Rad beers?

[iccanui]

Looking for some new beers. I'm a heiny man right now but I'm betting there is some really good beers out there.


Thnx !

[tokenuser]

Go Canadian eh?

Try Unibrou's Fin du Monde and Maudite brews. 8% alcohol. It has a kick ... but they are awesome.

[lsman11]

Man Up and drink a New Castle

[frankiethewaffle]

Canadian beers are good. To quote Jon Stewart in "Big Daddy", "Canadian beers are like moonshine." Well they are stronger than say Coors Light. But, they are not like taking shots or anything. They are good though.

If you like Heineken, try Bass Pale Ale. Sam Adams stuff is good if you can find it. The Winter seasonal stuff is good.

I can't drink much beer with food but if you have shellfish in a light meal. Meaning no sauces or breading. Oysters, clams, especially scallops. Try Killians Irish Red. It is the only food/beer combination I have ever enjoyed.

Try a LOT of Chinese or Japanese beers. Sapporo has not been my favorite. Ichiban or something like that is great. Find a beverage center with a great variety and ask them, but try as much as you can. Not all at once though.

[tokenuser]

Also, try different styles of beer ... belgian blondes, heffs, stouts, porters, pale ales, lagers, reds, browns. Find your style.

There's a world of alcohol out there ... slurp around a little. Become a beer whore.

[blure007]

Man Up and drink a New Castle

I second New Castle, one of my favorite brown ales. You might also want to check out beer advocate (http://beeradvocate.com), good way to find a new beer.

cheers!

[acidburn]

Looking for some new beers. I'm a heiny man right now but I'm betting there is some really good beers out there.


Thnx !

Aside from Heineken, what do you like? Light, Dark, Brown Ales, etc.

Try and find any of the brews from Brooklyn Brewery from NY, Otter Creek from VT, or Dogfish Head out of Delaware. They all make good beers.

Hop Rod Rye made by Bear Republic Brewery is a good beer too.

[djhworld]

Two Polish beers; Zywiec and Tyskie are currently my faves.

[MrPopular]

Miller Lite! hehe

[masherscf]

Canadian beers are good. To quote Jon Stewart in "Big Daddy", "Canadian beers are like moonshine." Well they are stronger than say Coors Light. But, they are not like taking shots or anything. They are good though.

Do the math.

One 1.5 ounce shot of 80 proof Whiskey = 0.6 ounces alcohol

One 16 ounce glass of 9% Belgian Triple = 1.44 ounces alcohol.

[djoutlaws]

I second New Castle, one of my favorite brown ales. You might also want to check out beer advocate (http://beeradvocate.com), good way to find a new beer.

cheers!

Just so you know, its actually "Newcastle" (Brown Ale), all one word, named after a town in north-east England, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

[ajadoniz]

I second New Castle, one of my favorite brown ales. You might also want to check out beer advocate (http://beeradvocate.com), good way to find a new beer.

cheers!

New Castle, really? I chose Magic Hat over that yesterday. There's always next time.

[Heyseuss]

Just so you know, its actually "Newcastle" (Brown Ale), all one word, named after a town in north-east England, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Brewed by Scottish-Newcastle whom I used to work for in thier pubs. What most americans don't know is, there are more than one kind of Newcastle.

[masherscf]

Brewed by Scottish-Newcastle whom I used to work for in thier pubs. What most americans don't know is, there are more than one kind of Newcastle.

Beer doesn't travel very well. Judging from how Newcastle tastes out of the bottle here in the U.S., I can't imagine how good it must be closer to the source.

[Heyseuss]

Beer doesn't travel very well. Judging from how Newcastle tastes out of the bottle here in the U.S., I can't imagine how good it must be closer to the source.

