Alcohol question, help please.

[dswitham]

Saturday night we are having friends over for supper and I know he likes to have a beer in the evenings, but I don't know what kind. As my knowledge of beer is very limited (actually my knowledge about alcohol in general is pretty small). :red: I am asking for some suggestions. All I know is the beer I have seen him drink is in a bottle. I don't want to ask because then they will tell me don't worry about it, he can go without.

Also, I would like to get a wine to go with supper and I am looking for suggestions of type as well as brand to look for. So far the menu consists of steak, salad, baked potato and haven't decided on what else. Dessert will be pumpkin cheesecake.

The last time I tried to pick a wine I asked my mother for a suggestion. :sick: I am not doing that again.

As the closest store to have any type of selection is Hannaford, if anyone is familiar with something they might have that would be great. Thanks.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I'm sure many will chime in on this one.


As for the beer, I would not be ashamed to ask what his favorite was and then get it. It will be appreciated. Also, if he usually drinks from a bottle, don't buy cans. That is the extent of my assistance.

 

[hossthehermit]

Saturday night we are having friends over for supper and I know he likes to have a beer in the evenings, but I don't know what kind. As my knowledge of beer is very limited (actually my knowledge about alcohol in general is pretty small). :red: I am asking for some suggestions. All I know is the beer I have seen him drink is in a bottle. I don't want to ask because then they will tell me don't worry about it, he can go without.

Also, I would like to get a wine to go with supper and I am looking for suggestions of type as well as brand to look for. So far the menu consists of steak, salad, baked potato and haven't decided on what else. Dessert will be pumpkin cheesecake.

The last time I tried to pick a wine I asked my mother for a suggestion. :sick: I am not doing that again.

As the closest store to have any type of selection is Hannaford, if anyone is familiar with something they might have that would be great. Thanks.

1. Get a 6 pack of Bud Light, if he doesn't like it he'll bring his own, or make a trip to the store. Fussy (free) beer drinkers are a pain in the.
2. For the steaks, etc., Smokin' Loon makes a cabernet that my wife likes pretty well, not much of a winer, myownself, but definitely a red.
3. For dessert, don't worry about a wine, have coffee available if anybody wants some.
OR, be a Mainah, and just get a half gallon of Orloff vodka and a half gallon of Allen's coffee brandy (works for me)

 

[Adios Pantalones]

In Maine- I'd get Geary's Pale Ale, or get a mixed 12 pack of Smuttynose. With the mixed pack- if he's a beer lover- he'll like something Smutty. Both are relatively local, which is something I look for.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Other locals of mention: Long Trail Double Bag, or Long Trail Headwall Alt (ohhhh). I shy away from Shipyard stuff- it's OK, but Smutty has it beat. If you can't find anything else- Sam Adams Lager is a solid fallback.

 

[maverick06]

bud light is pretty basic stuff, for someone who likes a beer but doesnt care much (its my preference)

beyond that sam adam's is some good stuff that wouldnt get a complaint. There might be one or two verities, doent matter.

Yuengling is another safe choice.

All are pretty cheap and the latter two dont look too cheap. Go with sam adam's, but you will be able to get all there!

If he complains about free beer, you dont want to be friends with him regardless.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Have to say- if someone offered Bud Light or Yuengling- I would honestly ask for water. In fact Bud Light is what we call a "canoe sex" beer, because it's F'in so close to water

 

[BrotherBart]

For the beer get one of those goofball named micro brews. If it tastes like toilet water he will be afraid to say so in fear of not knowing great beer when he tastes it. As to the wine go safe and get a Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon. You can buy it anywhere, it is a safe bet and will cost ya around ten bucks.

 

[backpack09]

you can never go wrong with sam adams light.

 

[fishingpol]

I like the Sam Winter Lager. It is a nice brew for the season. Yuengling= :sick: - sorry PA folks.

