Any beer snob escapists? If so, any favorites?

[jehuty_zero69]

I by no means down those watery, damn near clear beers out there, as they all have their time and place. But I do love the more complex, usually darker beers. For instance while typing this I'm enjoying a room temp Fat Tire. Which i consider light drinking. Now if I were at the beach or just outdoors in general I would want a much lighter beer a.k.a. your Budweiser, Heineken what have you. So i ask how many other Escapists can appreciate the beers that can and often do surpass wines in both complexity and subtlety. As for my favorite who the hell knows. I love so many but I'll have to stick with the Belgium abbeys' quads such as St. Bernardus' brews or the oft sought after Westvleteren 12 (of which i have 2 bottles) or any of the Trappistes (yes I know that technically St. Bernardus isn't a Trappist) DuckRabbit Milk stout, Rogues many brews,Innis and Gunn, Cable Car. The list could go on.

Quick side note if you cant decide a few select favorites just give me a category like Stout, Porter, Ale, Bock, IPA, Lager or Pilsner

 

[Radeonx]

I've started drinking Corona, and am enjoying it quite a lot.
Given that I've been poor for my last 3 years of college, I've been drinking whatever is usually cheapest, and am just getting into the "finer beers".

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Not really snobby, but I'll go for an obscure bitter over whatever lager's around any day.
Just wait until next year, when I can (legally) go to the local beer festival and support Real British Ales!

 

[Low Key]

I work at a liquor store, so it's kind of a prerequisite to the job. Honestly, I've probably tried half the beers in the cooler not name Miller, Bud or Coors.

My favorite is probably Boulevard Wheat or Pale Ale, though I haven't drank it in a while because I want to try new stuff.

Apparently there is a beer brewed up my way called Surly, and it's all the rage. People are making deals with random people shipping it all over the nation because it's only available in Minneapolis and (barely) Chicago. I think it tastes like shit and its expensive at $12 a 4-pack, but my store sells it like crazy.

 

[Klepa]

I guess I qualify as a beer snob. I'm mainly a whisky guy, but I do enjoy a proper beer.

I live in a vodka drinking country, and not a lot of stuff get imported here, so I'm no connoisseur. I enjoy a lot of smokey, peaty tastes, being a whisky lover and all, so I'd say my favorite beer is Schlenkerla Rauchbier, the Märzen variety.

http://www.schlenkerla.de/rauchbier/sorten/sortene.html

See if you can find any. It's got an extremely strong smoked taste, like in your face "what just happened"-strong.

Even if you don't like the sound of it, I'd say it's still worth a try, as they're quite rare nowadays, and quite different from anything else.

 

[ThaBenMan]

I'm definitely a beer snob - I can't stand any of that domestic shit like Coors or Budweiser. I love a lot of Magic Hat's stuff - their hefeweizen, Circus Boy, is really good. There's a local brewery (Portland, Maine) called Shipyard that makes some good stuff, too - I have some of their Summer Ale in my fridge right now.

When you mentioned that you were drinking your beer at room temp., it got me thinking - I know that a lot of beers are meant to be drank warm, but I don't think I ever could. I need my brew to be frosty cold.

 

[bigsby]

I guess I qualify as a beer snob. I'm mainly a whisky guy, but I do enjoy a proper beer.

I live in a vodka drinking country, and not a lot of stuff get imported here, so I'm no connoisseur. I enjoy a lot of smokey, peaty tastes, being a whisky lover and all, so I'd say my favorite beer is Schlenkerla Rauchbier, the Märzen variety.

http://www.schlenkerla.de/rauchbier/sorten/sortene.html

See if you can find any. It's got an extremely strong smoked taste, like in your face "what just happened"-strong.

Even if you don't like the sound of it, I'd say it's still worth a try, as they're quite rare nowadays, and quite different from anything else.

I didnt expect to ever meet anyone outside germany that could appreciate the heavenly beverage that is schlenkerla. Tip of the hat to you dear sir. (Or madam, although i doubt that^^).
I also enjoy a cool McFarland from time to time or a good dunkelweizen or pils, since i am from Germany I usually go for the local ones.

 

[Boris Goodenough]

I too enjoy my beer at room temp, so around 20 degrees C, at least the tasty ones.
Hmm, favourite? That's a tough one, I tend to be very polygamous in that regard. I've liked Erdinger weiss Dunkel for a long time. I try to drink as many different as possible.

 

[SturmDolch]

I don't mind most of the "macros". I'll take a Molson Canadian any day. I don't like the ultra-cheap beer, usually. I haven't had many, but the few microbrews I've had were good. I buy Innis and Gunn every once in a while.

But I laugh at my friends that think that drinking European beer is somehow cooler than drinking Canadian or American... And then try to sound like they know their shit about it, too. "ZOMG Stella Artois. So good. It has this um crisp aftertaste and um like yeah!" "ZOMG Carlsberg!!!1!!11one!" My one friend actually said that he wants to start drinking more European beer instead of North American. Yes, I prefer a Heinekken or Stella Artois to a Budweiser. But I would gladly trade in both of those for some Dead Guy Ale or a Shaughnessy Stout [http://brewsters.ca/brewsters-beer/]. Hell, I'd rather have some Alexander Keith's IPA than Amstel.

 

[Klepa]

"ZOMG Carlsberg!!!1!!11one!" My one friend actually said that he wants to start drinking more European beer instead of North American.

Haha, that's funny, assuming you're talking about the lager, and not their other stuff. I live in Finland (not Denmark), and Carlsberg is one of the cheapest beers in here. You can buy it in 24-packs, and get wasted, which is pretty much the only way Finns ever drink anything.. So yeah, atleast in here, it's considered to be the same crap as any old booze.

