Beer snob discussion thread

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Wooball

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BORIStheCrusher;660660 wrote:St. Bernardus ABT 12 is wonderful if you have the taste for it. I Wear Pants, have you had Trappist Rochefort 10? Highly recommend it if you like ABT 12. Some good advise given by O-Trap, and I'll add some popular breweries/beers worth checking out.

Sierra Nevada - their Pale Ale sets the bar for other pale ales out there, also try Bigfoot, Torpedo and Celebration Ale
Stone - Pretty much anything; make some beers that will kick your ass but taste amazing
Dogfish Head - 60min IPA, 90min IPA, Indian Brown Ale
Lagunitas - Lil Sumpin Sumpin, Hop Stoopid, Old GnarlyWine
Bells - Two Hearted, Hopslam, Kalamazoo Stout
Chimay
Trappist Rochefort
And if you're feeling a bit risky try out some sours. If you can find Jolly Pumpkin start out there, and if you're lucky enough to get your hands on any bottle of Cantillon, grab it. Really the best thing to do is find a place that has a good selection and try anything that looks interesting and go from there. Try something different every time and you will start to figure out what styles and breweries you really like.

By the way O-Trap, I'm assuming you're a BA?

Some good selections here. Bell's Two-Hearted is one of my favorites. If you are interested in beers outside of your standard domestics but don't want to just start buying 6 packs, I would suggest doing the Winking Lizard World Tour (or something comparable). It is a great time and by the end of it you will know what you like and don't. You may even find out that you like a certain style that you thought you would hate.

Just had a Breckinridge Vanilla Porter, which was very tasty. Also enjoyed a Heavy Seas Golden Ale, which I had once before while in Baltimore. Their Loose Cannon is also good.

Just read that Andy Tveekrem (former brewmaster of Great Lakes and Dogfish Head and fellow College of Wooster grad) is opening a microbrewery in the Ohio City area near GLB. It is to be called Market Beer Garden. Hoping it is open when I am in town for the NCAA men's 1st and 2nd round this March.
Feb 1, 2011 4:57pm
I

I Wear Pants

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Sweet. How does one become a brewmaster anyway?
Feb 1, 2011 5:02pm
BORIStheCrusher's avatar

BORIStheCrusher

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Didn't know about Market Beer Garden, thanks for the info. And Loose Cannon is an awesome IPA.
Feb 1, 2011 5:03pm
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BORIStheCrusher

drunk

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I Wear Pants;660935 wrote:Sweet. How does one become a brewmaster anyway?

Do you brew beer?
Feb 1, 2011 5:05pm
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

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BORIStheCrusher;660936 wrote:Didn't know about Market Beer Garden, thanks for the info. And Loose Cannon is an awesome IPA.

Most of Heavy Seas is pretty good, but I remember being disappointed by one of them. For the life of me, I can't remember which, though.
Feb 1, 2011 5:06pm
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BORIStheCrusher

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O-Trap;660938 wrote:Most of Heavy Seas is pretty good, but I remember being disappointed by one of them. For the life of me, I can't remember which, though.

The one beer of theirs I didn't like was their stout Peg Leg.
Feb 1, 2011 5:10pm
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O-Trap

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BORIStheCrusher;660943 wrote:The one beer of theirs I didn't like was their stout Peg Leg.

That was it!

It wasn't that I hated it. I'm partial to stouts anyway. I just remember being disappointed, because there are so many better stouts out there.
Feb 1, 2011 5:25pm
I

I Wear Pants

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BORIStheCrusher;660937 wrote:Do you brew beer?
Me and my brother are looking to get into it. I got him a copy of BeerSmith which is software that helps with brewing and such.

I wasn't saying I want to become a brewmaster or trying to say it isn't difficult. I was just wondering whether there is a usual major or former field of work for those guys.
Feb 1, 2011 5:38pm
BORIStheCrusher's avatar

BORIStheCrusher

drunk

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I Wear Pants;660971 wrote:Me and my brother are looking to get into it. I got him a copy of BeerSmith which is software that helps with brewing and such.

I wasn't saying I want to become a brewmaster or trying to say it isn't difficult. I was just wondering whether there is a usual major or former field of work for those guys.

A lot of them started out brewing in their home and moved on from there. There are forums and books that will teach you what you need to know, and kits you can buy with everything you need. I started about a year ago and brewed 4 batches with mixed results. If you like cooking and like beer it's really fun.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/everything-a-carboy-complete-brewing-package-equipment-kit-2.html - This is the kit that I got. There are some cheaper, but it came with bottles and ingredients to make my first batch.
Feb 1, 2011 5:48pm
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said_aouita

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check out

http://www.ratebeer.com/
Feb 1, 2011 5:51pm
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Curly J

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O-Trap;660960 wrote:That was it!

It wasn't that I hated it. I'm partial to stouts anyway. I just remember being disappointed, because there are so many better stouts out there.
This^^^ I actually had it at the Beerfest in Cincinnati, a year ago, and it was the ONLY beer I dumped out all night.

