American Beer

[Indecline]

My husband likes a lot of micro-brews. Budweiser is to American beer as Spam is to Pork chops.

..you mean "America is to beer as Spam is to Pork chops", yes?

As far as I'm concerned, if you want a good beer in the US- head for the Canadian border.

[Lacadaemon]

I thought I acknowledged that employment isn't rising... but yeah, I agree that we likely won't see what was considered the "normal" US economy, as it was really just inflated by borrowing anyway.

Sry. I misread what you posted.

But yeah, you can't cure fake borrowing with more fake borrowing. Once the geo-political losses have been apportioned then it is poverty time. Why do you think the big investment houses are pulling so much money out into their pockets right now?

[Hairless Kitten II]

??? Wahahaha! Uk doesn't have good beer.

Best beer in the world mate. And seafood. Sorry you can't see that.

Every company can say that they have probably the best beer in the world, but the actual best beer is Belgian: Westvleteren

http://www.trappistwestvleteren.be/eng/brouwerij.htm

[RoI3]

You want Spitfire or Bishop's Finger or atleast something Dutch or German. American beer is just wrong.

[Lacadaemon]

Okay, so why can't you find good coffee in the U.K.? Just 'because'? I assumed there was a reason. Like... tea is more popular, so the coffee industry isn't as strong. Are you saying there's no reason for it whatsoever? As for wine, I'd imagine climate plays quite a role in that, doesn't it?

I wasn't actually saying our sodas were great, I was trying to think of something that would be more popular than beer and thus have a stronger industry. But good to know you don't like our sodas. I hope no one's forcing you to drink them.

I don't know the metaphysical reason why you can't find good coffee in the UK. It's not like people don't drink it, it just isn't very good. And yet UK-ians are quite happy with the poor coffee state of affairs. They even have little coffee houses and everything, but it's all bad really. I am sure there are a few places where there is good coffee, I just haven't found one. So I put it down to the same problem with beer in the US: no market for decent coffee.

In the UK wine was problematic for a long time owing to the import duties which discouraged consumption. So nobody drank enough (at least en masse) to actually get any decent wines into the country. One could, of course, import privately. And all decent schools gave wine lessons. But I digress... The point is there was no market whatsoever for wine so it was rubbish,

And as for american sodas... all I have to say is Alba an aigh.

[Lacadaemon]

Every company can say that they have probably the best beer in the world, but the actual best beer is Belgian: Westvleteren

http://www.trappistwestvleteren.be/eng/brouwerij.htm

Bah, and pooh. Cameron's Strongarm is the best beer in the world. Because I say so. And so does Tom Jones.

[Lord Tothe]

I generally don't drink beer, but I'll throw in my 2 cents:

Miller: horrible
Sam Adams Boston Lager: good
Kokanee: not bad
Blue Moon summer ale: not bad

My alcoholic preference is hard cider, though.

[Ryadn]

Okay, so why can't you find good coffee in the U.K.? Just 'because'? I assumed there was a reason. Like... tea is more popular, so the coffee industry isn't as strong. Are you saying there's no reason for it whatsoever? As for wine, I'd imagine climate plays quite a role in that, doesn't it?

I wasn't actually saying our sodas were great, I was trying to think of something that would be more popular than beer and thus have a stronger industry. But good to know you don't like our sodas. I hope no one's forcing you to drink them.

I don't know the metaphysical reason why you can't find good coffee in the UK. It's not like people don't drink it, it just isn't very good. And yet UK-ians are quite happy with the poor coffee state of affairs. They even have little coffee houses and everything, but it's all bad really. I am sure there are a few places where there is good coffee, I just haven't found one. So I put it down to the same problem with beer in the US: no market for decent coffee.

In the UK wine was problematic for a long time owing to the import duties which discouraged consumption. So nobody drank enough (at least en masse) to actually get any decent wines into the country. One could, of course, import privately. And all decent schools gave wine lessons. But I digress... The point is there was no market whatsoever for wine so it was rubbish,

And as for american sodas... all I have to say is Alba an aigh.

Okay, you can say that, as long as you know that I have no idea what it means.

[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.

Can't find it easily? I work at the place that has the largest beer menu on the east coast, with 112 beers on tap and 450 bottles.

Good or great American breweries? Sam Adams, Harpoon, Magic Hat, Boulder, Fat Tire, Pretty Things, Hooker, Dogfish Head, Anchor, Sierra Nevada, Victory, Wolavers, Otter Creek...each has at least one beer that would match, if not beat, European beers in a taste test. And yes, Sam and Harpoon are available on every tap list in Boston, with Magic Hat being readily available, and every other being available in the nearest liquor store.

