need a new ale

[asciibaron]

the past 4 six packs have been:

Sierra Neveda Pale Ale - I like it, but it's a little hop heavy for all around drinking

Pete's Wicked - Not my cup of tea. I remember it being better for some reason. Did they really change the recipe that much?

Victory Hop Head IPA - seemed kind of flat, not smooth

Anchor Steam - the aftertaste is a bit too tart for me

I used to drink Yuengling Lager and Black and Tan. I like Blue Ridge Amber Ale and Wild Goose Oatmeal Stout.

Steve
Severn, MD

[Tweek]

Rogue Dead Guy Ale.

Actually it is a Maibock. THis stuff is real tasty. Good malt forward beer with slight hop spice and good floral hop boquet.

[batkins]

I'd have to second that Dead Guy. Full Sail Amber is a really nice beer, also. What area are you in? I gather from the Victory, your not in the Northwest.

[asciibaron]

i'm just south of Ballmer, er Baltimore Maryland. saturday i'm going to Clipper City for a tour. that should be fun. i hope to sample their products to see what i like.

i think i'm just out of practice - i have been drinking lame-o beer for a few years - that and not really drinking - my infant son is too demanding for me to relax with a few beers :)

-steve

[hurk]

In the Annapolis/Balto. area, you won't be able to get Full Sail Amber Ale (which was suggested by the other poster). It was a great suggestion though. Rogue Dead Guy is excellent, particularly if you think Sierra Nevada is hop-heavy. You might also want to try Three Floyds Robert the Bruce Scottish Ale, which is a very malty beer that I'm sure you would like. Also, Avery Redpoint Amber Ale, which is excellent and probably the lightest of those I've mentioned here. All of these are available in your area. It's a shame about the HopDevil--I wonder if it was old--bottles of this now contain best before dates in the upper right hand corner.

[asciibaron]

my hop devil bottles have no date on them. how recent is the date inclusion?

lastnight i sat down with 1 of each of the aforementioned beers and had my own little taste test. it was interesting tasting the differences when you changed the sequence of sampling.

the anchor steam tasted great after the hop devil, but had a roasted flavor after the pete's wicked. i was able to note the different tastes and that was something i had never been able to do - isolate a taste within a beer. the contrasting flavors really jumped out.

thanks for the suggestions, i'll see what i can find.

-steve hanlon

[Chango]

another vote here for the dead guy... rogue's american amber's pretty good, too.
if you were near arizona, i'd say give the sonora desert amber a shot, it's a beautiful little non-hoppy ale.

[threecb]

I'm not sure if these would be available in your area (i'm in central Jersey), but here's a couple that I enjoy.

Appalachian Brewing Co. (Harrisburg, PA):
--Purist Pale - Not aggressively hopped, nice, drinkable beer
--Jolly Scot - One of the better East Coast versions of a soctch ale.

Flying Fish (Cherry Hill, NJ):
--XPA (extra pale ale) - this is easily accessible for me, so it's a frequent choice
--Farmhouse Summer or Winter Grand Cru -- depending on the season, these are very quaffable Belgian style. Farmhouse is my favorite shore/picnic beer!

Dogfish Head (Lewes, DE):
--I forget their Pale Ale name, but it's solid, with an assertive hop nose and a smooth finish
--Do they still bottle the Indian Brown? I like that one very much, but haven't seen it locally lately

...and if you ever get a chance to try just about anything from Middle Ages in Syracuse, NY, do it. I love their stuff...

steve

[asciibaron]

found the date on the hop devil - mar 04 03. it's only a month past it's fresh date :)

[Drinkman]

I have drunk all these regularly and like them all.

1. Bass
2. Old Speckled Hen (15 oz. can with widget)
3. Ruddles County (also in a can w/widget)

Hope this helps you out.

[S.F.B.]

I like the Dead Guy suggestion, also. I would throw in Bridgeport's Pin Tail Ale and Deschutte's Mirror Pond.

[Theakston]

Bear Republic IPA (their hop rod rye is pretty damn good too as is their racer 5 and their red rocket ale)
Red Seal Ale (North Coast brewing) Like Sierra Nevada but I think better rounded.

An English I recently enjoyed:
Hop Back Summer Lightening. When Summer eventually comes (if?) this will be a good thirst quencher.

All of these are available in the DC area.

As far as Victory goes. I like what they are doing but I've had some real skunkers from them. They have serious quality control problems. I hope they work them out.
(BTW the date they give is, I think, the bottled on date not a best before so it should be in it's prime)

[Bman]

Picked up a couple of brews on Business in Iowa last week-an old favorite Schild Brau from Milstream in Amana and Stein Bock from Stone City in Solon-like the schild Brau-nice session Vienna style lager. I think I have an off 6 pick of the oher beer-seems a bit off-nice warm beer in the Mai Bock style.

If you all make it to Des Moines check out Raccoon River Brewing and Court Ave. Brewing-I prefer Court Ave-nice "party" part of town-nice beer t's and good food. Raccoon is good too-like the scene at Court Ave-although it is a bit yuppie-

Next up-the big apple-looking to ty Hearltand Brews-among others.

A beer in the hand is better than one in the fridge

[Fast_Eddy]

I'm gonna throw my hat in the ring for Dead Guy Ale. I had it for the first time this weekend and it is exceptional.

[MmmBeer]

No one mentioned the Dogfish 90 minute IPA? Just got it for the first time. WOW! What a kick in the tongue. The guy at the counter looked over at me and said "You realize this is $9 for a four pack?" I said "You realize what you're holding there?". Worth every cent, this beer is ridiculous.

[dillen]

Try Otter Creek Copper Ale ( Alt) Or try Rogue American Ale ( Amber)You should try , worth it.

[wortchillergoal]

I'll second that thought about Middle Ages. Try their Impaled ale, an IPA, Kilt Tilter a scotish ale. They also make a great barely wine and have invented a new style they call a Brithish Tripel.

[b3s]

if you liked bass, then try fuller's ipa or london pride.

i like the full sail pale for a micro.

if sierra nevada pale is too hoppy for you, avoid the dogfish head 90 minute...although it really is good :)

i concur on the rogue dead guy. didn't like it at first, but it grew on me.

[guzzler67]

There are a lot of brewpubs in your area where you can do some taste-testing:
Rams Head (try the wheat or the Copperhead)
Duclaws (Venom is very good)
Ellicott City (their new alt is smooth)
Bare Bones (also makes a good pale ale)
Rocky Run (you'll have judge for yourself)
These are all south of the city, so you won't have to travel far. Also be sure to try a local beer that has a lot of fans - Claypipe Backfin Pale Ale.

[fretlessman71]

See if you can find Singletrack Copper Ale by Boulder Brewing Co. Had some last time I was in CO and I was really impressed. The brewery has really turned things around since the early 90's! Very tasty brew.

[bhoshour]

Though I like Rogue's Dead Guy Ale, I would have to give the golden wreath to Shipyard Ale. It's difficult to find, but it is a true work of art in the realm of quality ales. I would also recommend Bellhaven's Scottish Ale. It is remarkably smooth going down and is the kind of beer you could just drink all night.

[sallad]

there is a pub near me with belhaven on tap. its been a while since i've been there, but i seem to remember it being nitrogenated.. fantastic stuff!!