The BEER thread.

Extra hops. LOTS of extra hops. And I thought you didn't like hops...

That's why it's called "Foreign" Extra Stout. Much like the Indian Pale Ales, they use extra hops so it doesn't spoil in the barrels for shipment. Or at least, that's why they did it when everything was transported by wind powered boats...

The Yeti looks and sounds awesome.

Myron, they may be allowed to be open on Sundays for a limited time now, but none in my area ever are.

 

I believe I said I wasn't a big fan of hoppy beers or Ales. I said nothing about hoppy Stouts. Just kidding. It's very smooth and subtle, and mixes well with the dark malty goodness.

 

What a fantastic thread! Just stumbled upon it this morning.

While I probably will enjoy just about any type of beer, IPAs are probably my favorite. If anyone is ever near the New England area, specifically Boston, pick one of these up:



Now more to my region, my favorite beer is out of Garrison Breweries out of Halifax, a Hop Yard Pale Ale:

 

This is a great thread.

I cracked open another new stout tonight. Southern Tier Brewing Co. Creme Brulee (Imperial Milk Stout). I've never smelled a brew that was so aromatic and sweet. Very strong caramel and vanilla aroma. Almost like smelling ice cream or a dessert coffee. The flavor is sweet, with lots of caramel and vanilla, and big alcohol bite on the back end. Overall, I'd recommend it, but I don't know if I'll get it again.

 

Right you were. It's getting sweeter as it gets warmer...good description.

 

Damn... I need to get that. Sounds a lot different from what I normally drink. Might be a treat.

As it stands, I have to slow down. I'm already 5 Guinness in and it's not even kickoff yet.

 

I took a half day today so I could be home in time for kickoff. Mt wife greets me with wings, pizza, sausage and peppers, and already has a Guinness poured for me. I... overindulged.

Good woman. Not sure how I got so lucky.

 

That's great. I assumed you got lucky and had the day off. If you were closer, I'd share one of these sweet stouts.

I think the same thing about my wife all the time. If she hasn't figured out how much better she could do by now, I think I'm safe.

 

On our 20th, I told her if she had killed me instead, they would have let her out by now. I'm chalking it up to Stockholm Syndrome. either way, I cannot complain.

 

Ha, I like that. I'm gonna have to use that one. :-D

 

Tonight's new beer (last of the new brews unfortunately) is Stone Brewing Co.'s Smoked Porter. Yes, they had Arrogant Bastard Ale, but I suspect it's not my cup of tea. The smoked porter is pretty good. Not too heavy on the smoke, but present in the bouquet and on the back end as well. Not my favorite Porter, but for a Smoked Porter, I recommend.

 

Ha, we posted at the same time. I thought about you the other day at the beer store, Bleed. They had a bunch of different Great Lakes Brewing Co. brews. I almost grabbed one, but I already had a full box, and I knew my wife's jaw would drop as it was.

 

I've had the Edmund Fitzgerald Porter before out in Illinois. It's a good Porter.(Amber Bock was the Mic I used to like.)

 

Going a little less dark tonight. Just my first Sam Adams Octoberfest of the year. But I love those marzen style beers, and Sam Adams is a pretty good one.

Bleed, good to hear it. Make sure she does too.

 

I haven't had that in a few years. I wanna say it's got a citrus/spice flavor to it. Is that right?

 

Not in my experience. Maybe you're thinking of their Winterfest beer. That sounds more like it. The Winterfest IS spiced, although I have yet to try it.

Octoberfest is just a well rounded, "malty" beer. Think of it almost like a darker lager or brown ale, only with less hops, and a LOT more malt.

It's a good beer for this time of year. The temperature is coming down (especially at night like tonight). And it pairs well with colder weather type dishes (stews, pot roast, etc). It's not a complex beer.

 

Yeah, I wasn't quite sure which seasonal brew I was thinking of. Thanks.

 

To be honest, I enjoy most of Sam Adams' specialty/seasonal/craft beers. The only exceptions would be their Boston Ale which I rather detested, Noble Pils (might as well go grazing in a hops field) and oddly enough, I find their Boston Lager just average (ok, still miles better than the mass produced stuff).

But the ones I loved were their Chocolate Stout, Irish Red, Scotch Ale, Summer Wheat, and Octoberfest obviously.