The Beer Thread: 2007 – 2008

[fstorm1]

SO not as into as you all, so I can't describe beers the "proper" way

The proper way need only be: 1)good 2)bad. If you enjoy something made right, tell us. Always welcome to new brews/views.

 

Actually, the Purple Haze you mentioned is readily available here in the Fox Valley. I had some over the summer, and while I agree the fruitiness wasn't overpowering (as is often the case in fruit beers), I found the bottle I had to be a bit watered down and stale, although I do have it marked for a retry. I'd be really interested in trying Abita's Pecan Ale, but according to BA, it was only brewed once.

 

Ditto on the Miller tour. Yeah, macro...overproduced...the whole deal, but very interesting history, and the free beer just kept flowing. Gotta love that.

 

And their gift shop was killer, too.

[logan82]

SO not as into as you all, so I can't describe beers the "proper" way

 

Yeah don't worry about being able to describe beer very well. My descriptions are mostly "wheat is good" and "this wheat better than that wheat." If you run across something you like, post it here. I have had several different kinds of beers that have been posted here. Some good, some not so good. It is fun to try new beer.

[fstorm1]

SO not as into as you all, so I can't describe beers the "proper" way

 

Yeah don't worry about being able to describe beer very well. My descriptions are mostly "wheat is good" and "this wheat better than that wheat." If you run across something you like, post it here. I have had several different kinds of beers that have been posted here. Some good, some not so good. It is fun to try new beer.

Exactly, well put. Good example: had it not been for this thread, I would never have thought (well, maybe eventually as I ran out of beer's to try) to try either of Unibroue's Trois Pistoles, or La Fin Du Monde. In fact, when I bought them, I think the lady at Woodman's was just patronizing me by saying, "Oh, neat bottles". In reality, I'm sure it was something more like, "Wow, French beer. (-pause-) Dork." But actually, they're both very good, particularily the La Fin, which I cracked tonight. It was hard to peg at first sniff, and even first sip, lot's going on in there. But it (La Fin) went down so smoothly. Every time it started to go dangerously close to the "wine cooler" taste/feel, it would just hold as a good beer. I'm astonished by how both cover up the high alcohol content. No bite to be found in either.

 

Now, granted, neither is going to replace my staples of Dancing Man Wheat, Spotted Cow, or Miller High Life, but hey, just like logan said, it's fun to try new beer.

 

Everytime I wonder about whether or not this whole "beer tasting" thing is silly, I just remember back a couple Christmas' past. There I was, sitting next to my future uncle-in-law, a millionairre mind you, and we're just cracking open bottle after bottle of beers neither of us had ever heard of (there were a couple of Ommengang's, two Krusovice's, a Flat Earth and a New Belgium). And this is a guy who lives in a mansion, and has a wine cellar complete with humidity and temperature control...and a thumb print I.D. lock. And midway through, he turns to me and says, "This is fun!".

 

That pretty much sold me on the idea. Now, "build-your-own-sixer's" are part of my Christmas gift list to select relatives...and rich future ones. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

 

So, in closing, this is fun. Even after all the beers I've tried, I can still barely drink more than a couple, maybe three a night. It's not about getting drunk or buzzed. It's about trying stuff that tastes good.

 

Pretty sure at some point in this thread's history, I've told those stories. But I'm too lazy to do a search, I can't remember them...and that La Fin's 9% alcohol, coupled with another beer or two, and I'm feeling pretty alright.

 

Now where's that drunk thread? Maybe I should start a "buzzed" thread.

[datrain711]

Nice post fstorm. By the way, I read your review on weistenphaner (sp?) hefeweizen and I think you hit it right on the head. dancing man is a bit better for me too.

 

My "intro" into the true beer world probably came a few years back when I was at my uncle's house and a tried a sierra nevada celebration ale. Now, for someone used to drinking high life and MGD, you can imagine how a beer like that would send my taste buds into a frenzy. I then decided that I would always try something new if I had the opportunity. Now, I sometimes have to remind myself to buy some beers that I love, because I get caught up in trying something I never have drank before.

[TooLiveBrew]

Everytime I wonder about whether or not this whole "beer tasting" thing is silly, I just remember back a couple Christmas' past. There I was, sitting next to my future uncle-in-law, a millionairre mind you, and we're just cracking open bottle after bottle of beers neither of us had ever heard of (there were a couple of Ommengang's, two Krusovice's, a Flat Earth and a New Belgium). And this is a guy who lives in a mansion, and has a wine cellar complete with humidity and temperature control...and a thumb print I.D. lock. And midway through, he turns to me and says, "This is fun!"

