Beer

[Ultima Shadow]

So very totally not inspired by that wine thread at all. Not in the least.

Anyhow, do you drink beer? When do you drink beer? What kind of beer? Favourite beer? Favourite brewery? What do you know about beer? Are you perhaps drinking beer in this very moment (I actually am)? Do you get drunk often? Are you the kind of person who likes to enjoy some fine, expensive quality beer while chilling in front of the fireplace or do you drink tons of cheap beer at the bar to get drunk as fast as possible?

Just discuss anything related to beer!


I'm personally incredibly picky about beer. I generally prefere ports and stouts.

My favourite beer?

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c344/AGAFURO/utopias.jpg



Oh, and awesome or terrible drunken stories can go here too. :greenie:

[Hollycat]

The process of making beer is known as brewing. A dedicated building for the making of beer is called a brewery, though beer can be made in the home and has been for much of its history. A company that makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewing_company). Beer made on a domestic scale for non-commercial reasons is classified as homebrewing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrewing) regardless of where it is made, though most homebrewed beer is made in the home. Brewing beer is subject to legislation and taxation in developed countries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_countries), which from the late 19th century largely restricted brewing to a commercial operation only. However, the UK government relaxed legislation in 1963, followed by Australia in 1972 and the USA in 1979, allowing homebrewing to become a popular hobby.[33] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-32)
The purpose of brewing is to convert the starch source into a sugary liquid called wort (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wort) and to convert the wort into the alcoholic beverage known as beer in a fermentation process effected by yeast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewer%27s_yeast).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Brewing-textless.png/310px-Brewing-textless.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brewing-textless.png)

Diagram illustrating the process of brewing beer
Hot Water Tank
Mash Tun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashing)
Malt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_bill)
Hops (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hops)
Copper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewing#Boiling)
Hopback (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopback)
Add Yeast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeast#Beer) to
Fermenter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewing#Fermenting)
Heat
exchanger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_exchanger)
Bottling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_bottle)
Cask (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cask_ale) or Keg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draught_beer)

The first step, where the wort is prepared by mixing the starch source (normally malted barley) with hot water, is known as "mashing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashing)". Hot water (known as "liquor" in brewing terms) is mixed with crushed malt or malts (known as "grist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grist)") in a mash tun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mash_tun).[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-33) The mashing process takes around 1 to 2 hours,[35] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-34) during which the starches are converted to sugars, and then the sweet wort is drained off the grains. The grains are now washed in a process known as "sparging". This washing allows the brewer to gather as much of the fermentable liquid from the grains as possible. The process of filtering the spent grain from the wort and sparge water is called wort separation. The traditional process for wort separation is lautering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lautering), in which the grain bed itself serves as the filter medium. Some modern breweries prefer the use of filter frames which allow a more finely ground grist.[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-35) Most modern breweries use a continuous sparge, collecting the original wort and the sparge water together. However, it is possible to collect a second or even third wash with the not quite spent grains as separate batches. Each run would produce a weaker wort and thus a weaker beer. This process is known as second (and third) runnings. Brewing with several runnings is called parti gyle brewing.[37] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-36)
The sweet wort collected from sparging is put into a kettle, or "copper", (so called because these vessels were traditionally made from copper)[38] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-37) and boiled, usually for about one hour. During boiling, water in the wort evaporates, but the sugars and other components of the wort remain; this allows more efficient use of the starch sources in the beer. Boiling also destroys any remaining enzymes left over from the mashing stage. Hops (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hops) are added during boiling as a source of bitterness, flavour and aroma. Hops may be added at more than one point during the boil. The longer the hops are boiled, the more bitterness they contribute, but the less hop flavour and aroma remains in the beer.[39] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-38)
After boiling, the hopped wort is now cooled, ready for the yeast. In some breweries, the hopped wort may pass through a hopback, which is a small vat filled with hops, to add aromatic hop flavouring and to act as a filter; but usually the hopped wort is simply cooled for the fermenter, where the yeast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewers_yeast) is added. During fermentation, the wort becomes beer in a process which requires a week to months depending on the type of yeast and strength of the beer. In addition to producing alcohol, fine particulate matter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulate) suspended in the wort settles during fermentation. Once fermentation is complete, the yeast also settles, leaving the beer clear.[40] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-39)
Fermentation is sometimes carried out in two stages, primary and secondary. Once most of the alcohol has been produced during primary fermentation, the beer is transferred to a new vessel and allowed a period of secondary fermentation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewing#Secondary_fermentation). Secondary fermentation is used when the beer requires long storage before packaging or greater clarity.[41] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-40) When the beer has fermented, it ispackaged (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#Packaging) either into casks for cask ale (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cask_ale) or kegs, aluminium cans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beverage_can), or bottles for other sorts of beer.[42] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer#cite_note-41)

