Guns Of Icarus Online

Off-Topic => The Lounge => Topic started by: dragonmere on July 06, 2013, 09:15:24 pm

Title: Good Beers
Post by: dragonmere on July 06, 2013, 09:15:24 pm
Everyone knows this game goes quite well with a nice beer. Microbrews, craft brews, or small unknown breweries are often the best source for a really good beer, but word of mouth is one of the only good ways to find new beers to try.

Here's my favorite, what's yours?

Dubhe Imperial Black IPA by Uinta Brewing Company.
http://www.uintabrewing.com/brews/dubhe.html
If you like dark beers or complex IPAs you'll love this. Seriously rich head, hoppy as hell but still very heavy, chocolately/carmley flavors, brewed with hemp seed so you get a wonderful warm and sweet finish, and 9.2% ABV to get the job done.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Surette on July 06, 2013, 10:35:22 pm
Plasmarobo better see this thread, black IPAs are exactly his thing. Pretty sure Harpoon's Black IPA is his favorite beer.

Anyway, I like most beer. I love IPAs and flavorful ales. In addition to the usual Sam Adams Boston Lager and Harpoon IPA or Harpoon Dark, I love Stone's IPA and Arrogant Bastard Ale, Dogfish Head's 60/90 Minute IPA, and Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale and Torpedo Extra IPA... I'll try anything once and I end up liking most things. I try to buy something new every time I go to the store. Really the only things I know I don't like are porters and things like Bud Light that are just bad.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Plasmarobo on July 06, 2013, 11:08:35 pm
ohmygodunita'sblackipaissoveryverygood!

But yeah, Surette knows me well. I've never had better than Harpoon's experimental black IPA, though Heady Topper really gives it a run for it's money. Heady Topper is the best straight-IPA I've had. So far.

For standard beers, I enjoy Dogfish Head 90 minute, or Sierra Nevada torpedo. I love bitter things. Stone is alright, but I'll take a Hop-Notch over it any day. Punk IPA is really light, but has a decent taste. Dogfish Head 120 minute is great if you want something with decent taste and a massive kick (20% beer anyone?) but is expensive and a bit thick/syrupy to my taste.

Poters tend to be pretty hit or miss for me, but I'm always on the lookout for new stuff to try. As long as it's not a wheat beer (yes DMax, I'm terrible). But I've got a Leather Lips in the fridge I've been waiting to try.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: DMaximus on July 06, 2013, 11:58:34 pm
You also hate Belgians, which makes you truly evil, Plasma.

Currently, the beer I'm drinking a ton of is Brooklyn Brewing's Summer Ale. It's just a perfect, refreshing beer for this ungodly heat. Plus, it comes in cans, which are so much easier to carry back from the liquor store.

My favorite is probably Boulevard's Tank 7. It's a farmhouse ale/saison. Wonderfully Belgian, a little fruity with a nice, dry finish. I love saisons in general, and this is definitely one of my favorites.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: naufrago on July 07, 2013, 12:04:51 am
TIL that 3 of my teammates are alcoholics. Come to think of it, I recall some talk of alcohol from other teammates during that 3v3 tournament...



TIL that I'm the only person in MM that isn't an alcoholic.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: N-Sunderland on July 07, 2013, 12:06:00 am
Well Yiski's definitely an alcoholic. I remember him saying that he's a law student.

EDIT: That isn't a jab at law students. I'm only quoting Yiski.

Fact: Being a law student means becoming an alcoholic.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Lord Dick Tim on July 07, 2013, 01:56:00 am
What about nameless things in jars your neighbor makes in his basement?
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Pickle on July 07, 2013, 07:07:21 am
At the moment I'm preferring cider, but the Normandy style rather than West Country farmyard scrumpy.  And unusually, I don't have any home-brewed at the moment.  In the Autumn I'll make it from apples.  Once that's run out I'll start with bought juice and remedy the shortfalls with tannin and acid.

For beer.. Perlenbacher (yes, the Lidl brand - perfect allotment beer at the end of the day), Dark Island from the Orkney Brewery, Circle Master from Wychwood Brewery, Aldersbacher Weißen..

I'm also partial to some very odd beers from time to time, including Banana Bread Beer by Wells & Young.  If you can get hold of it, Morocco Ale by Daleside Brewery is the perfect winter beer.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Mill Wilkinson on July 07, 2013, 09:30:01 am
I like wheat beers, although they are hard to come by here. Usually I just enjoy Karjala, Karhu or Olvi lagers or some oddball my friend recommend.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Plasmarobo on July 07, 2013, 09:56:36 am
TIL that 3 of my teammates are alcoholics. Come to think of it, I recall some talk of alcohol from other teammates during that 3v3 tournament...



