Cooking & Baking
Related: About this forumCraft Beer Group on DU?
Wonder if there is enough craft fans on DU to support its own subgroup? For now I'll just post to this thread to say what I'm drinking and we'll see how it goes. Eventually I'd love to see more join in since beer is a global hobby with regional markets and DU has posters from all over I would be interested in what you're drinking.
Cheers , PoorMonger.
PoorMonger
(844 posts)This semi local brewery (for me) is located in Grand Island, Nebraska - and they just recently started bottling stuff.
The first offering I've seen on shelves is this fantastic red ale. Mild enough for your friends with a hop averse palate - but still packed with interesting flavor. The malts remind me of Vienna lager ( Sam Adams Boston Lager etc) bready with some wheat toastiness and a good hit of caramel sweetness there. The hops give a bit of fruity character that give a hit or strawberry or other red berries. Prarie Pride is to my knowledge still only in Nebraska - some restaurants should have this on tap if you are in Omaha or Lincoln. They are at several places where I live in Kearney. Their porter ( called Islander) may also be available.
Mime-Is-Money
(34 posts)Love the CA/west coast beer scene but don't have access to east coast gems not yet acquired by players with large distribution networks.
I hit up Almanac Tap Room in SF last week to sample some of their sours. That place crushes.
Dr Hobbitstein
(6,568 posts)I also do a lot of homebrewing (though not much as of late).
PoorMonger
(844 posts)Funny you should mention Almanac - we just started getting their stuff here this summer. It's a little pricy at $10 bucks a bottle - but I am just recently finding my taste for sours and I have had their Farmers Reserve Blackberry and Pluot. The Pluot one was out of this world good!
I'd never had an actual pluot (plum - apricot hybrid ) till just yesterday when my mom found them at the grocery store. They are awesome too if you've never had one
Mime-Is-Money
(34 posts)basically charging $1 per ounce. Their barrel aged sours are amazing though. I took home a growler of the POG (passion fruit, orange, guava) Saison which was nice, but we were really digging their 2016 red and white grand cru's.
I wish almanac distributed more of their non-sour beers, including IPAs and their ichibier. Much more affordable and still delicious.
Been on a massive west coast IPA kick lately, taking in Altamont and Moonraker offerings.
PoorMonger
(844 posts)I don't brew myself because I lack the space to really do it - though I'd love to hear more about it.
japple
(9,833 posts)brewed in Brevard, NC and Longmont, CO. Love that hoppppppiness!
I also like Sierra Pale Ale from Chico, CA as well as Fletcher, NC. Also enjoy Lagunitas New Dog Town.
Trying to get a handle on the brews from Chattanooga, TN and Atlanta, since that is my home base.
I drink Guinness sometimes. More often in the winter.
Yesterday, I picked up a bottle of mead from at a store in GA from Alchemist in Marietta, GA
http://www.vikingalchemist.com/
PoorMonger
(844 posts)I haven't seen a craft mead around. But we do get Oskar Blues, Lagunitas and Sierra Nevada. I just had this years Oktoberfest last weekend and it was pretty solid.
I haven't gotten to try anything from GA or TN yet - distribution just doesn't get that far. But I recently joined Tavour ( a beer club with an app) and one of my personal goals is to get to try something from every state.
Saviolo
(3,282 posts)And we've got some amazing breweries around here. Beau's, Oast House, Nicklebrook, Amsterdam, Sidelaunch, Flying Monkeys, Lost Craft, etc...
One thing I love about this region is that, aside from all of the IPAs (and there are LOTS of them), there are a few other popular beer styles that we see. I mean, the world does not need another fair to middling IPA, but breweries like Beau's and Lost Craft are doing excellent Kölsch, and I've seen more than a couple very decent ESBs around, too.
PoorMonger
(844 posts)I wish I saw more Canadian stuff here. I have enjoyed Unibroue though. I'm really into Belgian styles so I've tried their beer when I find it ( usually when in Dever).
I've also been pretty impressed with St. Ambroise. Their stout was really good and I recently tried their Apriocot wheat. That wasn't my favorite , but it was interesting. Tasted like gummy candies.
I love IPA , but also agree that there are so many middle of the road examples that aren't really doing anything. I also love a good kolcsh. My favorite that's easily available to me is Boulevard's. It's more hoppy than the average in style but still super crushable on a hot day
PoorMonger
(844 posts)This is a big pineapple bomb of an IPA out of Benson. ( which I believe is an Omaha suburb). Infusion is all about packing a punch and this IPA is just one example of that. It's full on canned pineapple. Makes me think of when I was a kid eating those little cups of fruit cocktail.
Infusion's flagship beer is really neat too. It's a Vanilla bean blonde that has a super intense vanilla note like waffle cones. I've described it as a being like alcoholic cream soda to people who aren't into beer and they seem to enjoy it. It was at our local Oktoberfest this last year and a favorite of a lot of ladies
Snarkoleptic
(5,997 posts)It's not for the timid as it's got a bold flavor and 9%ABV.
http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/voodoo-ranger-imperial
Now that Lagunitas has a Chicago brewery, I've been into several of their IPA's-
https://lagunitas.com/beers#
PoorMonger
(844 posts)The DIPA is just a bit heavy for me. Not that I don't like some imperials tho. I recently had a double IPA called Drunken Master ( from Melvin) that was amazing. Like booze soaked pineapple with some cantaloupe.
I regularly drink New Belgium's dubble and tripel too. For some reason we get all their standard six packs but never any of their stuff in bombers
PoorMonger
(844 posts)Tallgrass ( Manhattan, KS) is one of my favorite breweries and they are so good that I can be convinced to try anything they do. I was super pumped to see this on the shelf tonight. I had no idea they were making it. Previously they have canned their Raspberry Jam variation on this slightly sour German style but now I see this is going to be a Jam Series, and I'm already dreaming of possibilities. The blueberry note here is remarkably fresh and the tartness vanishes quickly.