Craft Beer Lovers...CHEERS!!!

improvstitute
improvstitute Posts: 45
edited September 24 in Chit-Chat
Hello fellow craft beer lover! Since I can't drink as much craft beer as I did pre-MFP, I thought it would be a good idea to start up a conversation about so that we could share beers we really love. That way we don't waste calories on trying beers that suck!

I try to be a "locavore" when it comes to beer, so I drink a lot of ones made in Texas. However, I will try one from just about anywhere other that ones made by Budweiser, Miller and Coors (IMHO they are KILLING beer, not making it). I just prefer to get my beer fresh and made by people who care about the way it tastes!

So cheers to all of you! Here is my first recommendation:

BREWER - Southern Star
BEER - Blonde Bombshell
STYLE - American Blonde Ale
MADE - Conroe, TX (just outside of Houston)
DESCRIPTION: A rich, creamy golden colored ale fermented at a cool temperature to give a clean finish. Hints of yeasty bread and a touch of hops combine to make a beer that is truly more than the sum of its parts.

...and for a little extra flare...

BlackStarCOOP_SoutherStar_BlondeBombshell-1.jpg
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Replies

  • abyt42
    abyt42 Posts: 1,358 Member
    I'm kinda picky....
    Newcastle Brown Ale is pretty much the only beer I'm drinking these days. And it's like love in a bottle...only with fewer strings attached.

    :)
  • Still_Sossy
    Still_Sossy Posts: 868 Member
    Ok... I am not much of a beer drinker, I love wine (good wine), but that is so awesome you have a group you support. There are a lot of Micro-Breweries out there that have a great product.
  • kac7700
    kac7700 Posts: 125 Member
    Oh how I love my craft beers and try to save enough calories for one every day! Glad I'm not alone.

    I am from Minnesota and Summit is the big local brewer here. I'm very fond of their Oatmeal Stout, but it only comes in kegs. However, Summit Winter Ale is bottled and it is quite rich and flavorful. I don't think they distribute that far.

    I love to have local beer when I travel. Heading to New Mexico this week where I discovered Alien Amber Ale (of course out of Roswell) which was a pleasant surprise. I would love any New Mexico brewery recommendations.
  • jon_dub
    jon_dub Posts: 166
    OH i love beer all kinds preferr the dark ones more.. Love wine i make my own wine and it is good. OH now i am thirsty
  • lisapisa1
    lisapisa1 Posts: 115
    I miss heading to my local brewery here in Orlando......a nice cold Red ale is my weakness and when they have it unfiltered it's heaven!

    BREWER - Orlando Brewing Company (an Organic Brewery)
    BEER - Red Ale
    STYLE - American Red Ale
    MADE - Orlando, FL
    DESCRIPTION: Clean and crisp flavor, alluring aroma and unmistakable natural copper red color.
  • 00trayn
    00trayn Posts: 1,849 Member
    I've been getting into craft beer the last few months since my boyfriend brews and he knows everything about craft beer (or so it seems). One of my favorite breweries that I've found is Karl Strauss in San Diego, CA. I found it on a business trip and they have such a delicious selection of beers! I've been meaning to go to a large beer store in my area (Total Wine) to see if they carry it, since I"m on the other side of the country!
  • TheMaidOfAstolat
    TheMaidOfAstolat Posts: 3,222 Member
    I would love to have Guinness or a Rogue Pale Ale right now!
  • aschrader7
    aschrader7 Posts: 53
    Nice post! I love my craft beers as well. Unfortunately had to cut beer out of my diet to reach my goals. I allow myself to "splurge" and have a few on Sundays to reward myself! Love New Castle, Sierra Nevada, Arrogant *kitten*, and this brew from Kansas City I can't think of the name!
  • jmwolffyy
    jmwolffyy Posts: 212 Member
    I love to have local beer when I travel. Heading to New Mexico this week where I discovered Alien Amber Ale (of course out of Roswell) which was a pleasant surprise. I would love any New Mexico brewery recommendations.