 

[maverick06]

as you can see there isnt a good consensus ever! haha

Personally I cant drink a beer with a lot of hops. Its not that I dislike it, but Sam adams, for example, will give me a catastrophic headache before I am done the first bottle. Yet i can drink bud light or any wheat beer all night long.

I think if you are a gracious host they will be happy as you are the gracious host, even if you didnt chose the "right' beer or wine.

 

[Battenkiller]

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

A nice Oregon Pinot Noir

Can't miss with either of them.

 

[pen]

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

A nice Oregon Pinot Noir

Can't miss with either of them.

+1, Premium

pen

 

[Battenkiller]

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

A nice Oregon Pinot Noir

Can't miss with either of them.

+1, Premium

pen

I'll bring an ample supply of both next year at Woodstock. ;-)

 

[GAMMA RAY]

Stay away from the lite beers....the other guys suggested Sam Adams....that I would agree with....the winter lager one is awesome.....actually all are good. I like variety 12 packs. Abita makes a nice variety pack.

I always enjoy a nice chianti served at room temp with dinner. My fav is Melini Borghi d'elsa...great wine if you like the dry stuff.

I would also go with Sambuca served neat with a few coffee beans floating in it for after dinner, very refreshing.

For the Magic Hat fanz, I just tried the new seasonal Black Lager....tasty.. ;-)

 

[Adios Pantalones]

I avoid "winter" beers, except for Sierra Nevada, as I detest any spices etc added. Yuck. I'll have my dessert on the side, thank you

I will reiterate- get a mixed 12 pack of Smuttynose or another local brand- that way there will probably be a safe 6 beers in there that your friend will like. Who knows- maybe you'll find one that you like as well.

 

[jeff_t]

If he drinks out of the bottle, it doesn't really matter. A true beer snob would not only need a glass, but the proper glass for the style. I say PBR.

 

[mayhem]

Have to say- if someone offered Bud Light or Yuengling- I would honestly ask for water. In fact Bud Light is what we call a "canoe sex" beer, because it's F'in so close to water

Monty Python continues to yield great humor, even 30 years later.

I consume zero alcohol so take this for whatever its worth to you, but I've observed a lot of different beer drinkers over the years and have learned which beers to bey for my guests, depening on who is coming. We've had some alcohol problems in my family so our get togethers have been bone dry for some years now.

In my experience in buying beer for company, there are 3 kinds of beer drinkers. You've got your Bud/Bud Light crowd who are used to drinking (usually a lot) of the cheapest beer that they can buy in large quantities...they tend the most towards drinking till they cannot drink anymore because they're too drunk to hold a can...incidentally this crowd tends to favor cans over bottles..not sure why, I suspect its a cost thing or they've broekn too many glass bottles (thus losing the nickel deposit in this part of the country) and switched to cans. Then you've got your boutique beer drinkers...they only drink beer socially and will usually favor flavored beers only...so cherry beer, and seasonal brews are your best bet for them...these guys (and gals) tend to nurse a beer for a longer time and will probably have between 1 and 3 beers, almost always from a bottle or will pour a bottle into a frosted mug kept in the freezer. The last category are regular, daily beer drinkers are the regular drinkers who can't stand cheap, mainstream brand beers and tend to go towards Sam Adams, Guiness, New Castle, Grolsch (spelling?) and unflavored microbrews...this crowd will rarely get piss drunk like the Bud crowd, but will get a little more "lubricated" than the boutique drinkers. These people also usually drink from the bottle.

Micro brews are often a good choice, but if he's a regular beer drinker, I would avoid specialty, flavored or seasonal beers...in my limited experience, flavored and specialty seasonal products are usually most popular with people who only have those things for occasions, not daily beer drinkers.

If your friend is a regular beer consumer and he drinks out of brown bottles, grab a 6 pack or more of Sam Adams Boston Lager. Even if its not his preferred beer the odds are well in your favor that he won't spit it out all over your dining room table and will appreciate that you got something thats at least second shelf or higher and put some thought into what he might like.

