New guy needs new beer.

[beer surfer]

Obviously im new here, but Ive been lurking while waiting to post and seems like people here really know a lot about beer.

Im relatively new to the world of real beer (any non-macro brewery), but that doesnt mean I havent tried some good beer. Here are my top 5 right now (not in order).

Brooklynn Lager
Sam Adams Octoberfest
Stella Artois
Sierra Nevada
Saranac Hefeweizen

Well im really here looking to learn more about beer and try as many as I can, so any help finding a good beer, local(New York) or not would be appreciated.

[wortchillergoal]

Where in NY? There are more Brooklyn products to try. Middle Ages here in Syr has some nice beers. There is The Southern Tier Brewery, the Ithaca Brewing Co., and Saranac beers from Utica as well. If you liked the Stella, try the Belgian White from Saranac. There are many more and I should mention Ommegang for Belgian styles made in Copperstown.

[ratman03]

Originally posted by beer surfer
Obviously im new here, but Ive been lurking while waiting to post and seems like people here really know a lot about beer.

Im relatively new to the world of real beer (any non-macro brewery), but that doesnt mean I havent tried some good beer. Here are my top 5 right now (not in order).

Brooklynn Lager
Sam Adams Octoberfest
Stella Artois
Sierra Nevada
Saranac Hefeweizen

Well im really here looking to learn more about beer and try as many as I can, so any help finding a good beer, local(New York) or not would be appreciated.

You're doing ok for starters, but lose the Stella -- FAST!

Oh, Brooklyn Lager... that's a blast from the recent past. I had that from a fresh keg once in Boston, and I gotta say that was one of the best tasting beers I've had the pleasure to taste. But I digress...

How about trying Sam Adams Boston Ale.

And try something from Rogue, if you can find it back east.

I don't know if you can find Ipswich, but try their ale if you can.

Cheers!

[anita]

Originally posted by beer surfer
Obviously im new here, but Ive been lurking while waiting to post and seems like people here really know a lot about beer.

Im relatively new to the world of real beer (any non-macro brewery), but that doesnt mean I havent tried some good beer. Here are my top 5 right now (not in order).

Brooklynn Lager
Sam Adams Octoberfest
Stella Artois
Sierra Nevada
Saranac Hefeweizen

Well im really here looking to learn more about beer and try as many as I can, so any help finding a good beer, local(New York) or not would be appreciated.

Hey me too! New girl to this site. I have two I'd like to suggest. My main fave is London Pride by Fullers. The other is Hobgoblin also a UK beer. I wish I could remember the name of a Czech beer I have tried lately. I guess I'll have to go and get some more then I will write the name down. Yeah, it was fab too, but I'm stuck on London Pride. Not a bitter, and a large bottle :D

[corkybstewart]

Welcome guys/gals.
From your list I can see you're not yet into overpowering hop bombs. That's a plus, there are lots of good beers out there you could try. One of my favorites is Odell's 90 Shilling, an absolutely delicious well balanced beer. For hefe's I'd try some German ones. Generally they have more character than their American versions. Deschute Brewery in Oregon makes a good pale ale and a great porter, and should be easyto find But if you want a truly different type of beer, try Belgians like Duvel, Chimay, or Orval. They're a little pricey, but you're not going to be slamming back a dozen of them, you'll be appreciating them. And run from the plague that is Stella, it's just an overpriced version of 90% of other overpriced generic Euro-lagers, it's their version of Old Milwaukee.

[beer surfer]

Thanks for all of your input.Im really anxious to try some of these beers, some of them might be a little harder to find but ill get my hands on them eventually.

BTW, I live on Long Island so hopefully thats specific enough.

Id also like to know how much longer the octoberfests are gonna be around since theyre seasonal. Ive only had the sam adams and spaten brews but id like to try a few more.

[chazwicke]

Welcome Beer Surfer and Anita. Beer Surfer you should try soem of the local Long Island brewpubs and breweries. Check out this link:

http://www.loving-long-island.com/long-island-beer.html

[beer surfer]

Just got back from checkin out what beers I should get next. Unfortunately the distributors closed before the gym did, so I stopped by stop&shop real quick.

As expected not a great selection, 50% were all macros and another 30% were flavored drinks.

