Recommend me some beers?

Frostozuna

Now that I'm of legal age to be drinking I've decided to try expand my tastes beyond your standard college-party fare. So far, my tastes seem to have drifted towards what my dad jokingly refers to as "Kraut beers"

Recently, I've tried Stella Artois, Paulaner Hefeweizen (loved it), Hacker-Pschorr Weisse Dark (probably my favorite so far), and Hoegaarden (was OK, didn't like it as much as the hefe or the weisse dark)

So with this being my latest beer trend, can anyone recommend me some similar beers (probably wheat beers) that I might enjoy?

Also if someone could tell me how exactly to pronounce 'Hacker-Pschorr' I'd appreciate it

urahonky

Well you have all the ones I'd personally recommend, but you say it (well, I say it) as: "Hacker- SHORE". Seems about right to me.

Djeet

them wheat beers and hefes seem to turn quickly in the bottle, i bet you'd like hoegaarden a lot better if you got a draft pour. course if you did drink a draft pour then just disregard that.

franziskaner hefe.
leinenkugel sunset wheat.
both marks have several beers you might like.

you might like dunkelweizens (can't recommend any tho, got hooked on pale ales too quick)

if you get a wheat beer that has turned a little, a little bit of lemon can help a lot.

are there any local brewpubs you could visit?

kaliyama

If you like hefs, there are a few american options, too:
I like the Pyramid Brewing co line, which is a company located in the heart of Berkeley, CA. They have a real beer-lover's ethos and make lots of good light beers - I don't think they do as well in their more exotic brews, but the basic hefs are great. I also really like the Widmer brothers out of Portland, but i'm not sure how well it bottles.

Given that it's winter, you might try some darker beers too. I'm a big fan of Czech and other slavic dark beer - in the Czech Republic, the menfolk tend to drink the light beer and the women drink the sweeter, thicker dark beer. That said, it's great. I'm a big fan of Krusovice Cerny especially, and they've started to import it as of last summer. Go find some and give it a shot. It's not the same as a Sam Adams winter lager or something but it's a nice thick taste.

Sporked

Hacker Oktoberfest is pretty nice too, a little lighter than wiesse dark. Also, you have to try Guinness Draft/Stout,( yes, both, you'll most likely enjoy one of them. Heavy Irish lager, it's the hearty meal of beers) Maudite, (a little fruity, higher alcohol content, tasty imo) and Newcastle Brown Ale (what I usually drink when I'm out to get drunk, it's real easy to drink, not much aftertaste).

Also, I always pronounced it shpoor. Which is how the bartender that turned me on to it pronounced it, and I've never been corrected. but really, that means fuckall =P

casper_27d

I am a big fan of Shiner Boch, or Shiner Blonde. Also Sam Adams Cherry Wheat(yeah its kinda girly but I like it)

Thanatos

Where do you live, Frost? I might be able to recommend some local microbrews.

Frostozuna

New Jersey, maybe 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia

vonPoonBurGer

Thinatos wrote: »

Where do you live, Frost? I might be able to recommend some local microbrews.

I was just going to ask the same thing. I've generally found locally produced, recently brewed microbrew products to be a cut above more mass-market stuff. Not always, I've tasted some microbrew stuff that just did nothing for me, but I've found some real gems as well.

Oh, and when you're trying new beers, avoid anything that isn't in a dark brown bottle. Clear glass and green glass allow a lot more light (particularily blue wavelengths) that can turn the beer skunky if it contains any hops (which almost all beers do). There's no reason you should subject yourself to skunky beer.

Edit: ratebeer.com has a handy regional search engine that may help you find some local brews, or at least give you an idea of brands to look for. The community on that site tends to favor ales and stouts pretty heavily, though, which may not match your current favorites.

Octoparrot

Hefeweizens huh. You like beers that taste like a hospital floor. Well, me too. You should look for some really malty beers like Märzen to try, too. Edit: Someone recommended Hacker Oktoberfest, I'm pretty sure these are the same type different name.

We've just come out of the season for them but Pumpkin ales are great if you think you'd be into nontraditional (hops, yeast, etc.) beers. The most popular: Buffalo Bill's is good, Blue Moon is alright, and Jack's Pumpkin Spice is kind of shit.

LondonBridge

Djeet wrote: »

them wheat beers and hefes seem to turn quickly in the bottle, i bet you'd like hoegaarden a lot better if you got a draft pour. course if you did drink a draft pour then just disregard that.

franziskaner hefe.
leinenkugel sunset wheat.
both marks have several beers you might like.

you might like dunkelweizens (can't recommend any tho, got hooked on pale ales too quick)

if you get a wheat beer that has turned a little, a little bit of lemon can help a lot.

are there any local brewpubs you could visit?

Seems like the general rule is the harder the German beer is to pronounce the better, right?

Erandus

Warsteiner Dark is a significantly tasty beer. They also make a pilsener and a hefeweizen that you can't go wrong with.

