I'm such a beer snob

[VashHT]

Vash, have you been to Lucky Monk Brewery? Awesome place semi near you (South Barrington). Give it a look. Their Fallen Angel is killer.

Thanks for the heads up, I've seen signs for the place but I don't know anyone who has been there, I'll have to check it out.

I've been going on a barrel aged beer kick lately, I've had a few from revolution and goose island and managed to find a barrel aged imperial stout from bells that was really good.

 

[Chapbass]

Thanks for the heads up, I've seen signs for the place but I don't know anyone who has been there, I'll have to check it out.

I've been going on a barrel aged beer kick lately, I've had a few from revolution and goose island and managed to find a barrel aged imperial stout from bells that was really good.

They used to have their fallen angel over at Black Finn (cool place if you haven't been there) at Randhurst, but they just got rid of it. They still have some decent brews like Left Hand, Revolution, etc.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Have you been to the Small Town Brewery in Wauconda? Their "Not your fathers" rootbeer is absolutely killer (and strong), but I haven't actually been there. They do have an actual bar there, right?

They don't have a bar. It's a small brewery operation in the "light industrial" section of town. I live about 1.2 miles from it.

That said, there are many places nearby that serve their beer. (Middletons and Slyce on the downtown strip in Wauconda.)

 

[NetWareHead]

I wouldn't consider Boston Lager a craft either, but they DO have quite a list of crafts and other more "limited release" batches. Still, Sam Adams BL is easily one of the best Macros, and you're almost guaranteed to have it available whereever you are, so its a good fallback option. That and Newcastle are my two, provided I can't grab something better.

:thumbsup:

Funny thing is, I work for an international company that has a significant presence in Great Britain. When I mentioned Newcastle to some visitors from GB and how much I like it, they all sneered at it and said it was like homeless brew!! You have to understand though, those guys are used to every landlord and innkeeper brewing homemade ale in his basement.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Glad to hear that I'm not insane. I'll drink just about anything, but IPAs taste straight-out FOUL to me. It seems like there are more and more of them these days, unfortunately. I'll take a good Belgian Double or Stout any day.

Hooray Stouts!
(I like my IPAs, but stouts and belgians are my very favorites!)

I am grateful for Pipeworks Brewing in Chicago. They have TONS of different brews, seems like they have something new coming out every week. Around 1 in 3 of their brews is a stout or a porter ...

 

[BurnItDwn]

:thumbsup:

Funny thing is, I work for an international company that has a significant presence in Great Britain. When I mentioned Newcastle to some visitors from GB and how much I like it, they all sneered at it and said it was like homeless brew!! You have to understand though, those guys are used to every landlord and innkeeper brewing homemade ale in his basement.

Newkie Brown used to be brewed in it's own old brewely. They got consolidated and and are brewed in some giant mega macro now. So, they are indeed homeless as they aren't brewed in their old newcastle home. (At least thats what I learned from James May's show where he is on TV drinking beer in a "caravan" with OZ something or other.)

 

[xanis]

Hooray Stouts!
(I like my IPAs, but stouts and belgians are my very favorites!)

I am grateful for Pipeworks Brewing in Chicago. They have TONS of different brews, seems like they have something new coming out every week. Around 1 in 3 of their brews is a stout or a porter ...

Sounds right up my alley. I'll have to bookmark it in case I ever make it out there.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Sounds right up my alley. I'll have to bookmark it in case I ever make it out there.

Well, not too far from your neck of the woods is Dogfish Head. They have a vast wealth of great brews. I love their ancient ales. The Sah'Tea is really quite unique and tastes nothing like a lager, and nothing like any IPA.


EDIT: I am sure you know them, as they have been around a long time now, so please pardon my enthusiasm

 

[Midwayman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCpLerLKD2k

 

[zinfamous]

Ehh, I like 2 of the Sam Adams winter brews, the Holiday Porter & Old Fezziwig are both very good. IMO they are the best Sam Adams brews, though I agree the IPA is good too.

Have you tried their Honey Porter? I haven't seen it in forever (At least 6 years, when I was still in Chicago), but it is my favorite. I'd call it a Baltic Porter, which is probably my favorite style, currently.

Hooray Stouts!
(I like my IPAs, but stouts and belgians are my very favorites!)

I am grateful for Pipeworks Brewing in Chicago. They have TONS of different brews, seems like they have something new coming out every week. Around 1 in 3 of their brews is a stout or a porter ...

Can we be friends?

I would drink various belgians 100% of the time; but, alas, way too rich for my blood. And the various cheap imitations (looking at you, new Belgium), aren't worth considering.

The most egregious thing I have seen on the market--I think Stone does it, maybe someone else--is a "Belgian IPA." WTF? No--seriously, fuck you brew people. Fuck. You.