As for the rest, the ones that im yet to try are;
Blue Moon
Sam Adams-Boston Lager, Winter Lager and Cherry Wheat
Spaten Premium Lager (Enjoyed the Oktoberfest)
Winter Sampler 12 pack of Saranac (Only had a few of these)

and thats about it. Any input on how these beers are would be great.

[wortchillergoal]

The Saranac Winter pack has one bottle of Carmel Porter in it. They only put this beer in the winter pack and only one bottle. I think it is one of their best beers. Sam Adams is a good staple beer. I like the Boston Ale over the lager.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by beer surfer
Thanks for all of your input.Im really anxious to try some of these beers, some of them might be a little harder to find but ill get my hands on them eventually.

BTW, I live on Long Island so hopefully thats specific enough.

Id also like to know how much longer the octoberfests are gonna be around since theyre seasonal. Ive only had the sam adams and spaten brews but id like to try a few more.

If you're ever in the Huntington area, stop here:
http://www.shorelinebeverage.com/

Browse and grab singles of anything you may not have heard of. Big malt monsters, hop bombs, spiced ales, Trappist beers, etc. Only way to figure out what you enjoy and what you don't.

In the end, drink what you like.

Cheers!

[wortchillergoal]

About your handle. How much surfing can you do on LI? My father lives in E Northport.

[beer surfer]

Thanks for the input again.

Surfing around here isn't as bad as they say. It can get decent size, but it is mroe inconsistent and the swells dont last as long as, say the West Coast.

Winter can be relatively consistent, its just colder but if you love surfing enough than you barely even notice this factor. There have been weeks straight with a decent or good swell every weekend.

[piratedrunk]

Originally posted by beer surfer
Just got back from checkin out what beers I should get next. Unfortunately the distributors closed before the gym did, so I stopped by stop&shop real quick.

As expected not a great selection, 50% were all macros and another 30% were flavored drinks.

As for the rest, the ones that im yet to try are;
Blue Moon
Sam Adams-Boston Lager, Winter Lager and Cherry Wheat
Spaten Premium Lager (Enjoyed the Oktoberfest)
Winter Sampler 12 pack of Saranac (Only had a few of these)

and thats about it. Any input on how these beers are would be great.

Never had the pleasure of trying Spaten or Saranac. Sam's a good standby. I like their Cherry Wheat even though people call me a pansy. I like the fruity beers.

I've had a good deal of Blue Moon recently. The local Publix seems to sucker me into buying these brews that seem new and exciting only to find out their from Busch or Coors. Blue Moon is a subsidiary of Coors. Not to say that it's crap ... although I didn't care for their Pumpkin Ale. The Winter Ale was a nice introduction to the "genre" if winter ale is indeed an actual style. Possibly the best Canadian beer I've had. It gets a little old before you finish a 12-pack, though.

Another new type for me was Stone Mill Pale Ale - an organic selection. Come to find out this is an Anheuser-Busch beer. But I'll be damned, it's a fine brew, at least to my unrefined palate. Hoppy, refined, tasty ... plus, it's organic! A far cry from Bud Light, lemme tell ya.

The moral? Probably there isn't one. But don't assume that macro = bad and micro = good. There seems to be an attempt by the big names to reach out to the craft beer market and they're holding their own (IMHO). Is it bad to enjoy a specialty beer made by a mega-company that also produces beer for the masses? In the end, as newport says, drink what you like.

[nickhorvath12]

If you live in the Huntington area, you should check out shoreline beverage (http://shorelinebeverage.com/). They have an amazing selection, it blows my mind everytime I go there and spend 30 minutes walking up and down the isles. A little pricey, but very worth it - plus they always have 4 or 5 beers on tap for growler filling. This is my beer heaven.


[edit]: I see I was a month late with this information, newportstorm beat me to it. Still, an amazing place with a great selection.

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by anita
I wish I could remember the name of a Czech beer I have tried lately.

Chezchvar (Budvar)?? Pilsner Urquel????

[beer surfer]

Well my top 5 has changed in the last month or so.

Used to be:
Brooklynn Lager
Sam Adams Octoberfest
Stella Artois
Sierra Nevada
Saranac Hefeweizen

Now it's:
Brooklyn lager (staple party beer)
Brooklyn Imperial Stout
Dogfish Head 90 Minute
Sierra Nevada
Either Sam Adams or Spaten oktoberfest, need to drink them proximal to each other.