I drank it, but only a few times, it was 'alright' to me. There were too many other new beers for me to try. Also pulled it on real pressure taps. The kind of beer taps that you crank the handle towards you. You can control the pour really well, but it takes some learning. They were better to work for than Bass Taverns whom I worked for first, in the original ballroom of the Kray brothers. From imdb "The life of a pair of twins (Ronald and Reginald Kray) who were born in London in 1934 and when they grew up became gangsters selling protection."

Drinking Guinness and Jameson at their factories in Dublin was out of this world.

[oceancyc]

I really fell in love with Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout. A friend highly recommended it to me. It makes a good alternative to Guinness but its fricken expensive. Like $6 for an imperial pint.

[masherscf]

I drank it, but only a few times, it was 'alright' to me. There were too many other new beers for me to try. Also pulled it on real pressure taps. The kind of beer taps that you crank the handle towards you. You can control the pour really well, but it takes some learning. They were better to work for than Bass Taverns whom I worked for first, in the original ballroom of the Kray brothers. From imdb "The life of a pair of twins (Ronald and Reginald Kray) who were born in London in 1934 and when they grew up became gangsters selling protection."

Drinking Guinness and Jameson at their factories in Dublin was out of this world.

If I recall correctly, you describe what is called a "beer engine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_engine)." That device is really only appropriate for cask conditioned beers. Not all beers are meant to be served that way. Cask conditioned beers are delicious (IMO) but they aren't for everyone. Most people don't like their beer served uncarbonated and relatively warm. However, I order cask conditioned beer whenever I find it.

[limedcoconut]

Newcastle is sweet as hell. But its a bit much for me to drink all night, I'll start with a Newcastle and end up at Coronas, but thats typical.

I am a big fan of belgian style wheat ale, i love me my blue moon but its getting really popular so a lot of brewers are making their own style of it. Today in the bodega I saw a Brooklyn Brewery wheat ale, so everyone is getting in on it, give it a whirl.

[masherscf]

Newcastle is sweet as hell. But its a bit much for me to drink all night, I'll start with a Newcastle and end up at Coronas, but thats typical.

I am a big fan of belgian style wheat ale, i love me my blue moon but its getting really popular so a lot of brewers are making their own style of it. Today in the bodega I saw a Brooklyn Brewery wheat ale, so everyone is getting in on it, give it a whirl.

Corona, Vienna style lager made in Mexico.

I hate to break it to you, Belgian Wit is a common style. Blue Moon wasn't even the first North-American Brewery to make it and it certainly isn't the best example of the style made on the western hemisphere. If you like Blue Moon, I would suggest Allagash White or Unibrou Blanch de Chambly.

[limedcoconut]

oh i wouldnt be so silly to think its the original, I just dig it, some might even call it a chick beer, and, being a chick it works out. It has been increasing in popularity.

Thanks for the Unibrou suggestion, i see them at my local beer shop and im like "AGH WHICH ONE!" so i might pick one up today for the evening ;p

[YSSMAN]

I turned 21 in November, been going about trying to find good stuff, and I have to agree that Heineken has been the best so far. I do like Labatt's, you may want to give that a try...

I'm drinking a Beck's right now. I'm not impressed... I'm definately buying Bass or Newcastle next...

[forthekids85]

Depending on where you live, sampler packs may be the best way to figure out new beers and styles of beer that you like. Ultimately, you may get stuck with some beers that you can't stand, but it's also a great way to find new stuff.

Flying Dog, Magic Hat, Tommy Knocker, & Samuel Adams all make good sampler packs to pick up that will get you from the basic stuff to a more "sophisticated" taste.

Oh, and don't drink anything with the word "Light" in it. Please.

[mattsten]

Corona is supposed to be a Vienna lager? Sam Adams Boston lager and Negro Modelo are the only other beers in that style I've tried, and they tasted nothing like Corona. Unless those aren't good examples of the style, I'd say Corona is a terrible attempt at a Vienna lager.

[Heyseuss]

Corona is supposed to be a Vienna lager? Sam Adams Boston lager and Negro Modelo are the only other beers in that style I've tried, and they tasted nothing like Corona. Unless those aren't good examples of the style, I'd say Corona is a terrible attempt at a Vienna lager.