TIL that I'm the only person in MM that isn't an alcoholic.

If Surette and I aren't drinking...we're not flying!
Or engineering...
Or gunning...
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Surette on July 07, 2013, 10:10:08 am
TIL that I'm the only person in MM that isn't an alcoholic.
Hey, it doesn't count as alcoholism if you're still in college.

If Surette and I aren't drinking...we're not flying!
Or engineering...
Or gunning...
Salute to that.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Skrimskraw on July 08, 2013, 09:24:03 am
when im drinking to get hammered:
http://www.metroshop.dk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/500x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/2/8/28539.jpg

best beer I had:
http://beeradvocate.com/im/beers/4138.jpg
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: dragonmere on September 12, 2013, 02:47:20 pm
Lately, my low-cost go to has been Pyramid Wheaten IPA. It's a nice wheat IPA, not quite as hoppy as I usually lean towards, but only about $7 for a six. It's a little dry for an IPA, and it doesn't really have any characteristics that stand out, but I always seem to polish off the six-pack in record time, so I must like it. Plus it's name is dangerously close to Pyramidion (Pyramidipa), so I'm down for drinking it every day, every time, even if it isn't technically the best. ;)

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/403/82134
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Zenark on September 12, 2013, 04:20:28 pm
Sam Adams, Blue Moon, Heineken... Not much of a drinker, but those are the best I've had.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: DMaximus on September 12, 2013, 04:23:02 pm
A friend recently brought me a Westvleteren XII back from Belgium. It was glorious.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-12-xii/4934/ (http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-12-xii/4934/)
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: dragonmere on September 12, 2013, 04:32:55 pm
A friend recently brought me a Westvleteren XII back from Belgium. It was glorious.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-12-xii/4934/ (http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-12-xii/4934/)

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/313/1545

Dang, a perfect score on two beer rating sites. Now I really want to try some. I'm assuming since your friend brought some back from Belgium that it's not widely available, but I will for sure keep my eye out.

Only beer I've ever had that was rated a perfect 10/10 was Three Floyds Zombie Dust IPA (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26/64228).  A very complex and hoppy IPA, the character seems to change with every sip, with an amazing buzz to go with it. If you have these in your area, but haven't tried them, pick up a six. In fact, anything I've had from Three Floyds is quite outstanding.

(Edit: I'm seeing reviews for Westvleteren XII from a variety of areas, some near me. Maybe it's not as exclusive as I first thought. I'll definitely be on the active look out for it. Thanks for the tip, I've never heard of that one.)
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: DMaximus on September 12, 2013, 04:43:51 pm
A friend recently brought me a Westvleteren XII back from Belgium. It was glorious.

http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-12-xii/4934/ (http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-12-xii/4934/)

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/313/1545

Dang, a perfect score on two beer rating sites. Now I really want to try some. I'm assuming since your friend brought some back from Belgium that it's not widely available, but I will for sure keep my eye out.

Only beer I've ever had that was rated a perfect 10/10 was Three Floyds Zombie Dust IPA (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26/64228).  A very complex and hoppy IPA, the character seems to change with every sip, with an amazing buzz to go with it. If you have these in your area, but haven't tried them, pick up a six. In fact, anything I've had from Three Floyds is quite outstanding.

(Edit: I'm seeing reviews for Westvleteren XII from a variety of areas, some near me. Maybe it's not as exclusive as I first thought. I'll definitely be on the active look out for it. Thanks for the tip, I've never heard of that one.)

They did a US release a while back because their abby needed a new roof, it's not usually sold outside of their abby at all. It's really hard to get, which is probably a good part of the rating. It was an amazing beer, but Chimay Blue is pretty similar and much more widely available.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westvleteren_Brewery#Availability  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westvleteren_Brewery#Availability)
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Yiski on September 12, 2013, 05:14:43 pm
Well Yiski's definitely an alcoholic. I remember him saying that he's a law student.

EDIT: That isn't a jab at law students. I'm only quoting Yiski.

Fact: Being a law student means becoming an alcoholic.

First, true.

Second a few of my favorites.

Weihenstephaner (GER): If you're in the mood for heavy wheat.

Great Divide (Colorado): Great variety of light, dark, and porters. They also have a raspberry beer.

