The Official TOUAMB Beer Thread

[miles]

It's only right that beer have its own thread.

I also have a tall-boy of Bud Light with Lime I inherited from a departing friend. Interested/scared.

This reminds me of an article I found poking around the internet today.

Couple choice quotes:

"Guys, I'm changing your lives tonight," the beer guru told his dining audience. And indeed, those devoted to hops, yeast and malt learned plenty about beer pairings, pouring techniques, glassware and more as they dug into delicacies, including a 1-pound Maine lobster served with Budweiser.

Bud and lobster?

Absolutely, says Reisch. While Bud might seem a better match with greasy burgers than pricey shellgiraffe, the ubiquitous domestic brand actually represents a high level of brewing sophistication, he stresses.

"That's the hardest brew in the world to make. You can't make a mistake with this beer ..... It's very, very good with rich foods like lobster, because it has a sweet component to the taste, but it doesn't get in the way."

I don't think of myself as a beer snob. I was killing Bud tallboys at the USA - Ghana match ($2 a can!) on Saturday, but this seemed a little funny.

Edit: mmm...shellgiraffe...

At the dinner, formally clad servers poured the new Bud Light Lime into champagne flutes to showcase its sparkling qualities. But the dark-roasted Michelob AmberBock -- made with caramel and black malts -- was served in a larger, rounded glass. The specially chosen pieces allowed the aroma to be enjoyed and also showed off the beer's rich coloring.

"If you serve it in a narrow glass, it doesn't have the same perception based on appearance. So when you're serving beer to your friends at home, try to use a glass for that style. Dress it up to go out."

Bud Light Lime in champagne flutes? OK, this made me laugh.

[Mr Trout]

I do find that cheap beer goes really well with shellgiraffe. Steamed crabs and cold Boh is pretty much heaven.

My favorite beers lately have been Belgians. Saison Dupont is an excellent farmhouse ale. Chimay White is a great Tripel that is easy to find. Ommegang is a great American brewery brewing in the Belgian style; hard to go wrong with their brews. And when I want a great, fresh Belgian-style beer I can walk 2 blocks over to a local brewpub that has some amazing house beers on tap.

In the colder weather I tend to drink more holiday ales and stouts. I love the Anchor Steam Christmas Ale. Old Rasputin and Storm King Stout are two of the only Russian imperial stouts that I can actually enjoy more than one of.

Fuck, gotta go but I could talk about beer forever. 

[greenkoolayd]

yuenling (or 'pottsville piss-water', for the haters)
molsen

these are some especially good 'uns.  i dont dig on beer that much, so i havent done a lot of experimenting.  im a social drinker, if im drinking at all.

[theinevitable]

Mr Trout: there is this one brewpub I went to in Baltimore that was incredible. I don't know how to figure out if we are talking about the same place.

it was on some famous list of the best bars in America?

there was a fancy-er upstairs, but downstairs was a dingy cruddy cool bar?

[miles]

I do find that cheap beer goes really well with shellgiraffe. Steamed crabs and cold Boh is pretty much heaven.

I don't doubt it. But his description of the pairing is funny to me, focusing on the sophistication of Bud.

My favorite beers lately have been Belgians. Saison Dupont is an excellent farmhouse ale. Chimay White is a great Tripel that is easy to find. Ommegang is a great American brewery brewing in the Belgian style; hard to go wrong with their brews. And when I want a great, fresh Belgian-style beer I can walk 2 blocks over to a local brewpub that has some amazing house beers on tap.

In the colder weather I tend to drink more holiday ales and stouts. I love the Anchor Steam Christmas Ale. Old Rasputin and Storm King Stout are two of the only Russian imperial stouts that I can actually enjoy more than one of.

I'm a big fan of Quadrupels. Always try to have some Rochefort 10 on hand. The two good beer bars in town tend to focus a lot on Belgians, so I drink a lot of those when I go out.

I imagine part of the reason you can enjoy more than one of those two Russian Imperials is that they come in 12 oz. bottles? I usually have some Old Rasputin on hand. I've been slowly building a collection of last years Abyss from Deschutes, and yeah, can only have one, but that's enough. Two local breweries have released a couple good Russian Imperials this and last year. I'm not really a seasonal drinker, aside from the fact that some beers are only released seasonally. Sure, if I'm going to be outside I'm not going to be drinking an Old Rasputin, but drinking with a meal inside I don't really care what season it is.

[Mr Trout]

Mr Trout: there is this one brewpub I went to in Baltimore that was incredible. I don't know how to figure out if we are talking about the same place.

it was on some famous list of the best bars in America?

there was a fancy-er upstairs, but downstairs was a dingy cruddy cool bar?

Does Brewer's Art ring a bell? The upstairs is really fancy (it was a mansion originally back in the 19th century) and it is consistently rated in the top 5 bars in the country by Esquire. The downstairs is all brick and cool, and one regular bartendress has the finest ass. I am not ashamed to admit that I regularly admire it.

[Mr Trout]

I've been slowly building a collection of last years Abyss from Deschutes, and yeah, can only have one, but that's enough.

Is Deschutes the brewery that does the Inverted IPA? I had that once when I was out west and I loved it. I wish I could find their beers locally.

Tonight I went to a dance party that featured south american DJs and I drank whiskey and Budweiser (separately). It tasted perfect.

[littlefallsmets]

I got a cousin, moved down to some college town in the Carolinas and opened like a gourmet beer shop that has all the most ridiculous microbrews from all the hell over the world and they specialize in just filling growlers of the stuff.

Someday, I'll find an excuse to go down there other than just driving the better part of a day to get exceedingly drunk with family.

And then I will get exceedingly drunk with family.

[miles]

Is Deschutes the brewery that does the Inverted IPA? I had that once when I was out west and I loved it. I wish I could find their beers locally.

Yes. I think you have to click something that indicates you are of legal drinking age--which is hilarious, because what teenager is going to worry that he will get caught if he does and is not, and what teenager is going to want to visit the website of a microbrewery anyway? Well, some may. Deschutes is one of my favorite breweries. Some people tour wine country. I'm going to start a road trip in wine country, but visit breweries instead, up through Oregon.

[Carlos del Vaca]

Yueng-a-ling lager is kind of my fallback beer.  A fine Pennsylvania product, and relatively inexpensive.  I have developed a great liking for crispy Stellas in the summer as well (thanks Onstad).

My splurge beer right now is anything from Anderson Valley Brewing Company.  I have their summer solstice ale in the fridge right now and it is lovely.  Also $13 for a six.

[miles]

My splurge beer right now is anything from Anderson Valley Brewing Company.  I have their summer solstice ale in the fridge right now and it is lovely.  Also $13 for a six.

Have you had their Hop Ottin’ IPA? It's a frequent guest in my fridge.

[Carlos del Vaca]

Not sure I've had that one.  I loves me some Boont Amber though.

[wombat]

I thought this said "The Official TOUAMB Bear Thread." What a disappointment.

[littlefallsmets]

As in... bears or... Bears?

[Choop]

omba likes her beers like she likes her men: fat, hairy, and gay