The Beer Thread: 2009 – 2012

[TooLiveBrew]

I just can't get into New Belgium. I don't know if they use some sort of common malt or yeast strain in all their beers, but man, all their beers taste the same to me.

 

I'd be shocked if you think Mighty Arrow tastes like these... but I kinda know what you mean about their beers sharing something in terms of flavor.

[logan82]

I also want to say how underwhelmed I was by New Glarus Cabin Fever Honey Bock. They made a blonde bock several years ago which I really enjoyed, but Cabin Fever was a disappointment. It reminded me of a mass produced lager.

 

I was really unimpressed as well. I thought of Honey Weiss when I was drinking it. Probably the only New Glarus beer outside their Unplugged series I wouldn't drink.

I just can't get into New Belgium. I don't know if they use some sort of common malt or yeast strain in all their beers, but man, all their beers taste the same to me. Trippel, 1554, Fat Tire, 2 Below...they all taste the same.

 

They do all taste a little similar I guess. They are all pretty clear/filtered(at least the ones I have tasted) so maybe that is part of it. They might be stripping away some of the taste. They make solid but not really great beer.

[Beerambassador]

Don't know if this is worthy of its own separate thread, but I finally made the leap and went out and bought some home brewing equipment at the Northern Brewer store in West Allis. I helped a friend a few months back, had a good time and thought the final product was pretty delicious, so I decided to take a shot at it. I was just spending too much money on import/micros, so I figured I can brew it myself for quite a bit cheaper. Not expecting great results early on, but I picked up a very simple recipe kit to start out with, so I hope this first batch goes well.

 

Anyone else here brew their own?

[TooLiveBrew]

Given how much I liked Mighty Arrow, I'd like to try their Ranger IPA. This one I would expect to be really hoppy, perhaps overwhelmingly so to some. However, they've showed me that they know how to employ hops, and I'd be curious to try their first shot at an IPA. Per their website, "This clear amber beauty bursts at the starting gate with an abundance of hops: Cascade (citrus), Chinook (floral/citrus), and Simcoe (fruity) lead off the beer, with Cascade added again for an intense dry hop flavor. This beer would certainly not be for everyone, but I hope I get a chance to try it out.

So I tried it, and it rocks. B+ at beeradvocate. I'd go with an A grade, personally.

Picked up a 6-pack of Mighty Arrow & one of Ranger IPA last weekend. Sadly, they are gone. I need to replace them for this weekend.

 

[Ando Calrissian]

Don't know if this is worthy of its own separate thread, but I finally made the leap and went out and bought some home brewing equipment at the Northern Brewer store in West Allis. I helped a friend a few months back, had a good time and thought the final product was pretty delicious, so I decided to take a shot at it. I was just spending too much money on import/micros, so I figured I can brew it myself for quite a bit cheaper. Not expecting great results early on, but I picked up a very simple recipe kit to start out with, so I hope this first batch goes well.

 

Anyone else here brew their own?

Yup, I've been brewing for a couple years now. Was actually just at Northern Brewer yesterday to pick up a kit and brewed last night. I'm waiting on bottles to ESB to be ready in another couple weeks.

I've not had the time or life circumstances to get too deep into the brewing process (read: full mash brewing) but would like to do that at some point. What I'd really like to do is start kegging. I figure that if I did that, I'd actually brew more frequently because you wouldn't have to wait for the bottles to carbonate. Your own brew always tastes good and a bit of personal pride is involved. At least for getting started out, I always say that if you can boil water and sanitize a bucket (or carboy), you can brew your own beer.

 

[sgtcluels]

Just started home brewing a few months ago. Got a heiffenweize sitting in my secondary that should be ready for bottling in about two weeks. The yeast I pitched was dead, so I had to pitch another yeast a few days later. It fermented down from 1.056 to 1.015 and has about .002 to go. So at least it's not ruined beer, a bit estery but that should clear up when it conditions. Currently drinking home brew Cream Ale. It's alright, missing some body but for a first try I'm satisfied.

 

Moving to all grain probably this weekend brewing an ESB that will become my Opening Day beer of choice. All my buddies started brewing as well. Currently we have an IPA (Three Hearted Ale clone), Red Ale, German Alt and something else I completely forgot. One kit I'm really impressed with at NB is the Evil Twin kit. Very full, great mouth feel, and just the right amount of hops at the end to not over power you like an IPA. That's going to be on my must Brew list soon.

 

If we have a bunch of home Brewers around, we might consider exchanging home brews.

