GIVE ME YOUR BEER SUGGESTIONS!!

[MWB]

I had a similar impression of Youngs. It's okay, but have definitely had better chocolate stouts.

[MWB]

Also, reading Beer Advocate makes me want to murder people. It's freaking beer. Their reviews remind me of wine people who talk about the flavors, smell, etc. Just drink it. If you like it, it's good. You try to sound like you know what you're talking about, but if you took away the label and told them to guess what kind of beer/wine it was, they'd probably go 1 for 10. (I actually got to see that theory in action about 7 years ago... a bunch of serious wine people in a room guessing what kinds of wine it was... no one got any of them right. When they asked me what I thought it was, I just said "good." They didn't think I was that funny ).

I agree Beer Advocate can be a joke. However, the overall scores are a pretty good barometer of whether or not I'll like a beer. I don't even pay attention to all of the other nonsense crap on there (i.e. the color, head, etc).

lol, I can understand the hate of something like that, which can drip with condescension from time to time, but I like beer advocate. I mean, I don't know technical terminology necessarily, but its helpful to know a lot of the things that BA reports -- mouth feel/body, nose, carbonation level. I have preferences with all of those things, so I don't see how it hurts to have reviews. Yes "if you like it you like it" but if someone asks you to try food, don't you ask what it tastes like? What the texture is? Etc.

I agree, Kraftster. It's nice having a site where you can compare your thoughts on a beer with others. A lot of times I agree with the consensus, but sometimes it's way off and it's interesting to see the differences.

[Kraftster]

I had a similar impression of Youngs. It's okay, but have definitely had better chocolate stouts.

I like Rogue Chocolate Stout. I want to try Ommegang Seduction, but I can't bring myself to spend the $20 on it.

[MWB]

Yes, Rogue's is good. I've had others, but can't remember them now, and BA is down so having a tough time finding a good list. I've been wanting to try Brooklyn's Chocolate. Has anyone tried that?

[MWB]

Picked up a nice sampler pack today: Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout (had never heard of that), Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Highland Oatmeal Porter, and New Belgium Snow Day. Going to go for the Duck-Rabbit first, since I've got two of those.

[shafnutz05]

Left hand is really good

[MWB]

Left hand is really good

Yeah, I like it. A little smoother than Duck Rabbit, which I thought had a slightly sour finish.

[Troy Loney]

Spoiler:

Best 15 beers in the world, according to "RateBeer Best 2012":

http://www.cnbc.com/id/46327587?slide=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

15. Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel
Brewed by Mikkeller
Style: Imperial Stout
Origin: Copenhagen, Denmark

14. Fonteinen’s Armand’4 Oude Geuze Lente
Brewed by 3 Fonteinen
Style: Lambic - Geuze
Origin: Beersel, Belgium

13. Three Floyds’ Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout
Brewed by Three Floyds Brewing
Style: Imperial Stout
Origin: Munster, Ind.

12. Bell’s Expedition Stout
Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Origin: Kalamazoo, Mich.

11. Cigar City Hunahpu's Imperial Stout
Brewed by Cigar City Brewing
Style: Imperial Stout
Origin: Tampa, Fla.

10. Deschutes Brewery’s The Abyss
Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Origin: Bend, Ore.

9. AleSmith’s Speedway Stout
Brewed by AleSmith Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Origin: San Diego

8. Passionfruit and Dragonfruit Berliner Weisse
Brewed by Cigar City Brewing
Style: Berliner Weisse
Origin: Tampa, Fla.

7. Russian River’s Pliny the Younger
Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Imperial / Triple India Pale Ale
Origin: Santa Rosa, Calif.

6. Bell’s Hopslam
Brewed by Bells Brewery
Style: Imperial / Double IPA
Origin: Kalamazoo, Mich.

5. Rochefort's Trappistes 10
Brewed by Brasserie Rochefort
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Origin: Rochefort, Belgium

4. Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
Brewed by Founders Brewing
Style: Imperial Breakfast Stout
Origin: Grand Rapids, Mich.

3. Rare Bourbon County Stout (Retired)
Formerly brewed by Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Origin: Chicago, Illinois

2. Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter
Brewed by Närke Kulturbryggeri
Style: Imperial Stout
Origin: Örebro, Sweden

1. Westvleteren 12
Brewed by Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Origin: Westvleteren, Belgium

Bell's Hopslam is amazing. I'm not huge on all the stouts. Stouts tend to taste mostly the same to me.

[MWB]

Not really sure why I try different varieties of New Belgium... they all have an indistinguishable flavor to me.

[Froggy]

i went to the wrong liquor store tonight... the best beer i could find was honey brown... i guess it's drinkable... but the last 3 times i've had beer, it's been weihenstephaner, aventinus, and schneider weisse... yeah, honey brown isn't really cutting it.