[Alpha2099]

I don't drink all that often. That gets expensive after a while. I do like Guinness, though. That's probably my favorite. But whenever I go to the store to buy something, I usually look at whatever's on sale. There's almost always some 4-pack of malt beverages on sale for $3.99, and I haven't been disappointed yet. :beer:

[Bunny]

I do not drink beer - I think the stuff is vile and will stick with my hard alcohol. However, I do know a lot of people that are currently involved in brewing or have previously been involved with it. One of them was the mind behind a fairly popular beer but is no longer associated with it. A few of my friends are trying to start a brewery up in the area but are having problems with funds and dedication, also the competition in Colorado is pretty fierce.

[Shlup]

I don't like beer at all.

[Sephex]

Hard liquor or the occasional whine for me.

[NorthernChaosGod]

This is my favorite beer, and my favorite brewery.

http://i44.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/zu2y6h.jpg

I generally prefer ales or stouts.

[Pheesh]

I enjoy beer on a hot day or if I've been doing any kind of physical exercise (beer after a gig is the best), but I don't like drinking it to get drunk. It makes me tired and boring, and I just don't like the buzz I get from it. My favourite beer is usually any kind of Pale Ale that's on tap, and if I had to pick I'd say Little Creatures Pale Ale, but it tastes like balls out of a bottle.

[Pant Leg Eater from the Bad World]

I dislike Heineken and Guinness. I like pale ales and the like. I will pretty much drink any thing that isn't super dark and stout though.

My favorite beer... I'm not sure.

Beards though. I like beards.

[Ultima Shadow]

I don't like beer at all.

JUST KEEP DRINKING IT UNTIL YOU LIKE IT, DAMMIT.
:colbert:


I do not drink beer - I think the stuff is vile and will stick with my hard alcohol.
The world's strongest beer is 55%. I'd say that's some pretty hard alcohol. :p It gets served in a dead squirrel too. It's called "End of Story", and was made by Brewdog during their struggle with a german brewery to make the strongest beer in the world.

It started with Tactical Nuclear Penguin at 32%, which was then countered by a 40% ABV from the german brewery ( don't remember its name, sadly ). Brewdog then made a 41% one called "Sink the Bismark" and then later the "End of Story". I've actually tasted a little all of those, except the "End of Story" since it's... well... insanely expensive.


This is my favorite beer, and my favorite brewery.

http://i44.:bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou::bou:/zu2y6h.jpg

I generally prefer ales or stouts.
I actually got one of those in store, but have yet to try it out. I'll be sure to do so soon. :greenie:

[Jinx]

I think beer is completely nasty.

[NeoTifa]

Beer tastes like pisswater. As I said before, I'll stick to my Vodka and Rum. :colbert:

[Bunny]

I do not drink beer - I think the stuff is vile and will stick with my hard alcohol.
The world's strongest beer is 55%. I'd say that's some pretty hard alcohol. :p It gets served in a dead squirrel too. It's called "End of Story", and was made by Brewdog during their struggle with a german brewery to make the strongest beer in the world.

It started with Tactical Nuclear Penguin at 32%, which was then countered by a 40% ABV from the german brewery ( don't remember its name, sadly ). Brewdog then made a 41% one called "Sink the Bismark" and then later the "End of Story". I've actually tasted a little all of those, except the "End of Story" since it's... well... insanely expensive.

If only hard liquor was defined specifically about the amount of alcohol it contained.

