What is your favorite beer...

[Darkath]

I work at a convenience store here at Oregon State University...we have something like 500+ types of different beer, so I get to sample quite often. Here are some ones I've found to be good. Listed as "Brewery - Beer Name - Type of beer"

Lagunitas - Brown Shugga - Brown Ale
North Coast - Old Rasputin - Imperial Stout
Deschutes - Green Lakes - Organic Amber Ale
Deschutes - The Abyss - Imperial Stout
Full Sail - Pale Ale - Pale Ale
Rogue - Hazelnut Brown Nectar - Brown Ale
Rogue - Dead Guy Ale - Pale Ale
Dogfish Head - 120 Minute IPA - IPA <<-- this bad boy is 20% alcohol

[Yahoo!!]

I do enjoy the pride of Nova Scotia a few times. Never tried Moosehead. Labatt and Molson are just bleh. They are too bland for me. A small note, I have never tried Guiness. Too intimidated by the beer. My favorite liquor (in very small quantities) is crown and pepsi.

Buzzy Beetle, do you like Candy Apples?
Another question
Has JD responded to this thread. If so, I wonder if he mentioned any Big Rock beers. Those are some of my favorites from Alberta.

Now, anyone drink wine?
I have been to the Okanagan Valley several times and tried all sorts of wines (tasting, not drinking). It is seems that I have to age in order to fully appreciate wine
Ahh well, I do like some wines, especially some of the reds.

[l3eeron]

Ill drink a glass of chardonnay or white zinfandel...

[DeafOfficeWorker]

We're shifting gears to wine now?

I've been enjoying Toasted Head pinot noir and 3 Blind Moose merlot here lately.

[quote="So Uncivilized";p="82568"]
I almost picked up Killian's, but the Fat Tire was calling out to me for some reason.
[/quote]

No doubt! It would be a travesty to even put Killian's on the same shelf as Fat Tire.

[Hendrixer]

I'll usually have one of my freshly poured draft beers sitting next to me when I'm playing with you guys in the evening. I also drink a lot of green tea as well. They both taste good and are good for you!
Draft or Draught Guiness is actually considered a light style beer. Now I'm not refering to it's color, but it's alcohol level of 3.5 %. (domestic beer in comparison is around 5%). It's dark color and rich flavor come from the roasted barley used to brew it! It's smooth carbonation is a mix of 70% Nitrogen and 30% CO2 producing smaller bubbles and a creamier head that lasts longer. Also, there are many versions and strengths of Guiness brewed depending on where it is being sold. The foreign versions are usually much stronger. Guiness is a wonderful beer and I have brewed many stouts in my career. Murphy's and Beamish are some of the other classic Irish style stouts. I love talking about beer!

[CastleDoctrine]

[quote="Hendrixer";p="82600"]I love talking about beer! [/quote]

And I, for one, am fascinated to listen.

[YevGenie]

If you like wine check out www.wine.woot.com has some decent deals every now and again!

[Richter]

Guiness

Nough said, there is no other.

[CastleDoctrine]

"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
Benjamin Franklin

I have an affinity for lagers such as St. Pauli Girl, Becks, Watneys Red Barrel, Fosters, and Fosters Special Bitter. My favorite ales must be Henry Weinhard's Pale Ale, and Bass Ale. I insist, in the German style, to drink beer at its coldest.

Guinness is a delicious stout that I've enjoyed for years. I find it is excellent by itself. My father, while in the Army in Georgia, discovered a delightful blending of beer and stout called a "Musty." Take your beer of choice and fill a chilled pint glass half-way, then fill the rest with, lets say, Guinness. Enjoy!

As for wine, my tastes are not so pricey but I must protest the use of false corks. It suffocates the poor beverage! I avoid "plastic" corks like the plague as it takes about three days to get the acidic aftertaste out once the vile cork is removed and a real one put in its place. That aside, a good Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot is very good with beef or lamb.

Other than that, I can be found with a Beefeater or Tanqueray gin and tonic, and when affordable, Glenlivet, neat (Bushmills will do around St. Patrick's Day).

Cheers

[PhantomFighter]

I tend to like rich roasty beers. I love a good Murphy's Irish Stout on draught.

Stout: Murphy's, closely followed by Ft Collins Chocolate Stout
Porter: Lefthand Blackjack Porter
IPA: Dogfish head 120-minute (when available)
Lambic: Lindeman's Framboise lambic (have to try this to believe it)
Brown: Newcastle on draught (there is a huge difference between draugth and bottle in this beer)
Barlywine style ale: Avery Hog Heaven
Strange brew: J.W. Lees Harvest ale matured in port cask.

But if the experience is counted, it's hard to beat a huge stein of Dunkel in a Munich biergarten (sp?).

But I haven't had much beer at all..

[CastleDoctrine]

Reading this thread again has convinced me of how isolated my I-5 corridor, home "in the sticks" is. I'll have to take notes on all these great sounding beers that I haven't heard of before this discussion.

Bräu Meister Hendrixer, you are truly blessed being able to brew your own. My uncle did so when he taught college English in southern California. He had a great time grading papers with his colleagues in his garage/brewery. Sadly I missed it being too young and my aunt became annoyed with him spending most of his time in there (lol).

Can you recommend any resources for the beginning home brewer?