I wouldn't say Modelo Negro would be a vienna lager.

[Kronos6948]

I'm a big Hefe-Weissen fan.

My favorite would be Franziskanner Hefe-Weissen. Get the 20 oz bottles if you can, and drink it out of a tallboy glass. Awesome stuff.

I also am a fan of Hoegaarden. A lot of bars put an orange wedge on the side. I don't like fruit in my beers, so I usually ask for it without the orange.

I'm also a big fan of microbrews. There's a brewpub in a town called Manayunk here in Philly that serves a beer called California Dreamin. I think it's a lager, and it's damn tasty. Also, it's 9%alc by volume.

Now, when I go to bars, I usually look at what they have on tap. If they have something I never had before, I usually ask for that. I get a lot of weird looks from bartenders sometimes when I go from beer to beer to beer. Sometimes it's because I didn't like a certain beer, or because I wanted to try another. Other times it's because it's tough for me to fathom paying $7 and up for one pint of beer (the average around Philly for the good stuff and microbrews is around $4-5 a pint).

If I don't have much choice, I'll usually go Yuengling Lager, or whatever port or stout is on hand.

The best of the worst IMO would be Heineken. I can't stand Bud or Coors or Miller.

[masherscf]

Corona is supposed to be a Vienna lager? Sam Adams Boston lager and Negro Modelo are the only other beers in that style I've tried, and they tasted nothing like Corona. Unless those aren't good examples of the style, I'd say Corona is a terrible attempt at a Vienna lager.

As Budweiser is not Pilsner Urquel. You're right, Corona isn't the right color. Grupo Modelo brews another beer called "Victoria" that is closer to the mark.

[mattsten]

I agree with forthekids85, sampler packs are a great way to introduce yourself to different beer styles.
You could also find out if any liquor stores near you sell singles, that way you can try a beer without having to buy an entire six or twelve pack.

[mattsten]

Thanks masherscf, I'll try to find it next time I go to the liquor store. Is Boston lager a good example of the style?

[masherscf]

Thanks masherscf, I'll try to find it next time I go to the liquor store. Is Boston lager a good example of the style?

Read the description. Sam Adams has a Vienna listed. It fits pretty well but I think the Boston Lager is too hoppy. Without one right here, I can;t remmeber exactly how it tastes.

Many beers don't adhere exactly to a particular style. The styles were only created so that the BJCP could try to separate beers into categories for judging. Beer judging is kind of a dog show. You can have a great dog that won't get best of show because his ears are too long.

It also gives brewers a target when they formulate recipes. Most beer styles have a commercial standard. I think it's Negra Modelo for Vienna Lager.

http://www.bjcp.org/styles04/Category3.html

[kowgod]

If you get a chance, definitely try a Goose Island Honkers Ale. Bitter hop flavor predominates a slightly fruity finish. Plus, it looks damn sexy in a glass.

Another amazing brew is the Dortmunder Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Company.

These two beers constitute the majority of my beer consumption.

[mattsten]

Yeah, you're right Boston lager is too hoppy based on those guidelines.

masherscf, are you a home brewer, or are you just passionate about beer?

[masherscf]

Yeah, you're right Boston lager is too hoppy based on those guidelines.

masherscf, are you a home brewer, or are you just passionate about beer?

I'm a home brewer. At one time, I was training to be a beer judge. But, that was ten years ago, They seem to have revised the guidelines since then.

Sam Adams Boston Lager is great beer. I'm just not sure it can be labeled easily. The German ingredients suggest a German style. I guess we could call it a Helles.

[Kronos6948]

I'm a home brewer. At one time, I was training to be a beer judge. But, that was ten years ago, They seem to have revised the guidelines since then.

Sam Adams Boston Lager is great beer. I'm just not sure it can be labeled easily. The German ingredients suggest a German style. I guess we could call it a Helles.