That's awesome (great post overall, fstorm). And datrain, like logan & fstorm have already mentioned, don't worry about the 'beercabulary'. I don't really have one either.

Now, for someone used to drinking high life and MGD, you can imagine how a beer like that would send my taste buds into a frenzy. I then decided that I would always try something new if I had the opportunity.

Ha! That's Sierra Nevada's winter brew, correct? I really enjoy the winter varieties that come out -- 'tis already becoming that season. I bet we'll have some good winter/holiday brew discussion going in the very near future. That 'moment' you describe with discovering the New World of Beer is very similar to that moment you realize the old ball & glove logo is also an M & B imo. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I thought that, since there's some more discussion on fruit wheats/fruit brews, I'd link the beeradvocate page for Kona's Wailua Wheat. There're a couple reviews there that hit on everything I'd want to say about it:

Had this on-tap at the Porter Bar in Atlanta. Better than I expected, but you definitely have to like fruit flavored beers in general and passion fruit specifically, because this beer is loaded with it. Its very good for what it is- a relatively light, clean wheat beer with lots of pure and fresh tasting passion fruit with a strong aroma of passion fruit on the nose as well. A good summer cooler, not too sweet or heavy, quenching, and light rather than super crisp. A little better on tap for sure. (B+ grade given)

&

Many fruity beers taste excessively sweet and too fruity, but Kona Wailua Wheat, I am happy to report, has the balance down pat. Fruit flavor is certainly there, but at the same time, you can definitely tell that you have a glass of beer in front of you because the taste offers flavors of wheat and pale malt that are as obvious as the flavors of fruit. It's a pretty good summer beer product and it ranks as one of the better fruit beers I have tried. (B- given)

I bet that getting the Wailua on-tap is really good.

Nice post fstorm. By the way, I read your review on weistenphaner (sp?) hefeweizen and I think you hit it right on the head. dancing man is a bit better for me too.

One thing I have to say is how much dorky fun I have with fstorm's double entendere (to me) beeradvocate username -- ibashmuck. Of course the second meaning I glean from it is "I be a shmuck". Good times.

[tristarscoop]

SO not as into as you all, so I can't describe beers the "proper" way

The proper way need only be: 1)good 2)bad. If you enjoy something made right, tell us. Always welcome to new brews/views.

 

Actually, the Purple Haze you mentioned is readily available here in the Fox Valley. I had some over the summer, and while I agree the fruitiness wasn't overpowering (as is often the case in fruit beers), I found the bottle I had to be a bit watered down and stale, although I do have it marked for a retry. I'd be really interested in trying Abita's Pecan Ale, but according to BA, it was only brewed once.

 

Ditto on the Miller tour. Yeah, macro...overproduced...the whole deal, but very interesting history, and the free beer just kept flowing. Gotta love that.

 

And their gift shop was killer, too.

Unfortunate that your Purple Haze was bad. Hopefully it was just a rough shipment and you can get your hands on some fresher, tastier bottles.

It was the highlight of my spring when a Cajun restaurant opened near me and they have Abita freely flowing.

 

The weird thing about Purple Haze and Berry Weiss is that when I was in Louisiana, it felt like Purple Haze was a sad imitation of Berry Weiss - probably because I couldn't find Berry Weiss there.

 

Now that I'm back here, I can appreciate that the uber-Berry of the Leinie's isn't for everyone (thought it's not Spring til you're at some outdoor festival and get your first Berry Weiss out of a tap) and I think Purple Haze does the fruit thing right, without going overboard.

[Beerambassador]

Just had a Tri-Pepper Pilsner at the Great Dane Hilldale. Of the 3 beers I had, that was the second best. It's spicy, but like the beer menu describes it, it's more about the taste of the peppers. They had a pale ale on hand pump that was outstanding - great hop aroma and flavor - and a belgian dubble that was ok. That makes two unimpressive belgian's for me at the Dane. Maybe they just don't do belgians very well. Both belgian's I've had have had an ok, but watery taste to them.