Once again, not in order, but I can say that dogfish would be in first. Tried it the other night and what can I say? If you've drank it you know, if you haven't than buy it right now.

[Insidious Rex]

Imperial Stout! 90 Minute! I see your indoctrination is all going according to plan. *evil laughter* Congrats. We’ll soon have you buying Belgian Quadruples, Barley Wines and Double IPA’s by the case! :D And maybe THEN the cycle will take you back to true quality lagers and subtle tasty pilsners. At least thats how it all worked for me...

[corkybstewart]

I see progress, but you'll know you're there when you can enjoy an oude gueze as well as a Dogfish 90, you recognize Orval or Rocheforte 10 with your eyes closed, and you've just brewed your 10th batch.

[beer surfer]

Last night was a good one, got four more quality beers under my belt.

Rogue Shakespeare Stout
Arrogant Bastard
Rogue Brutal Bitter
Spaten Optimator

Arrogant Bastard with its complex flavors was by far my favorite of the night.

[corkybstewart]

I tried a new one last night, Avery Jubilation. Damn fine beer, had a head you could walk on and a very nice hops flavor, not overpowering but pretty assertive.

[Saint-Thomas]

Originally posted by beer surfer
Last night was a good one, got four more quality beers under my belt.

Rogue Shakespeare Stout
Arrogant Bastard
Rogue Brutal Bitter
Spaten Optimator

Arrogant Bastard with its complex flavors was by far my favorite of the night.
All very fine beers! All this talk of Spaten is making me thirsty. Too bad I have to drive 120 miles to get some. Brutal Bitter is my grocery store standby if I can't find anything else/ don't want to drive to the specialty store.

My latest discovery is Hitachino Nest Pale Ale. Yummy! But too pricey for what it is.

[Phatz]

Originally posted by Saint-Thomas
All very fine beers! All this talk of Spaten is making me thirsty. Too bad I have to drive 120 miles to get some. Brutal Bitter is my grocery store standby if I can't find anything else/ don't want to drive to the specialty store.

My latest discovery is Hitachino Nest Pale Ale. Yummy! But too pricey for what it is.

No Spaten. Really? I thought they had really great distribution. We'll I may just spoiled living in PA.

[Saint-Thomas]

Spaten distribution is spotty in Knoxville, just like anything else decent. There was a restaraunt which had it on tap, but they quit due to their distrubutor not getting it regularly. There are two stores which carry the Munich-Helles at over $10 a six pack, and no Optimator or Oktoberfest. The cheaper of the two stores is 30 miles from my house.

The cities I go to to get beer are, Asheville, NC. , Pittsburgh, and Murfreesboro, TN. I also have regular suticases filled with beer from Manchester, England!

[chazwicke]

I'm off to England, Scotland and Wales this afternoon. :) Need my annual fix of real ale.

[corkybstewart]

You're a lucky dog Chaz, enjoy yourself and hoist a pint or two for me.

[Saint-Thomas]

Ditto, Chaz! I just noticed you live in the D.C. area? I try to visit the Brickskellar once a year. At the rate I'm going, I'll be dead before I finish trying their beers list!
Cheers.

[skahtboi]

I have a better idea Chaz...spring for airfare for all of us to go along!!!! :D

[chazwicke]

Had a great time. My son and I managed 100 beers between us. I'll post the list later. Just got back and am working on cleaning out my mail boxes.

[Pivo Prosim]

Welcome back.

Once you've resettled I'd be very interested to read what your favorite beers/ales were and what were some of your favorite pubs to visit.

I have to admit, when I went to London last year I was underwhelmed by most of the ales I tried although I loved the atmosphere of some of the classic old style pubs. Of course, maybe I just didn't try the top drawer stuff, whatever that might be.

Looking forward to your veteran observations.

[chazwicke]

I posted a list here:

http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?threadid=14419

No real reviews though.

[DecoJuicer]

Did anybody suggest Ommegang yet? They are in New York(Cooperstown), their beers are outstanding, AND they hold a great beer festival every year.

[Shawnus]

Is anybody going to London Drinker beer festival at Kings Cross this weekend? I am going there Friday evening.

if anyone has 1 minute could you sign this for me?
http://www.petitiononline.com/RealAle/petition.html

just a little joke between friends for someone not coming with us.

Thanks

Shawnus