Which type of beers do you brew? Ever since seeing the episode of Good Eats where Alton brewed an ale, I've contemplated brewing my own.

Now, obviously home brew takes a lot of specialized equipment. What do you use?

How hard is it to make a Weiss beer in comparison to say, a bottom fermenting lager? Would that type of yeast even work for a Weiss?

[masherscf]

Which type of beers do you brew? Ever since seeing the episode of Good Eats where Alton brewed an ale, I've contemplated brewing my own.

Now, obviously home brew takes a lot of specialized equipment. What do you use?

How hard is it to make a Weiss beer in comparison to say, a bottom fermenting lager? Would that type of yeast even work for a Weiss?

Whoa, you ask a lot of questions.

Home brewing is easy and it requires special equipment based on the level at which you brew.

Many, many authors have writen about homebrewing and do a better job than me. If you're really serious about it. Get this book and read it. (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Homebrewing-Third-Harperresource-Book/dp/0060531053) Do exactly what it says.

I have all the equipment I need to brew a 5 gallon all-grain recipe. But, I don't brew all-grain often because I don't have the room or the manpower. I brew partial-mash recipes where I use malt extract to provide most of the fermentable sugar.

I most brew ales because I don't have a lagering fridge. I'll brew anything that I feel like within the parameters of time and space.

Making beer requires patience and a passion for cleanliness.

Wheat beers are easy. The type of yeast doesn't really matter because all the starch in the wheat is converted to sugar before the yeast touches it. You choose the best yeast for the style you're shooting for. You can buy wheat extract at every home-brew store.

[kevin_foster]

Try checkvar beer... excellent Pilsner :)

[Kronos6948]

Whoa, you ask a lot of questions.

Home brewing is easy and it requires special equipment based on the level at which you brew.

Many, many authors have writen about homebrewing and do a better job than me. If you're really serious about it. Get this book and read it. (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Homebrewing-Third-Harperresource-Book/dp/0060531053) Do exactly what it says.

I have all the equipment I need to brew a 5 gallon all-grain recipe. But, I don't brew all-grain often because I don't have the room or the manpower. I brew partial-mash recipes where I use malt extract to provide most of the fermentable sugar.

I most brew ales because I don't have a lagering fridge. I'll brew anything that I feel like within the parameters of time and space.

Making beer requires patience and a passion for cleanliness.

Wheat beers are easy. The type of yeast doesn't really matter because all the starch in the wheat is converted to sugar before the yeast touches it. You choose the best yeast for the style you're shooting for. You can buy wheat extract at every home-brew store.

Thanks for all the info!

I'm definitely a clean freak when it comes to food (I'm also ServSafe Certified), and I understand that if you want your beer to taste awesome, you have to make sure that the vessel you're brewing in is not just cleaned, but sterilized as well. Otherwise your yeasties won't grow properly because other stuff will start feeding on your wort.

The hardest thing for me is that I'm a casual drinker, and there's no way I'd go through 5 gallons of beer before it starts to turn. I'd need something a bit smaller. I don't know if they make smaller brew buckets for those of us who just want to brew a tiny bit of beer (my biggest pot holds about 3 gallons). If they did, that would rock.

I don't want to get into that little plastic barrel looking thing with the premade wort. I'd rather start from the beginning and make it in small batches.

But, thanks again for your info!

(and sorry for pestering with questions!)

[masherscf]

Thanks for all the info!

But, thanks again for your info!

(and sorry for pestering with questions!)

Extract brewing a great place to start. Brewing itself needs to be sanitary, but not sterile. However, once there wort gets to room temperature you need surgical sterility in the fermentation vessel and any tools. Wild yeasts and bacteria can make your beer pretty bad.

I don't that fast...maybe a six-pack a week. However, properly stored and handled your home brew will last that long. Don't expect to store it for a year, but two months isn't problem. Remember that home brew is alive and changes over time.

