American Beer

[JarVik]

Americans make some of the finest beers on earth. You just won't find any of them at Wal-Mart.

Still, the greatest beer in the world right now is La Fin Du Monde. So Canada wins the gold medal anyway.

I quite like their Maudite aswell. The flying canoe is great imagery for selling alcohol and its tasty too.

[Barzan]

Americans make some of the finest beers on earth. You just won't find any of them at Wal-Mart.

You can buy beer at Wal-Mart?

[Tsa-la-gi Nation]

Americans make some of the finest beers on earth. You just won't find any of them at Wal-Mart.

You can buy beer at Wal-Mart?

Soon you will be able to get groceries, household good, buy tires, see an eye doctor, a regular doctor, & live on top of all walmarts.

[Barzan]

Americans make some of the finest beers on earth. You just won't find any of them at Wal-Mart.

You can buy beer at Wal-Mart?

Soon you will be able to get groceries, household good, buy tires, see an eye doctor, a regular doctor, & live on top of all walmarts.

*shivers in disgust*

[Lord Tothe]

Americans make some of the finest beers on earth. You just won't find any of them at Wal-Mart.

You can buy beer at Wal-Mart?

Soon you will be able to get groceries, household good, buy tires, see an eye doctor, a regular doctor, & live on top of all walmarts.

I live about 10 miles from a wal-mart that includes an extensive grocery department including alcohol.

[Linux and the X]

I recently tried Budweiser

Nah, you tried "Budweiser". Proper Budweiser comes from České Budějovice ("Budweis" in German), located in the Southern Bohemian region of the Czech Republic.

[Melkor Unchained]

If Budweiser is the 'King of Beers,' it must be Richard III.

But seriously (as has been pointed out) America makes some damn fine beers; it's just that they tend to be regional/local microbrews. Pretty much anything with a multimillion dollar ad campaign is going to suck. My current American favorites are Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale (both modeled after beers from across the pond, but hey), Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barelywine-style Ale, Rogue Chocolate Stout, Stone Smoked Porter, Lagunitas "Censored" Copper Ale, and Yuengling's.

EDIT: (but Samuel Smith Taddy Porter is still the best goddamn beer ever brewed by mankind)

[Sarkhaan]

Another "all American beer sucks because once I drank a Budweiser and it sucked, and everyone knows it's the only beer sold in America (even though it's not American-owned anymore)" thread. Awesome. Let's pretend we argued good-naturedly for a few pages, I posted links to some of my favorite local brews like Buffalo Bill's and Trumer Brauerei, you countered that X equally obscure regional beer was superior simply because it's European, and we agreed to disagree.

Well that's really not the point though. I've no doubt that there is somewhere in the US where there is good beer, but you just can't find it easily. It doesn't have the tradition and culture that lends itself to that sort of thing, unlike the UK where good beer is relatively common.

But as I pointed out, you can't really get good coffee in the UK. Probably for much the same reason. Not that there is no good coffee in the UK. It's just not somewhere you'd go and look for it.

That would make more sense if beer wasn't popular in the U.S. because something else was drunk more often, as in the case of coffee and tea in the U.K., but I'm pretty sure beer is the alcoholic beverage of choice in the U.S. Maybe it's small potatoes compared to, like, our kickass soda industry?

Pop in the States is awful -- it's made with corn syrup, not sugar -- that makes it impossible for my thirst to be quenched with a pop in the US -- I only get more thirsty. And Lacadaemon's got a point -- you have to go out of your way in the States to get decent beer, whereas in Not America, most places have a wider selection -- even your local White Spot at least has a microbrew. I mean, let's be realistic -- what other country in the world sells "light" beer? Beer might be the most popular alcoholic beverage in the US, but most people don't bother drinking the real thing.

a) anything with sugar is going to dehydrate you. Drinking soda to rehydrate and "quench thirst" is about as effective as drinking a beer to do the same job.
As for decent beer, we have more berweries than any other country. It all depends where you go. States like Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Washington, Colorado, Delaware, Oregon, and California are going to have a decent selection of microbrews. Like I said, I have not been to a single bar in New England that doesn't offer at the very least Sam Adams or Harpoon. And yes, light beers are consumed around the world. And most of them are now manufactured by non-US companies: AB inbev, molsoncoors, and SAB Miller...all non-US companies. Bud Light is the most popular beer because it is easy to consume in large quantities, and light beers have powerful marketing. Most people don't understand that your best bang for buck beer is a double IPA (expensive, but high alcohol) instead of a BL (cheap, low alcohol, but "healthier" if you drink just one).

I don't know I rather like Molson... But I'd agree that Heiniken is shitty, another beer that I don't know why people like...

Well Molson is better than Budweiser, Miller or Coors. As for why people like Heiniken (or Becks for that matter), they like the "European" sounding name, and assume that it's better. (I remember reading a study about the value of Europe's name when it comes to marketing...)[/quote]

[Sarkhaan]

If Budweiser is the 'King of Beers,' it must be Richard III.