Southern Tier (New York): Equally great assortment. Most known for making a creme brulee.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Xemkobankavareniya on September 12, 2013, 06:01:14 pm
I'm fan of wheat bear.
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/hoegaarden/399/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/erdinger-weissbier-hefe-weizen/2468/
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/primator-weizenbier/36953/
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Barreltroll on September 13, 2013, 06:25:21 am
Can't go wrong with anything from Wychwood Brewery (http://www.wychwood.co.uk (http://www.wychwood.co.uk)). Their most popular ale, Hobgoblin, is superb.


Another brewery I enjoy is Brewdog (www.brewdog.com (http://www.brewdog.com))

Some crazy strong beers, great taste too.
They seem to be getting more of a footing in UK supermarkets, not sure if they do much international shipping yet.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: DMaximus on September 13, 2013, 08:14:40 am
Can't go wrong with anything from Wychwood Brewery (http://www.wychwood.co.uk (http://www.wychwood.co.uk)). Their most popular ale, Hobgoblin, is superb.


Another brewery I enjoy is Brewdog (www.brewdog.com (http://www.brewdog.com))

Some crazy strong beers, great taste too.
They seem to be getting more of a footing in UK supermarkets, not sure if they do much international shipping yet.

I had Hobgoblin while I was in London this summer and enjoyed it. Brewdog distributes some in the US, I've had a few of their brews.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: dragonmere on September 17, 2013, 11:17:21 am
Got a bottle of  Three Philosophers by Ommegang last week... Still have yet to try it. Sounds promising though. Anyone had it before?

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/3457
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: DMaximus on September 17, 2013, 03:46:13 pm
Got a bottle of  Three Philosophers by Ommegang last week... Still have yet to try it. Sounds promising though. Anyone had it before?

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/3457

I've had it a couple of times. I typically love Ommegang, and this is a really great beer. It's a quadrupel, but blended with a bit of a cherry ale. I think I'd prefer it straight without the slight cherry taste, but it's still pretty good.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Papa Paradox on September 20, 2013, 06:59:01 pm
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22/30 Unibroue is the greatest
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: dragonmere on October 28, 2013, 01:12:28 pm
Troegs Java Head is my current pick. (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/694/52128)

It's a stout brewed with coffee beans. Very nice in both presentation and taste. Plus I'm not sure exactly how much caffeine makes it into the beer from the coffee beans, but it feels like more than none to me. Caffeine plus 7.5%abv equals fun. It's definitely in my top 3 of dark beers. Plus, since I usually tend towards super-hoppy IPAs, a stout I really enjoy is a nice change of pace.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Cl ick to Ca p t ain on October 28, 2013, 06:28:44 pm
(http://theinterrobang.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Newcastle-Brown-Ale.jpg)
(http://www.douglaspost.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/murphys_stout.jpg)
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: The Djinn on October 28, 2013, 10:00:49 pm
Here are some of my personal favorites. As a warning, I tend to favor really dark beers and whiskey/bourbon flavors, so these may not suit everyone's palate.

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/430/18698) --  Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.

Cuvée Van De Keizer Blauw (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1534/6947) -- Brouwerij Het Anker

Bourbon County Brand Stout (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1549/10672) -- Goose Island Beer Co.

Brooklyn Black OPS (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/45/40149/?ba=ilikebeer03) -- Brooklyn Brewery

1554 Enlightened Black Ale (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/192/1914/?ba=AmishRockstar) -- New Belgium Brewing

Collaboration Not Litigation Ale (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30/34877) -- Avery Brewing Company

Innis & Gunn Irish Whiskey Cask (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10272/77595) -- Innis & Gunn
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: NoWuffo on October 29, 2013, 04:48:44 am
Not so much a brand of beer but a type... I absolutely love pumpkin flavored beer in the fall. Anyone else?
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Lord Dick Tim on October 29, 2013, 05:13:12 am
Same, when it is done to taste like pumpkin and not brown sugar that is.  I've found it hard to find a pumpkin ale that isn't Pumpkin Pie ale.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: NoWuffo on October 29, 2013, 05:17:15 am
True that. I first fell in love with Shipyard's Pumpkinhead, but after finding Sammy A's Harvest Pumpkin, I can't go back to Pumpkinhead. I'm currently giving Blue Moon's Harvest Pumpkin a try, it's dece.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: shadowsteel on October 29, 2013, 10:47:01 am
Yup Blue Moon's Harvest Pumpkin isn't bad. It's actually owned by MillerCoors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Moon_(beer) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Moon_(beer))
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: dragonmere on October 29, 2013, 12:13:52 pm
Yup Blue Moon's Harvest Pumpkin isn't bad. It's actually owned by MillerCoors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Moon_(beer) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Moon_(beer))

This is why I hate Blue Moon. It would be a very good alternative to entirely-crap-beers if it didn't cost about as much for a 6-pack as a real craft brew. The fact is, it's just more Coor's swill, and not worth the price.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: shadowsteel on October 29, 2013, 12:31:10 pm
Yup Blue Moon's Harvest Pumpkin isn't bad. It's actually owned by MillerCoors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Moon_(beer) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Moon_(beer))

This is why I hate Blue Moon. It would be a very good alternative to entirely-crap-beers if it didn't cost about as much for a 6-pack as a real craft brew. The fact is, it's just more Coor's swill, and not worth the price.