[Ryan79]

What was the name of the vanilla-coffee beer the guys were drinking about a month ago?

[spicydicy]

yeah, i would like to know that as well. i cant be bothered to go back to that episode to find out what it was though.

i find the beers im into now are the stouts, just due to the fact its winter time.

up here in canada, locally there is a small brewer by the name of "half pints" its excellent beer, from 5.9 to 10.5, they are all excellent.

and yes, canadian beers are the best.

[masherscf]

i find the beers im into now are the stouts, just due to the fact its winter time.
.

I think bock is a really nice lager for winter.

[spicydicy]

yeah not too bad. not a real fan of the dark browns though. i find them WAY to "malty". id definitely go for a golden one though.

damn. i might have to make a stop by the liquor mart and grab some. lol

[forthekids85]

Furthering this beer discussion (mainly because drinking is my best skill..), has anyone had Magic Hat's Roxy Rolles? I grabbed it a week or two ago, after hearing good things about Magic Hat's brews. Wow, was I mistaken... I've had beers that I haven't really liked, but I could drink and finish them. Roxy Rolles was just unpleasant.. sort of like plants were growing in my beer.

Anyone have any experience with this one?

[Ryan79]

yeah, i would like to know that as well. i cant be bothered to go back to that episode to find out what it was though.


Found it...it's Atwater's Vanilla Java Porter.

[Mega Man]

If you don't want one repetitive taste to your beers you should check out Dogfish Head. They have a HUGE variety of beers which all taste SO excellent yet SO different. They brew out here on the east coast in Delaware but ship all over the Nation. You should check one of your local specialty stores so you can get a true taste of heaven. They have been springing up Ale houses around the D.C. area too and I'm lucky enough to live 5 minutes away from one. OH MAN, it's the best beer (BY FAR) i've ever tasted. EXTREMELY HOPPY, so beware!

http://www.dogfish.com/brewings/

[dataphyle]

Mega-brewery beers are crap - all of them

Mid sized to Micro - here are a few I like:
Sam Adams Winter Lager (Boston)
Magic Hat #9 (Vermont)
Rohrbach Brewing Company (Rochester NY)- Highland Lager

Best of all - Homebrew. It's legal, easy and tastes way better than most beer you can buy. High in vitamin B due to the active yeast - No hangovers.

I Currently have a batch of ale ready to bottle. Dark Amber 5-6% alcohol well hopped and very drinkable - not heavy. (3 weeks total time from start of brew to a frosty mug - yum)
I also have a batch of cranberry/orange Melomel (Mead / Honey wine with fruit) that will ferment for 2 more months when it will be bottled and aged for 1-2 years. A little expensive - 18 lbs of honey to make 5 gallons but worth it. Patience is required with meads.
And lastly, I'm down to the last gallon (started with 5) of "ginger ale" I made in September. Tried it for kicks and it turned out awesome. It looks and tastes like Ginger ale but with 12% alcohol. Used straight or as mixer with liquor - like you would regular ginger ale.

Give it a try, It's a fun and educational hobby.

[masherscf]

Mega-brewery beers are crap - all of them


This is factually incorrect. Most "Mega-brewery" beers are stable, nearly flawless and taste exactly the way they're designed. There are few regional specialty breweries, micro-breweries or brew-pubs that can make this claim.

Budweiser is a miracle of modern technology. It's a light lager style that is very hard to brew and store. But, they brew it in massive qualities with seasonally varied ingredients and ship it all over the word were it is crisp, clear, subtly flavored exactly the way they intended it to be, no matter when you drink it. Budweiser put a lot of resources into preserving the experience. When you order a Bud, it's going to be exactly what you expect it to be. (crap?)

To anyone who makes beer, this boggles my mind. That fact that it's not my favorite beer doesn't change that achievement.

[dataphyle]

Maybe my choice of words was a bit harsh - maybe . . .

