go to beer at our local pub lately has been Rogue Chocolate Stout. Hint of chocolate and coffee, lightly carbonated, and my favorite is the "dry" finish. I'm going to the liqour store tomorrow to have them order me a case of the 22oz bottles.
If you haven't tried it, mix half and half Rogue Chocolate Stout with Rogue Hazelnut Brown...referred to as a "Snickers" and certainly interesting. I had one for the first time a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty tasty. Weird and not something I'd have all the time, but tasty.
Bryce
I will try that!
I think I posted earlier, but Youngs Double Chocolate Stout + Well's Banana Bread Beer. Chocolate-covered banana.
Thomas Creek Dockside Pilsner. Amazing. Best beer I've ever had. Better than Urquell Pilsner (!!!), better than Allagash Dubbel, better than Dogfishhead 90 minute IPA. Amazing. It's local to upstate SC, but if you see it, grab it and give it a try.
Flying Monkey Smashbomb Atomic IPA and Hoptical Illusion are my latest.
The Smashbomb is as close to a US IPA that I've found so far, but it's still a bit light in texture.
Hoptical Illusion is milder yet and a good option for someone new to hoppiness. I still like the Tankhouse Ale from Mill Street better than either.
The labels on the Flying Monkey stuff are neat though.
Victory Storm King is my new DD. Nothing spectacular, just a good bang for buck stout.
Magic Hat Demo
Yuengling Bock Beer
Breckenridge Vanilla Porter
Southern Tier Phin & Matt
Victory Hop Devil
Saranac White IPA
Pyramid Discord Dark IPA
Southern Tier 2X Stout
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
Victory Prima Pils
Those are on tap at my local Beer Store.
What would you do?
What would you do?
Had another Rogue Chocolate Stout last night, delicious as always.
Followed it up with their Double Mocha Porter.....can't put my finger on exactly what, but I wasn't a big fan of it. And I'm basically in love with everything else of theirs I have tried. May need to give it another shot.
Been drinking Sam Adams Imperial Series Double Bock, very rich and a good match for red meat off the grill. Not something I would drink alone or on an empty stomach though since it's something like 10% abv.
Sadly I'm out of beer tonight so we're drinking beer's snotty cousin, wine.
akamcfly wrote: What would you do? What would you do?
I'd start with the Southern Tier 2X Stout and avoid the Breckenridge at all costs.
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