The Beer Geek Thread

[Slyder]

p.s.- It is a shame there are so many Pumpkin beers out already and it is just September 5th!

I agree. Tons of punkin beers and hardly any Oktoberfest beers. I was going to attempt a mock-toberfest "ale" awhile back but never did. Someday I'll have a good set up and will be able to lager.

Punkin beers are ok, but I think a lot of breweries just use punkin pie spices. I'm not sure if that bugs me as much as them using fruit extracts instead of actual fruit though. Extracts suck IMO. Smelled great, tasted like crap.

Back when I had a job, I gave a co-worker a few bottles of my Irish Red and he brought it to a blind taste competition. He told me it came in third, I was happy. Even better...I found the recipe on an old hard drive the other day. Glad I didn't scrap it yet

[fineout]

Thats a bit too much Pumpkin Ale for me. You should do the tasting blind so everyone picks their favourite beer on taste and not who brewed it or graphics on the label. You could then reveal the ranking of most liked to least liked. Actually please post back what you find out. I am interested.

p.s.- It is a shame there are so many Pumpkin beers out already and it is just September 5th!

pps - I'm taking my crew out to a Hop Walk today, should be fun.

It is going to be a blind tasting, probably about 5oz per person per beer, im excited to see the results as well and will keep it posted. There are a few more types I want to get before I get this thing going so it will probably be a little over a week from now.

I agree, I would have waited til october but i am looking to buy a house and if we find one soon then i will not have any time in the next couple months so i wanted to do it fairly soon as long as it wasnt in august

[typeone]

this little 4pack was überTasty



question for you Geeks: a friend of mine is a Bud Light guy all the way (yeah, i know) but he just won a Kegerator and wants to try more beer. what would you recommend he try? venturing out for him is like Coors Orig.

[fineout]

I've slowly started my gf's father on the road to beerlightenment by bringing by some of the better lagers, he loved blue point toasted lager and kona longboard, hes a natty light drinker so maybe those might be a good starting point? Also I would maybe think the lighter pale ales like maybe dales pale ale or white ales like harpoon ufo white?

[typeone]

thanks, fineout. it's going to be tough. i've had him sample stuff i bring over but he always thinks it's 'too strong'. i have hope though because he doesn't want to stock this thing with Bud Light.

that was my first suggestion to him, try to sample a few blondes, pales or whites. UFO might go over well. not sure he would like Dale's but i'll grab a 6 and have him try it. Mama's Little Yella Pils might work better, actually. (good stuff)

back to my samplings... these were delicious repeats lately:

- Stone Anniversary IPA
- Mikkeller Koppi Coffee IPA (so good)
- Brooklyn Summer
- Goose Island Summertime
- Troegs Hopback Amber

also enjoyed

- Lagunitas IPA
- Southern Tier 2x IPA
- Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp
- Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’
- Pretty Things Meadowlark

[ZX-12R]

this little 4pack was überTasty

I love Sixpoint!



For something your buddy might like, see if you can get him "The Crisp." It's a pilsner and is pretty mild in flavor but a very well constructed beer.

I agree that Dales Pale Ale will probably be too much for a novice. Coming from Bud Light, it's likely too hop forward. Out of everything Oskar Blues makes, the Yella Pils would be the best.

[typeone]

I love Sixpoint!

the Resin has been my favorite Sixpoint so far. loved it.

For something your buddy might like, see if you can get him "The Crisp." It's a pilsner and is pretty mild in flavor but a very well constructed beer.

I agree that Dales Pale Ale will probably be too much for a novice. Coming from Bud Light, it's likely too hop forward. Out of everything Oskar Blues makes, the Yella Pils would be the best.

OK, thanks. i'll look for The Crisp. sounds perfect!

yeah, i thought the same on the Oskars offerings. couldnt remember if i had him try a Dale's or Joe's Premium American from Avery. both would just be too hoppy... (i like the Joe's as well)

[Slyder]

I was going to mention Pilseners too. Kolsch if you can find them.

Or maybe Irish Reds, they're not too hoppy but they have a bit more malt and body to them.

[fineout]

Perfect time to try oktoberfest beers as well, not over the tp on flavor, my dad actually loves gansett fest and he's mosty a bud light/gansett ight guy

[typeone]

I was going to mention Pilseners too. Kolsch if you can find them.

Goose Island Summertime is a German style Kolsch i had recently. nice and refreshing on a hot day. swilled a 6 after dirty biking



i'm off to hunt down some of The Crisp! (for myself first) fingers x'd.. .

[typeone]

success.

[typeone]

so, that was quick.... friend i mentioned above isn't keeping the kegerator. already has a fridge in the garage so feels he wont use it.

anyone here interested? it's brand new. think he said they go for $1100 or so. he's asking $700 OBO. it's Snap-On branded in red like the one below (not his) he entered a drawing through the Snap-On guy at work and won it.

just helping spread the word for him. it's located in central MA

[fineout]

I really want this for my new house but havent found my new house yet in order to put it in, looks like a really high quality setup though.

[ZX-12R]

Look what I found during a recent trip to Norfolk VA:



The place is called The Birch and it's definitely off the beaten path. It's not very often I walk into a place where I'm unfamiliar with most their beers. Needless to say, their draft selection is outstanding and constantly rotating.

I had the Evil Twin - Freudian Slip, Alvinne - Melchior, and the BFM (Brasserie Des Franches-Montagnes) - Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien. All of them were excellent.

This place quickly earned a spot on my short list of places to go when work brings me to Norfolk.

[burtonboarder23]

For anyone that likes cider and pumpkin pie. Grabbed a harpoon pumpkin cider to try something different after drinking a few cases of pumpkinhead... It was amazing and i usually hate cider. They use pressed apples, spices and of course pumpkins to make a nice 5% cider.

[SRTie4k]

Was in PA this weekend and picked up a pack of Yuengling Black and Tan. It's not too bad, a bit lighter than I was expecting (I guess I should have known this ahead of time). Carbonation is a bit over the top for a darker beer. But its different from most dark beers I've had in that you can easily drink a couple in one sitting.

[pontifex]

High and Mighty Beer of the Gods from Holyoke

[Slyder]

3 gallons of hard cider I just racked to the secondary. 2 pounds of raw demerara sugar, 1 pound of lactose (to back sweeten, I don't like 'em super dry) and 3 gallons of raw cider and a smack pack of Wyeast 4766. Unfortunately I forget where I wrote the OG down, but it was close to 1.100, the FG is 1.005, so it should be around 12% ABV. I've been sampling the sample, it's greener than hell but tasty

[fineout]

Anyone see this one yet? College humor's guide to your local bar's craft beers http://www.collegehumor.com/article/...your-local-bar

[khuygie88]

Didn't see that. Haven't seen any of those. Want to try that Happier than Hopfuck.

Going to have another Pumpkin UFO now.

Edit: also made Apple Pie Moonshine Monday- 1 gallon apple juice, 1 gallon cider, steep with cinnamon sticks, add 2 cups brown sugar. Cool to room temp, add 1 liter grain alcohol. I canned it in mason jars for added effect with additional cinnamon sticks. 9 quarts, total cost $30. Clocks in at ~12% and drops panties.