And that's why I don't drink their regular stuff.  Their seasonals however are pretty decent (with the exception of the agave one, that was awful).
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: The Djinn on October 29, 2013, 12:38:10 pm
This is why I hate Blue Moon. It would be a very good alternative to entirely-crap-beers if it didn't cost about as much for a 6-pack as a real craft brew. The fact is, it's just more Coor's swill, and not worth the price.

Agreed. Then again, I avoid Blue Moon because, in addition to this, I haven't found a beer they make that really fits my tastes. But I'm a bit of a beer snob, so that's somewhat understandable.  :D
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: dragonmere on October 29, 2013, 12:38:52 pm
If you are encouraged to add any kind of fruit to a beer, it's not a good beer. :)
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: The Djinn on October 29, 2013, 12:53:01 pm
If you are encouraged to add any kind of fruit to a beer, it's not a good beer. :)

A man after my own heart, I see.  :P
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Surette on October 30, 2013, 12:17:46 am
I love pumpkin beer. My favorites are Southern Tier's Pumking, Dogfish Head's Punkin Ale, and Harpoon's UFO Pumpkin.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: DMaximus on October 30, 2013, 01:03:47 am
If you are encouraged to add any kind of fruit to a beer, it's not a good beer. :)

A man after my own heart, I see.  :P

Agreed. I'm not a fan of pumpkin to begin with so I definitely don't like it in my beer.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: dragonmere on October 30, 2013, 11:41:41 am
I was actually talkin' 'bout this:

(http://chaosinthekitchen.com/images/bluemoon1.jpg)

I've never heard of putting a chunk of pumpkin in beer...

I like to have a few pumpkin beers during the season. My main problem is the fact that they release them so damn early. I want one NOW, but I can only find Christmas Ales...

Surette's pumpkin beer choices are good. Southern Tier's Pumking is excellent bottled, and amazing on tap. I had come across an "old batch" of Chatoe Rogue's First Growth Pumpkin Patch. It was supposedly a year old, so it only cost ~$4 for a 750ml bottle, instead of like $10. It was far better than the "fresh" batch. I really regret not picking up an entire case, cause I could be enjoying one now :(
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Captain Smollett on November 01, 2013, 06:57:26 pm
Troegs Java Head is my current pick. (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/694/52128)

It's a stout brewed with coffee beans. Very nice in both presentation and taste. Plus I'm not sure exactly how much caffeine makes it into the beer from the coffee beans, but it feels like more than none to me. Caffeine plus 7.5%abv equals fun. It's definitely in my top 3 of dark beers. Plus, since I usually tend towards super-hoppy IPAs, a stout I really enjoy is a nice change of pace.

I'm late to this thread but I just happened to be in Harrisburg and Hershey PA last weekend and had a beautiful dark Troeg dead reckoning for the first time.  I'm surprised I haven't seen their stuff around before but I'll definitely be looking for it now.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: The Djinn on November 01, 2013, 11:03:36 pm
I'm late to this thread but I just happened to be in Harrisburg and Hershey PA last weekend and had a beautiful dark Troeg dead reckoning for the first time.  I'm surprised I haven't seen their stuff around before but I'll definitely be looking for it now.

Oh, really? That's pretty damn close to me, actually.

And Troeg makes some good stuff, yes.
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: DMaximus on November 02, 2013, 01:13:58 am
I've been to the Troegs brewery twice. It's a really nice facility, and they make the best pretzel I've ever had. Obviously the beer is great (especially the scratch beers), but I was not expecting their bar snacks to be amazing. 
Title: Re: Good Beers
Post by: Dr Pantaleon on November 02, 2013, 08:25:21 pm
I am in love with Belgian Beer (Partially because I grew up there, I guess but that only means I had more time to get to know the good stuff!).

Hands down my favourite is Pater Lieven Tripel,
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/893/3248 (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/893/3248)

although I can also recommend La Chouffe... oh there are so many beauties.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/321/1836 (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/321/1836)