The Swamp

After having more Newcastle tonight, it is more different that originally thought. While still crisp and clean, it has more of a caramel feel and taste to it as compared to Stella.
I don't understand this talk of skunky you speak of, I have been buying 12's of Canadian recently, and never a bad one. These Newcastles are definitely not skunked as they're extremely smooth.

The Toasted Lager though was worse the second time around though. It's like drinking wildflowers. Just horrible. That, to me, is skunky. They list a "World Beer Cup - Gold Award" on the label, and that to me is mind boggling.

They give awards in so many categories that those awards don't mean much. Hell Busch has multiple golds.

If you're looking at a new beer to try look it up on Rate Beer. They use a algorithmic rating based on the type of beer as well as over all rating. If its 95 or above you are most likely going to love it.

Beer Advocate is usually fairly reliable.

I think Beer Contrarian might be more appropriate.

The IBU thing is a good threshold (~50?) if you're someone who doesn't like hops, but its not a very good sliding scale.

ZMan wrote:After having more Newcastle tonight, it is more different that originally thought. While still crisp and clean, it has more of a caramel feel and taste to it as compared to Stella.
I don't understand this talk of skunky you speak of, I have been buying 12's of Canadian recently, and never a bad one. These Newcastles are definitely not skunked as they're extremely smooth.

The Toasted Lager though was worse the second time around though. It's like drinking wildflowers. Just horrible. That, to me, is skunky. They list a "World Beer Cup - Gold Award" on the label, and that to me is mind boggling.

I was just referring to clear bottles. They let in direct light, which lends to skunked beer. Newcastle bottles (and all clear bottles, and green fr that matter) are much more likely to be skunked than brown bottles. As for taps, that is just my perception, and a lot of other people have independently said the same thing. As for Molson Canadian, it's not that it gets skunky, it just tastes like shit.

As for beer review sites, I find I tend to agree with Beer Advocate more often than other sites. With natural fluctuation for my preferences for specific types of beers.

testy boxcar wrote:besides being wet, i can't think of any similarities between the two.

BRIAN! If you like Newcastle... if you ever see Civil Life American Brown on tap in St Louis, try it, it's great! Everyone else ignore this advice, as nobody else ever goes to St Louis.

I went once, you were working on a Sunday.

I'm on a big stout kick lately. Picked up a twelve of this and find it very tasty. Smooth for a stout.

about to get started on some chores, and am currently enjoying a stoli screwdriver with fresh squeezed oj.

AB_skin_test wrote:Beer Advocate is usually fairly reliable.

BA is way too full of beer hipsters. They over rate things because of name and brewery. Plus the brothers (the founders) are assholes.


Drank at Wynkoop, The Chophouse, and Breckenridge taprooms today. Wynkoop had a stellar barrel aged stout, and Breckenridge had a great hopped mead from Redstone on tap. I love Colorado beers/brewing.

One month clean (pain pills for pain dont count do they?). Truly can't remember the last time I went this long without substance assistance.

SlimChristian wrote:One month clean (pain pills for pain dont count do they?). Truly can't remember the last time I went this long without substance assistance.

Do you find that you are sleeping better? Dreaming more vividly?

Scottie wrote:

SlimChristian wrote:One month clean (pain pills for pain dont count do they?). Truly can't remember the last time I went this long without substance assistance.

Do you find that you are sleeping better? Dreaming more vividly?

No and no. I was more of a pot smoker than a drinker, but there is no What Are You Smoking Thread. The amount of stress in my life doesn't let me sleep much anyway and I rarely dream. I never have dreamt much anyway.

govmentchedda wrote:Speaking of which, where's phxgators?

Haven't been on in a few days, so catching up a bunch of threads. I can only remember a Burrito Brothers for non-chain mexican in Gainesville... There was an On the Border on Archer, and something else over by the mall.... don't remember what that was.

phxgators wrote:

govmentchedda wrote:Speaking of which, where's phxgators?

Haven't been on in a few days, so catching up a bunch of threads. I can only remember a Burrito Brothers for non-chain mexican in Gainesville... There was an On the Border on Archer, and something else over by the mall.... don't remember what that was.

The place I'm talking about was Crazy Burro. It was somewhat close to the Hippodrome downtown. I think it was a converted garage/gas station.

There were scads of ladies at the Hoptron Brewtique when I went there this past Sunday. Shocked me, and I loved it. Really nice place, delicious beer, total hipster joint. I will definitely be back.

You know, with the right plaid and glasses, you might be able to convert those jorts right over to hipster wear. That would be quite the transformation.

Dogfish/Sierra collaboration - Rhizing Bines. Pretty nice, not stellar.

One bomber down, LaSalle is on. Time to hit the stash. Not sure what's next.

teeteebee wrote:Dogfish/Sierra collaboration - Rhizing Bines. Pretty nice, not stellar.

Had one of those earlier. I concur.

Now having a Podge Belgian Imperial Stout, followed by a Rampant, New Belgium's new Imperial IPA.

I was going Dogfish/Sierra to try to raise up the karma level for the Explorers.

I have moved on to FW Double Jack. 12 oz not the bomber. With this game in Cali, trying to go with Cali beers.

Ichthyosaur (Icky) India Pale Ale from Great Basin Brewing Co. (Sparks, NV), from my home kegerator served in the most awesome pint glass I own.

along with the campfire above (which, i will admit to being a little gimmicky), both are very tasty whisk(e)ys.

In anticipation of attending the Sharks/Flames game tonight...

Newcastle's IPA sucked.

The season's first nog.

I'm in a prime location for more beer than I can even fathom. Between here and Belgium I could drink 3 different beers every day for my entire tour and still not drink them all. But alas, I'm just not into drinking after drowning in soju the first 6 months in Korea.

But I did have one of these tonight. Pretty good and I don't really like IPAs. (It's also 9% too)

Belgian IPAs are quite different than American versions John. That's basically a hopped trippel.

If you get a chance I highly recommend visiting one of the Trappist breweries or at least drinking as many as you can.

Beaucoup de bières fines avec un homme de Portland.

(PDX now BLDRBoy)

The Joy of Cooking hot cocoa recipe. Marshmallows for the kids, a third of a mug of Kahlua for me.

Finishing off the summer (going back to work tomorrow after 11 days off) and kicking off the fall (SPL fantasy draft) with a couple of dark n stormy's, using the dregs of the 1.75 L bottle of Gosling's Black Seal I couldn't finish last week. I do like Goya's ginger beer (used tonight) more than Reed's Extra ginger beer (used last week). Bad timing on that discovery.

Flat prosecco works just as well as the non-flat stuff.

Made some eggnog over the weekend. Man, I love eggnog.

My recipe:
In a blender, combine 3 eggs (or egg substitute), 2 cups of milk, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Blend. (Not too long, unless you like copious foam).
Pour in glass. Stir in some bourbon, rye, brandy or rum. Couple shakes of nutmeg on top.

Yum.

Way, way, way back when, someone posted an epic nog recipe. I think a stay in a trunk might have been involved.

Man, that sounds like a bad idea. Raw eggs in a trunk, I mean. I must be confusing two recipes.

Keystone Light

rass wrote:Keystone Light

That sounds like a worse idea than raw eggs in a truck.