What makes a good beer?

bretti_kivi · Post by **bretti_kivi** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:38 pm

Discuss.

I've just finished mine... but when I came here I realised I much prefer the softer lagers; Weizen is fun but the hangover isn't.

Or am I alone in appreciating what Malt, Hops and water can do?

Bret

Post by **stipud** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:43 pm

The answer is Germany.

bretti_kivi · Post by **bretti_kivi** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:49 pm

But which one? Löwenbräu? Beck's? Holsten? Kölsch? Diebels? Schmucker? Warsteiner? Erdinger? Eichbaum?

Me, I like Warsteiner. BTW: bonus points to anyone who correctly attaches the below towns to the above beers

Hamburg, Mannheim, Cologne, Krefeld, Munich x2, Odenwald, Warstein, Bremen.
LOL at warstein-usa.com: "drinking only for the over 21s"! It's allowed at 14 over there, here too IIRC

Here, Lapin Kulta is kinda OK, but favourite is definitely Sandels. In the UK: good draught Tetley's. With a head, please

Bret

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:00 pm

Without looking online, I'd say Warsteiner is from Warstein and Kölsh is from Cologne, but those are just guesses. I'd be interested in where Erdinger if from, I love their Dunkel Weiss.

Post by **stipud** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:25 pm

Having a bad beer in Germany is pretty much impossible. My favorite kinds of beer there are "Helles" and "Weizen". Brand doesn't really matter to me... there are SO MANY to choose from, and they are all amazingly tasty.

If you want Weizen without the hangover, try to find a "Kristall" weizen. They filter out the yeast, which makes you way less "foggy drunk"

. When I lived in Munich my beer of choice was the local Maisacher Dunkel Weissbier, but in higher quantities it was always Augustiner Helles.

Czech makes some excellent beers as well. Even the two big brands, Pilsner Urquell and "Budweiser" Czechvar/Budvar are amongst my top 10. God damn does US Budweiser ever suck though...

tsonka · Post by **tsonka** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:29 pm

What makes a god beer is a beer that has a flavor that is just strong enough that you know your drinking a beer without leaving a lingering aftertaste.

Does not have to be strong, wheat beer is a good example, wheat beer is not strong but it is flavorful

My fav:

Sam Adams Octoberfest

Sam Adams Boston Lager

Fresh Wheat beer -- usually from local micro breweries

Guiness (of course)

Post by **Rold Gold** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:21 pm

Portland has some pretty awesome micro-brew houses and Tom and Ryan have had the pleasure of RUBY. I've done the tour of beers at OLD CHICAGO and there definently are some good beers from around the world, but RUBY has to be my fav.... Plus, ya can mix it with TERMINATOR STOUT and make RUBENATOR'S which will twist yer cap back after a few of them.

Alcohol content is nowhere near as important as the overall experience of the pint......

Post by **Bfowler** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:25 pm

what makes a good beer? when beer is in my mouth...its a good beer

Post by **Francious70** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:25 pm

I like beer. All of them. There has yet to be a beer (save Natty Light, Busch, those are hardly beer) that I didn't enjoy.

Fav's right now are:

Hoegaarden
Newcastle

Beer is all about the combination of malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness. I love malty beers, Guiness. And I love hoppy beers, Dogfishhead 60 minute IPA.

God, now I want a beer.

dako · Post by **dako** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:59 pm

Lately I've been enjoying Spaten Optimator and Spaten Oktoberfest. The store down the street has a pretty decent price on both and it's a nice change from Pacifico Clara or Negra Modelo.

When I lived in Portland, it was like beer heaven. Here in Florida, not so much. I don't know if Bridgeport Brewing Co. is still around, but I used to really like their Blue Heron. Hell, I pretty much liked anything that I found there.

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 5:33 pm

Damnit, now I want beer.

I'm with Francious, beer generally rules. Some are definitely better than others, but most beer is golden to me.

