Favorite drink and why - Tiki Drinks and Food

M martiki Official Mixologist http://www.smugglerscovesf.com Joined: Mar 29, 2002 Posts: 3059	M martiki Posted posted on Mon, May 12, 2003 12:43 PM On 2003-05-09 11:34, thejab wrote: Regarding PBR and lager in general: I love it ice cold on a hot day. Since hot days are fairly scarce around here (Oakland) I usually order a British ale such as Fuller's or Young's or a German or Beligian beer. Personally I find most American microbrew beer overrated. Most are not as well balanced as European beer. They've had hundreds of years of practice and they have it down cold (or lukewarm if you prefer). I envy Trader Woody for being able to go into a pub every day for a pint of bitter! No question that cold PBR is at least refreshing, if not flavorful. I like it at clubs when I'm watching a band. It cools you off, it's cheaper, and drinking it out of plastic won't ruin the flavor. Thank you Jab for telling the dark truth about American micro-brewed beer. I used to be a big fan. But as time went on, the movement grew, and I noticed more and more of the same problem: TOO MUCH HOPS! The micro brew movement in this country grew in protest to the poor quality and lack of hops in mass-produced beer. While it's certainly true that most mass-american beer goes short on the hops and pads out the beer with rice, the micro guys have gone so far in the other direction, that they have forgotten that there can be other character to beer. The balance is missing as Jab points out. I mean, they have beers called Hopmonster and crap like that. Even styles that should not be hoppy are over hopped. I still find a few gems at brewpubs, but it's hard. I've long been in love with the beers of the UK. Travelling around the countryside with a CAMRA guide is one of my greatest pleasures in the world. And real ale in the UK is not warm, it's "cellar temperature"- it means you can TASTE it. But the beers of Belgium are the the most exciting and diverse in the world. No one has more variety or complexity in their beer. I'm in a Belgian beer of the month club, and I'm always amazed by what comes in the mail each month. Woody, I know that Belgian beers are seen as a trendy yuppie thing in Britain, but the next time you're in London- check out Belgo Centraal or a Bierodrome. The selection is incredible. Here in SF we have the mighty Toronado and Lucky 13 to keep us in Belgians. Bay Area types: I'm always up for a trip if anyone wants to go- and I promise not to be a pretentious beer snob- I'll just shut up and drink. Sorry to rant. And, to come back to tiki for a moment, I've just picked up an old bottle of Lemon Hart from Jamaica that is available for tasting at the Foggy Grotto. -martin

On 2003-05-09 11:34, thejab wrote:
Regarding PBR and lager in general: I love it ice cold on a hot day. Since hot days are fairly scarce around here (Oakland) I usually order a British ale such as Fuller's or Young's or a German or Beligian beer. Personally I find most American microbrew beer overrated. Most are not as well balanced as European beer. They've had hundreds of years of practice and they have it down cold (or lukewarm if you prefer). I envy Trader Woody for being able to go into a pub every day for a pint of bitter!

No question that cold PBR is at least refreshing, if not flavorful. I like it at clubs when I'm watching a band. It cools you off, it's cheaper, and drinking it out of plastic won't ruin the flavor.

Thank you Jab for telling the dark truth about American micro-brewed beer. I used to be a big fan. But as time went on, the movement grew, and I noticed more and more of the same problem: TOO MUCH HOPS! The micro brew movement in this country grew in protest to the poor quality and lack of hops in mass-produced beer. While it's certainly true that most mass-american beer goes short on the hops and pads out the beer with rice, the micro guys have gone so far in the other direction, that they have forgotten that there can be other character to beer. The balance is missing as Jab points out. I mean, they have beers called Hopmonster and crap like that. Even styles that should not be hoppy are over hopped. I still find a few gems at brewpubs, but it's hard.

I've long been in love with the beers of the UK. Travelling around the countryside with a CAMRA guide is one of my greatest pleasures in the world. And real ale in the UK is not warm, it's "cellar temperature"- it means you can TASTE it.

But the beers of Belgium are the the most exciting and diverse in the world. No one has more variety or complexity in their beer. I'm in a Belgian beer of the month club, and I'm always amazed by what comes in the mail each month. Woody, I know that Belgian beers are seen as a trendy yuppie thing in Britain, but the next time you're in London- check out Belgo Centraal or a Bierodrome. The selection is incredible. Here in SF we have the mighty Toronado and Lucky 13 to keep us in Belgians. Bay Area types: I'm always up for a trip if anyone wants to go- and I promise not to be a pretentious beer snob- I'll just shut up and drink.

Sorry to rant.

And, to come back to tiki for a moment, I've just picked up an old bottle of Lemon Hart from Jamaica that is available for tasting at the Foggy Grotto.

-martin

Post #33844 by martiki on Mon, May 12, 2003 12:43 PM