But seriously (as has been pointed out) America makes some damn fine beers; it's just that they tend to be regional/local microbrews. Pretty much anything with a multimillion dollar ad campaign is going to suck. My current American favorites are Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale (both modeled after beers from across the pond, but hey), Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barelywine-style Ale, Rogue Chocolate Stout, Stone Smoked Porter, Lagunitas "Censored" Copper Ale, and Yuengling's.

EDIT: (but Samuel Smith Taddy Porter is still the best goddamn beer ever brewed by mankind)

Normally, I'd say you're right. However, this years Stone one day beer (09-09-09, AKA Stone Vertical Epic) is nothing short of amazing. Seriously, hunt this beer down. It will be hard to find. It is released only for the one day, so you have just under 6 months to dig up a case. Do it. You'll be satisfied.

[Intangelon]

I would venture a guess that a lot of these comments on how bad American beer is are coming from kids below the drinking age that have only managed to try the bottom shelf macrobrews that they can manage to get their hands on. Hell, I bet most of them can't handle the taste of beer in general, domestic or foreign.


American Macro: Budlight/PBR
American Micro: Bluemoon/Bigboss
Mexican: Dos Equis Amber
Euro:Grolsch/New Castle

Blue Moon is a macro, produced by Coors.

Eh, I break down micro/macro based more so on availability rather than the distributor.

Translation: I don't know very much about good beer.

[Ryadn]

Americans make some of the finest beers on earth. You just won't find any of them at Wal-Mart.

Still, the greatest most drunk-making beer in the world right now is La Fin Du Monde. So Canada wins the gold medal anyway.

I think that's what you meant to say. After two glasses, who knows what it tastes like?

[The Parthians]

I recently tried Budweiser

Nah, you tried "Budweiser". Proper Budweiser comes from České Budějovice ("Budweis" in German), located in the Southern Bohemian region of the Czech Republic.

That's actually not bad at all... for a lighter beer. Good in the summer since it's pretty refreshing while also having a nice taste to it. Sold in the states as Czechvar due to Budweiser's ownership of the trademark in the States. Not that it would be a good idea to sell it under that name in the states since it would be confused with a vastly inferior product.

Still a dark beer fan though.

[JarVik]

Americans make some of the finest beers on earth. You just won't find any of them at Wal-Mart.

Still, the greatest most drunk-making beer in the world right now is La Fin Du Monde. So Canada wins the gold medal anyway.

I think that's what you meant to say. After two glasses, who knows what it tastes like?

After 2 glasses it tastes like more please!

And maybe I will have some food with my beer afterall, this tastes like it needs to go with something.

[JarVik]

Back on topic, I'd like to do a beer tour (of micro breweries) in the states one day.

While I've worked for a considerable time in the States in 2002, I was never in one spot for more than a week at a time so I generally never found a good local beer or place that serves such. Possible exception was Waterton? waterdown? NewYork, had several good dark beers there, but most others places I had time to stop at had the usual Bud, Busch, and Coors stuff.

Tangent question, I was given nasty looks and denied Beer with dinner on a "Sunday" in one or two small towns. How common is this in the states or did I just stumble into Jesusville?

[Melkor Unchained]

Back on topic, I'd like to do a beer tour (of micro breweries) in the states one day.

While I've worked for a considerable time in the States in 2002, I was never in one spot for more than a week at a time so I generally never found a good local beer or place that serves such. Possible exception was Waterton? waterdown? NewYork, had several good dark beers there, but most others places I had time to stop at had the usual Bud, Busch, and Coors stuff.

Tangent question, I was given nasty looks and denied Beer with dinner on a "Sunday" in one or two small towns. How common is this in the states or did I just stumble into Jesusville?

Jesusville, pretty much. Some places have statues against serving alcohol on Sundays, but it's less and less common these days. As recently as ten or fifteen years ago it was a lot more common than it is now, IIRC. Liquor stores still tend to stay closed on Sundays, but in most places you can still buy/order beer and wine.

[Eternal Mysteries]

What do people for the US think of domestic beers?

Honestly I think they suck, in most cases. I'd gladly drink Molson or Labatts before taking anything American. I recently tried Budweiser for the first time since I was like 13 due to me moving to another area where Canadian beers are less common. I can drink Miller light, and I rather like Yuengling, but Molson is my fav.

American beer is cheap crap over advertied for profit only. There are to many quality micro-brews and other good imports to to consume at reasonable pricing.

Don't lower yourself to drink American brewed garbage.

[Nerushimi Rus]

Haven't drank any alcohol in much quantity before, so, umm... no comment?

I think I just contradicted myself by posting here.

[Sarkhaan]

Back on topic, I'd like to do a beer tour (of micro breweries) in the states one day.