[TooLiveBrew]

Had to pick up some Minhas Brewery Simpler Times Lager at Trader Joe's because, well, it's from Monroe, Wisconsin. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

Not great, but certainly better than your macro lagers. Strong brew (6.2% ABV), and cheap as can be -- it was being sold for $4.99/6-pk. of bottles... and $3.99/6-pk. of cans, which I happily snatched up. Two sixers, to be precise. I'm enjoying it because it's a great cheap alternative to what you can get for roughly $4 or $5/6-pk. And 'cause it's from Wisconsin... in cans!

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

I picked up a sixer of the new Leine's Fireside Nut Brown, the replacement for Apple Spice. Personally, I loved Apple Spice, mainly for sentimental reasons, so this one had to be good.

 

It definitely was. Poured a beautiful chestnut color with a nice head. Had a maple-ish, toffee-ish aroma, and was very smooth and not bitter at all. Nice nutty finish. For those who are sick of the Leine's recent fruity beer trend, give this one a shot.

[fstorm1]

Check the date...straight from their "NewsWatch" blog.

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2008, 10:16 a.m.

By Tom Daykin

Leinenkugel launches new seasonal beer

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. said today it is launching a new seasonal beer: Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown Lager.

 

The beer will be available during November and December.

 

Wow. And I thought the poor journalism over at JS was limited to a select few. Guess I was wrong.

Over the weekend, I also got my shot at a Nut Brown. The taste and feel were good, very good. But it had one of the worst "skunk" smells of any beer I've had. Incredibly bad. And it was at its worst right after I opened it. Gonna give it another go...I think.

Leinie's for me is a bit of a double-edged sword. I like several of their beers (Origianl, Oktoberfest, Honey Weisse, and to a lesser extent Sunset Wheat), but they have become almost too "macro-ized" for me. None of their "flavored" beers, like Honey Weisse, taste like the style they're aiming for. Honey Weisse doesn't really taste anything like a wheat beer to me, no cloudy goodness, no banana or clove hints. It's still tastes okay, but it really is, well, what I would expect from a macro brewery: a very generic version of a craft beer, built to appeal to the masses.

 

It's just one of the reasons why I love New Glarus. Even though they've gotten pretty big, they keep making their beers the way they're supposed to be made.

 

 

 

[Beerambassador]

Per Leinie's very own website, it's available Nov. and Dec. Can't really pin that one on the JS. I don't think the Journal reporter is going to call around local stores to check to see if a Leinie press release is correct.

[fstorm1]

My point wasn't so much the questioning of when it would be available, but that the announcement of the beer itself is months old:

FRIDAY, Aug. 1, 2008, 1:23 p.m.

By Thomas Daykin

Leinenkugel drops Apple Spice, adds Nut

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. is dropping its Apple Spice seasonal brand and replacing it with Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown Lager, it was announced today.

 

The new holiday seasonal beer will be sold during November and December. The Chippewa Falls-based brewer says it will be "the perfect complement for holiday foods such as glazed hams, roasts, gravies, pies and pastries."

 

Apple Spice, which had been Leinenkugel's winter seasonal beer, is being dropped. Apple Spice had good sales, but its growth is currently limited by production costs and ingredient availability, a company spokeswoman said.

I remember mentioning it back in August:

I see that they finally bailed on the Apple Spice, and are now going to role out "Fireside Nut Brown Ale".

Page 25 of this thread. Just thought it funny that they would essentially make the exact same announcement twice.

[Beerambassador]

Eh, if anything Leinie's sent them a fresh press release and they just went with it. I know people really like to kick around the journal, but I can't really fault them for anything here. I'm sure leinie's sent over another press release to remind people it's coming, and since Leinie's is a big deal in the state they ran it again.

 

That said, I'm not a fan of Leinie's beer, but I try everything they make at least once.

[datrain711]

had to rescue this from page 2.

 

anyway, went out to wells st tavern in delafield which has a FANTASTIC beer selection.

 

among my favorites there: rogue's dead guy ale which was absolute creamy ale goodness.

hennepin: simply a flavor blast that caught me by surprise

samuel smith's oatmeal: I knew this would be great, and it was.

 

I definitely recommend for people to try that place out. It is a 30 second walk from work for me http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Invader3K]

I won't miss the Apple Spice, that's for sure. I think I tried that just one time, and hated it. I'm interested to try their new Nut Brown...not necessarily a fan of that "style", but I'll try anything once.

 

Since Honey Weisse was brought up again...my opinion is that it's a solid average beer. It doesn't have a strong honey taste, IMHO, which is why I like it. I don't like beers being overly sweet or fruity. It's often the best regular draft beer at some places I stop at once in a while, so I'll happily drink it over Miller Lite, Budweiser, PBR, etc.

