Battle of the Beers, Midwest style!

[tavernjef]

OK, so the big tourny is about to start, thats gonna cover this great brewing country of ours from coast to coast. But what out of the Midwest do you favor?
And what others just out of the class of Midwest states would you have in a separate tourny, go name crazy if you need to!

I'm gonna try to break it down by brewery if I can?

Bell's: Two-Hearted, Expediton Stout, Third Coast Old Ale, Kalamazoo Stout, Java Stout, Batch 6000, Double Cream Stout, and you can throw in the porter and Oberon.

Great Lakes: Eliot Ness, Burning River, Edmund Fitz., Dortmunder Gold

Three Floyds: Dreadnaught, Alpha King Pale

New Glarus: Unplugged Eisbock, Fat Squirrel, Staghorn, Hometown Blonde, Hop Hearty, Belgian Red, Raspberry Tart

Tyranena: Bitter Woman IPA, Bitter Woman From Hell Extra IPA, Stone Tepee Pale, Cheif Blackhawk Porter

Capital: Autumnal Fire, Bavarian Lager, Winter Skal, Dark Doppelbock, Blonde Doppelbock, Weizen Doppelbock, Kloster Weizen

Lakefront: Cream City Pale, Riverwest Stein, Holiday Spice

Viking: Big Swede, Whole Stein

Pioneer: Oscar's Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Summit: Great Northern porter

Boulevard: Bully Porter

New Holland: Mad Hatter

Goose Island: Imperial IPA, IPA

Town Hall: Masala Mama IPA

These all could very easily make the list; all top notchbeers in my book!

:cool:

[steveh]

Considering 80% of my original list was from the midwest anyway... :eek:

1. Capital Autumnal Fire
2. 3 Floyd's Dreadnaught IPA
3. Bell's Oberon Ale
4. Sprecher IPA
5. Bell's Batch 6000
6. Sierra Nevada IPA
7. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
8. 3 Floyd's Pride and Joy
9. Capital Maibock
10. New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk

So, maybe I'd replace

6. Goose Island Summertime (Kolsch)
and
7. Capital Weizen Doppelbock
and
11. 3 Floyds' Robert the Bruce
12. Sprecher Black Bavarian
13. Sprecher's Oktoberfest
14. Lakefront Stein Beer
16. New Glarus Zwickel...

If we get to brew pubs, we'll be in over our heads!

S.

BTW - Capital has updated their web site: http://www.capital-brewery.com

And the Dark Doppel is still on the list, but listed as a limited release for December and January now -- yessss!

[HarkJohnny]

Great Lakes: Burning River, Dortmunder Gold (especially the Dortmunder!!)

Three Floyds: Alpha King Pale

Goose Island: Imperial IPA, IPA

can't vote for others as I haven't had them, almost ashamed to say! but no one around here carries them.

[tavernjef]

If we get to brew pubs, we'll be in over our heads!

S.

And the Dark Doppel is still on the list, but listed as a limited release for December and January now -- yessss! [/B][/QUOTE]

Yah, no kidding, i could go on and on about Town Hall Brews, but I just had to put it in there cuz its one excellent IPA.

Good to see Dark Doppel will be around, I've been looking and haven't found any. If it was out in limited release in Dec. - Jan. and its now March...may have missed it:(

[steveh]

Originally posted by tavernjef
Good to see Dark Doppel will be around, I've been looking and haven't found any. If it was out in limited release in Dec. - Jan. and its now March...may have missed it:(

I didn't see it either, and the way I figure - the new rotation probably starts next December. I had heard there was contention from stock-holders on brewing it again (probably afraid of the dark - but in this case, they may be justified!), but it's too damn good for Kirby to let slide through the cracks!

S.

[crashbobo]

Anything Boulevard and anything Schlafly makes would make my list :)

[hops99]

Pretty much everything on Steveh and Tavernjef's lists, and I'd add just a few more:

Schlafly Pale Ale
Upland IPA
Celis White (hey, it's a Michigan brew now!)
Michigan Brewing High Seas IPA
Michigan Brewing Peninsula Porter
New Glarus Uff-Da Bock
Boulevard Bob's 47

Cheers!

[Tweek]

damnit! I havent had any of the beers you guys are talking about. Man I feel sorry for myself!

I need to take a beer trip to the midwest I suppose.

[HarkJohnny]

Originally posted by hops99
Schlafly Pale Ale

oh yeah! I had one of these at the Il Vicino in St. Louis. Very good after 5 hours of driving.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Tweek
damnit! I havent had any of the beers you guys are talking about. Man I feel sorry for myself!

I need to take a beer trip to the midwest I suppose.

Maybe we could set up some sort of "exchange" system as high schools do with students in other countries! ;)

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by crashbobo
...anything Schlafly makes would make my list :)

I've heard nothing but good things about this brewery/pub. A co-worker used to live pretty close to one of the pubs and was always lamenting about the beer.

Hmm, baseball season is nearly here, Cardinals and Cubs...

S.

[HarkJohnny]

yeah Steveh, your Cubby's are playing my Reds on Opening Day. I'll be there! Prepare for a whoopin!

[steveh]

Originally posted by HarkJohnny
yeah Steveh, your Cubby's are playing my Reds on Opening Day. I'll be there! Prepare for a whoopin!

