Beer, revisited

[Mutzo Nutzo]

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If there is such a thing a as " the Champagne " of Lager then this is it - Warsteiner.

Also comes in bottles - super expensive on draught and there's a good reason, it's magnificent.

Wonderful stuff.

Commonly known as "wobbly" amongst British service personnel in Germany.

 

[obc]

So Paraguay - and most of South America - is home to horribly watery lagers that are less horrible at 38C and 80% humidity.

On Saturday went to hang out with some of the hombres that comprise the Craft Brewing movement down here, helped make an Imperial Stout. They had an awesome rig including cooling plates. Boss. After done not only did I get to sample some of their black IPA, the host opened his beer closet the four of us split some oh so wonderful American craft beers.

Had Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin/IPA - finished top 10 in at least one of those best IPA polls, Ballast Point Grunion pale ale, and, much to my delight, Pinner Session IPA from Oskar Blues. They make Dale's Pale Ale, one of my favorite drinking beers... a hoppy pale ale that clocks in at 6.5%. Pinner is a lighter 4.9% but still has that hoppy flavor. Next time I'm in Estados Unidos tailgating with the Cactus Pricks before an FC Tucson match, I know what I'll be bringing.

Topped it off by taking me to a Lomito stand run by a Lebanese man who spoke some English as well as Spanish. Had some home made hot sauce to top my Estambul Kabob.

Great day, great guys. Had a lot of fun. Can't wait to try the Stout. Just in time for the dead of Paraguayan winter. Or what you English lids call "Summer".

 

[COYBL25]

Recently been to the Lakes and sampled these four.

1. Swan Blonde - Bowness Bay
2. Bluebird - Coniston.
3. Lonesome Pine - Ulverston.
4. Wizard - Robinsons.

Bluebird was the hands down winner and it's worthy of its awards.

The Swan Blonde was served way too cold, which really gets on my nerves. Just because its light doesn't mean it should be treated like lager.

 

[verreauxi]

By all accounts I live in the middle of nowhere, 13 miles from the West Virginia border, and a 2 hour drive west of Washington DC. Yet recently I did a google search for local microbreweries. This craze is getting out of hand.

20 minutes north (by car), in the town of Harrisonburg where I work are 3 breweries and a 4th one is being planned.

20 minutes south in a much smaller town, Staunton, are three more breweries

And 20-40 minutes heading east are 5 more breweries (as well as a rum distillery, and two cider breweries, one shown). Devil's backbone has even made it to the UK, as I saw it advertised at a pub in Bournemouth a few weeks ago.

It doesn't seem sustainable to have this many breweries in this area, but I'm happy they are around.

 

[Torontoblue]

The good breweries will last, and if they are only doing small batches for the local/surrounding communities, then there's no reason for them not to succeed.

Bask in the joy of having such choices!

 

[SerenityNigh]

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Recently been to the Lakes and sampled these four.

1. Swan Blonde - Bowness Bay
2. Bluebird - Coniston.
3. Lonesome Pine - Ulverston.
4. Wizard - Robinsons.

Bluebird was the hands down winner and it's worthy of its awards.

The Swan Blonde was served way too cold, which really gets on my nerves. Just because its light doesn't mean it should be treated like lager.

I read a guy that always orders two at once for that reason. One style that tastes ok cold while the other warms up to a better tasting temp.

 

[obc]

The good breweries will last, and if they are only doing small batches for the local/surrounding communities, then there's no reason for them not to succeed.

Bask in the joy of having such choices!

This.

All the "Beerpocaylpse" posts about shelf space are blowing the whole thing out of proportion.

The Deschutes/Sierra Nevadas/Stones of the craft movement will have space at supermarkets and in stores to continue to grow their brand.

The rest can survive/thrive by concentrating locally. If a smaller operation you can do just fine.

Not everyone will blow up and get national distribution. Just focus on making a quality project and taking it slow. Do not financially overextend yourself. So long as you have good beer - and some good food - you can do fine distributing locally and encouraging customers to come to you.

 

[verreauxi]

The good breweries will last, and if they are only doing small batches for the local/surrounding communities, then there's no reason for them not to succeed.

Bask in the joy of having such choices!

Amen. I certainly do hope they all succeed!

 

[ste d' indica]

The microbrewery, and, even larger independent brewery share of the market is still fractional compared to the colossals in the game (Diagio, Miller et al), if people continue to get a taste for quality beer over crap lager, then I'd say there's plenty of growth still, the problem will come if it remains a small group that supports indies, but certainly from evidence in Bristol and from what I've heard elsewhere, the popularity is exploding. We can't brew fast enough.

 

[Donald Twain]

Cheers! about to make a start.

 

[TheFinnFan]

Had a Pabst Blue Ribbon a while ago...
Brewed in Milwaukee. Nice n easy summer beer.

 

[centralTon]

Cheers! about to make a start.
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Like everything about that photo.

 

[ste d' indica]

Had a Pabst Blue Ribbon a while ago...
Brewed in Milwaukee. Nice n easy summer beer.

Smart beer that.

 

[ste d' indica]

Cheers! about to make a start.
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That Gulden Draak is well nice mate.

 

[Donald Twain]

Like everything about that photo.

Yeah it's a cracker like! The Anchor, one of my American mates on here put me on to it and its lovely stuff ! The Draak is top quality though I'd stick it in my top 5 beers.