Beer Appreciation Thread

Koffee_Kosmo

[size=20pt]A Beer Appreciation Thread [/size]

This thread is distinct to the Spirits section and deserves a thread of it own

Beer Appreciation Thread is for
The drinkers of the brown ale
The Brewers of the home brew
The people that appreciate all things "Ginger Beer "

You guessed it
I love ginger beer
A fond memory of growing ginger plants and making ginger beer under the house
Sometimes a 21 bang salute when things go wrong are all part and parcel of the experience

KK

beanflying

It has been a long while since I have had a gingerbeer plant growing but it was fun back in the day. I find my self just drinking the Bundaberg GB or Sarsaparilla. On the Beer front for day to day Coopers Coopers and more Coopers. Best Extra Stout currently as it is winter 

Koffee_Kosmo

on 1308635383:

It has been a long while since I have had a gingerbeer plant growing but it was fun back in the day. I find my self just drinking the Bundaberg GB or Sarsaparilla.

I also drink Bundaberg ginger beer I drink it almost every day instead of cola/lemonade ect KK

DoubleRistretto

can't beat Little Creatures, boutique beer from WA ...

UNM

Definitely some interesting beers over here in sunny scotland. Last night was Dark Island Orcadian stout - two time winner of Camra's best cask beer award, followed by Black Gold stout from Cairngorm brewery - 2005 champion cask beer of Scotland. The Orkney one was truly excellent, dark chocolate with beatifully balanced malt and hops and lovely smooth mouthfeel. A lot of stouts have a burnt taste to me, but not this one

Koffee_Kosmo

So can we get them in Australia My preference is for dark beer I would also like to try honey mead one day KK

RichardM

on 1308651781:

can't beat Little Creatures, boutique beer from WA ...

That is a good beer. My preference for beers are the Asian style ones - Asahi, Tiger etc. Similar to our extra dry, but just a bit more crispness.

Lovey

Being the chilly season, I do enjoy a good German wheat beer, particularly Maisel's Weisse original. It brings back good memories, as well as contributing to the demise of others  ;D. Other beers that I enjoy, in no particular order are; - Boags St George, - Asahi, - James Squire pale ale, - Tooheys Pils. All the best. Steve.

texx

on 1309590327:

So can we get them in Australia My preference is for dark beer I would also like to try honey mead one day KK

+1 here for the bundy ginger beer i love the stuff , for the mead  the "old caves winery" in stanthorpe made a dam good one when dave was the owner dont know if he still is have not been over to his place for quite a long time ,. i used to get him to test some of my home made fruit wines in his lab years ago . johno

beanflying

Now I have secured my box and tucked it away until Christmas to test the first 6 pack. Coopers have released their once a year Vintage Ale again as of a couple of weeks ago. Worth a go and loves being rested for at least a few month and I have had some really nice ones at a few years old.

Lou

on 1308635383:

It has been a long while since I have had a gingerbeer plant growing but it was fun back in the day. I find my self just drinking the Bundaberg GB or Sarsaparilla. On the Beer front for day to day Coopers Coopers and more Coopers. Best Extra Stout currently as it is winter 

Wow, I hate that life gets in the way of living sometimes.  I totally missed this thread and have just read it now.  Tim, you are officially the only other person I know who likes sarsaparilla (besides my good self). I

Brett H

I found an old bottle of Hahn Millenium Ale in the back of the cupboard. I don't know whether to drink it, sell it on eBay or wash the car with it? I remember liking it so this one must have broken off from the herd and hidden behind the Ximenez Sherry bottles.

beanflying

on 1311339756:

I found an old bottle of Hahn Millenium Ale in the back of the cupboard. I don't know whether to drink it, sell it on eBay or wash the car with it? I remember liking it so this one must have broken off from the herd and hidden behind the Ximenez Sherry bottles.

I actually drank my bottle of Hahn MA with a good mate a couple of months ago, just seemed like the right time to do it. I have had better beers but I would vote for drinking it when you feel like it. I have had a few bottles of Chimay over the years which handles being cellared better (better beer too I think) my last bottle of 2001 will be drunk this Christmas I think.

on 1311330609:

....  Tim, you are officially the only other person I know who likes sarsaparilla (besides my good self). I

Brett H

Thanks Tim! I'll save it for a social occaision and use it as an aperitif.

Dry_bean.

Had a red wine appreciation session last night, feeling pretty ordinary this morning.

Brett H

on 1311381720:

Had a red wine appreciation session last night, feeling pretty ordinary this morning.

I too am green only my reason is jealousy!

beanflying

on 1311374311:

Thanks Tim! I'll save it for a social occaision and use it as an aperitif.

Fairly big and bold and in your face so don't serve it with anything to delicate 

Lou

on 1311352705:

WoTb put me on to an interesting idea with it too. Braised Pork Belly with Maple Syrup, and Cranberries with Sarsaparilla as the braising liquid. Strange combo but it works.

Using sarsparilla in cooking - of course!!!! Why haven't I ever thought of this?  You've inspired me to experiment.

WotB

Besides sarsaparilla, I do chicken wings poached in Fanta, then reduced down and turned into a glaze.