I wasn't commenting on the effort put forth by The "Buds" of the world - I agree they produce a very reliable consistent product - traits that are strong indicators of overall quality - but in my opinion when speaking of beer - Taste is the most important quality trait . . . and taste is completely subjective. That's why home brewing is key to the discussion. There's history behind why in the USA after the prohibition years only a few breweries survived and how in the years that followed up through the 1970's, most of the small regional breweries faded away. The end result was that 1 basic style of beer was available in the US - American Lager - with a few mild variations from one brewery to another. The diversity and innovation with regards to beer styles was killed off until the law allowing home brewing was passed in 1978 . . .and then it took 20 more years before anything noticeable happened . . . mostly because outside of the large breweries, much brewing knowledge was lost and had to be re-learned the hard way - trial and error. Admittedly most home brews were not good enough to compete with the mega breweries -but a few were. Now they are taking the innovative drive of home brewers and applying the scientific techniques refined by the mega brewers. It's their success that has forced Budweiser, Miller, etc to start the development of other beer styles.
The mega breweries get much deserved credit for perfecting the scientific approach to mass-brewing - thus assuring consistency and uniformity from batch 1 through batch 99 million. But in my opinion it was at the expense of innovation - they got lazy with regards to beer style - being content with producing one product . . . and if that was the only product available to the consumer, Joe six-pack wouldn't know any different and would buy it. The brewing landscape is just now starting to change in a noticeable way. So I say - If you like beer flavored water have a Bud or Miller it's a free country . . . I would suggest you begin the journey to taste as many varieties from the growing number of micro breweries available - some you'll like - some you'll think are crap but one thing is certain you'll never see even 1% of the styles that are possible produced from ANY brewery - Macro or micro. . . for that you'll have to learn to home brew. .. .and BONUS - it's easy.

[masherscf]

Oh, I'm well aware of all the vanilla beers out there.

To me, beers is about enjoyment. If you don't like drinking it, that's all that matters.

Me, I've been brewing for almost fourteen years and have been a craft-beer drinker for at least 20. So, you don't have to see me on virtue of variety of craft beers. Shit, I've been drinking beer since before a lot of these forum members were born. The drinking age was still 18 for me.

Nevertheless, you're spot on about prohibition killing the thriving regional breweries in the twentieth century. But, it was more than just random chance that a single beer style dominates the domestic beer market. American light lager is the style with the broadest appeal. There are many who only think of that when they think of beer. Sadly, even though Kevin and Alex celebrate beer, neither one of them is particularly adventurous about it. Kevin, in particular, who embraces wine tasting doesn't see the potential in his own humble beer.

I don't have a favorite beer. To me, the best beer is the one made closest to where I am and I'm always looking for that new beer. But, that's what I enjoy.

Again, beer is about enjoyment. If it's not fun, why do it?

[Heyseuss]

Budweiser is a miracle of modern technology. It's a light lager style that is very hard to brew and store.

Isn't it a pilsner?

[Ryan79]

Has anyone tried Abita's Purple Haze raspberry wheat ale? If you can find it on tap, a pitcher of that and a barbacue chicken pizza is my idea of heaven.

[tectec]

I can't stand the mass-produced stuff from companies like Budweiser, Miller, Coors, etc. Maybe its consistent but the water that comes out of my faucet is pretty consistent too.

Magic Hat brewery in Vermont has some pretty good stuff. I also really like Goose Island brews from Chicago. However, my favorite beers of all time are from a little brewpub in a small town in Vermont.

Last year Kevin and Alex had a couple beers from The Alchemist brewery from Waterbury, Vermont. Its a fairly small brewpub and I'm not sure if they even sell their beers outside of the pub.

I was in the area a few weeks after they mentioned The Alchemist so I decided to check it out. It was some of the best beer I've ever had. Their rich brews had a lot of complex flavors that just went together so well. Add a burger from their menu and it was one of the best meals I've ever had.

