Favorite Beer

[gator]

personally, i have an american I.P.A fermenting right now (thank you mr. blowoff tube )

fell in love with I.P.A. a few years ago in Park City and now have made a tradition of getting a few 6 packs of different brands when out there skiing and have them for 'breakfast beer' before we hit the slopes - great way to start the day on vacation!!

also love the southern pecan and indian summer, haven't had enough southern gold yet to have a definite opinion on it. if available, i usually stick with a lazy magnolia brew, if not i'll go with sierra navada wheat or pale ale as a second choice.
i like beer..... a lot a lot a lot a lot

pretty much the same. mine started on ski trips, but really sunk in the few months i lived out in denver. group of us from my pharmacy class interned out there. best summer on record so far as i'm concerned. seemed like a brew house and/or brewery on every corner, and out in the mountain town, every place has it's "beer".

IMHO, Portland, OR and Denver, CO are as close to a beer nirvana as you can get.....

in fact, i'm drinking a Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout that i saved from duck season right now...............cause i can

again, cool thread, gator

[Greenhead22]

How in the heck have I missed this topic for so long?

My favorite would have to be the one that I found in the middle of nowhere in NE Arkansas.........New Belgium's Fat Tire. I think I still have one left........long drive for restocking.

My local area favorite now would have to be Lazy's Indian Spiced Ale.....smooth smooth smooth. When I can't find it, I'll pick up some Shiner Bock or Blonde and some ESB Blonde Ale.

When October rolls around........Sam Adams Octoberfest, stuff doesn't stay on the self long and it hurts when you keep forgetting to hook up with someone that bought you an 18 pack.

During the winter, hands down Sam Adams Seasonal/Brewmaster's Collection.......Winter Lager, Ole Fezziwig (The Bomb), White Ale, Hefeweizen and Cream Stout.

However, the best all around beer for drinking all year, Sam Adams Light.

[davidees]

+1 for Fat Tire

[gator]

+1 for Fat Tire

i guess i'm a bit different in that fat tire isn't a favorite of mine, or even close. the maltiness of it seems unbalanced w/ the hops TO ME. i don't turn it down, but don't look for it either.

i do like several of their offerings though

gator

[turkeyman]

i have really started drinking Copper Hook it is a great tasting beer i wanna try the sunrye by Red Hook anyone ever had it

[donia]

hey gator,
have you found anywhere in ms or surrounding states that sells ipa? been craving it lately and most people at beer stores look at me like i'm speaking in an alien dialect when i ask if they carry any.....

these were my favorites that i got in park city - i've gotten the hop ottin every time i've been out there as my primary 'breakfast beer' before we hit the slopes.
squatter's ipa is mighty tasty, as well as alexander's hop ottin ipa

[bigbeeducker]

I got a brother in Jackson, Tn. He brings me some pretty good IPA's from time to time. Im in Starkville so I could get him to bring you some if you would like.

[gator]

donia, just seeing this (been in omaha).

in jackson, you can find several IPA's (though, admittedly nothing you got on the slopes) in kroger and fresh market grocery stores. i really really like shipyard's IPA and export ale (maine brewery). alabama just passed a law that allows for higher alcohol content in beer (we are trying here but having issues) and they can get and have just about anything you'd want in alot of bigger towns. bout as good as i can do.

the closest super hoppy beer i can think of right now is sierra nevada's pale ale. i'm drinking lazy mag's reb ale right now and it's pretty darned good and i think the lazy mag offering is a bit better balanced (and, i love me some SNPA).

bout as good as you can expect is to get to memphis and look or tuscaloosa/birmingham.

gator

[Bonecollecter1111]

whiskey whiskey the ole man cryed, they gave him water and the ole man died

straight bourbon all the way

[donia]

whiskey whiskey the ole man cryed, they gave him water and the ole man died

straight bourbon all the way

too much wild turkey in highschool ruined me - but straight scotch....ice makes water!

[donia]

donia, just seeing this (been in omaha).

in jackson, you can find several IPA's (though, admittedly nothing you got on the slopes) in kroger and fresh market grocery stores. i really really like shipyard's IPA and export ale (maine brewery). alabama just passed a law that allows for higher alcohol content in beer (we are trying here but having issues) and they can get and have just about anything you'd want in alot of bigger towns. bout as good as i can do.

the closest super hoppy beer i can think of right now is sierra nevada's pale ale. i'm drinking lazy mag's reb ale right now and it's pretty darned good and i think the lazy mag offering is a bit better balanced (and, i love me some SNPA).

bout as good as you can expect is to get to memphis and look or tuscaloosa/birmingham.

gator

aight thanks, gives me a starting point. i actually like sierra nevada's wheat as much as the pale ale. not too sure about southern gold, yet only had it once. southern pecan is my first choice if served at restaurants or available in stores
my wife's territory is through t'loosa and b'ham. i'll have to see if she'll break the work vehical's 'no alcohol' rule every now and then for me.... guess i'll try for an ipa of the week club from AL

hey bama boys, what are some good brands of ipa stocked in your areas?

