Wow, Wookie.. you liked the Immortal.

I didnt care for it but, I know our taste differs a bit and you don't fancy the IPA's as much as some of the others.

I bought a sixer of Post Road Pumpkin on your reccomendation and also grabbed a sixer of Abita's Pecan Ale.

The Post Road was very good, the pumpkin and spice flavor is prominent throughout. Although, after having one I didn't want another right away.

The Abita Pecan was very good, a nice autumn ale. I can see myself buying these again and knocking a few back on the back deck grilling up some burgers.

I bought 2 22oz bottles of Lagunitas Lucky 13 Red Ale.

Weighs in at 8.3 ABV

I loved the IPA so I thought I would like this too.

Love it, highly reccommend.
If you like reds, grab it!

How hoppy was it? I've been trying to find a really good, hoppy red/amber, but there just aren't any in the South, and for all I read about West Coast Ambers being aggressively hopped, I can't seem to get any of those examples, either.

I'd love to find an American ale with the malt backbone and caramel sweetness of an amber crossed with the firm bitterness and hop flavor/aroma of an APA (which is supposed to be happening on the west coast, I guess), but I haven't seen it yet. If anybody has suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Have you tried the Twilight Ale or the Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes? Both have that sweet malt flavor you're talking about matched with the citrusy wonderfulness that is Cascade hops.

RDH,

Ithaca Brewing puts out a beer called Cascazilla which might be what you're looking for. It's brewed in NY, so your odds of finding it might be better than a west coast beer.

The Czar brew was a decent beer that I had last year, which quickly sold out in this area. I grabbed one from the liquor store when I saw this years batch was available on Friday.

This is the most appropriate glass that I can find in the house right now, I think it might be different in a goblet type glass. Poured from the liter bottle with the flip-top cap, which I've had problems with in the past (not keeping carbonation, results are awful) but this time there is a pop when I get the cap off.

It's a really dark inky color, even when I tip it over and hold it up the the light, there is hardly anything coming through. I poured light and a big head foamed up, which falls back pretty quick. It smells like roasted malt and I can pick up a hint of the bourbon but none of the alcohol. First taste is bitter and toasty and finishes with a strong bourbon taste. The beer seems light with respect to mouthfeel compared to other RIS's that I've had, but on the plus side, is balanced with a lot of hop bitterness and malt taste to counter the bourbon.

I made a homebrew last winter in the same style (huge imperial stout, put oak chips in it, with a pint of makers mark) and I think I prefer that one. I think the goose island reserve from last year (bourbon RIS) was better too. Both of those were "bigger".

Definately more of a malt/caramel taste. The hops are there for sure but, more of a background thing. Nowhere near the hoppage of the IPA.

I'll hafta look for the other suggestions listed below next time.

RDH, there is an amber/red at my local brewery that is about what you describe (at least in my mind) called Panama Red (Flossmoor Brewery).

Next time I'm at a mug club event, I'll ask the brewers if they have any similar suggestions that might be available in the south and report back. If you're ever in/near Chicago, you'd do yourself a favor to stop in there.

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Question for all you connoisseurs out there:

Recently my local brewery came out with a Belgian dark ale, 10% brewed with raisins, local honey, sugars, cardamom and a bunch of other spices.

They had a "dark lord" style release, I bought 3 bombers, had one on draft for mug clubbers before hand, and thought it was really tasty.

Now here's my thing... It really seemed like it has a harsh alcohol bite to it, and I've had many 10% beers, usually DIPA-barleywines or imperial stouts, but this was one of the more boozy ones that I'd had. My friend who was with me, and also enjoys good beer agreed with me.

On a side note, I split a bottle with my dad the next day, he's more of a wine guy (Sam Adams and Guinness for him usually when it's beer) and he felt the same way.

So, no big deal, great beer, a bit of a bite, what's the problem?

Well, I log onto BA and Ratebeer to see how their beer was fairing ratings wise, and the ratings are all positive. One thing, the first 4 ratings on the two sites both mention how well the alcohol is hidden in the beer. I pretty much got the same out of most of the other observations, but this is where I was totally differing.

So, my question is, am I misidentifying something that is biting hard in the beer? The spices perhaps?

Here is a sample review from beeradvocate.com (Just an FYI, the beer is called collaborative evil by flossmoor station):

"A= This ale poured a dark caramel soda color with a 1/4" light tan head that quickly disappeared to nothing. I didn't find any lacing on the glass. Carbonation was fine looking and the release was active and gave this one an effervescent look.

S= The aromas coming from this ale were dominated by sweet malt, dark candied fruit, cherries, raisins, and spices. Alcohol was present in the aroma, but not overpowering.

T= From the very first sip this ale was complex and fruity. The sweet malts started the parade of flavors, followed by a mild earthiness, a slight sourness, and then finishing with an almost neverending and complex array of fruitiness and spice. I was seriously still experiencing new flavor sensations five seconds after each swallow was complete. Amazingly well balanced with little to no alcohol bite.

MF= This was a medium bodied ale with an absolutely outstanding carbonation. Effervescent without feeling sharp or too crisp.