    An awesome small microbrewery in Las Cruces, NM, is High Desert Brewery. I am not the beer drinker in our family (I loved their homemade root beer!) so I cannot recommend which beer to get, but they are very good at making recommendations based on what you usually like. I miss NM!
  • merrillfoster
    merrillfoster Posts: 855 Member
    Well I love both good beer and good wine. For beers, a few of my faves:

    New Belgium Brewing Co:
    Skinny Dip
    2 Below
    Mothership Wit

    Heavy Seas:
    Small Craft Warning
    Loose Cannon

    Lancaster Brewing Co: Strawberry Wheat (amazing, but really can only have 1-2 before it becomes too much)

    Victory:
    Prima Pils
    Hopdevil

    Delirium Nocturnal

    Bells Oberon

    Fordham Brewing Co:
    Copperhead Ale
    Helles Lager

    I've got a longer list but these are a few I enjoy....
  • jon_dub
    jon_dub Posts: 166
    OKay put it all in a doggie bottle and give it to me NOW lol
  • improvstitute
    improvstitute Posts: 45
    Well i guess someone doesn't want me to post a picture of a pint of Blonde Bombshell...oh well!
  • runteachrun
    runteachrun Posts: 7
    Man, this got me drooling! In the Great Northwest, we have prime breweries! Boundary Bay has an amazing oatmeal stout! So hearty, it's like a meal :) Also, Birdsview Brewery on the way to Mt. Baker has an amazing fruit hefe!! When I'm in Portland, I love a Wowzenbock from Deschutes as well!
  • jchapman1957
    jchapman1957 Posts: 80 Member
    Now here's a topic I can get into. Being a homebrewer for almost 20 years, I love good craft beers. At 1 time I had a chest freezer (temperature controlled) set up as a kegorator in my gargage with 30 gallons of beer on tap at any given time. Maybe that explains why I'm on here now loosing over a hundred pounds. To the topic at hand, my favorites include:

    Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
    Boulevard Pale Ale (Kansas City)
    Boulevard Wheat (The best wheat anywhere)
    Yuenglings Lager (Pennsylvania-Oldest Brewery in the nation)
    Bell's Kalamazoo Brewery (Michigan) (Just about anything)

    I need suggestions for Charlotte, NC. I will be traveling there soon.
  • merrillfoster
    merrillfoster Posts: 855 Member
    Nice to see someone recognize Bell's! They've been a favorite of mine for about 15 years. Oh, crap. I'm 29. I mean, um, 8 years, of course....
  • merrillfoster
    merrillfoster Posts: 855 Member
    In NC you should be able to get New Belgium. I recommend pretty much anything they make too.
  • improvstitute
    improvstitute Posts: 45
    Well I love both good beer and good wine. For beers, a few of my faves:

    New Belgium Brewing Co:
    Skinny Dip
    2 Below
    Mothership Wit

    Heavy Seas:
    Small Craft Warning
    Loose Cannon

    Lancaster Brewing Co: Strawberry Wheat (amazing, but really can only have 1-2 before it becomes too much)

    Victory:
    Prima Pils
    Hopdevil

    Delirium Nocturnal

    Bells Oberon

    Fordham Brewing Co:
    Copperhead Ale
    Helles Lager

    I've got a longer list but these are a few I enjoy....

    Ditto on the New Belgium beers and the Victory beers!!! Haven't had the others...yet.
  • toots99
    toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
    At my work we are starting to get a few different. unique, tap beers. Well, more unique than the usual Texas favorites of Coors Lite Miller Lite and Bud Light. :laugh: Luckily, we dont have any of them on tap. Sort of pisses people off, but come on, branch out a bit! We now serve some good stuff from the Rahr brewery out of Fort Worth. We have their Iron Thistle, which is a Scottish Style Ale that's delicious!

    Recipe Information:
    Style: Scottish Style Ale
    Alcohol By Volume: 8.0%
    International Bitterness Units: 25
    Color: Dark Brown
    Hops: WarriorI
    Tasting Notes: Deeply Malty, Caramel, Light Hops
    Availability: January-February
  • improvstitute
    improvstitute Posts: 45
    ...We now serve some good stuff from the Rahr brewery out of Fort Worth. We have their Iron Thistle, which is a Scottish Style Ale that's delicious!