[Clay Pigeon]

When it comes to wine I like to support my in-state vineries. SW michigan has some good stuff. I think the most widely known would be st julians, as they are large enough to mass produce. My girlfriend loves their passover wine (because it is mostly sugar, like all kosher wines). However, there are many more vineries along I-94 that produce wonderful product. I love karma vista's cherry desert wine and contessa's riesling. I am still looking for a superb in-state merlot, however...


links
general overview for SW michigan http://www.michiganwines.com/page.php?menu_id=39
vineyard-specific links
www.stjulian.com
www.karmavista.com
www.contessawinecellars.com

[Yahoo!!]

[quote="Clay Pigeon";p="82957"]When it comes to wine I like to support my in-state vineries. SW michigan has some good stuff. I think the most widely known would be st julians, as they are large enough to mass produce. My girlfriend loves their passover wine (because it is mostly sugar, like all kosher wines). However, there are many more vineries along I-94 that produce wonderful product. I love karma vista's cherry desert wine and contessa's riesling. I am still looking for a superb in-state merlot, however...


links
general overview for SW michigan http://www.michiganwines.com/page.php?menu_id=39
vineyard-specific links
www.stjulian.com
www.karmavista.com
www.contessawinecellars.com[/quote]

They make wines in SW michigan! I guess a person learn's something new everyday. All I ever hear in publications and the media is California this and California that from America. I will have to investigate the other states I prefer Merlot, Pinot Noir and Shiraz (the strong stuff). Have you tried looking a little out of state for a merlot. Sometimes it is necessary. The Shiraz they make in the Okanagan Valley (British Columbia, a province away from where I live.) is so-so, therefore we looked elsewhere and found some good Australian Shiraz.

I know Alberta doesn't have any wineries, but that is what the Okanagan Valley is for. I have been to several wineries throughout the valley. A family favorite is the Cabernet Franc they make at Burrowing Owl. Costs quite a bit ($33 ) but it is quite enjoyable.

The one thing they offer there that is extremely rare is Ice Wine. The grapes are actually frozen, and it makes for an EXTREMELY sweet flavor. This particular wine costs a very expensive amount.

For more information on BC wines visit:

http://www.winebc.com/
http://www.winebc.com/icewine.php

[Hendrixer]

[quote="CastleDoctrine";p="82954"]
Reading this thread again has convinced me of how isolated my I-5 corridor, home "in the sticks" is. I'll have to take notes on all these great sounding beers that I haven't heard of before this discussion.

Bräu Meister Hendrixer, you are truly blessed being able to brew your own. My uncle did so when he taught college English in southern California. He had a great time grading papers with his colleagues in his garage/brewery. Sadly I missed it being too young and my aunt became annoyed with him spending most of his time in there (lol).

Can you recommend any resources for the beginning home brewer?
[/quote]

CastleDoctrine,

I spend a lot of time in my garage, I mean brewery! It's my sanctuary.
Being from California myself, check out these websites for homebrewing supplies-anything you could want or need to brew.
www.morebeer.com
www.williamsbrewing.com
www.hoptech.com
There are many others if you search.
Like I said, homebrewing is a great hobbie. It's science, art and cooking all in one. You can make it complicated or basic depending on how far you want to take it. I am always available to answer any brewing questions for those who want to give it a try. We might even have to have our own Ville Homebrewing post!

The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock because they ran out of beer.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson & Samual Adams were all brewers.
The Declaration of Independence was written in a pub over some beers.
All true!
Beer is intertwined throughout history-you would be amazed!

-Brewmaster Hendrixer

[CastleDoctrine]

[quote="Hendrixer";p="83137"]CastleDoctrine,

I spend a lot of time in my garage, I mean brewery! It's my sanctuary.
Being from California myself, check out these websites for homebrewing supplies-anything you could want or need to brew.
www.morebeer.com
www.williamsbrewing.com
www.hoptech.com
There are many others if you search.
Like I said, homebrewing is a great hobbie. It's science, art and cooking all in one. You can make it complicated or basic depending on how far you want to take it. I am always available to answer any brewing questions for those who want to give it a try. We might even have to have our own Ville Homebrewing post!

The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock because they ran out of beer.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson & Samual Adams were all brewers.
The Declaration of Independence was written in a pub over some beers.
All true!
Beer is intertwined throughout history-you would be amazed!

-Brewmaster Hendrixer[/quote]

Thanks! Who could object to a Ville Homebrew thread? It would include beer and perhaps wines and spirits.

Brewing has been a source of innovation for millenia. In antiquity (as far back as the Sumeria), prior to more elaborate systems of food preservation, the brewing of beer and wine was a way to store up the food value of crops after harvest (really thick beer!).

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Dark Ages, knowledge of important infrastructure (aqueducts and sanitation) was largely lost. As decay ensued potable water became more scarce. Breweries, wineries, and distilleries (spirits were used to sterilize suspect water) provided much of the safe drinking supply of Europe's urban areas until civilization got back on track.

We owe a great deal to German brewers of the 1870s for their early adoption of refrigeration (the harvested ice method had become polluted) which resulted in its commercial viability, that then led to its availability to private consumers in the 1930s and 40s.

I can't get enough of this quote.
[quote="Benjamin Franklin";p="82803"]
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
[/quote]