D= I will admit that this is one of my absolute favorite styles of beer and this one really impressed me. Every bit of this one was balanced and well done. With the huge abv nearly undetectable, this is not only delicious but also dangerous. I can't wait to get some more..."

It's tough to say without having tried it. I think that people who love strong beer become desensitized to the strength after a while. I drink enough straight liquor that anything less than 151 doesn't even give me pause anymore. People who don't really dig strong beer are more apt to notice the alcohol than people who drink it often. It could be something in the beer, though, so don't think you're out of line automatically, but I couldn't tell you what it was w/o trying this one myself.

Nice thread and I am kicking myself for not having discovered the wonderful world of microbrews while I was still living in the US. Only Norwegian microbrewery with somewhat of a decent distribution is Nøgne Ø, sucks that their 7-8% beer is about 10$ per 0,5L bottle.

But I was wondering; how serious are people here about their glassware? Do you use different types of glass for the different varieties, or does the glass make such a minimal difference that any novice like myself won't really notice a difference when drinking one type of beer from different types of glass?

And how do you clean your glassware? I know beerglasses should never be washed together with glasses that have been used for milk, but can they still go in dishwasher if no milkglass is there?

I'm not picky at all. I guess I don't often drink milk, but I've never separated my glassware. I'll use my fancy snifter or goblet for fancy beer, and for ordinary beer, I'll use either a pint glass or a Collins glass, or I'll just drink it out of the bottle.

For beers that benefit from it, I'll use a tulip glass. Sometimes for weizens, I'll use one of my weizen glasses from Germany. But usually it's just a pint glass. The glassware does make a difference, but I don't think it's worth obsessing over.

The only thing I've heard about cleaning and maintaining glassware is not to put it in the dishwasher with dishwasher detergent. The additives in the detergent that help prevent spots also prevents the glass from getting nice, thick, clingy lacing. I just rinse my glass out after I'm done with it and put it up.

bump - so what's the general consensus on the best chimay beer? i had the option of either the red, white or blue late on saturday and went for the blue just on general "it's strongest so it's best" principle.

and i was generally disgusted at one of my favourite pubs which probably has one of the best beer selections in the country no longer having fruli on tap, instead having some weak timmermans' strawberry beer instead

I def. prefer the blue. There are many better dubbels and tripels than the red and the white, respectively, but the quad (blue) holds its own.

Well I finally tried the Bud American Ale - was on tap at a local bar and boy was I dissapointed. As a matter of fact, I can say for certain it is the worst ale I have ever had.
The most indescribeable aftertaste ever. I was so looking forward to having a new cheap go-to ale, but no - I'll just stick with the reference - Sierra Nevada and happily pay $1 to $2 more for that.

On a happier note- I finally got a hold of some Oscar Blues Ten Fiddy Imperial Stout reviewed a few times here. Very, very good and yes - it really does pour like motor oil - 10.5% alcohol (hence the name) I'll have to retry Sam Smith's Imperial for comparison. Highly recommended.

just out of interest, is there anyone here that is based my side of the pond? this is a great thread but most of it is lost on me just because i can't obtain 95% of the beer mentioned

I recently picked up Hercules Double IPA from Great Divide and ImmurtAle from DFH.

The Hercules weighs in at 11% but, to be honest I thought it tasted like yak piss... very disappointed.

The DFH was very different, the vanilla taste is quite prominent throughout.

I'd buy again as a change of pace but, I cant see drinking more than two in a sitting.

64,

I've reviewed several Belgian and German brews, and even one French brew. Haven't had many British brews. Are there any you think I have to try?

I guess it's that time of year when Duvel starts shipping their little gift packs to liquor stores. I've had Duvel once, I purchased a small bottle for something like $4.39, it's very expensive, but it's a great beer.

At $13.40 I really couldn't go wrong. Plus, I get my first sweet tulip style glass. I love this thing. Also bought a 6 pack of Bell's Two Hearted.

Not a bad night. Got some beers to drink, and may do a review of the Duvel and Two Hearted.

Young's and Samuel Smith both have several decent brews. And an aged J. W. Lees Harvest Ale is a work of art.

the trouble is not what i could recommend, but what you could actually get over there and/or what travels well. anything i actually saw whilst in the states is bland rubbish (boddingtons), interesting because i've never seen it on tap over here, but had it in bottles and it's average (newcastle brown), or ok but nothing special (bass). didn't need to buy bottled stuff ldo.

some ideas of what is decent bottled and might actually be available, it's hard to say as the vast majority of what i drink is cask and not bottled, try theakston's old peculier, wells' banana bread beer, and old speckled hen.

if you send us a pm next time you go to get some and give me an idea of what's available i can go from there.

never had the harvest, i don't tend to go for ridiculously strong beer. the moonraker is decent though. i believe my local is doing a tour of their brewery next month though. can't say i recall having any of young's beers recently

64, at Beers of the World, they have two full aisles of English brews, so try me. Of the ones you just named, I know I can get the old peculiar and the speckled hen.

will get back to you in a bit, heading out in a minute

BotW has the banana bread beer as well.