[count2infinity]

Went to a pretty good pub last night. Only had 4:

Southern Tier Double Milk Stout
21st amendment back in black IPA
Sam Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock
Slyfox Ichor

By far the best one was the 21st Amendment. Delicious IPA. The x2 stout was very close behind it (apples and oranges though) it had a very deep rich flavor but it didn't coat your tongue like most stouts do. Very clean. The Slyfox Ichor reminded me like a non-christmas version of mad elf. Had that same raisin sort of taste, but was enjoyable. The Cherry bock wasn't what i expected. I thought it'd have a hint of cherry. It had A LOT of cherry in it. Tasted almost like a cherry soda with chocolate hints.

[Eismann]

Picked up today. Here we go:

Founder's Porter
Founder's Double Trouble Imperial
Harviestoun Engine Oil - Engineer's Reserve
Sam Smith's Nut Brown
XXX Wrassler stout
Boont's Amber (already ganked 5 during dvr of Pens' spoiling of Bolts)

Good day, Tater.

[Ron`]

Went to a pretty good pub last night. Only had 4:

Southern Tier Double Milk Stout
21st amendment back in black IPA
Sam Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock
Slyfox Ichor

By far the best one was the 21st Amendment. Delicious IPA. The x2 stout was very close behind it (apples and oranges though) it had a very deep rich flavor but it didn't coat your tongue like most stouts do. Very clean. The Slyfox Ichor reminded me like a non-christmas version of mad elf. Had that same raisin sort of taste, but was enjoyable. The Cherry bock wasn't what i expected. I thought it'd have a hint of cherry. It had A LOT of cherry in it. Tasted almost like a cherry soda with chocolate hints.

Had the Sam Adams chocalate cherry bock two weeks ago. It was part of sampler a friend brought over. I agree and not on my list going forward.

[Froggy]

Local liquor store is back in stock of Weihenstephaner... Or should I say WAS back in stock...

General happiness...

[shafnutz05]

Over the weekend, tried two new Rogues (for me, anyway). The Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout and the Mocha Porter. I have to give the nod to the stout, but I thought they were both incredibly good.

[llipgh2]

Just bought a case of Walt Wit unfiltered Belgian white ale. Brewed by Philadelphia Brewery. Anyone had this before?

[canaan]

Just bought a case of Walt Wit unfiltered Belgian white ale. Brewed by Philadelphia Brewery. Anyone had this before?

i had a couple of them the other night. white ales are my favorite. i liked it. its no hitachino nest, but pretty solid.

[llipgh2]

Just bought a case of Walt Wit unfiltered Belgian white ale. Brewed by Philadelphia Brewery. Anyone had this before?

i had a couple of them the other night. white ales are my favorite. i liked it. its no hitachino nest, but pretty solid.

Thanks.

[shmenguin]

i like walt whit. it's what i drink when i want something lighter than my usual tastes

[jimjom]

Popped into 99 Bottles. Nothing out of the ordinary. Prices higher than Giant Eagle or Bottle Shop.

[Eismann]

Picked up today. Here we go:

Founder's Porter
Founder's Double Trouble Imperial
Harviestoun Engine Oil - Engineer's Reserve
Sam Smith's Nut Brown
XXX Wrassler stout
Boont's Amber (already ganked 5 during dvr of Pens' spoiling of Bolts)

Good day, Tater.

Founder's Porter - Pretty tasty. Would get again.
Founder's Double Trouble Imperial - Grapefruit x10. Will not get again.
Harviestoun Engine Oil - Engineer's Reserve
Sam Smith's Nut Brown
XXX Wrassler stout - Very nice. Might get on occasion.
Boont's Amber - Not bad. Drank a lot of them because it was there and tolerable. Probably won't get again.

[Ron`]

Pretty blah today, Sam Adams Pale Ale. Easy to tell the wife to pick a case up in town.

[Kraftster]

Tried Breckenridge Pandora's Bock last night. Pretty average.

[Pitt87]

Tried Breckenridge Pandora's Bock last night. Pretty average.

I'm on the lookout for Bocks and Dunkels. So far, striking out. Sly fox is just OK, not buying more troeganator and Pious Monk is better at the Church. Suggestions?

[Kraftster]

Tried Breckenridge Pandora's Bock last night. Pretty average.

I'm on the lookout for Bocks and Dunkels. So far, striking out. Sly fox is just OK, not buying more troeganator and Pious Monk is better at the Church. Suggestions?

You should get plenty of help here. Eismann and many others seem to be into the bocks these days.

Ayinger Celebrator (doppelbock)
Duck Rabbit Rabbator (doppel)
Schneider-Weiss Aventinus (Weizenbock)
Ayinger (weizenbock)
Anchor Bock

I can recommend all of those. As for the weizens, I don't find the Ayinger and S-W weizenbocks to be all that similar. The Ayinger is extremely easy to drink with almost no alcohol noticeable and much more wheaty and bananay. The Aventinus has a nice almost sour/winey taste and features some alcohol burn. Neither is heavy on the malty flavor you typically associate with bocks.

Honestly, though, Troegenator holds up against almost everything I've tried. I think Celebrator is considered the standard for doppels and I don't prefer it over Troegs.

Also check out Schwarzbiers. Köstritzer is the best, I think. Shiner is doing one now that I haven't tried yet. Magic Hat has a decent one -- Howl. Duck Rabbit is good too.