Patrick Bateman
Member
Come to Europe and you'll never again claim that US-beer is good.
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End the Ignorance: Good U.S. Beer!
- Thread starter BlackMage
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Patrick Bateman
Member
That's a good start, now try some Guiness or some Flensburger Pilsener.
worldrunover
Member
Ok, so this notion that American beer sucks has got to stop. Yes, MACRO American beer is watery, flavorless swill, and yes, that makes up a large part of our advertising on airwaves. But there are SO many quality mirco-breweries out there, that I have no qualms in saying the US produces the best and most interesting/diverse beer in the world. And I've had over 250 beers from 17 countries.
So, you want examples? Well, let's start at the top (in terms of popularity):
You've all heard of this one, maybe had this one. Fact of the matter is Sam Adams is pretty much a large brewery these days. But the Boston Lager is not all they have. They've got dozens of different beers, some real interesting ones (the Double Bock has a 1/2lb of malt in each bottle!) and some balls-to-the-wall stuff (their Utopias is brewed in very limited quantities, and is 25% alcohol, the world record in that regard. And ohbytheway it's about $130 for 20oz of the stuff). So Sam is leading the way in the craft beer movement.
^ Picture of Utopias.
Let's get into the BEST craft brewers in America (that are also fairly widespread, if you go to your local beer distributor). Think of these places as the RPGs of the beer world, the ones all the fanboys clamor over, and won't shut the hell up about, but ones maybe mainstream audience haven't heard of. First, there's Stone Brewing Company in California:
Their most famous product is the Arrogant Bastard, an American-style Strong Ale that is around 8% alcohol and is on the weaker end of their spectrum. They also have a fabulous India Pale Ale, Russian Imperial Stout, and Smoked Porter (which as the name implies, is used with wood-smoked malts). They are also known for kegging and storing their brews in interesting ways; inside oaked barrels, brandy barrels, or "dry hopping" their beers. If you see something from them, pick it up.
^ Picture of Smoked Porter
Next, let's go to Delaware, and the Dogfish Head Brewery. If you've seen the Modern Marvels on beer (and if you like beer, you should try and find it on TV) you've seen this brewery.
They also pride themselves on strong, hoppy beers that pack as much flavor as it does alcohol. Their most famous beer, the IPA, is brewed in four different varieties; the 60 minute, 75 minute, 90 minute, and 120 minute. The time refers to the hopping process of the beer; the longer the time, the hoppier and more alcoholic the beer is. Needless to say , the 120 Minute IPA ranks in at about 21% alcohol and $10 for a 12oz bottle. It's also one of their more popular beers.
DFH also does some interesting research and has come up with unique, if ancient, recipes. The Chateau Jiahu is one of the more intriguing ones:
Inspired by a beverage found in clay posts in China around 9000 years ago. In keeping with historic evidence, Dogfish brewers used pre-gelatinized rice flakes, Wildflower honey, Muscat grapes, barley malt, hawthorn fruit, and Chrysanthemum flowers. The rice and barley malt were added together to make the mash for starch conversion and degradation. The resulting sweet wort was then run into the kettle. The honey, grapes, Hawthorn fruit, and Chrysanthemum flowers were then added. The entire mixture was boiled for 45 minutes, and then cooled. The resulting sweet liquid was pitched with a fresh culture of Sake yeast and allowed to ferment a month before the transfer into a chilled secondary tank.
If that isn't the complete opposite of Big Macro Companies, I don't know what it. They also have a similar one called Midas Touch, which is based off a recipe found in clay pots of ancient Egypt.
^ Picture of Cateau Jiahu
On our last stop we'll go to the grandfather of American Craft brewing; Anchor Brewery. This brewery has been around since before prohibition, but was one of the few to actually make it through. Instead of trying to compete with the big boys and producing a copycat lager, they decided to create a more homemade, small-town quality to the beer. The result was the foundation to all craft brewing as we know it.
^ That is the California Steam Beer, a style rarely made anymore, but the flagship beer of Anchor. It's a golden lager with much more flavor and body than your typical pale yellow beer. Along with that they have many other classic styles, including a porter, stout, and bock.