UNM

on 1309588930:

Definitely some interesting beers over here in sunny scotland. Last night was Dark Island Orcadian stout - two time winner of Camra's best cask beer award, followed by Black Gold stout from Cairngorm brewery - 2005 champion cask beer of Scotland. The Orkney one was truly excellent, dark chocolate with beatifully balanced malt and hops and lovely smooth mouthfeel. A lot of stouts have a burnt taste to me, but not this one

KK - you wondered if the Orcadian stout was available in Aus. I was passing Purvis Cellars in Melbourne last week and for once had time to drop in and check (I had been recommended to them as one of the best places in Melbourne to buy unusual beers). Sure enough, picked some up. Best selection of British beer I have yet found in Melbourne. The Australian importer  of Orkney Breweries beer is Australian Trade Partners P/L, 8 Lapis St., Underwood, QLD so someone up there probably sells it. Got their phone number too, but don't believe in posting numbers on forums in case the 'bots' grab it.

Koffee_Kosmo

on 1315137500:

KK - you wondered if the Orcadian stout was available in Aus. I was passing Purvis Cellars in Melbourne last week and for once had time to drop in and check (I had been recommended to them as one of the best places in Melbourne to buy unusual beers). Sure enough, picked some up. Best selection of British beer I have yet found in Melbourne. The Australian importer  of Orkney Breweries beer is Australian Trade Partners P/L, 8 Lapis St., Underwood, QLD so someone up there probably sells it. Got their phone number too, but don't believe in posting numbers on forums in case the 'bots' grab it.

Beauty and bloody bottler I will find the number in the book and give them a ring KK

beanflying

Few more Aussie Beer companies/sites worth looking at http://craftypint.com/ http://www.slowbeer.com.au/ about 500m from Axil Coffee 

UNM

Thanks for the links bf. I see slowbeer have a coffee IPA listed on their web site. http://www.slowbeer.com.au/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1481

madpierre

on 1311339756:

I found an old bottle of Hahn Millenium Ale in the back of the cupboard. I don't know whether to drink it, sell it on eBay or wash the car with it? I remember liking it so this one must have broken off from the herd and hidden behind the Ximenez Sherry bottles.

Tried to sll a limited keg run bottle of bundy a few years back on the bay. The *******s pulled the sale, they changed the rules regarding selling collectible bottles/cans etc of alcohol to where you needed a license to sell even those sorts of items on there. I too have a similar bottle still cupboarded. Back in my serious drinking days, I did love a good home brew. I found that by doing home brew recipes of the commercial brews, I was making a drop that was so much better. The drops I was making had better and more consistent body, were much more enjoyable to drink, and more noticeable aftertaste. Funny, that sounds a little like comparing instant to the coffee I enjoy today. I have a theory that commercial breweries are very similAr to commercial radio...they design a product which is designed to offend or be unpalatable to as few people as possible, using slick marketing and gimmicks to actually entice people to the product rather than the product itself. Blandness rules!. The trouble with strong/unique tastes, as many people will be turned off as are turned on, and none of the breweries or stations is prepared to risk that!  I had a fantastic home brewed stout that my mate made once, doing a half mash brew. You could nearly stand a spoon up in it, and it almost literally wilted the hairs off your chest....in addition to other bodily parts and extremities. And I must venture forth from the closet and shout the fine name of "Sarsparilla" to the tree tops.  ;D That and a fine ginger beer, the best of which are Bundaberg and Cascade. I remember the home made ginger beer being done at home by my mother, using the whole kit and kaboodle. Lovely drop.

CodyDeegan

my mate mixed beer, vodka and grape juice last night..i forgot what its called but it taste pretty good

Koffee_Kosmo

on 1315874997:

my mate mixed beer, vodka and grape juice last night..i forgot what its called but it taste pretty good

I remember Shandy which is a mixture of lemonade and beer KK

madpierre

on 1315876446:

I remember Shandy which is a mixture of lemonade and beer KK

Given all the sarsparilla appreciation posts got lost, time to bring it back. You could also have a shandy made with a dash of sars, in addition to the model made with a dash of lemonade.

RichardM

My missus just surprised me by booking a Beer and Food matching tour at the Cascade brewery in Tasmania during our honeymoon - That should be awesome.

mycuppa

on 1315881601:

My missus just surprised me by booking a Beer and Food matching tour at the Cascade brewery in Tasmania during our honeymoon - That should be awesome.

Oh dear RM........I take it you have not seen the ads on TV here in Melbourne ? If I was you, I would be staying away from the water (lakes, streams, rivers, waterfalls)  :-*

beanflying

on 1315879754:

Given all the sarsparilla appreciation posts got lost, time to bring it back. You could also have a shandy made with a dash of sars, in addition to the model made with a dash of lemonade.

Time for it's own Thread  Sarsparilla the love it or hate it thread  8)

Brett H

on 1315881601:

My missus just surprised me by booking a Beer and Food matching tour at the Cascade brewery in Tasmania during our honeymoon - That should be awesome.

A fine woman... No wonder you a tying the knot. Congratulations on the Beer tour... Oh...um and er the er impending marriage!