I didnt expect to ever meet anyone outside germany that could appreciate the heavenly beverage that is schlenkerla. Tip of the hat to you dear sir. (Or madam, although i doubt that^^).
I also enjoy a cool McFarland from time to time or a good dunkelweizen or pils, since i am from Germany I usually go for the local ones.

Your doubts are well placed, I am indeed a sir, sir, and I receive the tip of your hat with much joy.

I checked my nanny states alcohol shop, and it's not sporting any of the less-known beers people are mentioning. I'd try to one-up people with our own microbreweries, but they pale in comparison to.. anything, really.

 

[arsenicCatnip]

I was born and raised in the state with the most microbreweries per capita, so I guess I'm not so much a beer 'snob' as someone who gets picky.

Personally, I love Blue Moon on draft with a slice of orange. But my all time favorite is the Full Moon Ale from the Blue Moon brewery. It's a darker beer with just a hint of sweetness, perfect for enjoying on a cold night (and it's only produced during the winter, so yay). Honey Moon isn't bad either.

 

[wkrepelin]

Delirium Tremens. A Belgian Ale, It's got little pink elephants on the ;able and a foil top with a cork. A single sip warms your entire chest and makes you feel a little light in the head. Love that stuff.

 

[Low Key]

But I laugh at my friends that think that drinking European beer is somehow cooler than drinking Canadian or American... And then try to sound like they know their shit about it, too. "ZOMG Stella Artois. So good. It has this um crisp aftertaste and um like yeah!" "ZOMG Carlsberg!!!1!!11one!" My one friend actually said that he wants to start drinking more European beer instead of North American. Yes, I prefer a Heinekken or Stella Artois to a Budweiser. But I would gladly trade in both of those for some Dead Guy Ale or a Shaughnessy Stout [http://brewsters.ca/brewsters-beer/]. Hell, I'd rather have some Alexander Keith's IPA than Amstel.

Tell your friends they are stupid because Stella is way overpriced in North America. InBev charges an arm and a leg for it because they know we think European beer is "exotic", and while it's good beer, it's not THAT good.

I too enjoy my beer at room temp, so around 20 degrees C, at least the tasty ones.
Hmm, favourite? That's a tough one, I tend to be very polygamous in that regard. I've liked Erdinger weiss Dunkel for a long time. I try to drink as many different as possible.

I forgot about Erdinger Dunkel Weiss. That's one of the best wheat beers I've had.

 

[Plurralbles]

Guiness is the favorite of mine out of the ones I've had but obviously there is better stuff easily acquired.

 

[Aur0ra145]

Shiner Bock is my everyday, trouble free beer. But, if I can find it, and I've got the money I quite enjoy Lobotomy Bock or Kwak.

 

[Chubb Secure]

I guess I qualify as a beer snob. I'm mainly a whisky guy, but I do enjoy a proper beer.

I live in a vodka drinking country, and not a lot of stuff get imported here, so I'm no connoisseur. I enjoy a lot of smokey, peaty tastes, being a whisky lover and all, so I'd say my favorite beer is Schlenkerla Rauchbier, the Märzen variety.

http://www.schlenkerla.de/rauchbier/sorten/sortene.html

See if you can find any. It's got an extremely strong smoked taste, like in your face "what just happened"-strong.

Even if you don't like the sound of it, I'd say it's still worth a try, as they're quite rare nowadays, and quite different from anything else.

Im with you on the whiskey thing nothing like a whiskey with 2 ice cubes in lead glass tumblers whilst purusing porn on the inter webs....

 

[FieryTrainwreck]

Augustiner, a German beer, is far and away the best I've ever tasted. Nothing else has ever come close.

Tidbit from wikipedia: "The reputation of the brewery is so good that the company does not engage in any advertising campaigns."

I can vouch for this, as I never saw or read anything about the stuff when I spent 9 weeks less than two hours away from their brewery in Munich.

Interesting anecdote from Oktobrefest: was talking to a woman from Italy or Spain (memory a bit fuzzy, oddly enough) who informed me that her country imports Augustiner for their annual fest.

Unfortunately, it is not widely available outside of Germany/Europe. Some tiny place in Pennsylvania used to offer a laughably small amount for import, but I've no idea if they're still offering any.

Oh, and they staunchly refuse to expand production at all. They'd kill it with worldwide distribution, but they're not interested. Considering they've been around since the 1300's, I imagine we're just shit outta luck over here.

 

[bigsby]

Augustiner, a German beer, is far and away the best I've ever tasted. Nothing else has ever come close.

Tidbit from wikipedia: "The reputation of the brewery is so good that the company does not engage in any advertising campaigns."

I can vouch for this, as I never saw or read anything about the stuff when I spent 9 weeks less than two hours away from their brewery in Munich.

Interesting anecdote from Oktobrefest: was talking to a woman from Italy or Spain (memory a bit fuzzy, oddly enough) who informed me that her country imports Augustiner for their annual fest.

Unfortunately, it is not widely available outside of Germany/Europe. Some tiny place in Pennsylvania used to offer a laughably small amount for import, but I've no idea if they're still offering any.

Oh, and they staunchly refuse to expand production at all. They'd kill it with worldwide distribution, but they're not interested. Considering they've been around since the 1300's, I imagine we're just shit outta luck over here.

It is not even widely available in Germany outside Bavaria. Which is a shame cause it is unbelievably good, evil Bavarians hogging all the best beers for themselves.