[Sarkhaan]

Okay, so why can't you find good coffee in the U.K.? Just 'because'? I assumed there was a reason. Like... tea is more popular, so the coffee industry isn't as strong. Are you saying there's no reason for it whatsoever? As for wine, I'd imagine climate plays quite a role in that, doesn't it?

I wasn't actually saying our sodas were great, I was trying to think of something that would be more popular than beer and thus have a stronger industry. But good to know you don't like our sodas. I hope no one's forcing you to drink them.

I don't know the metaphysical reason why you can't find good coffee in the UK. It's not like people don't drink it, it just isn't very good. And yet UK-ians are quite happy with the poor coffee state of affairs. They even have little coffee houses and everything, but it's all bad really. I am sure there are a few places where there is good coffee, I just haven't found one. So I put it down to the same problem with beer in the US: no market for decent coffee.

In the UK wine was problematic for a long time owing to the import duties which discouraged consumption. So nobody drank enough (at least en masse) to actually get any decent wines into the country. One could, of course, import privately. And all decent schools gave wine lessons. But I digress... The point is there was no market whatsoever for wine so it was rubbish,

And as for american sodas... all I have to say is Alba an aigh.

No market for good beer? That's why, on a Sunday night, I can still pull in $100, while every other bar employee in the area is pulling in maybe $50, at best?

Yeah. There is a HUGE market for beer in the US...be it macro, micro, or craft. There are breweries that blow the minds of the big European brewmasters. How do I know this? Because I serve them. For every Budweiser or Bud Light, there are a dozen other micro and craft brews that at the very least match their European counterparts. Not to mention the birth of American styles like the American IPA.

[Lackadaisical2]

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.

Can't find it easily? I work at the place that has the largest beer menu on the east coast, with 112 beers on tap and 450 bottles.

Good or great American breweries? Sam Adams, Harpoon, Magic Hat, Boulder, Fat Tire, Pretty Things, Hooker, Dogfish Head, Anchor, Sierra Nevada, Victory, Wolavers, Otter Creek...each has at least one beer that would match, if not beat, European beers in a taste test. And yes, Sam and Harpoon are available on every tap list in Boston, with Magic Hat being readily available, and every other being available in the nearest liquor store.

I can vouch for half of those beers being available outside of Boston, as well. The ones I recognize are quite good. But, they are less available than the shitty beers that for some god awful reason are more popular, they really aren't even that much more expensive than the shitty beers.

[Ryadn]

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.

Can't find it easily? I work at the place that has the largest beer menu on the east coast, with 112 beers on tap and 450 bottles.

Good or great American breweries? Sam Adams, Harpoon, Magic Hat, Boulder, Fat Tire, Pretty Things, Hooker, Dogfish Head, Anchor, Sierra Nevada, Victory, Wolavers, Otter Creek...each has at least one beer that would match, if not beat, European beers in a taste test. And yes, Sam and Harpoon are available on every tap list in Boston, with Magic Hat being readily available, and every other being available in the nearest liquor store.

Hell, I'm struggling to think of a place on this coast that doesn't have Sam Adams, though not often on tap---but every bar I can think of has at least Anchor Steam or Sierra Nevada on tap.

[RoI3]

My husband likes a lot of micro-brews. Budweiser is to American beer as Spam is to Pork chops.

..you mean "America is to beer as Spam is to Pork chops", yes?

As far as I'm concerned, if you want a good beer in the US- head for the Canadian border.

Do you not import over there?

[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.

Can't find it easily? I work at the place that has the largest beer menu on the east coast, with 112 beers on tap and 450 bottles.

Good or great American breweries? Sam Adams, Harpoon, Magic Hat, Boulder, Fat Tire, Pretty Things, Hooker, Dogfish Head, Anchor, Sierra Nevada, Victory, Wolavers, Otter Creek...each has at least one beer that would match, if not beat, European beers in a taste test. And yes, Sam and Harpoon are available on every tap list in Boston, with Magic Hat being readily available, and every other being available in the nearest liquor store.

Hell, I'm struggling to think of a place on this coast that doesn't have Sam Adams, though not often on tap---but every bar I can think of has at least Anchor Steam or Sierra Nevada on tap.