[Beerambassador]

A home brew exchange sounds fun somewhere down the line once I'm confident enough that what I'm brewing doesn't suck. I'm hoping on starting my first batch Saturday.

[milwaukeesportsfan]

I made a batch of IPA that I purchased from Northern Brewer back when they had their grand opening, and it turned out pretty good. I just brewed an Amber ale last weekend, which is currently in the primary fermenter. I'll probably rack it in the next few days. Should be ready by Opening day.

 

I've been brewing for a couple of years now, and I love home brew, but I do the entire process all by myself, and it's getting to be a lot of work. It's a fun hobby, but it takes a lot of time.

[EdgarDiazRocks]

Had a Cali beer last night that I really enjoyed that WASN'T a Fifty-Fifty .. .

 

The Firestone Walker Pale 31

 

Solid, two thumbs up solid beer, i agree with the B+ . . . .

[craigharmann]

A fantastic beer that I have recently come across, and probably can't be purchased outside of Texas, is Alamo Golden Ale. It's brewed just outside of San Antonio (surprising, I know), but it's got some fantastic flavor, and is some of the best beer I've ever had.

[sgtcluels]

Headed to spring training in a week. Any local Arizona beer I should be checking out?

[logan82]

Here is a list of places to try on Beer Advocate. Link They do a feature on a city every month in the Beer Advocate magazine and Phoenix was their featured city in issue #35. December issue I think.

[logan82]

Well we didn't end up going to Hops N Props but we made it a beer day anyway. We started by stopping at Steve's on the West side of Madison. I picked out 3 single bottles, Matilda, Pere Jacques, and Capital Dark. I also picked up a pak of Tripel Nova and Hennepin. My wife picked out packs of Mudpuppy Porter and Dogfishhead 90-min IPA.

 

After that we stopped at the Great Dane. I of course had the Crop Circle Wheat and my wife had the Black Earth Porter.(of course we also picked up a growler of each) We also tried the EPA, Dopplebock, Nut Brown and Speed Bump IPA. My wife thinks the Black Earth Porter is still one the best beers she has ever had. Probably has at least a little to do with how fresh it is. We liked the Speedbump IPA but thought the others were just ok. The EPA was to sweet. That may be the style though.

 

We thought about stopping at The Malt House but we decided against. Instead we went home and walked to the bars downtown. We were pretty shocked to find Fat Tire on tap in one of our local bars. This might not be shocking to some but we live in a smallish town(pop of about 2100). Not something I might drink most of the time but much preferable to the usual Miller/Bud/Leinenkugel products.

 

I was not a fan of the Capital Dark. I thought it was much like almost any beer we have had from the brewery. Watered down beer. Of course we prefer beer we can practically chew. My wife of course loves the Mudpuppy Porter. We would also recommend the 90-min IPA and neither of us really likes IPA's most of the time. We have yet to try any of the others as I was finishing up the Stone Soup(my go to beer) I had in the fridge. Sorry about being so long winded. I will get back after trying out the other beers I picked up.

[Beerambassador]

Hennepin is my favorite beer lately. It's outstanding and a real value.

[thevaccinator27]

Dave's BrewFarm Matacabras. Exquisite. Dark Belgian. Very Tasty.

 

http://davesbrewfarm.blogspot.com/

[diomedeh2]

Thanks for the link! Hadn't even heard of this brewery yet...hopefully I can get my hands on the Matacabras when I'm back in June.

[logan82]

Well I am sorry to be such a slacker. The Maltilda was good as were the Triple Nova and Hennepin. The real winner though was the Pere Jaques. Everybody thought it was much better than the others.

 

I tried a Kiltlifter from Four Peaks brewery over the weekend. I would reccomend it if you can get it. They are a brewery in Tempe. My mom and her husband picked it up for me while they were at Spring Training in Arizona.

[logan82]

I hold in my hands a Moon Man. Yet another delicious beer out of New Glarus. It reminds me a lot of the Golden Ale I bought at the brewery last summer. Not as high of an alcohol content though. I could easily drink quite a few of these.

[ManOfTheBeer]

Great to see this thread still going strong. I had my first Moon Man last night (get your minds out of the gutters). It was really tasty, reminded me a lot of New Belgium's Mighty Arrow. Good and hoppy but not overly so...label says it's a session beer and I agree in the sense that you can easily have 4-5 in an evening.

Logan: get back to the Malt House if you haven't been there before. Great selection of Belgians and the ilk (sour beers are fantastic!)