For beef, serve a nice red wine...cabernet or a merlot. You mgiht get the best advice from the liquor store guy, or some brands actually put food/wine recommendations right on the back label. Figure a $15-20 bottle of wine is a decent drink but won't break the bank. I do not have any brand recommendations.

 

[thenorth]

Pick any red wine.........................
as for the beer, i would get a 24 of Canadian, or Carling...............both taste very nice.....

 

[firefighterjake]

RE: Beer . . . simplest solution = ask his wife or just ask him. I know my beer drinking friends would appreciate me taking the time to get them a beer . . . a beer that they enjoy drinking.

RE: Wine . . . who knows . . . never drank the stuff.

 

[schlot]

Well I'm not much of a beer drinker or a wine drinker so when in doubt I get something I would like, which is not too overbearing in flavor.

Not sure if it's possible, but I'd ask him what he likes. If not possible I'd go with something without a huge after taste. My beer that I like is Leinenkugel Berryweiss or HoneyWeiss. Neither are too harsh with the after taste. Berry is more fruity (surprise huh?).

Wines again I'd ask if possible, but I don't like stuff with too much of a bite (less tannins for me). I think a red wine would be your choice. I usually like Merlot, Cabarnet or Malbecs in that order. Definitely try one or two before bringing it out. They really have a huge range of taste differences! I'd stay away from anything cheap....because they just don't stand up.
Plan on paying at least in the $15 range for something that doesn't taste like Italian feet.

When in doubt buy several beers and wines...make it a taste testing experience plus a meal!


Good luck!

 

[schlot]

One other thing....it's true that wine like cheese should be typically at room temperature. But for me a chilled wine tastes better....but then again I'm not a wine snob.

 

[branchburner]

Good bang-for-the-buck reds:

Malbec from Argentina (Alamos $10, Gascon $15, Catena $20)
Cabernet from Chile (Casillero del Diablo $10, Root 1 $15, Casa Lapostolle $15)

American cabs $10-15: Bogle, Ch Ste. Michelle, Estancia, J. Lohr, Louis Martini...

 

[Creekyphil]

I will reiterate- get a mixed 12 pack of Smuttynose or another local brand- that way there will probably be a safe 6 beers in there that your friend will like. Who knows- maybe you'll find one that you like as well.

This makes good sense. Sam Adams and Harpoon also do variety packs.

 

[Grisu]

One other thing....it's true that wine like cheese should be typically at room temperature. But for me a chilled wine tastes better....but then again I'm not a wine snob.

Your taste is actually pretty close to a "wine snob" . It is often said that red wine is supposed to be consumed at room temperature. However, that statement is from another time when the typical room was between 60 to 65 F while the wine cellar was in the forties. Aka, keep the wine in one of your colder rooms/basement. If you are sure someone will drink it, open the bottle about 2 hours before serving. Most red wines need to "breathe" to develop their full flavor. If open it just before the dinner, choose a wide wine glass and fill it only with maybe an inch of wine. Gently swirl the glass a few times to give it some air. I prefer more fruity wines that are not bone-dry; an Australian Shiraz for example. A not too cheap Cabernet would also be a good choice that covers a wide taste range. Btw. white wines and ros`es (rarely found here) should be cold when served although not quite at refrigerator temperatures. Taking them out of the fridge about an hour before serving usually does the trick.

Regarding the beer: The idea of a sampler is not bad. Sam Adams Lager or Longtrail Ale are also good choices that should appeal to quite a few people. I would stay away from only buying some flavored beer; that can be hit or miss. I know most people here drink their beer straight from the bottle but if it is a nice sit-down dinner I would use a glass. Pour the cold(!) beer slowly down the side of the glass that you are holding at an angle. Optimally, it has about half an inch of foam on top at the end.

Enjoy!