Update 9/11/07: This thread has been going for quite some time now, and it looks rather lengthy. While I'd say that it's still interesting to read straight through, I've constructed an index that contains a sorted list of every review that's been posted in this thread. If you're wanting to look up a new beer to try out witout wading through a monster thread, this will be a handy resource.

One other thing I'd like to say is just because this thread is large doesn't mean that new contributors are unwelcome. I, and all the active readers of this thread, are interested in getting new people involved all the time, so even if you feel like you're fairly new to beer, haven't tried everything that's been reviewed, or haven't read many of the other reviews, don't be intimidated about posting your own take on any beer you've tried. No need to worry about using flowery language or exotic descriptions or being a "beer expert," whatever that means. Just tell us whether you liked the beer or not, although it's usually helpful if you compare the beer you're reviewing to another you've tried. Also, don't worry if a beer you're reviewing has been reviewed a few times already by people in this thread. Getting a new take on a beer is always welcome, since your tastes may be different from some of the other reviewers. Mainstream or microbrew, light or dark, import or domestic, we'd like to hear about it all, so we encourage anyone to participate.

And now below, is the original text that started this thread:

sweet idea

On my way home I stopped at my liquor store and to my surprise, they let me mix and match out of their "singles" section. So I created my own 6-pack out of 2 of each of the following:

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (based on a previous thread)
Warsteiner (no type listed on bottle, wtf? But it looked interesting)
Long Trail Hibernator

At this very moment I am drinking the 60 minute IPA, and thus far it is nothing short of great. It really has a good bite to it and seems to linger for a good amount of time. I will report more on it and the others as I imbibe them.

This is going to be awesome.

Edit: Wookie- Can we have people put a one or two word review in bold at the end of their review posts (i.e AWESOME or STAY AWAY ) just to make the thread easier for those who want to skim it in flat mode?

Wookie - great idea, I'm not the most knowledgeable person on beers, but I love to try new ones.

Last night I tried the Spaten Optimator - Here is a Beer Advocate review of it

I mentioned it in the German Food Thread I started over in OOT.

I found it to have a slightly sweet nose (is this just a wine term? donno) and hints of molasses / brown sugary sweetness in taste. Medium-bodied, overall I enjoyed it quite a bit. Also was told 7.0% alcohol, nice.

To ground you somewhat, my favorite beer is Young's Double Chocolate Stout - this had similar characteristics I thought.

-Al

Acoustix,

Warsteiner I'm fairly sure is a hefeweizen. I haven't tried it myself, but I've heard good things. DFH 60 is nothing short of great, and I'm glad you like it. As for highlighting a summary, sure, sounds good.

Al,

Optimator is a great beer I discovered after taking the physics GRE. The people who took it with me all went to a nearby bar to drown our sorrows of the test. I ordered a liter of it because it had a cool name, and I was not disappointed. Afterwards, I was pretty tanked.

And as for using the term "nose," sure, you can use it to describe beer. It's just a fancy way of saying "smell."

I really like Spaten Optimator. I drank a 6pack of it in preperation for the kotkp tournies!

Wookie:

I'm fancy like that will do

2 breweries I always hear mentioned in best-ofs are Samuel Smith's (I'm a fan of their Oatmeal Stout) and Young's. Beers from these 2 breweries never fail to dissapoint me.

-Al

Sam Smith and Young's are both IMO good but not reat breweries, although Sam Smith is a decent amount better. Ultimately, they're probably worth giving a try, but there's probably 50 better breweries than those two, although I do reccomend Young's double chocalate stout, and Sam Smith's imperial stout and oatmeal stout.

M: I don't really like Warsteiner. I can't really remember, but talking about it with the bartender last time I had it a while back, I think he said it was not technically a hefeweizen, but they still recommended drinking it with a lemon. I don't remember what he said exactly, but I do remember that I didn't care for it, nor do I care for hefeweizens.

SL and others looking to just make short suggestions: you should check out the OOT Beer Club thread. I'd love to hear some of you elaborate on some of the one-liner recommendations in that thread.

Warsteiner is a standard, run-of-the-mill European Lager. Not sure exactly what, it might be a Pils. In any case, its certainly nothing special. Its a huge brewery, though, with worldwide distribution and pretty good saturation in many markets. I'm not a big fan, but its not offensive or anything.

I have added like 4 threads to my favorites list today... all dealing with beer/drinking.

I think we should focus on food next, because good food and good drinks go hand in hand.


Also, has anyone ever been to a big beer tasting event? I'm thinking about going to this one that is coming up in October in MN... maybe someone has even been to it before?




Info here

SL,

I have been to many big beer tasting events. They are great and always result in incoherent levels of drunkenness.

Thats what I was hoping for.

SL,

Look for some whiskey tastings to take that to the next level. OMFG, DEADLY.

My fiancee just tried the Warsteiner and she claims it tastes like crappy German water. Not much to it she said. I will investigate of course, but outlook seems poor for it.

Warsteiner is a large German brewery that makes several different beers. Link to USA site.

They make a hefeweizen, but I have never seen it. What most people think of as Warsteiner is their pilsner, a good German lager. Their dark beer (Dunkel) has a little more body and flavor.

I'm with diablo. I don't like warsteiner but I'm also not a hef fan.

acoustix,

I like the trust you put in your fiancee's opinion.

She actually drinks more beer than I do and generally has better taste than me. When she found me, I was drinking Bud Light and Corona. She introduced me to a little thing called Guinness. The rest as they say is history.

Beer: Moinette Brune
Style: Moinette (Ale)
Price: $9.70 for a 750ml bottle



Brewed by the world renowned Brasserie Dupont in Belgium comes this magnificent Moinette Ale. At a price of $9.70 for a 750ml, this may not be an 'every day' beer, but rather one to be enjoyed with a great meal, or simply when you feel like spoiling yourself.

Here is how it looks out of the glass:


Really a nice amber color.

The taste it slightly sweet, with a nutty and caramel taste. It is somewhat dry. It doesn't come out and shock you with an any overely sharp hop taste, but rather is a supremely balanced beer with a noticable herbal bouquet. There is a noticable alcohol taste, but it simply contributes to the well rounded taste this beer shows.

IMHO, a perfect example of the highest grade of Belgium brewing.

Grade: 5/5

I went to the Autumn Brew Review two years ago and it was awesome, especially when ol' Johnny puked his guts out on Peavey Plaza. This is is a much better event than the similar event put on by City Pages that I went to a month or two back. There was a much better selection of beers, and it wasn't so damned crowded. There also wasn't the ridiculous queue to get in.

Warsteiner's flagship brew is a pilsner. I'm not big on pilsners, and Warsteiner is about the same as any other decent pilsner as near as I can tell. They have/had a marketing campaign in the US where they say, "because life is too short to drink cheap beer." I couldn't agree more. Of course, Warsteiner is the best-selling beer in Germany. Know why? Because it's cheap.

The practice of putting lemons in hefe-weizens was started as a way to mask the flavor of inferior beer. I don't think the flavors go together, really. With a witbier, it at least makes some sense, because there's citrus (orange peel) in that style. No matter which style, I cast the fruit aside with disdain.

Seems to me that the Long Trail Hibernator is a winter seasonal. I liked it, but (1) it might be old and (2) I don't like winter beers when it's 80 degrees out.

I was about to write almost the exact same thing. So yeah, Warsteiner = lightish lager. Oh, and in my time in Germany I got the impression it was the German Bud.