[donia]

donia, just seeing this (been in omaha).

in jackson, you can find several IPA's (though, admittedly nothing you got on the slopes) in kroger and fresh market grocery stores. i really really like shipyard's IPA and export ale (maine brewery). alabama just passed a law that allows for higher alcohol content in beer (we are trying here but having issues) and they can get and have just about anything you'd want in alot of bigger towns. bout as good as i can do.

the closest super hoppy beer i can think of right now is sierra nevada's pale ale. i'm drinking lazy mag's reb ale right now and it's pretty darned good and i think the lazy mag offering is a bit better balanced (and, i love me some SNPA).

bout as good as you can expect is to get to memphis and look or tuscaloosa/birmingham.

gator

i found one 6 pack of non-pumkin shipyard @ brewski's - it was shipyard Prelude Special Ale (had a winter scene on the lable)- closeset i've gotten to ipa taste, but it was just the first good swig of each new beer, didn't carry through.... they said they used to carry shipyard but noone bought it so they quit carrying it.

[gator]

MAN, hold on to the prelude....hell, i'll drink it

prelude is the "thanksgiving" beer (alah, a prelude to winter/Christmas). english ale, meaning, you're gonna find a bigger, chewier malt backbone. you probably get a bit of chocolate or nutty taste througout. imho, for a balanced beer, the brits balance their beers a bit better in many cases.

wrong time of year, let it sit, you'll enjoy it more in winter i'd bet.

it sounds like you're looking for an American style pale ale. these are generally more crisper, less balanced weighing in moreso on the "toss in some more chinook/cascade/centenial - northwest 'c' hops - man". some may view it as almost 'bitter' i'd guess, but it's really a very piney (possibly citrusy) flavor from our hops.

i'm drinking a redhook ESB right now -- good stuff, you should look it up - but really, the closest you'll get around here w/out going to memphis or bama (at present time) is most likely sierra nevada pale ale. another would be rogues amber ale.....and, possibly their dead guy, though i've fallen a bit out of favor w/ it as of late - at times seems "old" if that makes sense.

in any case, here's something to look at. when your wife's in the grocery store shopping, she no doubt, looks at labels. you should do the same. most craft/micro brewers will describe hops/malts/etc and at times will list things such as IBU's. that's "international bittering units". the higher that number, the more bitter (or, hoppier, if you will) the brew.

the actual range each (from amber to pale to brown to porter to stout) is beyond the scope here (don't get me started on imperials and doubles ) but just know that if comparing two ales and you like a hoppy beer, odds are you're gonna like the one w/ the higher IBU's.

notice i didn't mention alcohol content - doesn't matter. i'm drinking now, a sierra nevada (post took a while, hehe). less than 5 on the alcohol level, but a crisp/bitter/hoppy beer for around here.

anyhow, i love this thread and check it everytime i see a new post on this forum.

gator

[donia]

oh i liked the shipyard prelude, a lot, it just didn't have that hoppie full flavor bite each swig, usually just the first, where the ipa's i've had last swig was like the first. prelude is the closest i've tasted to ipa, so far. of course it was their last 6pack and they don't plan on carrying it anymore - wasn't a good seller here...we have 2 really good beer stores here so may have to start frequenting the other more, inventory is pretty diverse, but the other place has a bigger overall selection.

i like redhood esb, haven't had it in a while.
i'll pass along the ibu info (i'll have to school myself on it, b/c the wife wants a full 'reasoning' of why she's buying $8-$10 six packs, since she doesn't appreciate good beer, as i do )

thanks for the info

[donia]

I got a brother in Jackson, Tn. He brings me some pretty good IPA's from time to time. Im in Starkville so I could get him to bring you some if you would like.

thunderhead - that's what i've been lookin for!! mighty tastey - super hoppy all the way through

sierra nevada torpedo- delicious as well!!

i definately owe you! we'll get the grill goin one night: some stuffed shrooms, hoover marinate/blackberry basted duck breasts, fresh 'maters on salad, i'll try to keep some beers around and may have a few new ones by then....
i'll holla next week and get a plan together