I can attest to Porland beers. They have the most microbrews of any city in the USA. Alberta and BC both offer excellent micro brews up north. I'm sure there are great ones out east as well, but I'm less familiar... maybe SteamWhistle?

Post by **Francious70** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:07 pm

Haha. Does nobody know my name is Paul?

Post by **fuzzysnuggleduck** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:13 pm

Francious70 wrote:Haha. Does nobody know my name is Paul?

I call you Francious for the benefit of those who don't, Paul.

rlockwood · Post by **rlockwood** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:50 pm

Deschutes.. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm beeeeerr

bretti_kivi · Post by **bretti_kivi** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:28 pm

order a "kristall" in München and they'll think you're a sissy. Helles is also a Munich speciality.
Hoegaarden is just plain strange IMO

Great book on the subject: "Three sheets to the wind"...

Bret

gkitching · Post by **gkitching** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:30 am

A friend of mine's grandfather was partners of a bar with a guy who was a WWII German u-boat commander. He constantly joked about American's measly attempts at making beer. His favorite joke ...

Why is American beer like screwing in a canoe?

It's Fucking Near Water!

Thumper88 · Post by **Thumper88** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 5:26 am

I'm hooked on Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, I drink it with dinner.

Other than that I like the Flying Dog variety pack...

"Good Beer. No Shit."

Post by **stipud** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:13 am

Francious70 wrote:Haha. Does nobody know my name is Paul?

What? Who are you and why are you here? GTFO.

scorpio86 · Post by **scorpio86** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:45 am

hoegaarden is good. my favorite sam adams is the winter lager.. great stuff. but almost any sam beer to me is good.. cept the sam light which for a light its good buuut yeah. dont care much for the boston lager or boston ale. we have a local brewery that does some.. mclarens scotch ale.. very dark and heavy.. 7.8% very good shit :-0 on lighter tasting beers ive had some 'abita' and it was decent. warstiener is good aswell. bein' from the east coast.. i nvr had a chance to try old bastard ale or w/e until recently and i was a little disappointed in it when i went to san fran.. guiness extra stout is always good and its better than the draught. lol me n my friend nicknamed 'em porkshake.. cuz you can drink 'em for dinner and be full lol

bretti_kivi · Post by **bretti_kivi** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 9:42 am

What's so special about sam adams? I hear the name lots. I figure quality beer, but... is it the water? What makes it so good?

Here there's also a brewery / restaurant in town.... boy, is some of their stuff strange. And their brewmaster's a south african

Bret

Post by **Bfowler** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:20 am

hmm..honestly, its only average in my book.

Oregon spoils you on beer though.

i think its our water from mt hood and volcanic soil

OldSchoolFool · Post by **OldSchoolFool** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:17 am

All the best hops are grown in Washington and Oregon. I am pretty sure we supply most of the hops for everyone. Same with grass, and grass seed. SO if you like smokin', drinkin', and golfin' you gotta love Oregon.

My preference is IPA, Stout, or Barley wine. The thicker the better. For EU style I prefer Pilsner (Urquell) or Belgian monk beer of any kind I can afford. The key to hangovers is to have no memory of what caused it...

My favorite starter at the bar is a shot of Makers and a pint of stout.

joyride · Post by **joyride** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:52 am

i'll drink anything above busch/miller. But i really like Bells dopplebock. Nice and thick, and can replace a meal with as many calories.

El-Akeem · Post by **El-Akeem** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:59 am

Gimme the bonus points!!!

Beck's? Bremen
Holsten? Hamburg
Kölsch? as the name says: Cologne
Diebels? Issum near Krefeld
Schmucker? Odenwald (but that is no town, it's a region)
Warsteiner? Warstein
Erdinger? Erding near Munich
Eichbaum? Mannheim

bretti_kivi · Post by **bretti_kivi** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:16 am

^^ nicely done

any preferences there? Ausser Hendl und Brezel?

Bret