I will admit to being spoiled...we have beers from around the world on tap. But even random bars in the area...the minimum is Bud Light, Harpoon IPA, and Sam Boston Lager. Other common standbys are Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Magic Hat #9, Sam seasonal, Guinness...really decent beers. I actually can't think of a single bar in my area that doesn't have at least one Harpoon and one Sam Adams on tap.

[Lacadaemon]

Okay, so why can't you find good coffee in the U.K.? Just 'because'? I assumed there was a reason. Like... tea is more popular, so the coffee industry isn't as strong. Are you saying there's no reason for it whatsoever? As for wine, I'd imagine climate plays quite a role in that, doesn't it?

I wasn't actually saying our sodas were great, I was trying to think of something that would be more popular than beer and thus have a stronger industry. But good to know you don't like our sodas. I hope no one's forcing you to drink them.

I don't know the metaphysical reason why you can't find good coffee in the UK. It's not like people don't drink it, it just isn't very good. And yet UK-ians are quite happy with the poor coffee state of affairs. They even have little coffee houses and everything, but it's all bad really. I am sure there are a few places where there is good coffee, I just haven't found one. So I put it down to the same problem with beer in the US: no market for decent coffee.

In the UK wine was problematic for a long time owing to the import duties which discouraged consumption. So nobody drank enough (at least en masse) to actually get any decent wines into the country. One could, of course, import privately. And all decent schools gave wine lessons. But I digress... The point is there was no market whatsoever for wine so it was rubbish,

And as for american sodas... all I have to say is Alba an aigh.

No market for good beer? That's why, on a Sunday night, I can still pull in $100, while every other bar employee in the area is pulling in maybe $50, at best?

Yeah. There is a HUGE market for beer in the US...be it macro, micro, or craft. There are breweries that blow the minds of the big European brewmasters. How do I know this? Because I serve them. For every Budweiser or Bud Light, there are a dozen other micro and craft brews that at the very least match their European counterparts. Not to mention the birth of American styles like the American IPA.

Look, I never said that no good beer existed in the US. It is just hard to find. And you can't go by name either. Many (most) places don't have the cellaring or the capacity to keep beer in good nick, so it is inevitably shitty when it is dispensed. (It goes through too much temperature shock &c). So yes, people drink it, and they waste money on it. But it really isn't very good. That's all. Having a proper cellar is the first part, which very few places in the US do. Then turnover &c.

Most people in the US don't send back corked wine either. Doesn't mean they don't drink and pay for it - or that there isn't a market.

[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.

Can't find it easily? I work at the place that has the largest beer menu on the east coast, with 112 beers on tap and 450 bottles.

Good or great American breweries? Sam Adams, Harpoon, Magic Hat, Boulder, Fat Tire, Pretty Things, Hooker, Dogfish Head, Anchor, Sierra Nevada, Victory, Wolavers, Otter Creek...each has at least one beer that would match, if not beat, European beers in a taste test. And yes, Sam and Harpoon are available on every tap list in Boston, with Magic Hat being readily available, and every other being available in the nearest liquor store.

I can vouch for half of those beers being available outside of Boston, as well. The ones I recognize are quite good. But, they are less available than the shitty beers that for some god awful reason are more popular, they really aren't even that much more expensive than the shitty beers.

Less available than Bud, Coors, Busch, Pabst, and the other macros? Yes. Why? Well, there's a very good reason that they are macros and not micros. Part of it is that people don't understand bang for the buck. My local bar offers Bud Light for $3. They offer Harpoon IPA for $4-5. Bud light is cheaper, clearly. However, for the same 16 oz glass, I'm getting somewhere around 3% alcohol by volume, rather than 5-7% abv for an IPA. That extra dollar per glass is actually saving me money.

[Intangelon]

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.

Seek thee out the microbrew.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I'm not an avid beer drinker and most of the beer made in the US isn't exactly, to my taste buds, the best. But I must admit that Samuel Adams Light and Winter ale are both quite good. Also, when I was visitin my SO in FL he let me try Killians' Irish Red. Very tasty.

My palette tends to lean towards Mexican beer like Tecate, Corona and Negra Modelo. I also have a healthy respect for Cerveza Presidente, from the Dominican Republic.

[Yootopia]

I recently tried Budweiser for the first time

Wat is de overeenkomst tussen Budweiser en seks in een kano?

Neukend dichtbij water...

[JarVik]

What do people for the US think of domestic beers?

Honestly I don't

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.