[Peegee]

You tell em Bunny.

I drink hard alcohol that is mixed (rum+diet) and shots (of anything that isn't rum. noooo more of that) . I can drink beer but I dislike the taste.

[Clo]

The world's strongest beer is 55%. I'd say that's some pretty hard alcohol. :p It gets served in a dead squirrel too. It's called "End of Story", and was made by Brewdog during their struggle with a german brewery to make the strongest beer in the world.

It gets served in a DEAD SQUIRREL? No one stopped to pause and mull over this?

[Phoenix Rising]

My personal favorite:
http://www.devonshirecat.co.uk/images/xx.jpg


I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis.

[Ultima Shadow]

If only hard liquor was defined specifically about the amount of alcohol it contained.
Well, I guess that's true. Though taste-wise, all of them except Tactical Nuclear Penguin taste more like vodka than normal beer anyway. So if you like vodka, you'd probably like those too. :p



I think beer is completely nasty.

Beer tastes like pisswater. As I said before, I'll stick to my Vodka and Rum. :colbert:

This only mean one thing: you have yet to try the right beer.



I'll post a few very interesting beers that I've come across. I think they are pretty good too:


1: http://www.saveur-biere.com/images/biere-dieu-du-ciel-aphrodisiaque-33.jpg

It tastes like coffe. And I don't mean "a vauge hint of coffe". It really tastes like it freaking is coffe, somehow made into beer... and with a hint of chocolate.




2:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5580741334_6d752b0884.jpg

Most people will probably not like this one much, but I think it's okay. And it's certainly strange the first time you drink it. It tastes a whole lot like... tar. Yes, tar. Yet somehow drinkable and, in my opinion, pretty good. Certainly interesting.




3: http://beeradvocate.com/im/beers/18198.jpg


This is probably my second fav beer. Only Samuel Adams' "Utopias" can beat it ( the one in my first post. And Utopias is over 10 times as expensive ). The interesting thing about it? Well, it has a stronger taste than most wine, is quite fruity and very sweet... and you just can't not like it. If you get a chance to try this one, and you don't like it, there is something wrong with you.

So yeah... all you people saying you don't like beer. Try this one out if you can find it. It will change your minds. And if it doesn't, welll... smurf you. :greenie:




It gets served in a DEAD SQUIRREL? No one stopped to pause and mull over this?

http://www.jo-hansen.dk/beer/bryggerier/udland/UK/photo/BrewDog/End_of_the_story_2010.jpg

[Slothy]

It gets served in a DEAD SQUIRREL? No one stopped to pause and mull over this?

http://www.jo-hansen.dk/beer/bryggerier/udland/UK/photo/BrewDog/End_of_the_story_2010.jpg

This made me smile.

[NorthernChaosGod]

I actually got one of those in store, but have yet to try it out. I'll be sure to do so soon. :greenie:
Do it! :monster:


Beer tastes like pisswater. As I said before, I'll stick to my Vodka and Rum. :colbert:

Drink much pisswater?

[Peegee]

really? I missed out.

[Bubba]

Kwak. It's a beautiful Belgian beer. It's 8.4 per cent though so it's not one to down!

The glass it comes in is phenomenal! Can't post a picture unfortunately but it is awesome.

[starlet]

Dragonmead Microbrewery (http://www.dragonmead.com/) <-----This place has ALL the brews!

My favorites are Redwing Raspberry wheat, Willy's Oompa Loompa stout and Reverend Fred's Oatmeal Stout (which is a lot like Guiness but 10x better).

Outside of that I really like Woodchuck cider beer (Not sure if that counts here or not....its a beer made with apple cider) and Michigan brewing co's pumpkin spice ale in the fall (Tastes like pumpkin pie :love:)

Also..beer is good...and stuff. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-jOEAufDQ4)

[Shiny]

Beer IS pisswater. I'm convinced. I'll take liquor or wine kthanx.

I've had PABST before and don't see the big hooplah about it. I guess because it's cheap?