 

[zerocool84]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCpLerLKD2k

Haha she gave Steel Reserve the highest score. Hipsters would be mad.

 

[BudAshes]

The worst are these beers that have a fruit flavor. WTF. Not to say a wedge of lemon or lime can't be nice in the right beer at the right time, but a fruit flavored beer is quite gross.

 

[dougp]

The worst are these beers that have a fruit flavor. WTF. Not to say a wedge of lemon or lime can't be nice in the right beer at the right time, but a fruit flavored beer is quite gross.

What about yeast that contribute fruit flavors? Hops can as well, particularly the American Northwest hops, like Cascada, Chinook, etc.

 

[TraumaRN]

The worst are these beers that have a fruit flavor. WTF. Not to say a wedge of lemon or lime can't be nice in the right beer at the right time, but a fruit flavored beer is quite gross.

Define fruit flavored beer. Are you talking about Lambics(which are great at the right occasion) or are you referring to stuff like Bud Light Lime??

 

[zerocool84]

Define fruit flavored beer. Are you talking about Lambics(which are great at the right occasion) or are you referring to stuff like Bud Light Lime??

Strawberry beer and that type of stuff I assume. I don't like my beer super sweet.

 

[xeemzor]

Hooray Stouts!
(I like my IPAs, but stouts and belgians are my very favorites!)

I am grateful for Pipeworks Brewing in Chicago. They have TONS of different brews, seems like they have something new coming out every week. Around 1 in 3 of their brews is a stout or a porter ...

Pipeworks has been my favorite new brewery. The beer is sooo good and not expensive at all.

 

[johnjohn320]

There is nothing wrong with that. But look at some of the responses in this thread. I mean seriously, some of these guys are going to cut off family members because they enjoy a pale lager on a hot day (which is something a lot of craft beers fail at).

No, no one said anything like that (unless I missed it) despite a couple of you reacting to this completely light-hearted thread in this way.

I'm no beer expert, but after moving to Colorado a few years ago, any temptation toward Bud or Miller has completely worn off. There are so many microbrews here. I'm still fine with Sam Adams, Shiner Bock, and plenty of other "big company" beers, but Bud/Miller/Coors (yes I know Coors is a CO company) really just tastes terrible to me.

 

[DT4K]

The worst are these beers that have a fruit flavor. WTF. Not to say a wedge of lemon or lime can't be nice in the right beer at the right time, but a fruit flavored beer is quite gross.

I like beers with fruit if it's subtle, but not if it's too fruity.

Good:
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat
Purple Haze

Horrible:
Shocktop Raspberry Wheat
Wild Blue

I do also put a wedge of fruit in some beers.
I know Corona is despised, but with a lime in it, I find it very light and drinkable on a hot day.
I also like Dos Equis Amber with a lime.
I love a slice of orange in a Widmer Hefeweizen or a Blue Moon (my favorite cheap mass market beer)

 

[DT4K]

Like every normal person in America I grew up drinking crappy beer and happily living in ignorance.

Luckily I didn't have this experience. Growing up in the Pacific NW, we had a lot more choices. Our go to in Oregon was Henry Weinhards.

 

[Sluggo]

Good:
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat

I'm a regular drinker of Bud Light, and even I can't drink that stuff

 

[xanis]

Horrible: Shocktop Raspberry Wheat

Sam Adams also made a Raspberry wheat that was pretty foul. Tasted like cough syrup.

 

[BudAshes]

What about yeast that contribute fruit flavors? Hops can as well, particularly the American Northwest hops, like Cascada, Chinook, etc.

This is a bad one I remember having.

I think this was the worst one though.

 

[BudAshes]

I like beers with fruit if it's subtle, but not if it's too fruity.

Good:
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat
Purple Haze

Horrible:
Shocktop Raspberry Wheat
Wild Blue

I do also put a wedge of fruit in some beers.
I know Corona is despised, but with a lime in it, I find it very light and drinkable on a hot day.
I also like Dos Equis Amber with a lime.
I love a slice of orange in a Widmer Hefeweizen or a Blue Moon (my favorite cheap mass market beer)

Dos Equis Amber is my favorite cheap beer, and I do love adding some lime when I'm drinking it with some spicy mexican food.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I've got some friends that are beer snobs. My GF and I get drug to all the local micro-brew tours for "tastings". I spent 6 years in Germany, I know what good beer is supposed to taste like. Most of what we are doing here in the states is a bunch of gag inducing piss and swill. It's a relief when we get to a normal bar and I can get a yuengling.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Ya, sucks when Sam Adams is the best thing on tap at a bar and your friends all think they are going to splurge on some Sam Adams.

I don't mind water beer (Coors) on occasion because it costs almost nothing. It's a double edged sword.