Well while I commend you for drinking Canadian beers, I'd recomend you branch out and try a few different things besides the usual common lagers. You might find a decent local or regional micro brew thats nice and not too pricey. If you have to buy your beer from the grocery store than I realize your choices are likely limited so do a google for breweries in your area and visit some. You'll probably get free tasties



Hmnn reminds of an experience I had once.

Waitress: Would you like a beer to start with?

Me: Sure what do you got?

Waitress: All kinds.

Me: All kinds?

Waitress: Yes.

Me: Cool, I have a pint of Double dimond then.

Waitress: Er we don't have that.

Me: Ok Got any Boddingtons or Wellington brews?

Waitress: No

Me: Ok how about Kilkenny or Carlsberg then?

Waitress: No.

Me: How about Moose head or Sleeman's HoneyBrown?

Waitress: No.

Me: Ok what DO you HAVE?!

Waitress: Blue, Canadian, Coors, Bud and 50.

Me: And that's all kinds?!?

Waitress: Yeah, thats all anyones ever wanted. Never heard of most of what you mentioned.

Me: I'll have the 50 then..

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Bitburger or Budweiser. they taste about the same.

Wait, Budweiser has a taste?

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

I'm lucky in that Yuengling is available here. They make both a lager and a porter variety.

[Parthenon]

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

[Sarkhaan]

Okay, so why can't you find good coffee in the U.K.? Just 'because'? I assumed there was a reason. Like... tea is more popular, so the coffee industry isn't as strong. Are you saying there's no reason for it whatsoever? As for wine, I'd imagine climate plays quite a role in that, doesn't it?

I wasn't actually saying our sodas were great, I was trying to think of something that would be more popular than beer and thus have a stronger industry. But good to know you don't like our sodas. I hope no one's forcing you to drink them.

I don't know the metaphysical reason why you can't find good coffee in the UK. It's not like people don't drink it, it just isn't very good. And yet UK-ians are quite happy with the poor coffee state of affairs. They even have little coffee houses and everything, but it's all bad really. I am sure there are a few places where there is good coffee, I just haven't found one. So I put it down to the same problem with beer in the US: no market for decent coffee.

In the UK wine was problematic for a long time owing to the import duties which discouraged consumption. So nobody drank enough (at least en masse) to actually get any decent wines into the country. One could, of course, import privately. And all decent schools gave wine lessons. But I digress... The point is there was no market whatsoever for wine so it was rubbish,

And as for american sodas... all I have to say is Alba an aigh.

No market for good beer? That's why, on a Sunday night, I can still pull in $100, while every other bar employee in the area is pulling in maybe $50, at best?

Yeah. There is a HUGE market for beer in the US...be it macro, micro, or craft. There are breweries that blow the minds of the big European brewmasters. How do I know this? Because I serve them. For every Budweiser or Bud Light, there are a dozen other micro and craft brews that at the very least match their European counterparts. Not to mention the birth of American styles like the American IPA.

Look, I never said that no good beer existed in the US. It is just hard to find. And you can't go by name either. Many (most) places don't have the cellaring or the capacity to keep beer in good nick, so it is inevitably shitty when it is dispensed. (It goes through too much temperature shock &c). So yes, people drink it, and they waste money on it. But it really isn't very good. That's all. Having a proper cellar is the first part, which very few places in the US do. Then turnover &c.

Most people in the US don't send back corked wine either. Doesn't mean they don't drink and pay for it - or that there isn't a market.

Having a cellar isn't all that difficult...a keg just needs a 40 degree cooler, bottles the same. Any bar or restaurant should have absolutly no problem with this. Kegs and bottles are transported in refridgerated trucks, delivered to the restaurant, placed into the coolers, and tapped when needed...bottles from most micros can be returned after they are past their prime for a free replacement. Really, I have never seen a single restaurant that can't handle the proper storage and service of at least one keg.

You might have an argument with cleaning keg lines, but I've rarely seen a place that doesn't clean them at least once a month, with the vast majority cleaning them every 14 days. Breweries are also very careful with their product, ensuring that the places that carry their beers handle the product properly. So yes, there is a huge market for good beer in the US, and yes, it can be and frequently is served properly. I know of no bar or restaurant with alcohol service in New England that doesn't carry either Harpoon IPA or Sam Adams Boston Lager, and in every establishment, be it large corporate places like TGI Fridays and Ruby Tuesdays, small independent places in the cities, or dive bars in the middle of New Hampshire, the product has been remarkably consistant. In fact, there has only been one place I have gone to that I will not order a draft beer because of poorly maintained lines.

[Sarkhaan]

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.