[Ultima Shadow]

I've had PABST before and don't see the big hooplah about it. I guess because it's cheap?
If that's the best you've had, you have plenty to discover. I'm convinced that you can enjoy beer as long as you can enjoy wine, because there is plenty of beers out there that beats many kinds of wine in flavour. You won't find these beers at your average bar though, so check on the internet or something where to find some. :p

Heck, if you are able to find the "Heresy" beer from my first post, "Rigor Mortis" brewed by Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel or Stone's Imperial Russian Stout (the one in NCG's first post), then I'd even consider making a wager: "if you buy one of these and think they also taste like piss water, I'll freaking pay for it". Though you'd have to be 100% honest, obviously. And you don't need to "love it", just "like it". :cool:



This is my favorite beer, and my favorite brewery. Tried it out now, and damn you got some good taste. Very good beer. I also got a "Double Bastard" from the same brewery and will try that one out shortly. :greenie:


Kwak. It's a beautiful Belgian beer. It's 8.4 per cent though so it's not one to down!

The glass it comes in is phenomenal! Can't post a picture unfortunately but it is awesome.
Don't have it, but I happen to live only 10 mins away from the pub with the largest beer sortiment in Sweden (and it's only quality beer and I freaking love it) and I know they got that one, so I'll be sure to try it out next time.

[starlet]

Beer IS pisswater. I'm convinced. I'll take liquor or wine kthanx.

I've had PABST before and don't see the big hooplah about it. I guess because it's cheap?

I was just like you over a year ago until I tried Microbrews. Microbrews are the key to beer happiness.

[NeoCracker]

Even people who drink Pabst think it's disgusting. Its just a beer that, apparently, after a few you can down them like water and not taste a thing. :p

I hate virtually all beers. There are two I can drink.

1) Shmirnoff: Green apple Bite. Yes it's a bitch beer, but I like girly drinks! :mad2:
2) New Castle.

Mostly I stick with Liquor. Give me some Gentlemen Jack. I may take it like a wuss, but man it's delicious. The Whiskey Burn is awesome.

Absinthe also makes for a fun time. No need to mix either one of these with anything, (Well, the water and sugar for absinthe, but I mean anything other then what it's suppose to have. :p).

Greatest drink ever though should have failed. I present to you the process (Though not exact) of crafting the Almost Fail.

1) Fill a tumbler about with 1/8 Triplesec, 3/8's Mountain dew. Add 3 squirts Lime Citris.
2) Add in a splash of egg nog. (This is where it starts to sound bad, but bear with me.)
3) Fill to about 3/4s with your friends drink of Vodka and Mountain dew (I believe he had equal parts both).
4) Fill rest of tumbler with Cranberry Juice, add a couple more squirts of Lime Citris.

That drink sounds like it should be horrifying, yet it tasted like the most delicious Fruit Punch to have ever existed in this realm. If a god truly existed, that sweet elixir was the proof.

[sharkythesharkdogg]

I don't know if I have one favorite, but here's some that come to mind.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vrnhVLoXzoU/THAfUpwdsOI/AAAAAAAAAMo/oYG3kGv3hNQ/s1600/20100806st+bernardus104+SHsm©.jpg

http://beerbeer.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/hobgoblin.jpg

http://boozedancing.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/samuel-smith-oatmeal-stout1.jpg

I found Xingu a while back and hadn't tried it before. It's very smooth. It's a great dark beer.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EagOeQMMK_0/Txg93YINqmI/AAAAAAAAAUU/-apx9VnBhF0/s1600/DSCN0857.JPG

[Rantz]

Bishop's Finger is my go-to beer when I buy bottled. When I go to bars (as if I ever leave the house) I tend to prefer stouts.

[Ultima Shadow]

I hate virtually all beers. There are two I can drink.

1) Shmirnoff: Green apple Bite. Yes it's a bitch beer, but I like girly drinks! :mad2:
2) New Castle.

Correction: you hate virtually all beers you've tasted so far.

