Yeah? Because it sounds like you don't know a F*CKING thing about what you're talking about. 20 years ago, this was true. Now, though, it's not at all. America is the absolute best country for drinking beer. And don't give me that "I've been to <whatever> country and their beer was 10x better!" crap. Everyone likes to pull the Germany card. German beer is garbage because of the Reinheitsgebot (beer purity act). It states that beer has to be made with certain ingredients and a certain way. How the hell are you going to get any variety if all of your beer has the same exact ingredients and is made using the same process? Almost all German beer tastes the same. We've got THOUSANDS of craft brewers that are stealing market share away from the big 3 on a daily basis through the powers of passion and innovation. Oh yeah, about your "hop water" comment... the big 3 don't even make a beer that even has a HINT of hop flavor; they're all too damned bland and full of rice/corn to have any flavor at all.

I don't care what you say about my mother, but talking shit about the American beer industry as a whole is a F*CKING death sentence around here.



Left Hand Milk Stout is amazing. It tastes like someone hopped Guinness Extra Stout a little tiny less and added a couple ounces of maltodextrine to it. Old Rasputin is a great beer, too. I almost want to fly up to Portland just to go Godzilla on their micro scene up there.

Oh, Corpse/L1ve/anyone else: Mr_Jeep and I are planning on going to the Great American Beer Festival in Sept 2010. It's in Denver. Look that shit up; it's going to be a hell of a time. Anybody wants to meet up there, let me know.

We just had a beer festival here in Pensacola around September. Chick and I went with a few other of our friends and we had a F*CKING blast. Lots of good companies showed up along with the Pensacola homebrews club, a few of our local brewers like Mcguires, and a good turn out of new companies.

This beer venture was pretty decent in size, but I would love to go to "THE" beer festival in Denver. That place is the who's who of beer tastings. So much variety! I deffinately may look into it down the road. I might even see if Sammie wants to go with me on this crazy adventure.

On a last side note I am kind of interested in how these major beer corps are trying to get out of the box a little. Especially with all the microbrews just kicking there faces in relentlessly. I am a little impressed with Michelob and there sampler varieties and Budweiser for there American Ale and Golden wheat. If im in a budget bind for a decent brew thats not breaking the bank there pretty affordable.

Their answer is to make "fake" craft beer. They're on to the fact that they're going to have to start making good beer in order to stay popular, but they're doing it in extremely underhanded ways. They cut corners in their brewing processes by adding tasteless "fillers" as I've already posted 2-3x in this thread. Some of the beer they make is close to true craft beer, but it's really not ever going to be the same.

Regardless, even if companies like Anheuser-Busch decide to stop cutting corners and start making good beer, I'm not going to give them any of my money. They use their legal staff to put breweries out of business. When they can't force someone go under by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting ridiculous and frivolous lawsuits, they buy them out and shut them down (then use their brand name to their advantage). Anheuser-Busch sued Dogfish Head for using the names "Punkin Ale" and "Chicory Stout" because they claimed that their names were too vague. In an interview, Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head responded with, "this is coming from a company that makes a beer called 'Natural Light'? That's not too vague of a name?"

So, to hell with those companies, dude. Don't buy their inferior products. If you don't have enough money to buy good beer, just do what I do: don't run out. I buy beer even when I don't need it. I've got about 6 liters of different belgians/stouts in my fridge right now, a few assorted craft sixpacks on the bottom shelf of my kegerator, and random 12oz bottles/16oz cans of different beers just sorta randomly placed around my fridge. Oh, and don't forget the 4 kegs of delicious homebrew in my kegerator. Shit, now that I brought up my homebrew inventory, I might as well tell you guys that I don't have a nightstand in my bedroom. I've got a pile of 8 cases (24 bottles each) of homebrew covered with a bedsheet. That's what I keep my alarm clock on: a stack of homebrew. I can't remember the last time I was "out" of beer.

hahaha that's awesome.

If any of you pop up to the portland area just let me know, we'll hook up and I could use some beer enjoying lessons. I'm a beer noob for sure.

Im always out of beer. I cant keep up with my needs. Last week our beer night was about 75.00 for 3 bombers, a 4 pack, and 2 six packs.

I keep to Newcastle for normal consumption.

Ewwww. Newcastle? To me, it tastes like watered down grape soda that was put in a rusty can. We've got so many good (local) brown ales around here that I can't justify buying the stuff. Of course you've never heard of these beers, and won't (for a while) unless you come to TX, but Independence Brewing's Bootlegger Brown Ale and the Real Ale Brewing Company's Brewhouse Brown Ale are fantastic. Brewhouse is a bit better than Bootlegger, but I go to Independence brewery all the time and drink free beer (that's where I was this past Saturday -- getting shitty for free).

I need to run to Austin Homebrew some time this week/weekend and get some stuff to make some more of my famous "Samuel L Jackson's Bad Mother F*CKER" ale. It's a mix between an American red and brown ale, with a nice kick of Cascade hops. Fannnnnnnn-tastic.

Ok Gman. Congrats, you win. :]

♥

When I moved to Colorado from San Diego...back in '94 I was blown away by the craft beer selection. This must be craft beer heaven. Left Hand brewery is a few miles from my house. I 've tried quite a few craft beers.....but these days when I drink beer I mostly I drink Sam Adams Light. I can't drink much beer cause I've got acid reflux.

I'd like to attend the beer festival with you....if I'm not traveling.

Every F*CKING time I read this thread for updates I get really F*CKING thirsty.

Its weird cuz, this thread aint about semen :s

Anyways, i enjoy pretty much all the beers brewed here in Mexico, we have a local brewery here in Monterrey that haves a deliscious porter ale and a tasty crispy lager.

Ill just add that some beers dont taste the same, even though they have tha same name, for example when i came here i used to drink a shit load of pacifico (because it was my hometown beer and it was probably one of the best beers whe had) i gave it a taste over here and it tasted really off, people say its the water, the time it spends on storage, etc.

I really had a blast when i went to TX, i dranked like a motherfucker and enjoyed all the ales, stouts and laggers i chugged, thx gman.

I will let you knock the bullshit that Michelob and Budweiser put out, but come on. Newcastle is pretty good. Its not a heavy Brown ale by any means. Its like a semi watered down strong brown ale, but it is still good.

ps. Just bought another Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere bomber tonight. I cant let them go if I see them. Four dollars and some change is a steal for this beer. I feel like I am robbing them.

As a beer nerd, I can't use "watered down" and "good" in the same sentence, unless a "not" is in there somewhere.

You and I are just going to sit down and have a few cold good craft beers one day.

X marks the spot.

Watch this video: http://vimeo.com/4432533

There are several amazing people in this video. Faces I recognize, 'cause I'm a F*CKING huge beer industry nerd like that. This video actually gave me goosebumps the first time I saw it. Yeah. I'm that big of a nerd.

Well, now I know what beers are good, and what aren't when i become of age.... damn i so wish i was over 21.

You could just walk to the nearest hobo and pay him to buy beer for you.

Kitten, I'll pay you to buy beer for me

i know gman thinks Sam Adams is mediocre, but i am DIGGIN their Winter Lager.