While I've worked for a considerable time in the States in 2002, I was never in one spot for more than a week at a time so I generally never found a good local beer or place that serves such. Possible exception was Waterton? waterdown? NewYork, had several good dark beers there, but most others places I had time to stop at had the usual Bud, Busch, and Coors stuff.

Tangent question, I was given nasty looks and denied Beer with dinner on a "Sunday" in one or two small towns. How common is this in the states or did I just stumble into Jesusville?

Old laws. Connecticut, you can't buy beer in liquor stores on Sunday...Massachusetts, they have reduced hours and you can't buy on certain holidays (Christmas, for example)...some towns are even still dry.

[Sarkhaan]

What do people for the US think of domestic beers?

Honestly I think they suck, in most cases. I'd gladly drink Molson or Labatts before taking anything American. I recently tried Budweiser for the first time since I was like 13 due to me moving to another area where Canadian beers are less common. I can drink Miller light, and I rather like Yuengling, but Molson is my fav.

American beer is cheap crap over advertied for profit only. There are to many quality micro-brews and other good imports to to consume at reasonable pricing.

Don't lower yourself to drink American brewed garbage.

Yet again...we have more microbrews than any other country. Claiming Budweiser or Busch (now produced by a Belgian company), Coors (produced by a Canadian company) or Miller (produced by a British company) are the only examples of American beers is not only inaccurate and wrong, but asinine.

[Zot109land]

i dont drink american beer because i come from belguim and its knonw for its beer ,chocolate and french fries

(i have a theory because its french fries and not belgian fries ,frech fries sounds better and the first fries where made by people in the french side of belguim )

[JarVik]

Back on topic, I'd like to do a beer tour (of micro breweries) in the states one day.

While I've worked for a considerable time in the States in 2002, I was never in one spot for more than a week at a time so I generally never found a good local beer or place that serves such. Possible exception was Waterton? waterdown? NewYork, had several good dark beers there, but most others places I had time to stop at had the usual Bud, Busch, and Coors stuff.

Tangent question, I was given nasty looks and denied Beer with dinner on a "Sunday" in one or two small towns. How common is this in the states or did I just stumble into Jesusville?

Jesusville, pretty much. Some places have statues against serving alcohol on Sundays, but it's less and less common these days. As recently as ten or fifteen years ago it was a lot more common than it is now, IIRC. Liquor stores still tend to stay closed on Sundays, but in most places you can still buy/order beer and wine.

Cool,

I can remember when Liquor stores here in Ontario used to have reduced hours leading up to Xmas and New years, in more recent years they've gone the opposite direction with expanded hours which seems more sensible to me. Helps spread the check out lines abit.

[Doctor Cyclops]

Back on topic, I'd like to do a beer tour (of micro breweries) in the states one day.

While I've worked for a considerable time in the States in 2002, I was never in one spot for more than a week at a time so I generally never found a good local beer or place that serves such. Possible exception was Waterton? waterdown? NewYork, had several good dark beers there, but most others places I had time to stop at had the usual Bud, Busch, and Coors stuff.

Tangent question, I was given nasty looks and denied Beer with dinner on a "Sunday" in one or two small towns. How common is this in the states or did I just stumble into Jesusville?

Laws banning the sale of alcohol on Sundays are called "Blue Laws" and I believe are most common in the south (Jesusville). They're slowly disappearing. In most bigger towns that still have laws like that you'll also likely find a restaurant exemption: if a place sells food on Sunday, it can also sell alcohol. This has the curious effect of turning bars into "bar & grills" that serve perfunctory (and often quite horrible) food just so they can concurrently sell alcohol.

[Zembrill]

For anyone that was interested, I looked it up and it turns out a fairly large portion of beer (including Guinness) are filtered through something called isinglass, which is basically a jelly made out of fish bladders.

This means that a good half of beers are not vegetarian or vegan friendly for any of you out there.

If they don't use the bladders, they use a type of moss.

Usually all of the stuff is removed before it's packaged etc., but occasionally a tiny bit will leak in.

[JarVik]

For anyone that was interested, I looked it up and it turns out a fairly large portion of beer (including Guinness) are filtered through something called isinglass, which is basically a jelly made out of fish bladders.

This means that a good half of beers are not vegetarian or vegan friendly for any of you out there.

If they don't use the bladders, they use a type of moss.

Usually all of the stuff is removed before it's packaged etc., but occasionally a tiny bit will leak in.

Common fining (clarifying) agent for wines aswell. Also commonly used is bentonnite clay similar to what they make kitty litter from. Egg whites is more oldschool for some wines, not sure if its used in beers at all.

For actual filtration fullers earth (dead algae with cell walls of glass) is common.

[Cameroi]

beer is a waste. american beer is a waste of a waste.
that being said, i think the microbrewry movement is/has a good positive spirt.

i just wish it were making something else i could think of a more positive
use/enjoyment for.