Variety in your beer stable?

[threecb]

Take a look at this article (http://www.lewbryson.com/buzzin.htm) by PA beer (and other malted beverages) writer Lew Bryson. Then weigh in with your opinion on the subject.

Personally, as I got deeply entrenched in the war on fizz I started to gravitate towards the Big, Bad Hopbombs, Imperials and the like. But over the last year I'd have to say that, while I enjoy discovering a beer like DogFish Head's 90 Minute IPA, I've been diversifying. Looking at beers in terms of quality and representation of the style. And I've found quite a few great beers.

I tend to agree with Mr. Bryson -- give (>5%) beers a chance!

[steveh]

Dig it! I couldn't agree more with much Mr. Bryson has to say. I've been pushing the subtle joy of a Pilsner or Helles around here for quite a while. And like Lew, I enjoy a big beer too.

A couple months back I discovered Three Floyd's Pride & Joy mild on draft at The Hop Leaf on Chicago's north side. 3.9 ABV pale glass-full of well balanced malts and hops, lightly dry-hopped with Cascades - WONderful beer. A local great beer bar (The Firkin, Libertyville, IL - you out there yet Dave? Join on in!) just had a cask conditioned barrel of the brew on its beer engine - lasted less than two weeks.

And you have to respect a brewery that can make a nice subtle beer like the P&J, and then turn around and make Dreadnaught IPA - of which they give fans no information, but is a copper colored, complexly balanced malt/hop brew that HAS to be near 8 or 9 ABV - delish.

And don't forget, Guinness Stout Draught, in all it's dark, rich (frightening to Miller Lite drinkers), flavorful pint-fulls is 3.8 ABV - *less* than Miller Lite, actually.

Yeah, here's to variety and diversity - once more, cheers!

S.

[beer editor]

Originally posted by threecb
I tend to agree with Mr. Bryson -- give (>5%) beers a chance! [/B]

Breweries can help by dialing down their beers a bit - not the ones that should be big but everything from pilsners to brown ales (and regular bitters). For instance, Victory's Prima Pils is 5.2% abv, while Pilsner Urquell is more like 4.4%. Prima Pils is not meant to be a Czech Pils but you get the idea.

A brewpub nearby has a very nice pilsner on right now - putting it side by side with PU the color looks the same and the hoppiness seems the same (though the IBUs are much lower - harder water) but it is more in the 5.0 range.

Prosit,
Stan

[paul84043]

I know that I have said this before, but I got into homebrewing with the mindset that I was going to make one of everything and decide then what I like.
I have an amazing variety in my basement, probably one of anything you can name in one form or another.

I like a lower alcohol beer, it allows you to taste and enjoy them for the evening, a "session" beer I guess they call them, and not anger the beer gods.
I also like a big beer as well...it's a mood thing, and I'm glad I have them on hand when the mood strikes.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by threecb


I tend to agree with Mr. Bryson -- give (>5%) beers a chance!

Pssst..... "less than 5" is denoted as <5, not >5. "Pac-Man's mouth always eats the larger amount," is what the teachers say. :D

[paul84043]

Pac Man? When I went to school it was the little alligator, Pac Man didn't even exist yet, and he had to climb uphill in the snow (both ways) to get the larger amount!

[bhoshour]

The article had a good point. I make it a point to try EVERY beer I can get my hands on at least once. I defintely don't return to many of them, but I will certaily try everything once. You never know when your favorite beer may be right around the corner. Now I prefer a more flavorful beer and I have a hard time making myself try Helles or Pilsner. The style just does not suit me, but again, I will try it just to expand my horizons. Many german and belgium beers just don't cut the cake with me anymore. They may be great beers, but I have become accustomed to a certain oomph that US brewers instill in their brews!

[threecb]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Pssst..... "less than 5" is denoted as <5, not >5. "Pac-Man's mouth always eats the larger amount," is what the teachers say. :D

That's what I get for not "proffreeding"!

My teachers always said "are you ever going to get this right!?!?!"