[rabidbadger]

if you guys wanna see my defunct homebrew beercast vids, pm me. On a private server, so not sharing publically. But anything for my beer lovin rev3 brethren and sistren. (sistren?)

[masherscf]

Isn't it a pilsner?

Not really. The style is inspired by Pilsner. They call it Pilsner. But, Bud has corn sugar in it and Pilsner doesn't. Pilsner is a Czech beer.

I love the Alchemist! They're American IPA is first rate.

I'm trying to foster the idea that just because you don't like how something tastes, it doesn't make it flawed. When someone says "This beer sucks", It really doesn't mean anything. Say, "I don't like the way it tastes.", "The beer is flawed." Or, "This beer tastes like shit" but if I taste it and it doesn't taste like shit, I won't trust you anymore.

[Heyseuss]

Not really. The style is inspired by Pilsner. They call it Pilsner. But, Bud has corn sugar in it and Pilsner doesn't. Pilsner is a Czech beer.

I love the Alchemist! They're American IPA is first rate.

I'm trying to foster the idea that just because you don't like how something tastes, it doesn't make it flawed. When someone says "This beer sucks", It really doesn't mean anything. Say, "I don't like the way it tastes.", "The beer is flawed." Or, "This beer tastes like shit" but if I taste it and it doesn't taste like shit, I won't trust you anymore.

I always thought it was 'americanised' pilsner. Like all foreign orginated, u.s. brewed beers. What is corn sugar? Soung awful, glad I don't have Bud ever, however, I like their designs.

My fridge holds, Steel Reserve, Tecate, Sapporo and Kronenbourg 1664, right now. Tonight I'll be enjoying a few Stellas.

Was all the last paragraph about not liking beer to me ??

[masherscf]

What is corn sugar? Soung awful, glad I don't have Bud ever, however, I like their designs.

Corn syrup is a sweetener used in most processed foods. It's completely natural. Actually, Bud uses sugar extracted from rice (Busch uses corn) by mashing it with malted barley. You can mix any starch with your malt when your mash it and it gets converted into sugars, thus, wheat beer, corn beer and rice beer. I've seen recipes for potato and pumpkin beer as well. Brewers throwing these adjuncts into their beer became such a problem in Germany, they passed a beer purity law.

There a couple of reasons why major domestic brewers use corn and rice. Corn and rice don't add and color or flavor. So, if your making a tasteless and colorless beer...It's an advantage. The second is that corn and rice are much cheaper than barley.

[tectec]

Not really. The style is inspired by Pilsner. They call it Pilsner. But, Bud has corn sugar in it and Pilsner doesn't. Pilsner is a Czech beer.

I love the Alchemist! They're American IPA is first rate.

I'm trying to foster the idea that just because you don't like how something tastes, it doesn't make it flawed. When someone says "This beer sucks", It really doesn't mean anything. Say, "I don't like the way it tastes.", "The beer is flawed." Or, "This beer tastes like shit" but if I taste it and it doesn't taste like shit, I won't trust you anymore.

I have to agree with you that the big brewers are very successful at what they do. America has voted with their wallets for beers that are lighter, more crisp, less bitter, and just plain simple. I believe it has something to do with people getting used to beers with less flavor intensity because they tend to be more palatable to those who start drinking at a younger age. Once you get used to them and you like them why go out looking for something else? They're also a lot cheaper because of the mass production.

I didn't have my first beer until I was 22. Everybody else could gulp the cheap stuff down but every time I tried one, it reminded me of dirty dish water. After trying beers from smaller brewers I realized beer can actually have complex flavors. Its just sad to see people who are unwilling to try something new because for them it'll always be Bud. That and the fact that its cheaper to get drunk on the flavorless stuff. I don't drink to get drunk so thats not an issue to me.

I remember reading somewhere that every year Anheuser-Busch buys up to 10% of all the rice produced in the US. Thats a lot of beer.