So that's a mini rundown of the better craft breweries in the US (not counting Sierra Nevada, which is also fantastic but has been mentioned a few times already). I'm sure you can find at least one (or more) of these if you go to a local beer store. After you come back, please re-enter this thread and tell us how awful American beer is.
And because I'm from Long Island, I have to pop my local breweries; Brooklyn, Blue Point, and Southampton. All three are excellent, and can be found in about half the states, so check em out.
So, you want examples? Well, let's start at the top (in terms of popularity):
You've all heard of this one, maybe had this one. Fact of the matter is Sam Adams is pretty much a large brewery these days. But the Boston Lager is not all they have. They've got dozens of different beers, some real interesting ones (the Double Bock has a 1/2lb of malt in each bottle!) and some balls-to-the-wall stuff (their Utopias is brewed in very limited quantities, and is 25% alcohol, the world record in that regard. And ohbytheway it's about $130 for 20oz of the stuff). So Sam is leading the way in the craft beer movement.
^ Picture of Utopias.
Let's get into the BEST craft brewers in America (that are also fairly widespread, if you go to your local beer distributor). Think of these places as the RPGs of the beer world, the ones all the fanboys clamor over, and won't shut the hell up about, but ones maybe mainstream audience haven't heard of. First, there's Stone Brewing Company in California:
Their most famous product is the Arrogant Bastard, an American-style Strong Ale that is around 8% alcohol and is on the weaker end of their spectrum. They also have a fabulous India Pale Ale, Russian Imperial Stout, and Smoked Porter (which as the name implies, is used with wood-smoked malts). They are also known for kegging and storing their brews in interesting ways; inside oaked barrels, brandy barrels, or "dry hopping" their beers. If you see something from them, pick it up.
^ Picture of Smoked Porter
Next, let's go to Delaware, and the Dogfish Head Brewery. If you've seen the Modern Marvels on beer (and if you like beer, you should try and find it on TV) you've seen this brewery.
They also pride themselves on strong, hoppy beers that pack as much flavor as it does alcohol. Their most famous beer, the IPA, is brewed in four different varieties; the 60 minute, 75 minute, 90 minute, and 120 minute. The time refers to the hopping process of the beer; the longer the time, the hoppier and more alcoholic the beer is. Needless to say , the 120 Minute IPA ranks in at about 21% alcohol and $10 for a 12oz bottle. It's also one of their more popular beers.
DFH also does some interesting research and has come up with unique, if ancient, recipes. The Chateau Jiahu is one of the more intriguing ones:
Inspired by a beverage found in clay posts in China around 9000 years ago. In keeping with historic evidence, Dogfish brewers used pre-gelatinized rice flakes, Wildflower honey, Muscat grapes, barley malt, hawthorn fruit, and Chrysanthemum flowers. The rice and barley malt were added together to make the mash for starch conversion and degradation. The resulting sweet wort was then run into the kettle. The honey, grapes, Hawthorn fruit, and Chrysanthemum flowers were then added. The entire mixture was boiled for 45 minutes, and then cooled. The resulting sweet liquid was pitched with a fresh culture of Sake yeast and allowed to ferment a month before the transfer into a chilled secondary tank.
If that isn't the complete opposite of Big Macro Companies, I don't know what it. They also have a similar one called Midas Touch, which is based off a recipe found in clay pots of ancient Egypt.
^ Picture of Cateau Jiahu
On our last stop we'll go to the grandfather of American Craft brewing; Anchor Brewery. This brewery has been around since before prohibition, but was one of the few to actually make it through. Instead of trying to compete with the big boys and producing a copycat lager, they decided to create a more homemade, small-town quality to the beer. The result was the foundation to all craft brewing as we know it.
^ That is the California Steam Beer, a style rarely made anymore, but the flagship beer of Anchor. It's a golden lager with much more flavor and body than your typical pale yellow beer. Along with that they have many other classic styles, including a porter, stout, and bock.
So that's a mini rundown of the better craft breweries in the US (not counting Sierra Nevada, which is also fantastic but has been mentioned a few times already). I'm sure you can find at least one (or more) of these if you go to a local beer store. After you come back, please re-enter this thread and tell us how awful American beer is.