Oohh - make no mistake - they aren't my Cubbies, I'm no fool! I'm a Cardinals and White Sox fan - sort'a the anti-Cub fan! :p

S.

However, I love watchin' a game at Wrigley - nuthin' like it.

[Tweek]

Originally posted by steveh
Maybe we could set up some sort of "exchange" system as high schools do with students in other countries! ;)

S.

LOL that would be perfect! Though explaining it to the wife may be a bit tough.

[Prankasaur]

1. Three Floyds Alpha

2. Backroad IPA (Local brewer here in LaPorte)

3. Bell's Kalamazoo Stout

Sincerely,


Cub Fan Prankasaur

[crashbobo]

Glad you are a cards fan steveh. You should hit St. Louis for a game then go to the Schlafly Tap Room. I loved everything that I tried there besides the Barley Wine. I have never tried any other barley wines, so it may be that barley wines just aren't my cup of tea. Anyways, I highly recommend hitting the Tap Room, they have cask conditioned beer too as well as a fun atmosphere.

[davesarman]

Some awesome Midwestern beers have been listed here. However I'd like to throw Schell's Dopplebock in the ring as well.

[dcunited81]

I agree with most of the beers listed here, I just can't believe that no one has thrown the names of the two best beers from New Glaurus!! What about Native Ale and Spotted Cow gents and ladies?

[steveh]

I've only tried Native Ale once and it doesn't seem to have made a huge impression. I'll have to give it another go.

I'd like to find the "Totally Naked," extra pale - it sounds like the ultimate cross between a Pils and a Pale Ale.

Spotted Cow is, well - it's a nice quaffing bitter. It wouldn't be my first choice from the NG offerings. Now the Zwickel...

S.

[hops99]

I thought the Native Ale was a very light brown ale when I tried it last summer - not very hearty, but a decent session brew.

My favorite NG beer is still the Dunkel Weizen that I haven't been able to find for a few years - man, that was an awesome beer...

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by steveh


I'd like to find the "Totally Naked," extra pale - it sounds like the ultimate cross between a Pils and a Pale Ale.


S.

I've had it, and actually still have two bottles in the beer fridge. I haven't tried one in a while, but it seems to me it was very pilsner-like...a light, refreshing, summer "after-yard-work" type of brew. I have often given it to "swill" drinkers who want to be adventurous and try something different; it isn't bold enough to scare them off...most actually like it.
I may have to try one again with a clean palate and see if I am remembering it correctly.
I will report back and if you are interested, I could try to find some locally...it should be available.

[steveh]

Originally posted by BluesHarp
...I could try to find some locally...it should be available.

No need Harp, thanks for the offer, I'll keep my eyes open! Hey, check yer PMs...

S.

[dcunited81]

Originally posted by hops99
I thought the Native Ale was a very light brown ale when I tried it last summer - not very hearty, but a decent session brew.

My favorite NG beer is still the Dunkel Weizen that I haven't been able to find for a few years - man, that was an awesome beer...

I agree that the Dunkel Weizen is an awesome brew!! I had my first taste of it over the Holiday Season this past winter. Really, it's been hard for me to find fault with anything I've tried from them. Probably the best little brewery in the Midwest in my book.

[davesarman]

Originally posted by dcunited81
Really, it's been hard for me to find fault with anything I've tried from them. Probably the best little brewery in the Midwest in my book.

I would agree. My wife likes the Spotted Cow and I love the Uff-da Bock, Hop Hearty and of course the Cherry. They used to make an apple ale that was out of this world. Drove through New Glarus on my way to Chicago a couple years back specifically to see the brewery. The day I stopped in they weren't brewing and had no one to give a tour, so they said, "Go ahead and just give your sef a self guided tour!" What a neat little place. One of the best breweries in the country. Like Bell's, I have a hard time finding fault with any of their beers. Some are better than others, but every one is well made.

[steveh]

Originally posted by dcunited81
I agree that the Dunkel Weizen is an awesome brew!! I had my first taste of it over the Holiday Season this past winter. Really, it's been hard for me to find fault with anything I've tried from them.

Says it comes out next month - hope your Holiday samples weren't old!
http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/beers.html

Probably the best little brewery in the Midwest in my book.

Though I still enjoy the NG brews, my allegiances still lie with Capital. If NG ever improves their Staghorn Octoberfest, who knows? Then again, Capital doesn't make a stout, but there is their Doppelbock, then there's...OH! The decisions, the decisions! ;)

S.

[hops99]

Though I still enjoy the NG brews, my allegiances still lie with Capital.

Man, that would be a tough call. I'd probably give an edge - a very slight edge - to New Glarus, but Capital is fantastic as well. If I could take my 3 favorite Capital brews (Autumnal Fire, Kloster Weizen, Winter Skal) and my 3 favorite NG brews (Copper Kettle Weiss, Snowshoe Ale, Uff-Da Bock), I'd be content on any desert island...

[steveh]

Hops - you should make the trip to the Quivey's Grove Beer Festival, just outside Madison - not far from New Glarus. NG and Capital are there with 3 or 4 beers, along with about 29 other midwest micros and brew-pubs (even a couple regionals and macros). Great Lakes even sent a contingent last year!

This is the link to last year's fest, they usually start planning for the current event in early Summer: http://www.quiveysgrove.com/beerfest/beerfest2003.htm

My friends and I camp for the weekend at New Glarus Woods State Park!

S.