I absolutely love beer. I hope there's beer in Heaven for sure. I love the taste of it, and in moderation, I love how it makes me feel. I have had my fair share of the undesirable effects of beer, but as I get older I find that you can enjoy beer more if you drink it for the taste and let the other effects take a back seat. That's easy for me to do now, but I know from experience that the "buzz" can well be the motivation, so any old Milwaukee's Best will do for that. But when you want a beer for the taste, what do you have?
For me, it's the Oldest Brewery in America.........Yuengling. The Yuengling brewery has been in operation since 1829 in Pottsville, Pa. They are the original "micro" brewery. Whereas Anheuser-Busch has breweries in nearly every state, Yuengling has only had one until just about 5 years ago when they bought the old Schlitz brewery in Tampa, Florida. They have an absolutely exquisite lager, and a light version of that as well. They also sport a great, full-bodied dark called Black and Tan. This goes great with most meals, but especially well with red meat and Italian food.
Next in line would be a beer that is immensly popular in Wisconsin called Linenkugel (not sure of the spelling). I've only had this a couple of times, but as I don't travel out of state anymore, I don't get the opportunity to have it anyway, so Yuengling is my brand. Now, what's yours. Is there a beer you think I just have to try. Cause I will, just dare me.
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The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859
Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge. ~Mark Twain
I agree with you about the importance of good beer in the scheme of things. I really enjoyed Yuenling when I lived in Dresher, PA. There are actually many excellent microbrews across the country. The only mass market beer I like is Sam Adams, which is a scaled up micro.
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"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." Carl Sagan
Realm: second star to the right, straight until morning
I will agree Leinenkugel's is a great American beer. Nice rich flavor, with a nice hint of hops. I also like Blackend Voodoo, and Crimson Voodoo from the Dixie Brewery out of New Orleans. Oh yeah! Honey brown is a good American too, as is Micheal Shea's. Good stuff. But, what I drink mostly are imports. Tennants(Scotland) Smithwick's (Ireland made by Guinness, and pronounced Smith'icks) Obviously Guinness, Bass, and Harp. There are a few more from Scotland, but I only recoginize by site because they are hard to find state side.
Thankfully it is Friday, and I do believe a pint or two *is* in order! So, Cheers to you! First round's on me...
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Some men are drawn to oceans, they cannot breathe unless the air is scented with a salty mist. Others are drawn to land that is flat, and the air is sullen and is leaden as August. My people were drawn to mountains- Earl Hamner Jr.
Have to confess that I don't like beer at all - I'd rather have a whisky or a gin and tonic.. but here's a site which has a lot of interesting facts re Scottish beers and brewing methods
Realm: second star to the right, straight until morning
Interesting site, Cat. Thanks for posting it! I forgot all about heather ales. I have tried a few. They were ok. It has been about 10 years since I have tried one. So, maybe I should try it again. M'taste have changed over the years....
This post has been edited by barddas on 04-Jun-2004, 08:44 AM
For my money, the best beer comes from the Bell's Brewrey in Kalamazoo, MI. They only ship within Michigan and, I think, Indiana and Illinois. SC, I'd look for it in your area, but you may not be able to find it. They make a full range of beers from Pale Ales to the darkest of Stouts. I really love their Porter. You have to take it easy with them, though. Their alcohol content is about 7.5%. Great stuff!!
Great, just what I was looking for. Beer drinkers are not necessarily the smelly sots they typically portrayed as being, and it looks like there are a plenty O' the alternate "conniseaur" here. Cat, that site is cool, and not liking beer is not a criminal offence, although it should be Just kidding of course. I like mostly blended Scotch whisky myself, and if one can be found that is affordable and smooth, I love it. I could drink B&B or Hennessey forever, but here in South Carolina, that stuff is a bit beyond my normal budget and has to remain the occassional celebratory libation for sure. So if my tastes are for something a bit stronger than beer, I usually pick Scoresby or Black Velvet. Scoresby is my preference because I honestly feel like it is way underpriced. Either way, on the occassions when I am enjoying the scotch, you can usually find me on my front porch rocker, listening to something VERY soothing, and gently puffing on one of my pipes filled with a good aged Virginia tobacco. Ahhhhh, life is indeed good.
If it wasn't for the fact that I have to drive 3 1/2 hours to get Cooperstown beers, I would drink them all the time. Most consistent micro I have ever been to. I usually buy 15-20 cases each time I'm there and spread them out over the course of a year to make them last. Excellent brews. http://www.cooperstownbrewing.com/
If your into Belgian style beers, 2 miles from the Cooperstown Brewery is Brewery Ommegang. You may be able to get this in South Carolina. I prefer the Hennepin over their Ommegang. Just a matter of taste but both are very good. http://www.ommegang.com/ourbeers.php
One of my favorites is very difficult to get your hands on. Tuckerman's Pale Ale from New Hampshire. The brewery is basically at capacity and the product outsells production. I notice they now have an Alt available. I'm looking forward to my next trip to New Hampshire in Oct. I usually manage to work a six pack into my luggage. http://www.tuckermanbrewing.com/index.html
I primarily like lagers and pilsners. Leinenkugel's has a good Red and also a Honey Weiss that I love. Give me a Leinie's Honey Weiss and a wedge of lemon and I'm good to go. I also like Corona with a lime, but I don't buy it too often because of the price.
Others I like: Amstel Light, Point Special, Killian's, Miller Genuine Draft, Miller Lite, Icehouse, Foster's, Berghoff, Michelob Golden Draft, Molson Golden and Moosehead.
This post has been edited by MDF3530 on 05-Jun-2004, 01:55 PM
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Mike F.
May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.
This seems to be one of those repeat subjects, but then I have no objection to that since it is one of my favorites.
Now, like I've said before, my very favorite beer is someone elses, served really cold. Next in line I usually go for the cerveza Balboa, cheap, fresh and did I mention cheap? (That would be the regular Balboa, not Balboa Ice which to me has a taste reminiscent of whatever was in the bottom of that cup I drank last night when I wasn't paying much attention and the lights were dim.)
Leo
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Consistency. It's only a virtue if you're not a screwup.
Ita erat quando hic adveni.
Time is a great teacher, but unfortunatley it kills all its pupils. - Hector Berlioz
"No matter where you go, there you are." - R. Young
For my money, the best beer comes from the Bell's Brewrey in Kalamazoo, MI. They only ship within Michigan and, I think, Indiana and Illinois. SC, I'd look for it in your area, but you may not be able to find it. They make a full range of beers from Pale Ales to the darkest of Stouts. I really love their Porter. You have to take it easy with them, though. Their alcohol content is about 7.5%. Great stuff!!
You can keep Old Milwaukee !!! If it came down to a choice of dying and drinking any of those cheap, old men's beers, I'd have to sit down and think it over .
You can keep Old Milwaukee !!! If it came down to a choice of dying and drinking any of those cheap, old men's beers, I'd have to sit down and think it over .
Mike, The point is that Y'all can keep that Old Milwaulkee, it's imported here, it's made up there. I won't drink it.... well, unless someone hands me a really really cold one.