Helping my fiancee

[HogieWan]

Last night I grilled some steaks that were marinated in Paulaner Salvator. I picked up a few extra to have with the meal.

We decided to split one as an apertif, and she liked it at first and then had trouble finishing her half. After talking through it with her I determined she likes a thinner mouthfeel and more carbonation. I'm realizing that while I've been exploring new beers and maturing my palate, she's been drinking wine and cosmopolitans (I can't blame her - I make a great martini).

She really just doesn't have the same drive I have to explore different flavors. I'll just have to give her interesting things in her "range" and reach slightly beyond every once in a while. Kind of steathily force her to enjoy good beer.

I'm thinking a Cooper's Ale will fit within her parameter and give her something besides Michelob amber bock (her favorite beer). Any other suggestions?

[fretlessman71]

What does she think of Abita Brown Ale?

If you can get Leinekugel (sp?) down there, pick up some Big Butt Doppelbock - it's by far the thinnest DB I've ever seen, but still not too bad.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
What does she think of Abita Brown Ale?

If you can get Leinekugel (sp?) down there, pick up some Big Butt Doppelbock - it's by far the thinnest DB I've ever seen, but still not too bad.

Can't get Leinekugel, and have never given her a TurboDag that I remember. I have an anchor porter in the fridge, though.

[steveh]

Originally posted by HogieWan
I'm realizing that while I've been exploring new beers and maturing my palate, she's been drinking wine and cosmopolitans

What kind of wine has she been drinking? Flavors in wine are often as complex as beer, more so depending on the styles of each.

Find out what sort of wine is her favorite and then think of a comparable beer style. An oak aged Chardonnay can be compared with a Pilsner Urquell. I once had a Chardonnay which had a very grapefruit character from its fermentation - good comparison to American Pale Ales with much Cascade hop character.

As Fret has pointed out, many darker ales can take on dark fruit characteristics similar to Merlot and Cabernet. And then, maybe she just wasn't in the mood for a malt-monster of a beer.

How did the steaks turn out?

S.

[chazwicke]

You might not want to encourage her to drink. That way you will always have a designated driver.

[stronk]

Flavors in wine are often as complex as beer ...
That literally made me laugh out loud. Although I share the same opinion, the thought of the look of outrage on a wine connoisseur's face was enough to make me laugh.

I've always been careful not to challenge wine buffs with assertions that beer is just as complex, as I'm certain I'd just get shouted down. I know of only a handful of wine people who also appreciate the subtleties of good beer and I'm pretty sure they still feel that wine is superior.

Not to intentionally hijack the thread or anything (in fact, if someone wants to discuss this, maybe we should move to another thread).

[steveh]

Originally posted by stronk
I've always been careful not to challenge wine buffs with assertions that beer is just as complex, as I'm certain I'd just get shouted down.

Shouted down? Wine people shout? ;) I know quite a few people who are more wine lovers than beer lovers, but they actually do understand that good beer can be made - just an understanding that it's all in the ingredients, style, and craftsmanship I guess.

I don't feel that (good) beer is superior to wine, it's just a matter of time and place for me - though I fit beer in more often.

Not to intentionally hijack the thread or anything (in fact, if someone wants to discuss this, maybe we should move to another thread).

I think it fits in with Hogie's Fiancee's education, especially if she likes wine.

S.

Oh, and I can't remember where I stole the flavor complexity line from - read it recently, probably Jackson or Eckhardt in AAB.

[wortchillergoal]

I can't make any suggestions as I don't know what is available down in your neck of the woods. I will tell you that your idea of approach can work. One of my hockey buddies the other day told me he was unhappy with me as he can no longer drink BMC. He has to spend more money for better product, thus the root of his being unhappu with me.

[fretlessman71]

Poor bastard - he actually has TASTE now. How dare you, Wort! ;)

(He's not really serious, is he? A little pathetic, if true, wouldn't you say?)

[xtalman]

Originally posted by HogieWan
I'm thinking a Cooper's Ale will fit within her parameter and give her something besides Michelob amber bock (her favorite beer). Any other suggestions?

Filtered or unfilterd? I don't recall Coopers having a really light mouth feel but it might work. It sounds like you might want to try some of the better pilsners or wheats at first and move up from there. Does she like the Gunniess in the nitro cans?

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by xtalman
Does she like the Gunniess in the nitro cans?

She likes a lot of carbonation - that's why I mentioned cooper's - I remember it being very crisp, but I haven't had it in a while

[Pstehley]

well... it actually sounds a lot like my wife...

I would maybe try to find a nice fruiting wheat beer... My wife really enjoys a beer by the Lancaster brewing company, it's their strawberry wheat. Although artificially flavored (only downside in my opinion) is really smooth and really thin. Also, maybe try like Pete's wicked Strawberry Blonde (generally smooth and easy...). Another really easy to drink beer, although generally not that thin, would be Durloc's (out of Baltimore, MD) Rasberry Impieral (not sure of the name off hand).. but it's got a really great smooth raspberry taste and not as much harshness as say Wierbacher's Raspberry Imperial Stout... (sorry if I'm just tossing out names... but they are beers that I've had experience with...)

Also, maybe (and this is just an idea), I would try and find a "pepper" beer. These are generally made with a real nice pale ale consistency with an unusual back of the palate resonance of the pepper...(not hot... just really weird)

These are the things I've learned that my wife likes... Hope this helps...
Pat...

[chazwicke]

Welcome to the board Pstehley. Does Lancaster bottle the Strawberry? I know the y have several of their beers bottled. Are they contract brewed and where?

