The Ale Thread

[WSmith]

Thank you, Stuart. I was starting to think I was the only guy in the world who likes Hobgoblin.

www.wychwood.com

[Flambeaux]

I, too, am fond of Hobgoblin. Although I like Jacobite Ale better, generally speaking.

Has anyone else around here tried Maredsous?

[dcs]

I like Jacobite Ale

Jacobite Ale! What a charming name. Long live the Stewart Kings!!

[Wes]

Holy crikey! I've never heard of 90% of these. Am I that unsophisticated? I like my beer like I like my women, cheap and light.

[Thoth Amon]

I like mine like I like my women - dark and with a bite!

[olaberg]

I like mine like I like my women - dark and with a bite!

And coming from Wychwood...

[Philotomy Jurament]

I like mine like I like my women - dark and with a bite!

I like mine tasty and intoxicating. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the importance of good head, too.

[Thoth Amon]

I had some brew last night I've never tried before - Belhaven Scottish Ale, I think it was called. It came in a 4-can pack, each can being a pint.

[northrundicandus]

I had Corona in a can once.

It was not a pleasant experience.

[TRP]

I had Corona in a can once.

It was not a pleasant experience.

I hear that. Musta been a bitch to get her in there.

[Flambeaux]

Thoth Amon,

My roomie in college, a giant blonde rugger we nicknamed Thor, introduced me to Belhaven Scottish and Belhaven St. Andrew's ales. I enjoyed them enough that they became my primary ale of choice in undergraduate.

I'm glad to hear that someone else has discovered them.

Very good stuff.

[Casey777]

Some good ones so far.

Fraoch Heather Ale
Tanners Jack is IMO better than Speckled Hen (which is still good); more costly though
Trappist Ales if they've not sat on the shelf too long
Bass and various Sam Adams aren't bad and are almost always available fresh locally

[Kramer]

I brewed myself up some Barley Wine a couple years back. Man, that stuff had kick (for home brew). Alcohol content was damned near 18% (don't know about you lot, but that's powerful strong for me).

If I'm not brewing my own, I like Pelican Pub brews (out of Cape Kiwanda, OR.). Their Scottish Ale and Cream Ale are simply yummy (wish I lived closer to them, now I have myself in a mood for it, and the pub's about 5 hours from my house).

Back in college, one of my buddies and I had a specialty drink; go to Denny's Restaraunt (back when the bar in each one was called "The Amigo Room"), order up a pitcher of Budweiser, and glass of half-and-half. Dump the half-and-half into the pitcher, and watch it coagulate. Once the cream looked like cottage cheese, it's party time!

...yeah, I know...but we were in college and cheap thrills were all we could afford.

[Kramer]

These should be served at room temperature. It's okay to drink some blonde mass-produced German crap chilled, but if you're drinking proper ale, putting it in the fridge should be a capital crime.

I got the barmaid at one my local dives to keep a stash of Guiness under the bar. So, I always have my personal supply ready, and kept perfectly at room temp...just for me. Americans (as a rule, in my experience) think room temp beer is gross. However, having worked with a right fine chap back in Los Angeles (London born, I believe, but I could be mistaken in that), and it was he who taught me the pleasures of a good tepid stout...smooooooooth...

To this day, with the exception of light beers (color, not calorie), all my brews are kept at room temp.

[dcs]

I like mine cold but not ice cold. Maybe 50° F or thereabouts.

I don't like the practice of keeping beer glasses in the freezer. Someone did that to me once with a pint of Guinness!