The country of origin doesn't really matter to me much. I have favorites from most of these countries, and I've crap from most of these countries.
Sorry about that. Well, it's the topic of this thread, and I can't help it. Please feel free to create another beer-topic with other categories, And of course you are right: If the beer is from Ireland or Belgium - or from Burkina Faso or Afghanistan - is all the same and completely un-important.
Oh, please don't apologize. I'm just offering my take and there's no accounting for tastes. As enthusiastic as I am about beer, I'm the LAST person you should listening to when it comes to this kind of thing. I'm opinionated, not an expert. If you saw what I drink when I'm mowing the lawn, you'd know not to listen to me.
I don't generally like beer. It's bitter and too filling. What kind of beer would be good for me? I don't like fruity either.
Aha. Sorry that I opened this thread. It is all my fault. I am stupid and don't know any better. I will not be so stupid again as to open a thread. Sorry.
Why oh why cannot friends of wine post in the wine thread? Why oh why cannot friends of beer post in the beer thread? Maybe hardly anybody likes to drink anything at all here? I am tired ....
Dude, you're good. No apologies needed or anything like that. From what I know of AU, that was a genuine question, and this is the perfect thread for it. I'm going to to my best to answer here in a sec.
I prefer real ales. Preferably local as cask conditioned beers do not travel well. Not too strong, around 4% and not too hoppy as they are too bitter for me. We have a great little micro-brewery called Tilneys based in a nearby farm who make some fantastic milds and brown ales. For years my favourite was Norfolk Wherry, a low hops 3.7% bitter but since getting to know the beers coming out of Tilneys I now have a few new favourites.
Well, just a few thoughts here to be taken with a huge grain of salt. 1) Beer is an acquired taste, similar to coffee. Hardly anyone likes it the first few times that they try it, of course. And I'm not suggesting that anyone "acquire" it unless they just genuinely want to give it the old college try. 2) Stay away from anything labelled "ale" at first. I know a lot of beer snobs are going to hate on me for this one, but there are two main categories of beer, depending on the activity of the yeast involved: ale and lager. Ale ferments at higher temperatures and has a more robust history, since it never requires refrigeration during fermentation (barring very hot climates). It leaves behind more residual sugar, however. It's less "crisp" than lagers. So it is simultaneously often fruitier and has additional hops/bitterness added to counteract that malty sweetness. Lager tends to be more crisp/bland. It ferments at very low temperatures that often require refrigeration, so it doesn't have the same homebrew following. Hence it gets trashed a lot. 3) Stay away from anything in a clear bottle at first, like Corona or Newcastle. Brown/green glass protects beer from the influences of sunlight; clear glass doesn't. Beer in clear bottles tends to acquire a "skunky" flavor from that UV influence. 4) Don't feel bad about trying "bad," popular beer first, like American "light" beer. Sure, it has less of a flavor profile, and it isn't the best thing in the world, but it can be a decent introduction, no matter what people tell you. 5) Or try a bock. Bock beers are dark, but they aren't "heavy." Hint: if there's a goat on the label, it is probably a bock. 6) Have something else first. Have a couple of your favorite drinks before trying your beer. Get tipsy first. 7) Until you decide that you truly like beer, you won't finish a whole bottle. And you won't enjoy it if you do. Enjoy the first half of the bottle, then pass the rest off to someone who likes beer. Until/unless you find something you like, stay away from "beer bros." They are trying to show off and they'll often shove the most bitter thing they can find in front of your face. 9) Try a beer cocktail. Do you like Bloody Marys? Have a michelada. Like margaritas? Have a "light margarita" where you tip in a light beer. Personally, I grew to like beer from drinking Rolling Rock. Rolling Rock is NOT "good" beer. It's extremely light, not much hops/bitterness . . . kind of watery. It got a popularity boost recently due to Mare of Easttown (great show, IMO), but people will judge you for drinking it. Still, it was my first, and it was my old beagle's favorite when I'd have a spill.
You want a low hops ale not too strong. High alcohol beers tend to be a bit syrupy and filling. Avoid IPAs as they are very hoppy and bitter. Hops are added not only for flavour but also for their preservative qualities. IPA or Indian Pale Ale was brewed with a high hop content so it survived the long trip from England to India. Nowadays it is a style of beer and most IPAs never go anywhere near India.
I seem to have had a post removed. I suggested that Lindis was being a little oversensitive and said I enjoyed his threads and had contributed to many of them. My intent was to persuade him not to give up on posting. Lindis, if you do log in again I hope you read this and change your mind. I think your contributions have been worthwhile and they make a welcome change from all the endless partisan political threads.
I was going to try the new Sam Adams beer that is said to be 38% alcohol (more than some whiskeys,) but I guess I'll pass. Any recommendations? My local package goods dealer's support is limited to "Bud's in the back"
The one in the copper bottle? I've heard that one is pretty good. Worst case scenario: share it with a friend or two. One of you will probably like it.
At 38% that is not a beer as it must have been distilled or had spirit added to get it to that strength. Even the strongest yeasts die off at around 17-18% alcohol. If you want to try a flavoursome ale rather than a more bland lager I'd suggest you find your local microbrewery and ask them about low hop beers which are not too bitter. The ideal temperature to serve ale is 51 F or around 10.5 C. Take no notice of people who tell you that the British drink their beer warm. While that isn't as cool as the 39 F or 4 C that lagers are served at it is hardly ''warm''. If served too cold an ale will lose some of its flavour. If you want to try a lager I would recommend one from Germany, Belgium or Holland which comply with German purity laws which permit only 4 ingredients. Water, barley, hops and yeast. Many cheap lagers contain all sorts of chemicals and can be almost flavourless. They should be avoided.
Not 38%, 28% And $240 a BOTTLE, I will DEFINITELY pass on that In fact all the microbreweries around here are too pricey anyway. I'll stick to my egg nog made with Black Seal Rum