[HogieWan]

She's kinda weird in that she doesn't like the fruity drinks most women go for. She likes cosmopolitans only if I don't put too much cranberry juice. I've learned that she likes when everything is balanced - not sweet, not sour, not bitter.

Thanks for the suggestions, though.

[Pstehley]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Welcome to the board Pstehley. Does Lancaster bottle the Strawberry? I know the y have several of their beers bottled. Are they contract brewed and where?

HI! They do it all themselves so far as I know... I don't think they contract... also, they bottle the strawberry and a couple others... actually if you go to the website (www.lancasterbrewing.com) you can find all the beers that they bottle and where they distribute them to (I'm pretty sure they distribute out of state as well)... I actually really love thier Milk Stout, it's an actual sour milk stout (so far as I know and can tell...) Right now the big thing they are pushing is thier Hop Hog... which I believe is a double IPA... way too citrus for me... took a sip... passed it on.. I hate grapefruit juice...

If you can find it (another beer my wife really likes...), Sam Adams boston Ale... it's really smooth, not too heavy or bitter... really smooth... or maybe something along the lines of a New Castle... non the less... if she wants something smooth and light, have her try a boddingtons... my wife didn't like it... but it's really freaking good and creamy...

Hope you can find something... best of luck!

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Poor bastard - he actually has TASTE now. How dare you, Wort! ;)

(He's not really serious, is he? A little pathetic, if true, wouldn't you say?)

No, he was just razzing me. Another one of the poor unknowing students took a sip of a new beer I brought him, can't remember what it was. He looked at me and said this has more hop character than the Sarnac Lager. He went on to say i can't believe that I just said that, I am drinking too much with you.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Pstehley
if she wants something smooth and light, have her try a boddingtons... my wife didn't like it... but it's really freaking good and creamy...

She likes crisp carbonation, so nitro beers are OUT. Doesn't have to be light colored at all. I'm looking for THIN mouthfeel, LOTS of carbonation, and interesting flavor

[fretlessman71]

Stone Levitation Ale or Sam Adams Light (yes, I'm serious). Both are good, interesting light beers. Sounds like FFF Pride and Joy might be up your alley as well. SA Light has surprised me the last two times I've had it; good easy-to-find lawnmower beer that just might help you cut the LA summer heat.

Speaking of LA... how did "Cindy" treat you? And what are your thoughts on Dennis?

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by HogieWan
She likes crisp carbonation, so nitro beers are OUT. Doesn't have to be light colored at all. I'm looking for THIN mouthfeel, LOTS of carbonation, and interesting flavor

Three Floyds Pride and Joy.


Oops Fret already recommended it. didn't see his post before I wrote that.

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Three Floyds Pride and Joy.
Oops Fret already recommended it. didn't see his post before I wrote that.

LOTS of carbonation? Hmm, don't know if P&J would cut that.

S.

[chazwicke]

I like less carbonation. I think that is one reason I enjoy cask conditioned beers. You do not get that bloated feeling and you can enjoy more. You are a lucky man to have Pride and Joy on cask and also Bell's Two Hearted.

[fretlessman71]

Every so often I get to go to Coopersmith's for dinner para mi esposa linda and have a cask IPA with my meal. MMMMMMMmmmmmmm.... :D

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Speaking of LA... how did "Cindy" treat you? And what are your thoughts on Dennis?

Got some dark clouds and a breeze yesterday evening - everything turned off to the east - I'm watching dennis, though. We've been praying for good weather lately as our honeymoon will be in the carribean in August.

Originally posted by chazwicke
I like less carbonation. I think that is one reason I enjoy cask conditioned beers.

I like less carbonation, also - That's why I want to try some cask ales. Guess I'll have to buy a cask!!!

[Pstehley]

you could have her try something like belgian white... they can be really carbonated... plus they are like the "champagne" of beers....

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Pstehley
you could have her try something like belgian white... they can be really carbonated... plus they are like the "champagne" of beers....

She tried a little of my Hoegaarden once - I think she needs a little more time before we go back to that one. While she didn't hate it, it didn't appear to be her favorite. She likes Abita Amber and knows that BMC is crap, but she still likes Michelob's Amber Bock.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Pstehley
you could have her try something like belgian white... they can be really carbonated... plus they are like the "champagne" of beers....

Excellent suggestion! Try a Berlinner Weisse with the raspberry syrup added.

[Pstehley]

my wife is not exactly a huge fan of them... but we had a Weyerbacher Blanche that had some apricot extract added to it... and she loved it... smoothed it out a lot... it was really great... really made me wish I could of had more than a 3oz sample.... (it was an open house...)
Pat...

[chazwicke]

My son is going to attend college in the Bethelehem area. Easton is just 5 miles away. I hope to get over to Weyerbacher a few times.:)

[HogieWan]

Thanks for all the help guys, but you're missing my plea here. She DOES NOT like fruity drinks. Fruitiness from esters is probably fine, but a beer with fruit added might not get a chance with her, for now at least.

[Restin]

Schell's Zommerfest or some other Kölsch style beer perhaps?

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Restin
Schell's Zommerfest or some other Kölsch style beer perhaps?

I'm still looking for a kolsh for myself!:)

I'm really looking for a good ale that she would like a lot so that I can brew something similar. I'm trying to figure out exactly what she likes and doesn't like, but I feel that if she tried a few more different things, she might surprise herself.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by HogieWan
I'm still looking for a kolsh for myself!

I'm really looking for a good ale that she would like a lot so that I can brew something similar. I'm trying to figure out exactly what she likes and doesn't like, but I feel that if she tried a few more different things, she might surprise herself.

Boy, you sure are spending a lot of time on someone who is only going to be your wife. ;)