To be honest, New Castle too is a very softcore beer with little actual taste when compared to the real deal. Like starlet said, the microbrews are the keys to enjoying beer for real. If you ever just so happen to come to Sweden, I'm gonna shove some sexy beer culture down your throat until you like it. <3



That drink sounds like it should be horrifying, yet it tasted like the most delicious Fruit Punch to have ever existed in this realm. If a god truly existed, that sweet elixir was the proof.
That does certainly sound interesting, and I'll have to try it out sometime. But I'm quite convinced that if there is any one drink in this world worthy of being called a sweet elixir or proof of a god's existence, then it is "Utopias".

...I'll explain this one a bit more. And while it is considered "beer" because of the way it has been made, it's so unlike any other beer that it would be more accurate to call it a damn fine aged sherry or cognac. Ye, while it does remind you more of a sherry or cognac in taste and characteristics than an actual beer, it really isn't quite that either. It's more like its very own kind of beverage, really.

http://mi.worldclassbeverages.com/wp-content/beer_spy/images/prodimages/BostonBeer/lUtopiaGlass.jpg

It is one of the most expensive beers you can find though. It has been aged for 16 years on a wide variety casks. It's 27%, yet very sweet.

During the "Sweden Beer and Whiskey Festival" which I went to with two friends, I saw there was a single bottle of this beer. You could try 2 centiliters for about $22. I told them to try it. They thought it was insane to pay that much for a mere 2 centiliters any kind of beer. I told them it was worth trying at least once and eventually managed to convince them. They both ended up buying another 2 centiliters each. And one of them even ended up buying a whole bottle (just like me) later.

...but while this beer is on a level of its own and can hardly be called "beer", it's possible to find everything inbetween this and a normal, cheap light beer. There is a whole darn lot of really good quality beer out there, if you just look a little further than to your regular store. :greenie:





http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vrnhVLoXzoU/THAfUpwdsOI/AAAAAAAAAMo/oYG3kGv3hNQ/s1600/20100806st+bernardus104+SHsm©.jpg

This one's an old favourite of mine. Love it.



Edit:


Bishop's Finger is my go-to beer when I buy bottled. When I go to bars (as if I ever leave the house) I tend to prefer stouts.

Hey, Rantz? Ever been to the Beer and Whiskey festival? They've got a whole lot of cool wines and stuff to try out too. I'm sure you'd love it. :greenie:

[Rantz]

Nope, never been. Where and when is it?

[Ultima Shadow]

Nope, never been. Where and when is it?
Oh, it's actually called "Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival" since it's held in Stockholm. There's no decided date yet, but last year was in October so I expect it to be around that time this year as well. There were 35580 visitors total last time too, apparently. :greenie:

[Rantz]

Sounds cool! Maybe another year, I doubt I'll be able to this year.

[NorthernChaosGod]

This is my favorite beer, and my favorite brewery. Tried it out now, and damn you got some good taste. Very good beer. I also got a "Double Bastard" from the same brewery and will try that one out shortly. :greenie:

Why thank you. It helps that I live in the same city as the brewery that comes from. The Double Bastard Ale is good too, but it has quite a bitter taste for people that aren't ready for it.

[sharkythesharkdogg]

Went to the pub a few days ago I had one of these for the first time in a while. For me, it's an above average porter. Smooth, with hints of sweetness and roasted/caramelized flavors. They were correct in not naming it a stout. It's a dark beer, but more so in color than any other characteristic.

http://myrtlebeach.thedigitel.com/files/myrtle/imagecache/image_470/files/myrtle/images/leadimages/3088001978_d6b24f7cf7_b.jpeg

Also, it appears Yuengling made a Bock beer as is spring tradition.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zh4zAFKqjBE/TcF9eV_yooI/AAAAAAAAAFo/n7cZ__ZIycQ/s1600/SDC19264.JPG

I was pleased. It has a very noticeable hop flavor, but the bite is nice with out tasting too bitter. The after taste is also smooth. Unlike some beers with intense hoppiness, you aren't left feeling like your tongue is dry.

I'd drink both of these again.

[Old Manus]

http://beerbeer.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/hobgoblin.jpg
To use a late 00s internet turn of phrase, you just won the internet. If I could find a pub that regularly served that on draught, I would slowly fuse with the furniture during my stay for eternity. In fact, most beers from the Wychwood brewery are top class. I have two bottles in my hands right now I'm typing with my penis