I rarely buy Duvel or Chimay anymore, b/c some 'domestic' brewers are making similar styles that are nearly as good, or sometimes better, and for much less money. I'm a huge fan of most stuff from Berwery Ommegang in NY. For instance Ommegang Abbey Ale should cost you about $5 or $6 for a 750ml, instead of $9 for the imports, and is pretty damn close to Chimay Blu.

I have a couple of empty La Fin Du Monde on my desk right now. Such an awesome beer.

Hey guys I'm tryin to find out if anyone's had any Croatian beer. I just got done watching the Croatian episode of Three Sheets, and I saw a beer on there that I'm really curious about: Ozujsko Pivo.



I'd really like to get my hands on some here in the States, but can't seem to dig any up online. If anyone has had this or knows how I can get some, speak up!

The Old No. 38 Stout by the same brewery is good as well. Not as rich, obviously (it's not an Imperial), but it has more roast/malt flavor than most dry stouts and it's very well-balanced imo.

I wouldn't say it's better than the Old Rasputin, but if I was having more than one or two I'd probably prefer it.

All,

Today got some Stone Ruination IPA. $13.50 for a 6-pack at Whole Foods.

Very hoppy, but not overpowering. Way more flavor than a normal IPA.

I thought it would be more bitter, but it was actually very easy to drink. Then again, I like drinks like peaty scotch, so maybe I'm not the best judge.

It seems a little bit on the strong side, but not too big a punch. I'll have a couple more and see I guess.

As much as I knew these two beers (specifically) would make this thread, I always have to laugh a bit. In Toronto this beer is considered deluxe and I personally love Trois Pistoles a great deal...

In Montreal it's considered little better than urine. As the local cheapo beer most people apparantly find it undrinkable.

I hope this isn't wine-esque pretention catching up with my beer...

I don't understand how this can be looked at as piss. It's a great beer no matter what city you live in. There are better beers in Montreal...I highly doubt it.

I haven't looked through this thread yet but here is my contribution...

Imports -

Chimay blue label - Nothing tastes better come wintertime

Chouffe Houblon - Interesting fusion between an IPA and a belgian Tripel, a MUST try for IPA fans

Duvel - Delicious

Schneider Aventinus - My all time favorite german beer, anyone who likes dark beer must try this.

Unibroue Don de Dieu - WAY better than La Fin du Monde IMO.

Unibroue Maudite - Delicious Amber ale

Rocquefort 10 - I might have spelled this wrong, but this stuff is unbelievable if you are a dark beer drinker.

DOMESTIC -

Anything made by Stone Brewing - Arrogant bastard ale, Double bastard, Ruination IPA, they are all awesome.

Southampton Double White - Better than any Belgian white I've ever had, really good stuff

Dogfish head 90 minute IPA - one of the best IPAs for sure

Brooklyn Local 1 - One of my new favorites, almost like a hybrid between a tripel and a really malty german beer.


I probably forgot a couple, I may post more later......Is there a similar thread about wine here? I'm too lazy to look.....

How could I forget about allagash and Rogue, also two great american micro breweries.

If you can somehow get them I recommend:
Chimay
Duvel
Quack (only if you can get the right glass)
Pilsner Urquell
Budweiser (the original)
Pott's (site in German, maybe I should create the English one )

Beer geek here; I'm actually going to a Trappist beer dinner next Tuesday night and would gladly write up a TR if anyone's interested. (The Monk's Cell of the Publik House for anyone familiar with the Boston/Brookline area)

Here's the menu... (There's still a few tickets left I believe):


Arrival Cheese tray with rare Chimay Vieux cheese,
breads, spicy house mustard, cornichones

Course 1: Asparagus “a la Flamande”

white asparagus, creamy Orval sauce, hard cooked egg
-Trappist Orval-

Course 2: Rabbit Liver Pate

rabbit liver & Chimay Cap Rouge pate, herb brioche, belgian endive
- Chimay Premiere (Dubbel) -

Course 3: Escargots with Watercress Salad and Rare Chimay Vieux cheese

Chimay Cap Blanche sautéed escargots, mushrooms,
courgettes, red & yellow tomato, garlic, watercress salad
- Chimay Cinq Cents (Tripel) -

Course 4: Roasted Pheasant

herb roasted pheasant breast stuffed with frikandel & Chimay Biere cheese, garlic butter brussel sprouts, stoemp, Chimay Cap Bleu demi glaze
- Chimay Grande Reserve (Quadrupel) -

Course 5: Rochefort 10 Pumpkin Ice Cream

chocolate cookie “dish”, chocolate sauce, Rochefort 10 whipped cream
- Rochefort 10 -

a family friend is the chef there, great place.

glad to see they'll have the Rochefort 10, that beer is unbelievable and sometimes hard to find.

also that dinner looks great

anyone ever get their hands on the westvleteren 12 (sp?)? It's near impossible to get in the US. I've talked a bunch with some people in the business, and I've been told that they are the only true trappist brewery in belgium. You actually have to go to the monestary and knock on the door to buy the beer. I got my hands on a few bottles from www.belgianshop.com and it is the best beer I've ever had. It takes the rochefort 10 to a new level, but at $18/11oz bottle it ain't cheap.