And because I'm from Long Island, I have to pop my local breweries; Brooklyn, Blue Point, and Southampton. All three are excellent, and can be found in about half the states, so check em out.
SaggyMonkey
Member
People are asking for good American beers, and people mention Rolling Rock and MGD? :lol
Let's roll...
http://www.ommegang.com/ (Try Three Philosophers, or really anything)
http://stonebrew.com/ (Pretty much everything, but I prefer their Pales and IPAs)
http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/ (Again, it's all good.. but Pliny the Younger is my favorite, but Elder does just fine when the other is out of season.)
http://www.allagash.com/ (Try the White Ale)
http://www.marinbrewing.com/ (Prefer their Pale and IPA, though also like their Barleywine and Stout a lot)
http://www.moylans.com/ (like their IPAs, Pale and Irish Red)
http://www.greenflashbrew.com/ (like all of it)
http://www.sierranevada.com/ (Pale and Big Foot)
http://www.dragonmead.com/ (haven't had a bad one yet, their Belgian Triple is great)
http://www.jollypumpkin.com/ (Bam Bière and Luciernaga)
http://www.northcoastbrewing.com/ (Red Seal, Old Rasputin. the rest is good too)
http://www.konabrewingco.com/ (Fire Rock Pale Ale)
Let's roll...
http://www.ommegang.com/ (Try Three Philosophers, or really anything)
http://stonebrew.com/ (Pretty much everything, but I prefer their Pales and IPAs)
http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/ (Again, it's all good.. but Pliny the Younger is my favorite, but Elder does just fine when the other is out of season.)
http://www.allagash.com/ (Try the White Ale)
http://www.marinbrewing.com/ (Prefer their Pale and IPA, though also like their Barleywine and Stout a lot)
http://www.moylans.com/ (like their IPAs, Pale and Irish Red)
http://www.greenflashbrew.com/ (like all of it)
http://www.sierranevada.com/ (Pale and Big Foot)
http://www.dragonmead.com/ (haven't had a bad one yet, their Belgian Triple is great)
http://www.jollypumpkin.com/ (Bam Bière and Luciernaga)
http://www.northcoastbrewing.com/ (Red Seal, Old Rasputin. the rest is good too)
http://www.konabrewingco.com/ (Fire Rock Pale Ale)
Forgotten Ancient
Banned
Jugendstil said:
They make the stuff about a mile from where I work. We walk down there every now and then and have a few. Goodtimes.
Bell's just put out this Grand Hotel Ale (I think that's what it's called anyways) that's very, very good. I'm sure it'll only be out for a couple of months (or less).
Community Forum
Member
Big-E said:
That's one of my favorites!
Industrially mass produced beer sucks (yes, even if it says it is made from a secret Belgium monks recipe on the label), in the US, prohibition killed many of the smaller breweries, leaving the the market largely controlled by the Budweisers, Coors and their ilk.
But in pretty much every North American city you can find great local beer.
much like you don't judge every Dutch beer by Heineken, you should not fault the US's due to Miller.
But in pretty much every North American city you can find great local beer.
much like you don't judge every Dutch beer by Heineken, you should not fault the US's due to Miller.
D
Deleted member 8095
Unconfirmed Member
Far better than the Pyramid version... Though I do enjoy a lot of Pyramid beers and I LOVE the ale house across from Safeco.
Also, those that said Deschutes are right! Full Sail also makes some decent beer. Not to mention Redhook. All quality American beers.
Also, those that said Deschutes are right! Full Sail also makes some decent beer. Not to mention Redhook. All quality American beers.
distantmantra
Member
Favre4435 said:
Deschutes is my very favorite, but I don't think it's sold outside of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
What makes it even better is that a good family friend became the head brewmaster a few years ago. Weekends in Bend drinking all kinds of special beers rule.
D
Deleted member 8095
Unconfirmed Member
distantmantra said:
Nice! Yeah, Bend is a fantastic area and the brewery is great.
