What Beer are you drinking - Winter '10/'11

[smokinjoe]

I'm cheating, in that it's not quite 5:00, yet. But, I resisted White Dog's temptation to have a lunch pour of bourbon earlier today. So, Bell's Two Hearted Ale, here I come!

[craigthom]

The American craft revolution is destroying typical european stalwarts. With exception of the Belgian beers, the US is producing a wider variety and in some cases, exceptional quality. Hell, Germany is having a massive decline in brewing due to lagging demand.

There's no finer place to drink beer than the USofA.

Craft brewers are starting to make Belgian-style beers, too, but there's serious competition there. Few beers have as much terrior as the Belgian ones, especially those that use wild yeast.

[squire]

So I'm sitting on the porch of the brewery in Amana Colony in Iowa, more than a decade back, plucking a hop bud off the trellis within reach (I had permission) with a selection of six two once samples, all of which were freshly made, sitting on the table. Good stuff, keen as new bread out of the oven. My young son was running his match cars on the table and floor and as our afternoon progressed after lunch he was adopted by the girls who joined in the racing stakes, betting nichols, and of course I paid both those who won or lost and tipped on top of that, great afternoon.

Point being good beer is where you find it.

[ILLfarmboy]

Last night I ate at the Blue Cat Brewpub In Rock Island. I tried their Blue Bastard Baltic Porter. I didn't like it as much as their Olde English Ale so when it came time for a re-fill I switched.

Their BBQ brisket was delicious and went well with the beer....just wish I had started with the Old English Ale. To my inexperienced beer palette the two aren't that dissimilar but small differences can sure change the level of enjoyment a lot.

[smokinjoe]

I was supposed to go golfing today, but it's too damp, cool and blustery. So, I'll stay here and sip on this Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop3 IPA. Not bad, at all. Gorgeous color. Very silky, and despite the name, not annoyingly over-hopped. Pretty good.

[jcg9779]

I'm cheating, in that it's not quite 5:00, yet. But, I resisted White Dog's temptation to have a lunch pour of bourbon earlier today. So, Bell's Two Hearted Ale, here I come!

How is the Two Hearted Ale, Joe?

A few years back my dad and I were playing golf up in Michigan and we came across Bell's. We were living in Texas at the time and I don't think Bell's distribution was any farther south than Ohio. It wasn't until a year or two ago that I started seeing Bell's Oberon here in Atlanta. I do like Bell's a lot, and will probably pick some of this up if I can find it!

Jack

[craigthom]

How is the Two Hearted Ale, Joe?

A few years back my dad and I were playing golf up in Michigan and we came across Bell's. We were living in Texas at the time and I don't think Bell's distribution was any farther south than Ohio. It wasn't until a year or two ago that I started seeing Bell's Oberon here in Atlanta. I do like Bell's a lot, and will probably pick some of this up if I can find it!

Jack

I know you didn't ask me, but that's never stopped me before.

The Two-Hearted Ale is an American-style IPA. It's one of the good ones.

That corner of Michigan (and nearby Indiana) are good for that style. You've got Two-Hearted, Founders Centennial, New Holland's Mad Hatter, and Three Floyds Alpha King. I like them all. If forced to rank them, I'd put the Two-Hearted second, but, really, I'd have no problem rotating through the set.

[nivto]

Bell's Kalamazoo Stout.

[jcg9779]

You've got Two-Hearted, Founders Centennial, New Holland's Mad Hatter, and Three Floyds Alpha King. I like them all. If forced to rank them, I'd put the Two-Hearted second, but, really, I'd have no problem rotating through the set.

Thanks Craig...which one is your favorite?

[craigthom]

Thanks Craig...which one is your favorite?

The Founders, but they are all excellent. I wouldn't turn down any of them.