    Recipe Information:
    Style: Scottish Style Ale
    Alcohol By Volume: 8.0%
    International Bitterness Units: 25
    Color: Dark Brown
    Hops: WarriorI
    Tasting Notes: Deeply Malty, Caramel, Light Hops
    Availability: January-February

    that sounds amazing!!!
  • SunLovin1
    SunLovin1 Posts: 682 Member
    I'm from Wisconsin and my favorite is, what else? Spotted Cow! By New Glarus. With a lemon wedge. Mmmm...beer...
  • jbqueen
    jbqueen Posts: 89 Member
    Love Bell's Two-Hearted; possibly my favorite IPA, and just had their Hopslam, which was delicious. Also love Dogfish Head's 120 IPA and their Palo Santo Marron. I'm all out now, but 3 Floyd's Dark Lord 2010 was amazing.

    Craft beer... I wish I knew how to quit you!
  • SunLovin1
    SunLovin1 Posts: 682 Member
    Nice to see someone recognize Bell's! They've been a favorite of mine for about 15 years. Oh, crap. I'm 29. I mean, um, 8 years, of course....
    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • gehlerc
    gehlerc Posts: 651 Member
    Oh how I love my craft beers and try to save enough calories for one every day! Glad I'm not alone.

    I am from Minnesota and Summit is the big local brewer here. I'm very fond of their Oatmeal Stout, but it only comes in kegs. However, Summit Winter Ale is bottled and it is quite rich and flavorful. I don't think they distribute that far.

    Have you tried Lake Superior Oatmeal Stout? Out of Duluth, MN. One of my favorites--but not easy to find, even in Minnesota / western WI.
  • improvstitute
    improvstitute Posts: 45
    Oh...I also really like Scrimshaw Pilsner by North Coast Brewing Co. in Ft Bragg, CA. Really nice!
  • improvstitute
    improvstitute Posts: 45
    My old standby when I go to a pub/bar is Real Ale's Fireman's 4. It is made in Blanco, TX about 30 miles from my house in Austin. It is another Blonde Ale that is very drinkable. Love it!! Real Ale also makes a great Pale Ale!

    firemans4.jpg
  • improvstitute
    improvstitute Posts: 45
    *BUMP*
  • ericaq
    ericaq Posts: 29
    You and I have the same favorites!
  • improvstitute
    improvstitute Posts: 45
    You and I have the same favorites!

    NICE!!! I have lots more that I like or that I will drink, but those are my "go to" beers
  • evoterra
    evoterra Posts: 2
    This will be my undoing. I love craft beer, typically high-alcohol content, too. ****.

    But I'm going to try (I know, I'm a moron) to keep the beer as I diet. Hey, the first monks brewed it so they could get through fasting times, so I can to, right?

    The kicker is trying to figure out the calories. Most labels don't show it, and the complexities of the brewing process make it non-trivial to get exact. But I'm willing to fudge with 20-30 calories, assuming that much of the "standards" of other foods I'm eating are off by that much, too.

    To that end, I've found the following formula that seems to get a pretty close approximate for me in the beers I have been able to verify. If you like sweeter beers, YMMV. Me? I like a nice crispy IPA, where sweetness is abhorrent. Here's the math:

    # oz * ABV (Alcohol by volume, but use the number, not a percentage) / 60 * 150 = calories.

    Here's how the math works out for a bomber (22 oz) of one of my standards -- Stone IPA:

    22 oz * 6.9 (% alcohol) / 60 * 150 = 379.5 calories.

    That, again is:

    22 * 6.9 / 60 * 150 = 379.5.

    Interestingly enough, Livestrong.com has the Nutrition Label for the beer here: http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/generic/stone-ipa/

    It shows 366. Close enough for me, and the error goes in my gut's favor!

    [sigh]. That only leaves me 1000 more calories for the rest of the day. Guess I'll make it a 12 oz, or split that with the wife. And then only do it on the weekends. [sniff]

    E.
  • toots99
    toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
    My old standby when I go to a pub/bar is Real Ale's Fireman's 4. It is made in Blanco, TX about 30 miles from my house in Austin. It is another Blonde Ale that is very drinkable. Love it!! Real Ale also makes a great Pale Ale!

    firemans4.jpg

    We just changed up our beer menu at work, and Fireman's #4 is one that we got. We also just brought in Moose Drool Bown Ale, Black Butte Porter, Single Wide IPA, Ranger IPA, Stone IPA, Anchor Steam, Abita Turbodog. We've got Rahr Bucking Bock on tap now, and it's yummy!
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