Djeet

Frostozuna wrote: »

New Jersey, maybe 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia

If you see "Allagash White" on tap, try it. It's awesome. Brewery is in Maine. Drank a draft pour in DC and have been looking for it ever since (no luck)

It may have similar bottling issues as a lot of hefes and belgian whites, but since you're close to the source ...

Nitsuj82

If you like German Hefeweizen (which is not disgusting, unlike American versions which taste like wallpaper paste) then see if you can find Erdinger. They have a Weissbier and a Weiss Dark (or Dark Weiss, something along those lines) that would probably suit you. On that token, try and get into some brown ales or the afore-mentioned Marzens (though their season is rapidly coming to a close).

oldsak

Pretty much anything made by dogfish head is worth trying.

the wook

Djeet wrote: »

Frostozuna wrote: »

New Jersey, maybe 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia

If you see "Allagash White" on tap, try it. It's awesome. Brewery is in Maine. Drank a draft pour in DC and have been looking for it ever since (no luck)

It may have similar bottling issues as a lot of hefes and belgian whites, but since you're close to the source ...

this

i was going to come in here to recommend some whites. the first time i had allagash was about a week ago, the pub on UCI main campus was carrying it on tap.

I killed the keg

corcorigan

Well CAMRA was founded literally next door to me, so you should try some real English ales.

Failing that some real Somerset ciders.

embrik

casper_27d wrote: »

I am a big fan of Shiner Boch, or Shiner Blonde. Also Sam Adams Cherry Wheat(yeah its kinda girly but I like it)

It's not girly, it's delicious. I have 4 bottles in my fridge right now. Also currently in my fridge is one I've been turned onto recently called "Kulmbacher Eisbock". It's a darker beer with a very nice taste, but be careful, because it's heavy on the alcohol at 9.2%. I have a good friend who works at one of the upscale liquor stores in town and he's been having me try all kinds of good brews. Just tried a Belgian brew called "Leffe Blond" that was quite good as well.

Some of my old favs: Newcastle, Bass Pale Ale, Guinness, Lindemans Kriek (Cherry, very sweet, unlike any beer I've had before), Leine's Red & Leine's Ocktoberfest.

I really love Ocktoberfest beers, but they're harder to find year round. Späten makes a good one, and their other offerings are good too, like their "Optimator".

Spackle

There's a brew out of Colorado called Fat Tire made by the company New Belgium. It's an amber ale, and incredibly tasty.

Shadowfire

embrik wrote: »

casper_27d wrote: »

I am a big fan of Shiner Boch, or Shiner Blonde. Also Sam Adams Cherry Wheat(yeah its kinda girly but I like it)

It's not girly, it's delicious. I have 4 bottles in my fridge right now.

:^:

On a similar line, Long Trail's Blackberry Wheat is no longer seasonal, so it's being made year-round, and that was pretty much the best news I got this year (beer-related, of course).

Also, Dos Equis is pretty damn good. I'd reccomend Saranac Black & Tan, as well, if you can find it. PA seems to be the southern-most area they service, but if you can get a hold of it, I love the stuff.

One last beer, if you can find it, and want something a little different, is Woodchuck. It's an apple cider beer made here in Vermont, and it is fucking great. You need to be in the mood for a bit of sweet in your beer, but :^: :^:

TaGuelle

The Sam Adams Winter Fest is like a lot of dark Christmas brews that they have across Germany. Your tastes definiatly seem to run along German beer which is nothing to bitter and more full flavored. I could recomend you a buttload of German beers if you wanted. Rathaus, Berliner, Augustiner, Ganter, Pauliner, Feireling, Becks(Germans call this Maedchenbier), . If you can get your hands on Madhatter or Seranac, those are very good. There are also a host of amazing Canadian beers. Molson isnt very god I find, at least the export isnt, but its better beer than bud or coors and its in that catagory. Anything by Unibroue is golden. Blanche de Chamblys or Le Fin du Monde.

EliteLamer

Most people don't like the Sam Adams Winter Fest... October Fest is a million times better..

Anyways..

New Castle (England)
St.Pauly Girl (German)
Becks (German)
Weishignber (I don't know how its spelled but its German)

Frostozuna

I'd just like to pop in and say I appreciate all of the responses - looks like I have my work cut out for me

Djeet I'm now sitting here with a Franziskaner hefe and its mighty tasty. Also the friar looking guy on the bottle is awesome

LondonBridge wrote: »

Seems like the general rule is the harder the German beer is to pronounce the better, right?

This has pretty much been my line of thinking so far

A couple people have recommended Seranac Black & Tan, I'll have to try that next since I know I've seen those around

Uncle Long

If you are just getting into the beer scene then be sure to try some of the darker beers as well. Try Guinness at least twice; it is it's own animal. Other Stouts and Porters just aren't the same as Guinness, but worth a try as well.