Forgotten Ancient
Banned
Chichikov said:
Yup, stay away from pretty much any beer advertised on TV. There are so many better beers to be found at local breweries. Bell's is good, but it's not even my favorite microbrewery in little ole Kalamazoo. I can't begin to imagine what I'm missing from all the other microbreweries in the country.
SlackMage said:I hear a lot of crap from foreigners and a lot of people in the states that think they know their shit saying American Beer sucks. Well, if all you've drank is Coors/Bud/Miller you don't know jack shit. I know there are others out there that have drank some really good US beer and I want to hear your suggestions! Ill start: This is Pyramid Hefeweizen. It is my favorite beer ever! I believe it is brewed somewhere in Washington. It is unfiltered to give it that extra taste and aroma!
actually brewed in Sacramento CA
and this beer pwns all
One brewer that some of you may see in the next few years or so in Four Peaks... it's just a few block from me (in Tempe, AZ) and they just started to sell it in local stores. Their most popular beer is:
Kiltlifter
However, I love Hop Knot. I wouldn't drink any other beer if I had a choice
Hop Knot
I honestly think they will be a regional brew in a few years.
---edit---
I forgot to mention the most godly of all brews ever made ever!! (too bad it's a seasonal)
Hop Squatch
But it's not a beer...
Kiltlifter
However, I love Hop Knot. I wouldn't drink any other beer if I had a choice
Hop Knot
I honestly think they will be a regional brew in a few years.
---edit---
I forgot to mention the most godly of all brews ever made ever!! (too bad it's a seasonal)
Hop Squatch
But it's not a beer...
shoplifter
Member
Forgotten Ancient said:
Don't even get me started. Finding local breweries is always my first order of business when I go somewhere. Luckily we have several good ones here in Columbus so I'm not missing out on the local stuff. I keep meaning to drive out to Three Floyds so I can buy some Dark Lord, since they don't distribute it.
My fridge currently contains:
1 Ommegang Abbey
1 Pauwel Kwak
14 Stone Imperial Russian Stout (I buy 12 every year and drink one every 4-6 weeks to let it age over the course of the year)
2 Stone Double Bastard (this is SO over the top, much like everything they do)
1 Stone Smoked Porter
1 Siletz Redhead
1 Breckenridge 417 Double-hopped IPA
1 Case pyramid Hefeweizen
1 bottle Great Lakes Blackout Stout
I've been wanting to start brewing my own stuff but I need to make sure I can get something to store the finished product in over the long term. Once I get my shit in order I'm planning to try mostly stouts, possibly some bocks/dopplebocks, and IPAs.
I started on Guinness, but for ****'s sake it tastes like water to me now, I need Russian Imperials to satisfy my stout cravings.
shoplifter
Member
I have nothing bad to say about Newcastle. Very drinkable.
If any of you have INHD, check out Beer Nutz. Sometimes the hosts piss me off, but the guests are usually great.
If any of you have INHD, check out Beer Nutz. Sometimes the hosts piss me off, but the guests are usually great.
I drink pabst exclusively because I'm poor, and also because I like the taste of piss swishing around in my mouth. I also hate foreigners*.
*except any mods who are reading this and might be foreign, and or KiNeSiS and Ninja Scooter, if either of them is foreign.
*except any mods who are reading this and might be foreign, and or KiNeSiS and Ninja Scooter, if either of them is foreign.
worldrunover
Member
max_cool said:
Actually, Barleywines are beers. They're called "barley wine" because many of them can be as strong as wine (in ABV), but since they're brewed with grain and not fruit, they're very much-so beers.
shoplifter said:
homebrewing is pretty easy. Just save up all your bottles (rinse them after you pour them), they're completely recyclable. 22s are the best size. You you even reuse your Belgian cork bottles (if you buy a corker). Bocks and dopplebocks are difficult to make because they're lagers and require a dedicated refrigerator to keep the temp down while fermenting. But Stouts and IPA (especially IPAs) are ales and so pretty easy to do because you can let them ferment at room temp. You can also do Belgian styles, but honestly I've never had a good homebrew, Belgian style (or non Belgian made Belgian style for that matter), But overall English styles come out vvery wellCheck out this book:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Papazian
Comfort_Eagle
Banned
As everyone has said, ignore the mass marketed shit and go for the micro brews. There are an insane amount of great breweries here in the U.S but they don't get any press. It does piss me off that the majority of the morons in this country buy Bud/Coors/Miller when they could have GOOD beer for less! With a higher ABV to boot (if you just want to get drunk). But then again, this is America and most Americans are worthless.
