if i had a choice i would be norm in that place. looks great. nothing like a good brew and a game of 9 ball
What's your favorite BEER?
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So after reading through this I've decided to try some different beers. I definitely don't like IPA's but have had some dark beer that is growing on me. Has anyone tried the Russian Imperial Stout by Otter Creek Brewing from Vermont?
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
Ashful
Minister of Fire
I’ve had a few Russian Imperial Stouts, but not that particular one. Some are quite good (syrupy, sweet, strong), but some (eg. Old Rasputin) are too bitter and nosey (hoppy). If you want to check out imperial stouts, most of my favorites are made by Fegley’s (eg. Insidious, Delirious, etc.). Of course, I always favor malty over hoppy, others differ.
I did pick up a bottle of the Allagash Curieux. My local grocery store had them at $13.99/bottle. I haven't tried it yet, what type of beer/flavor should I expect from it?
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
It is a Belgian style Tripel. Very high in bittering hops. Very malty. Should be excellent. Once started, you want more.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Holy carp, that's cheap! I get excited any time I find it under $20, around here. I assume we're talking their usual 25 oz corked bottles? I've never seen it in any other size.
It's a barrel-aged version of their standard Tripel. So, higher ABV, more complex, but at it's heart... a Tripel. I think they buy used barrels off Jim Beam (who seems to own just about every damn bourbon and rye distillery in the country, these days), for the process.
The barrel-aging process seems to bring more to a Quad (and other darker Belgians) than it does to a Tripel, but I'm such a fan of Tripels in general, that this one scores very high in my book.
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
Ashful
Minister of Fire
We have similar taste, then. Westmalle makes a solid Tripel.
Of course, there's very few Tripels I dislike. Rochefort, Westmalle, Chimay, St. Bernardus (both versions), Allagash... even the lowly Merry Monks. They're all good, and which I'd call my favorite changes too often to bother naming just one.
Dubbels are a little tougher. I don't like the Allagash Dubbel, at all. Grimbergen is damn good, and I guess you'd call Prior 8 and Pater 6 (both St. Bern) Dubbels... they're both excellent. I haven't had the Rocherfort, I refuse to pay that much for a Dubbel.
Kwak is out there all on it's own, but I guess some might want to throw it into the Dubbel category. Damn good, whatever you call it.
The Quads are fun. La Trappe is good, and I'd guess the only one doing them for any amount of time. Ommegang's Three Philosphers is another good one, obviously newer. Again, St. Bernardus is near the top of that style with Abt.12.
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
Don't talk to me about Grimbergen or La Trappe. I'm getting nuts. Where I am from originally, Netherlands, we had it in any supermarket for half the price here. And every self respecting bar had it too.
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
Ashful
Minister of Fire
I spent some time in Amsterdam last fall. Most of the beer I saw there was Pils style, poured with full head and then knifed flush to the rim. I remember seeing a lot of Stella Artois, which ain’t bad, but it’s no La Trappe Quadruple!
Does this vary regionally?
Yes, this one was a corked 750mL bottle. We just tried it, I had a glass and my wife had a glass. Was very good, with almost a fruity finish. Something strange with Allagash for me though. I've had three different types and I have a mild almost allergic reaction to them like my throat is closing up a little. I don't know if they all have wheat in them or what. I had an Allagash Black the other day and that one really didn't agree with me. As far as cost - being 15 miles from the brewery probably helps.
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
Yes. In Europe beer is served with 2 fingers of foam (with the exception of the UK, all flat) and knifed. Stella is a very popular beer since 2 decades or so. Until the 90's it was a head ache beer. They changed the recipe and it is a lot better now. Regional: Amsterdam: Heineken which is the worst of all beers and Amstel which is Heineken with a different label. Eastern Netherlands: Dommelsch, very nice for a pils. South: Hertog Jan, also pretty good. But being so close to the border with Belgium, Belgian beers are so much more popular. I am from Zeeland, south-west, close to the Belgian border. In fact my paternal family is from Belgium. Antwerp. Rubens, the famous painter is my cousin. Family tree: www.pijpelink.nl (also in English)
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
When I am in NL to visit my mother, I drink Jupiler, a Belgian Pilsner with the right amount of hops.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
I spend a few weeks in Europe every year, since the mid-1990's. Mostly Germany, but also Ireland, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, etc. I'm used to getting a finger of head in Germany, with the obligatory fill to the legal line etched into the glass, but the knifing isn't something I'm used to seeing there.
Yes, plenty of Heineken in Amsterdam. Not great, but somehow not as bad there, as it is here. Maybe it's just the environment.
Jan Pijpelink
Minister of Fire
AlbergSteve
Minister of Fire
Driftwood's Fat Tug is always my go to, especially on tap. Red Racer Pale ale when I'm splitting wood, moving wood, stacking wood, looking at wood...and when I've settled in for the evening and have nothing else planned except sit and stare at the fire, anything from Dageraad goes well in front of the fire. @Ashful , if you're ever in Vancouver, BC, Dageraad Brewing is well worth a visit.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Pauwel Kwak from Brouwerij Bosteels, yesterday. Not as frequently seen around here, as it was a few years ago, likely due to distribution agreements. It’s one of my favorites.
I tried one today on your suggestion. It is a nicely done desert beer. They did achieve a nice chocolate nose and finish. Have you compared this to Chokolat from Southern Tier? I have been toying with the idea of trying to make this for next Christmas. If so I will make it a bit less sweet than the Sam Smith.
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No, I haven't tried that. I'm pretty new to exploring dark beer. Most of my beer drinking in the past was the cheap light stuff to get a buzz going. I haven't been much of a drinker at all the past 6 or 7 years. For some reason, I just felt like trying new stuff a few months ago. I do know that I'm not an IPA person and I love some wheat beers but they do horrible things to my stomach.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
In Maine, you can't go wrong with Allagash. Well you can, just avoid their Session Brett.
Been sampling Founders Backwoods Bastard 2017 imperial stout this week. Tasty. BA review, "Expect lovely, warm smells of single malt scotch, oaky bourbon barrels, smoke, sweet caramel and roasted malts."
RobbieB
Feeling the Heat
Just bought a new one, Taco Truck Amber, from Dust Bowl Brewing Co., just down the road from me. Good stuff! Fresh beer rocks - 
I just found about about this place:
(broken link removed)
One of their beers is ranked #1 in the world and it's one of the top destinations in the US and the world. Never heard of it before and I live an hour away. I guess I'll be checking them out in the near future.
(broken link removed)
One of their beers is ranked #1 in the world and it's one of the top destinations in the US and the world. Never heard of it before and I live an hour away. I guess I'll be checking them out in the near future.
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