I bought a few bottles in Belgium, still have a few in my fridge.

agree it's great, but prob. not worth the cost over the Roch. 10

also, there are 2 or 3 stores that sell it in Brussels (against the wished of the monastery) you dont have to go to the monastery

Beer experts,

Going to Alembic drink list PDF soon. Have some expensive American beers I hadn't heard of before like Allagash Interlude and Russian River Sanctification. Was wondering if (both American and foreign) there's anything obscure on that list that you guys think is super-awesome.

Not used to having 12oz of beer at a bar cost more than a good bourbon (they have a great whiskey selection)!

In other SF beer news, it's Strong Beer Month at 21st Amendment and Magnolia Pub.

This is indeed great; if you have a chance, also try the Aventinus Eisbock (12%).
I'm a big Rochefort fan, both the 8 and the 10 are fantastic. For comparison, try the Westmalle dubbel and tripel, or the Koningshoeven La Trappe Quadrupel.

Rochefort is my favorite beer. I've had the 12 before, but recently I havn't been able to find it. I think it is more complex than the 8 and 10.

Diablo,

Cantillon is an exceptional brewery, and their beers can be very hard to find stuff. I visited their brewery in Brussells (wrote about it in a trip report once), and they literally had nothing left to sell me. They had sold out for the year, and had to stop exporting. The still make their fruit flavored beers with real fruit they pick up in farmers markets, and it can be hard to find the nec. amounts of cherries, etc. they still rely on spontaneous fermentation - basically taking advantage of airborne yeasts that swirl around Brussells. kind of crazy.

Note that they make all lambic style beers, which is a pretty unique style. hard to compare to anything else, not sure if you have had lambics before.

there are lots of great American beers there, but you can probably find those at liquor stores near you. anything from North Coast or Russian River is great. the 3 Philosophers is great as well, thats from NY so maybe hard to find out there.

after Westvleteran, Rochefort is my favorite Abbey brewery. the 6 is good, but the 10 is really where it's at. Les Rulles is good, but iirc really sweet, prob. not worth the $20. La Chouffe is v. good but widely available. ditto for Saison Dupont.

I actully like Dunkel Weizens a lot. it's just a dark hefewiezen, which is a nice combo sometimes hard to find. The Erdinger is a solid example.

so if you feel like splurging and want something different, go for a Cantillon. the 3 Philosophers is a great beer and maybe hard to find. find a local place and try the Rochefort 10, you won't regret it.

here are reviews of the Grand Cru, which I haven't had myself but might be their best. here are reviews of the Iris, which I have had an recommend

Wow Magnolia is still going. I lived across the street when they opened that place. I was never too wowed by the food (not bad, just nothing too special). But the beer was pretty good.

thats b/c there is no such thing

Rochefort makes a 6,8, and 10.

you might be thinking of Westvleteren or St. Bernadus, each of whom have "12's" (and 6 and 8)

KBZ,

Thanks a ton, will try a couple and return w/ trip report.

One of the things that sucks about the East Coast is it's really hard to find Stone beers around here. Their Ruination IPA and Arrogant Bastard are both amazing.

Brag: going to Belgium in May, have set aside a full day to check out the Rochefort abbey.

Mia,

I have no problem finding those in Boston/Cambridge...you probably just need to find a specialty store. (and I agree, like them both a lot)

my beer trip report from Belgium was posted around June last year, there might be some helpful hints in there, especially if you are going to Brussels.

Yeah, even the specialty beer/wine stores in Baltimore don't carry it, at least not that I've seen. Other than that they have a pretty impressive selection, which makes it even more baffling. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure the only place I've had Stone beers is at Brickskeller in DC. Of course, Dogfish is ubiquitous around here, so that sorta makes up for it

I'll be spending a day in Brussels as well, so I'll definitely check out your TR.

KBZ,

FYI, some recs from beer expert haakee re: that list:

--
hair of the dog is awesome...
ommegang
north coast is a great brewery
aventius from germany
westmalle from belguium
boon kriek is a good one
--

I also looked for some on Bevmo:

Cantillon Gueuze Vigneronne $14.99 750
Cantillon Rose De Gambrinus $14.99 750
Rochefort #10 Trappist Ale $6.99 330

Ommegang Three Philosophers $8.39 750
Postulating flavors of sweet caramel malt and dark cherries. Created by blending a rich, malty Belgian-style ale with Lindemans Kriek, a classic cherry-Lambic from Belgium. Drink slightly chilled.

That sounds interesting.