Topic: Beer!

[Jim S]

Had all but two of the Trappist Breweries.

How many are there?   

[whitedevilbrewing]

7.

Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westvleteren, Westmalle, Koningshoeven, aaaand Kluis which I always forget and had to look up

[Jim S]

7.

Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westvleteren, Westmalle, Koningshoeven, aaaand Kluis which I always forget and had to look up

Had some of the Westvleteren 12 last weekend...I was at my B.I.L.'s house for poker and another guest brought two 16oz bottles, for which he had paid $20 each on ebay. 

The brewery's three beers have acquired an international reputation for taste and quality, as well as the limited availability of the beers which are not brewed to normal commercial demands. 

(Apparently the only places one can buy it "retail" is at the monastary itself, and a pub directly across the street from it.)

And I happen to have some Rochefort in my "cellar".   Never had it before.   (I've had Chimay and Westmalle.)  So, I'll soon have tasted 4 of the 7. 

[Ah.hell]

I say buy a pack of mixed styles from one brewery and report back to us which one you like the best, then we can tell you where to go from there.

I like everything except the standard american mass produced lagers and IPAs, APAs, PAs, ESBs and anything with the word "hop" in the title.  From there, stouts, porters, fruit beers, coffee beers, lambics and farmhouse ales are my favs.

I would say almost the opposite of this and traditional stouts and porters are good.  I've also wondered about the hatred of American lagers, they're basically just German pilsners.

Also, don't start with Belgians, I would also say don't finish there either but some folks.   Fruit beers or anything remotely sweet is intolerable.

[Karyn]

I say buy a pack of mixed styles from one brewery and report back to us which one you like the best, then we can tell you where to go from there.

I like everything except the standard american mass produced lagers and IPAs, APAs, PAs, ESBs and anything with the word "hop" in the title.  From there, stouts, porters, fruit beers, coffee beers, lambics and farmhouse ales are my favs.

I would say almost the opposite of this and traditional stouts and porters are good.  I've also wondered about the hatred of American lagers, they're basically just German pilsners.

Also, don't start with Belgians, I would also say don't finish there either but some folks.   Fruit beers or anything remotely sweet is intolerable.

Very true.    Beer is such an amazingly diverse medium, and I'm sure there is something there for most everyone.

[SkeptiKiwi]

A mate of mine has a brewery here in Wellington. He's very much into the potential of beer as a diverse medium. But only so long as it's not gimmicky

Double Day of the Dead

http://garageproject.co.nz/

[seamas]

  I've also wondered about the hatred of American lagers, they're basically just German pilsners.

What do you mean by "American Lagers"?
If you mean the big brand stuff like Anheuser Bush, Miller and Coors, I would have to strenuously disagree.
These American brands really have made their product as flavorless as they can. Their big advertising push is often things like "no aftertaste".
Once upon a time--before prohibition--these brands DID produce beers similar to Bohemian lagers. Both Budweiser and Michelob take their names from Bohemian towns that inspired each brew. The recipes have been altered several times to make them less and less flavorful.


Some EXCELLENT American lagers: Brooklyn Lager (a vienna style), Brooklyn Pilsner, Sierra Nevada Summer Fest (awesome Helles/Pilsner), Troegs Sunshine Pils, LaGunitas Pils.

[Kessdawg]

I've just fallen in love with New Belgium breweries Trippel.  A great belgian style beer, although watch out: at 7+% ABV it goes to your head sneaky fast!

[Jim S]

Had some Orval last night, along with some Rochefort 10, (had the Rochefort 8 earlier this week), and some St. Bernardus Tripel, which was on tap.  It has been a good week for beer!   

I'm up to 5 of the 7, now.    (and I still like the St. Bernardus better than any of the Trappist ales I've had so far.)


The restaurant where we were last night had about 30 different Belgian beers, I guess?  They had the "official" glass for every single one of them, which was kinda cool.

[Traveler]

The restaurant where we were last night had about 30 different Belgian beers, I guess?  They had the "official" glass for every single one of them, which was kinda cool.

Where is this?

[Jim S]

The restaurant where we were last night had about 30 different Belgian beers, I guess?  They had the "official" glass for every single one of them, which was kinda cool.

Where is this?

Brussels Bistro, on Forest, just up from PCH in Laguna.   


I think we should meet there to draft up that anti-harrassment policy you asked for.  We don't want to be unprepared...

[Nudibranch]

I am very new to drinking, but of the few beers I've had I have to say my favorite is Blue Moon.

[drphilgood]

beer = good

[Traveler]

Brussels Bistro, on Forest, just up from PCH in Laguna.   

I want to boycott them just because their website is so awful.

[WC]

Mmmmmmmm... Orval.... Sacrilicious....

Aurghghghghghghgh....