Look for "Kolsch" style beers. You may like those as well.

Go to a decent bar and try what they have on tap.

brandotheninjamaster

Uncle Long wrote: »

If you are just getting into the beer scene then be sure to try some of the darker beers as well. Try Guinness at least twice; it is it's own animal. Other Stouts and Porters just aren't the same as Guinness, but worth a try as well.

Look for "Kolsch" style beers. You may like those as well.

Go to a decent bar and try what they have on tap.

Guinness = win. It is for the most part the only beer that I drink.

ShimSham

I'm a big, big fan of dark beers, but for some reason Guinness Extra Stout didn't do it for me.

My big favorite dark beer though, and something I'd recommend is Heineken Dark Lager. It's kind of hard to find though.

Evander

New Castle Brown Ale (I know it's already been said, but it bears repeating.)

oldsak

casper_27d wrote: »

I am a big fan of Shiner Boch, or Shiner Blonde. Also Sam Adams Cherry Wheat(yeah its kinda girly but I like it)

I love Shiner. Sadly, it's not available in NY and I'm guessing it'd be hard to find at best in NJ.

There are a lot of great suggestions listed, what you should really do is find an ale house that has a variety of beer on tap so you can try different approaches to beer and see what you like about each.

Nitsuj82

brandotheninjamaster wrote: »

Uncle Long wrote: »

If you are just getting into the beer scene then be sure to try some of the darker beers as well. Try Guinness at least twice; it is it's own animal. Other Stouts and Porters just aren't the same as Guinness, but worth a try as well.

Look for "Kolsch" style beers. You may like those as well.

Go to a decent bar and try what they have on tap.

Guinness = win. It is for the most part the only beer that I drink.

There are better stouts than Guiness, and in my opinion, it's kind of a bland beer. St. Peter's stout can be found at Whole Foods, and is FANTASTIC. For a mass-produced beer, Guiness is okay. At least it gives you street cred :P. I would wholeheartedly agree that it should be tried twice though since many people don't like it the first time. It has a slight roasted flavor, but pales in comparison to Porter (Fuller's London Porter is a favorite of mine).

I have a beer snob streak in me, and these threads occasionally get under my skin, but as long as you guys are drinking beers, it's all good. Just don't limit yourself to common brews or to certain types.

Shogun

Sam Adams Light.

EliteLamer

I like Sam Adams Porter but I hate guiness.

RichardTauber

EliteLamer wrote: »

I like Sam Adams Porter but I hate guiness.

That's the way to get gangsta.

ShimSham

Sam Adams Honey Porter is pretty great. Heavy but sort of sweet.

Trowizilla

I like the Rogue beers a lot, particularly the Hazelnut Brown and Shakespeare Stout. Smuttynose also makes tasty, tasty beers. I really like their Hanami Ale; it's a little girly, but whoever said that was a bad thing? Black Dog Honey Raspberry Ale is also delicious.

cyphr

The best beer I've tried yet is Chimay Ale, specifically the Red. Trappist ale, meaning it's brewed by monks in a monastery (these guys are in Belgium). A bit of a fruity aroma, not terribly bitter, and it has some spiciness that is really just delicious. It's getting more popular too, it seems, so check it out if you get a chance.

I also had a really good dark "Scottish" ale called Robert the Bruce, by Three Floyds Brewery in Indiana. Lots of caramel.

webguy20

I'd vote guiness too, but only draught. Out of a can it's terrible, at least in my opinion, though it can be used for great effect in car bombs.

If at all possible try Rogue Breweries Dead Guy Ale. Its delicious, its a west coast micro though so I don't know how easy itll be to get. Same with Widmer's Snowplow ale, its a seasonal brew thats quite tasty.

Boutros

New Jersay is near Delaware, so you can probably find a lot of Dogfish Head's beers. They are most famous for their IPAs but they make a number of other styles.

EliteLamer

Anyone have blueberry beer? It really tastes like blue berries.

Malkor

Boutros wrote: »

New Jersay is near Delaware, so you can probably find a lot of Dogfish Head's beers. They are most famous for their IPAs but they make a number of other styles.

Yes. Dogfish head is great, and they make alot of beer and send it all over New England, New York, and NJ. There's also the Brooklyn Brewery they make a good Hefeweizen and Brown Ale, plus they have a great happy hour.

noobert

Rite now i am drinking a Westmalle Trappist Triple beer.

It tasts amazing, strong with a slightly painful burn. I assume that is because it is 9.5%!!! Alc content. I Strongly suggest you give it a try, I'm falling in love.

Edit: All gone Will edit again with my thoughts on "Blanche De Chambly"

Holy shit this beer is amazing, think of hoegaarden but more furity. It's so smooth, made by a company called "Unibroue" in Quebec. Should be easy fo you yankies to get a hold of, and i strongly suggest you do.

Hayasa

Drink Hoegaarden until you realise its excellent.