OTrap, if you are a Stout man you need to try some of the Black Water series from Southern Tier Brewing.
Feb 1, 2011 6:16pm
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O-Trap

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Curly J;661014 wrote:This^^^ I actually had it at the Beerfest in Cincinnati, a year ago, and it was the ONLY beer I dumped out all night.

OTrap, if you are a Stout man you need to try some of the Black Water series from Southern Tier Brewing.

Oh, I'm a HUGE fan of Southern Tier, and I've tried that. Delicious, and one of the best for the money. My favorite stout is Old Rasputin, but that's damn good.

Speaking of Southern Tier, they've got a really good Porter.
Feb 1, 2011 6:56pm
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gerb131

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Get over to WVA and hit some Black Diamond Stout.
Feb 1, 2011 7:02pm
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OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

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I noticed my brother posted a bit about a little microbrewery he fancies in Zanesville, Weasel Boy Brewing Company.

Check it out here.
Feb 1, 2011 7:10pm
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My favorite (partially for the novelty): Great Lakes Barrel Aged Blackout Stout. I've only had it twice, and it's not worth the price, but it's still pretty tasty, and easily my favorite from Great Lakes, who is good, but typically over-priced in my opinion.
Feb 1, 2011 7:12pm
I

I Wear Pants

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The Blackout Stout is pretty popular at the bar at Great Lakes brewery. It's what I see a ton of people ordering when I've been there.
Feb 1, 2011 7:15pm
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Old Rasputin is awesome. I also love their Old Stock Ale. Being that it's 12.5% it might be hard to find in Ohio. Those are about the only 2 North Coast Beers I've tried, that I can recall, but they are both top of the line beers.

The Wife looks forward every year to the release of Southern Tiers Choklat and Mokah. We end up buying 5 bottles at a time when we find them at our local beep stop. And they taste just that way, Choklat and Mokah...with Alcohol !!!
Feb 1, 2011 7:16pm
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I Wear Pants;661073 wrote:The Blackout Stout is pretty popular at the bar at Great Lakes brewery. It's what I see a ton of people ordering when I've been there.

Damn. I wonder what it costs at the brewery. I bought it once and it ran me like $60 for a 4-pack.
Feb 1, 2011 7:17pm
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DeyDurkie5

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I know it's not all beer snobby and BA approved, but I am addicted to newcastle brown ale at the moment
Feb 1, 2011 7:23pm
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O-Trap

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DeyDurkie5;661084 wrote:I know it's not all beer snobby and BA approved, but I am addicted to newcastle brown ale at the moment

There is nothing wrong with a little guilty pleasure from time to time. Don't worry. We won't hate you for it. ;)
Feb 1, 2011 7:25pm
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Curly J

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DeyDurkie5;661084 wrote:I know it's not all beer snobby and BA approved, but I am addicted to newcastle brown ale at the moment
I've actually have been to a beer tasting and the had Newcastle Brown as the brown ale representative, right next to other craft beers. The secret to Newcastle Brown is drink at a little warmer temp as that will allow for more flavor. When it's real cold, that coldness will mask some flavor. Almost taste like two different beers if you do a cold/warm side by side tasting.

I like my beers on the warm side anyway. I can drink all my Stouts room temp and a few others styles/beers at room temp. (Hopslam being one)
Feb 1, 2011 7:33pm
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DeyDurkie5

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Curly J;661096 wrote:I've actually have been to a beer tasting and the had Newcastle Brown as the brown ale representative, right next to other craft beers. The secret to Newcastle Brown is drink at a little warmer temp as that will allow for more flavor. When it's real cold, that coldness will mask some flavor. Almost taste like two different beers if you do a cold/warm side by side tasting.

I like my beers on the warm side anyway. I can drink all my Stouts room temp and a few others styles/beers at room temp. (Hopslam being one)


I think it's perfect cold, but then again if I drink a beer, I want it to be cold 100% of the time.
Feb 1, 2011 7:40pm
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Mohican00

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I Wear Pants;661073 wrote:The Blackout Stout is pretty popular at the bar at Great Lakes brewery. It's what I see a ton of people ordering when I've been there.

because it gets you retarded...quickly. Think four loko with an ascot
Feb 1, 2011 7:50pm
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I Wear Pants

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O-Trap;661078 wrote:Damn. I wonder what it costs at the brewery. I bought it once and it ran me like $60 for a 4-pack.
I didn't order one but when I was there the prices were $4 for their regular brews and $5 for seasonals or their brewpub exclusives. Their website lists Blackout as an exclusive so I'd guess it's $5.
Feb 1, 2011 9:05pm
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Curly J;661014 wrote:This^^^ I actually had it at the Beerfest in Cincinnati, a year ago, and it was the ONLY beer I dumped out all night.

OTrap, if you are a Stout man you need to try some of the Black Water series from Southern Tier Brewing.

Are you going to the beer fest at Duke in a few weeks? My wife and I are going for my birthday.
Feb 1, 2011 9:11pm