I recently started homebrewing with a couple friends. We have a 60 Shilling Scottish ale and a coffee stout in secondary fermentation right now....the Scottish was out of a Northern Brewer kit with no deviation from the recipe, but it's coming along very well. I wanted to drink some yesterday during the transfer from primary to secondary. The coffee stout started as a straight stout, but we decided to throw in a blend of coarsely ground Arabica and expresso beans before the boil. When boiling, it smelled very much like coffee. After a week in primary fermentation, the coffee nose has faded but now has a significant wallop of alcohol in the aroma...hopefully a couple more weeks in secondary plus a month in bottles will smooth it out. It's an addictive hobby, one that has gotten us through the last few weeks leading up to Opening Day http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[TooLiveBrew]

I had my first Moon Man last night (get your minds out of the gutters). It was really tasty, reminded me a lot of New Belgium's Mighty Arrow.

 

I need to get my hands on this Moon Man. I love Mighty Arrow.

[logan82]

I am leaning towards Moon Man as my beer of choice on Opening Day. It's either that or Fat Tire. That is unless I can find some Oberon Ale.

Logan: get back to the Malt House if you haven't been there before.

Great selection of Belgians and the ilk (sour beers are fantastic!)

I will try to get ther the next time I get out of the house without the kids. Probably sometime next year. or maybe this summer. My wife and I really want to do the New Glarus brewery tour. I know, I know, stop sucking up to New Glarus. Sorry, they make decent beer and are always trying new stuff. I can't really say that about many breweries I have easy access to. BTW, where is the Malt House exactly. We couldn't find it. Of course my wife wasn't really all that interested and I was driving.

[Beerambassador]

Moon Man is fantastic. I love it. I love hops and Moon Man really showcases them nicely without being overly bitter or being too boozy. Great beer.

[logan82]

Yeah it doesn't have the normal bitter after-bite of an IPA. It was brewed to be a sessionable beer.

[ManOfTheBeer]

My wife and I really want to do the New Glarus brewery tour. I know, I know, stop sucking up to New Glarus. Sorry, they make decent beer and are always trying new stuff. I can't really say that about many breweries I have easy access to. BTW, where is the Malt House exactly. We couldn't find it. Of course my wife wasn't really all that interested and I was driving.

I haven't done the "new" New Glarus brewery tour since they opened the 2nd facility, but the original was really underwhelming. And this is from someone who loves their beers. If you're set on Madison-area tours, I recommend Capital and even Great Dane over New Glarus. There is something to be said about stepping foot on hallowed grounds though http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

The Malt House is on Hwy 151 (I think this becomes Washington in Madison?), in the old Union bar kitty-corner from Red Letter News. If you're driving into Madison from the east, you'll see a smallish nondescript building on your left. Red Letter News is across the intersecting street on your right. In truth, you're only a couple minutes from the UW campus and another great beer stop, the Essen Haus. If you like German food and liters of beer in glass boots, try the Essen. I've found that, despite being a West Bender, the beer culture of Madison and its environs easily rivals that of Milwaukee. Happy travels, and hope you can get out of the house again before the 2011 World Series!

[edit] TLB: The last good pale ale I had was Mighty Arrow, which might have influenced my mental rolodex comparison...but I do believe Arrow and Moon Man are quite similar. I agree with you: Mighty Arrow is tremendous. I really haven't had a bad New Belgium yet...huge fan of their 1554 and Mothership Wit.

[TooLiveBrew]

Had Flying Dog's Garde Dog, a French farmhouse ale & their spring seasonal. I thought it was just ok, but I can see how it would appeal to a lot of people. It's a little sweet, and a fairly light ale in terms of flavor. Has a B- so far at beeradvocate. I'd agree with that.

 

The last good pale ale I had was Mighty Arrow, which might have influenced my mental rolodex comparison...but I do believe Arrow and Moon Man are quite similar. I agree with you: Mighty Arrow is tremendous. I really haven't had a bad New Belgium yet...huge fan of their 1554 and Mothership Wit.

Mighty Arrow was the first brew from them that just had me at 'hello'. I think of them as very similar to New Glarus, in that they don't make a bad beer. However, I should clarify that I really don't like Belgian wheats, or Abbeys very much. Too sweet for me.

 

Mighty Arrow made me confident enough in their hopping to try the Ranger IPA. Those are the two beers I've loved from New Belgium. I know I posted on them already, but just wanted to re-recommend the Ranger if you hadn't tried it. Disclaimer: Mighty Arrow is very drinkable. Ranger is very hoppy. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

EDIT:

- Mighty Arrow gets a B+ from beeradvocate

- B+ for Ranger IPA, A- from the Bros.