[Chio151]

I'm really not a fan of anything Leine has. It's all below average beers. But the apple spice, the apple spice, now that was a truly insulting brew. Awful. From someone who likes a decent hard cider, that one tasted like someone dropped apple laffy taffy in the fermenter along with some cruddy holiday spices.

[fstorm1]

Since Honey Weisse was brought up again...my opinion is that it's a solid average beer. It doesn't have a strong honey taste, IMHO, which is why I like it. I don't like beers being overly sweet or fruity. It's often the best regular draft beer at some places I stop at once in a while, so I'll happily drink it over Miller Lite, Budweiser, PBR, etc.

Invader nailed my feelings perfectly. If I'm out, and planning on having more than a couple, I aim for Spotted Cow, then High Life, and if both of those aren't available, then it's Honey Weiss (I figure I have solid a chance of one of those being available). I'll take those three over just about any other macros.

 

I know that Leinie's is to unveil yet another "seasonal", but I haven't heard what or when. But they did pretty okay with the Fireside. Hopefully my next bottle(s) won't be so skunky.

[TooLiveBrew]

Invader spoke for me with that bit fstorm quoted, too. Well-said.

 

 

went out to wells st tavern in delafield which has a FANTASTIC beer selection.

 

among my favorites there: rogue's dead guy ale which was absolute creamy ale goodness.

 

Rogue is a brewery out here in Portland. I'm very surprised you can get it at all -- let alone on tap. Sounds like Wells St. Tavern is a spot to definitely check out for those in SE WI. Dead Guy Ale is absolutely one of the most expensive beers to get out here, and you'd think that, being local, it might be a bit cheaper. Nope. It's damn good, and they know it.

[fstorm1]

Rogue is a brewery out here in Portland. I'm very surprised you can get it at all -- let alone on tap. Sounds like Wells St. Tavern is a spot to definitely check out for those in SE WI. Dead Guy Ale is absolutely one of the most expensive beers to get out here, and you'd think that, being local, it might be a bit cheaper. Nope. It's damn good, and they know it.

Rogue is readily available here in the Fox Valley as well. I've seen it at Woodman's, Flanagan's, and World Market. And they have two different sized bottles.

[TooLiveBrew]

Wow -- I didn't realize Rogue was distributed so widely. That's awesome.

[piccione88]

You can find anything at discount liquor, here in town, and there are plenty of places in milwaukee that sell different rogue beers. My favorite is the brutal bitter, although dead guy, and the chocalate stout are right up there.

[Beerambassador]

I tried the Leinie's nut brown and while it wasn't impressive, it wasn't bad either. I didn't really get the "nut" taste at all and found the use of chocolate malt in it a little overdone. If anything, it reminded me of a chocolate stout with the chocolate flavors. I enjoy chocolate stout's, but that's not what I'm looking for in a nut brown.

 

For a good, locally produced, nut brown, the Mad Town Nut Brown by Ale Asylum in Madison is outstanding.

[logan82]

Well I was down in Brookfield tonight and picked up some Anchor Porter and New(old) Schlitz. My wife scored the Anchor Porter as a meh. Probably not a repeat buy. As for the new Schlitz, I wouldn't turn one down if offered, but I will not seek it out either. We both tried the Leinies Nut Brown. Not impressed. It reminded me of Newcastle. My wife agreed but said Newcastle was better.

[JumpinMacFlash]

I tried the Leinie's nut brown and while it wasn't impressive, it wasn't bad either.

 

This is kind of how I felt too. It reminded me a little of their Creamy Dark, but not nearly as good. I used to like Leinie's a little more when I first started drinking beer, but some are just too sweet. I'm not a Berry or Honey fan anymore, and I agree, the Apple Spice was a complete abomination. However, I really do enjoy the Creamy Dark and Oktoberfest. I would also probably drink the Nut Brown again.

 

I've been kinda strapped for cash lately and I haven't been able to try anything new. It's kind of sad.

[Invader3K]

My wife picked up a six pack of the Leinie's Nut Brown yesterday, so I will probably be trying that this weekend. Will give thoughts then.

 

I tried the Budweiser American Ale on tap a local establishment the other night. It wasn't really my thing, but it wasn't bad either. I give Anheuser-Bussch some credit for at least trying something different. It wasn't something I'll go out of my way to drink again, though. The big positive for me was that it tastes nothing like their other more mainstream Budweiser products.