The Beer Thread!

[Kaiten]

We import it too :-)
I don't think any transport justify such a price difference. But maybe they are imported in very low quantity making it a rare product

Distance and transportation should not play a big role in prices. The difference is partially due to import tax and tariff. Membership in the European Union means that product produced in Belgium can be imported to France without incurring tariff. Not so for import to the U.S. which does not have free trade agreements with any European states. Tax and tariff are added to the price for Americans. Most of the difference is likely due to imported beer being a "luxury" good. Those interested in drinking good European beer are willing to pay a premium price.

Stella, Guinness, and other non-premium European beers are bottled in the US and not subject to tariff.

---------- Post added at 08:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:18 PM ----------

Orval goes surprisingly well with a pulled chicken sandwich.

[mikkih]

Orval goes surprisingly well with a pulled chicken sandwich.

I've had pulled pork sandwich w/ BBQ sauce before. Would it be somewhat similar?

Would you eat BBQ with lager, ale, brown, or stout? I may chose light colored beers, lager or ale, with BBQ. What do you guys think?

[xi0]

A general rule of thumb for me is that you don't want a beer that overpowers the flavor of what you're eating.

[Kaiten]

I've had pulled pork sandwich w/ BBQ sauce before. Would it be somewhat similar?

Would you eat BBQ with lager, ale, brown, or stout? I may chose light colored beers, lager or ale, with BBQ. What do you guys think?

Same thing as pulled pork, I was not in the mood for something that hearty.

I would have a marzen or heffe with BBQ, something a little heavier than a lager but not overwhelming.

I feel like I've fallen into a bit of a Belgian beer rut, so I am trying some German varieties this week. Tonight I am trying Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen, my first rauchbier. An impressive beer; it has hints of roast meets, finishes dry, but is not to heavy.

---------- Post added April 19, 2012 at 02:02 AM ---------- Previous post was April 18, 2012 at 12:58 AM ----------

Tried Weihenstaphaner Vitus and loved it. Very similar in taste to the heffe, but the extra alcohol gives it a hint of cherry.

[igotthegoods]

Belgian beer rut? Blashphemy! Koen would be dissapoint.

j/k, j/k Vitus is a really good beer. I enjoy it thoroughly.

Having just recently returned from Belgium, I've had a LOT of beer lately. Some really great new ones, too, thanks to the recommendation of Koen. I'm trying to remember all the new ones I tried. I know there were others, but these were some that I know for sure: Avec Les Bons Voeux, Westmalle Tripel, St. Feuillien, St. Bernardus 12, Duvel Tripel Hop.

All were exceptional. Highly recommend.

---------- Post added at 12:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 AM ----------

Oh, and I also had Delirium Red, which was pretty good, but probably my least favorite of the new beers I tried. I got it kind of by accident, actually. xD I was at the Delirium Cafe, which has 2004 (!!) different types of beer. I was, understandably, having a hard time deciding what to get, so I thought "hey, maybe I should try one of the Delirium beers I haven't tried yet?" Delirium Red was the only one I hadn't tried yet, and the others (Tremens, Nocturnum, and Noel) are so good, I just went ahead and ordered it without knowing exactly what it was. Didn't realize it was going to be a fruit beer.

[xi0]

The place I go to locally has all those beers, except for St. Feuillien and Delirium Red. I'll have to check them out

I had been meaning to try more Trappists, but outside of Chimay and La Trappe, they only come in singles or big bottles which is somewhat inconvenient.

[Teubier]

Little post from over there, devoid of any Belgian beers unfortunately, but still with a glimpse of a few from Nagoya(1)/Wakayama(3)/Shizuoka(10) ~Origin(number), from left to right~ for me (and the two others beer lovers who are staying here too) to try until the end of this month.

[xi0]

Westmalle Tripel - A better Tripel than Chimay White, but not as good as Tripel Karmeliet in my opinion. Very robust in flavor.

Delirium Nocturnum - Easily outclasses Chimay Blue and is more palatable than Gulden Draak. There's a subdued fruitiness to it, but it just goes down so easily for a Strong Dark. HIGHLY recommended.

The place I go to got a bunch of Hitachino Brews and apparently also started carrying more varieties of Weihenstephaner (no Vitus, but Kristalweizen, Korbinian, and the Dunkel). I'll have to try them out later.

[k-dom]

I was in britanny for this long week-end so we tasted britanny beers. In particular 2 original ones
The first one was a Morbraz which is a blond bier made with sea water. Honestly the taste was not that different from any other blond bier. Maybe a little more acid.
But the second one was a Gwiniz Du, a bier made with buckwheat. This one had a very original taste and everyone enjoyed it. It will probably be hard to find out of there but if I find it by chance I will definitively try it again.

[xi0]

Supposedly Morbraz doesn't have actual seawater in the brew. They just add salt to the water in the brewing process.

The prospect of a beer using actual seawater sounds disgusting to me

[k-dom]

It's really made with sea water ( it's written everywhere ) but they found a process which removed most of the salt. As i said the taste is not really different

[xi0]

It's really made with sea water ( it's written everywhere ) but they found a process which removed most of the salt. As i said the taste is not really different

Ah, I had read online that it was a bit of a gimmick. If they desalinate the water, then what's the point?

[xi0]

Hitachino Nest White Ale - A Witbier that packs a punch. It doesn't have a high ABV, but it's tremendously flavorful. Not as much citrus as you can usually find in this style, but a crapload of coriander and spice flavor going on here. Not a style I really prefer but very good. Highly recommended.

Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche - A Doppelbock that uses malt smoked with oak instead of beech, which is typically used to make the Rauchbier style. An interesting experience. It has more alcohol in it than rauchbier due to it being a doppelbock. The smokey flavor is noticeable, but not overpowering. After a few tastes it is very beer-like, but with a smokey aftertaste. I can't say it's really refreshing and it's not for everyone but it's something to experience if you're feeling adventurous. I also have to try the Rauchbier Weizen, Rauchbier Urbock (have a bottle) and the Helles Lager. I haven't seen the Rauchbier Marzen unfortunately.

Delirium Tremens - A Strong Pale Ale that is....Strong . While the Delirium Nocturnum is the dark beer, I would say the heavier beer is the Pale Delirium Tremens. Very warming for a pale ale, sweet smelling but a nice dry finish. Very smooth, but I would the beer on the whole is deceiving. Recommended.

[igotthegoods]

Awesome! You tried Hitachino Nest White. I really love it. It's so easy to drink and the flavor profile is perfect for summer. Delirium Tremens is an old, nostalgic favorite of mine. It's probably the first higher alcohol content beer I really tried and enjoyed. I've since found other beers that I prefer, but it definitely started my love affair with Belgian ales. :3

I still haven't tried any Rauchbier style beers, but I would like to. Any that you (or anyone else) would recommend trying in particular?

---------- Post added at 11:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 PM ----------

Almost forgot, but I tried a new beer earlier this week: La Fin Du Monde. It was a really nice tripel! It was fairly sweet, but not too much so. And the 9% ABV was very well hidden. Very smooth and easy to drink. I would highly recommend.

[xi0]

I still have to tried the Ginger kind, the Red Rice, and the Expresso Stout

I know Kaiten tried the Rauchbier Marzen and enjoyed it. Supposedly the Rauchbier flavor is much more intense due to the malt being kilned with beech wood instead of oak. I have a bottle of the Rauchbier Urbock but haven't tried it yet. I also have a big bottle of the Weihenstephaner Korbinian and the Dunkel. The only other variety I've seen is the Kristallweissbier. I still haven't seen the Vitus.