...and after starting this thread...
I was in Dogfish Head B&E in DE this weekend and tried their Prescription Pils. It was the one of 2 beers (the other being their Aprihop) that wasn't described on the beer menu, and the waiter was unable to shed light on the makeup. So, being the one willing to try all beers, even if it was only a Pils, I ordered a pint. I should've known by the name and the place that this wasn't an ordinary Pils! WOW! 9%!

[steveh]

Pils - ONLY a PILS? Poker ONLY a GAME? C'mon - Pils is as noble a beer as Pale Ale!!

Besides, what you had sounds like a blonde bock, not a Pils! > hic <

S.

[threecb]

Originally posted by Steveh
C'mon - Pils is as noble a beer as Pale Ale!!

I agree! I didn't mean it as a disparaging comment on pilsner,
I meant, I was looking for a low-abv beer since it was my second
beer early in the afternoon. Brooklyn Pilsner was a top pick of mine
for a while, but I think they changed something and it's not as good -- it used to be more of a Bohemian Pilsner, I think. And on my recent trip to Chicago, in one bar or club I was drinking GI Pils. Not a bad beer.

[steveh]

Originally posted by threecb


I agree! I didn't mean it as a disparaging comment on pilsner,
I meant, I was looking for a low-abv beer since it was my second
beer early in the afternoon.

Apology accepted, I feel better now. ;)


Brooklyn Pilsner was a top pick of mine for a while, but I think they changed something and it's not as good -- it used to be more of a Bohemian Pilsner, I think. And on my recent trip to Chicago, in one bar or club I was drinking GI Pils. Not a bad beer.

Goose Pils isn't too bad, I need to try it on tap -- maybe tomorrow night at the Village Tap if they have it on!

S.

[hopjack13]

well all this talk about beer is making me thirsty! and it's only wednesday! doh!
i haven't made my mind up about the artical as i love big beers, the ruination i could drink every day...gotta have my hops!
urquell is good , if i was going to drink a pils i think i'd opt for the urquell. i haven't tried to many pils that struck my fancy enough to make room in my fridge for them. there is a place in irvine that makes a jagged little pilsner i like, but they dont distribute.
anyone try the beirbitzch ? i took one on the chin this weekend and tried one.. as soon as i poured it in to the glass i could smell adjuncts , so i told my wife "here try this" she smelled it then looked at me funny ,tasted it and said "no way" i took one sip and that one headed stright for the sink and down the drain! it tasted like a suped up bud or something...hurl , ralph, barf and puke! it supposidly won a gold at a beer festival in vegas...althou8gh i don't see how.....gag

[paul84043]

Ruination every day??
The only thing in ruins would be my job, and my liver!!!

I've had a few micro pilseners that were mighty tasty!

[hopjack13]

another reason i dont drink during the week!
hey there's a smurf!!! grab him by the throat!
lmao
that must be beery smurf

[chazwicke]

This is one of the points that I also have been trying to make. That we don't always have to drink the BIG bang you over the head and slap you in the face beers that are so loaded with alcohol, or hops or fruit flavor or whatever. While I enjoy some of Stone Brewing's beers and also those of Dogfish Head most of the time I prefer a well balanced beer rather than all hops or all malt. I do tend to lean a little bit to the hoppy side but how many IBU's are too much? Same with all that alcohol. I want a beer that I can drink several and not be stumbling drunk. I really liked a cask beer that was 3.8% called Woodefords Wherry. I tried to make this point in the posts on Stouts and Porters too. I think most are way overdone in America. Why do they mostly have to be too toasted or coffeelike? I like finesse and subtlety. I think the Brits and Europeans really have their beers down. I say all of this but it does not mean that I don't occasionally enjoy a beer that is really big in some aspect I just want my usual beer to be enjoyable and pleasant to drink with out overloading my palate with huge amounts of one dominant flavor. And I love the fact that Guinness has a bit less alcohol too!

[Brownbeard]

I tried Rogue's Buckwheat ale this weekend. I was picking up a sixer of dead guy, and got a big buckwheat to go with it. It was delicious. Gonna get some more of that.