A lot of people have already listed my favorites. Now, I am going to go enjoy some Arrogant Bastard.
A lot of people have already listed my favorites. Now, I am going to go enjoy some Arrogant Bastard.
funny (or not) story about PBR -briefcasemanx said:
for many years, the only place I've ever seen it was in that great scene from Blue Velvet, (I guess it wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that they don't export that shit) as you can imagine, there was a mystic aura around that vowel deprived Pabst and its ribbon, I wasn't even sure if it's a real bear.
Imagine my awe when I first step into an American gas station store, and lo and behold, right there in the fridge, in all its glory -
PABST!
BLUE!
RIBBON!
needless to say the actual beer didn't quite lived to its hype.
DAMN YOU FRANK BOOTH!
I think when most people say "American beer sucks" they are actually voicing a 2-part opinion. 1. American beer sucks and 2. (The silent opinion which is never voiced): There is probably good American beer somewhere but it's too hard to find.
The problem isn't that Americans are bad at making beer, it's that the good stuff isn't easy to find. You can't just walk to any store and grab a six-pack of the stuff most of you have been posting and until that changes, American beer sucks.
Oh and Sam Adams is overrated - definitely not a good example of American beer. I remember being really surprised the first time I had it. I was expecting it to be great because of the way people talked about it. Then I thought maybe it was an isolated incident, but, nope - everytime Ive had it its been bad. Although the cherry wheat is pretty good, aside from it tasting a little like cough syrup.
The problem isn't that Americans are bad at making beer, it's that the good stuff isn't easy to find. You can't just walk to any store and grab a six-pack of the stuff most of you have been posting and until that changes, American beer sucks.
Oh and Sam Adams is overrated - definitely not a good example of American beer. I remember being really surprised the first time I had it. I was expecting it to be great because of the way people talked about it. Then I thought maybe it was an isolated incident, but, nope - everytime Ive had it its been bad. Although the cherry wheat is pretty good, aside from it tasting a little like cough syrup.
automagnus
Member
Premium / Traditional lager
shoplifter
Member
refreshZ said:
Fudd > Duff
eudaemonic
Member
I just wanted to share this the story about this very special 7-11:
Go tell your local store they need to be like this guy!
Go tell your local store they need to be like this guy!
D
Deleted member 8095
Unconfirmed Member
I've heard good American beer is very hard to find on the East coast. I'm glad I live in Washington (state), we have so many microbreweries in this area that produce awesome beer that can be found in even the lowest gas station convience stores.
SaggyMonkey
Member
140.85 said:
Isn't easy to find? You can find at the very least find Sierra Nevada at most local liquor beer stores. (Fat Tire's pretty common too)
However, picking is good in Southern California. We've got places like Hi Time Wine in Costa Mesa, several BevMo locations, Father's Office in LA, Naja's in Redondo, Goat Hill Tavern in Costa Mesa, Stuffed Sandwich in the valley, Lucky Baldwin's in Pasadena, the three Pizza Port Locations as well as some of the best craft breweries anywhere. (Stone, Green Flash, Alesmith, Pizza Port etc.)
The Take Out Bandit
Member
HAY GUYS WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?!
I'll be the first to piss on Cleveland's corpse; hell - I'll piss on it's still warm body, but I've got to give credit where credit is due, and Great Lakes Brewery makes some great great brews.
I enjoy sinking a few Edmund Fitzgeralds.
Porters FTW!
I'll be the first to piss on Cleveland's corpse; hell - I'll piss on it's still warm body, but I've got to give credit where credit is due, and Great Lakes Brewery makes some great great brews.
I enjoy sinking a few Edmund Fitzgeralds.
Porters FTW!
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