Trying Some New Beers

[Sanfran327]

I've gotten sick of plopping down and having three or four Miller Lites while I'm home watching the O's games, so I've been trying to branch out a little bit recently. None of the beers I'm trying are new or obscure by any stretch, but they're new to me, so I guess that's all that matters. Here are a few that I've tried in the last month or so:

Newcastle - loved it. Good chance it's made it's way into my regular rotation.
Longboard
Shocktop
Blue Moon
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sam Adams Hefewiezen
Sam Adams Boston Ale
Harp
Magic Hat
Budweiser American Ale
Peroni

What are some of your favorite beers that I have to try out? I'd like to keep a six pack under $10, but if it's a pretty exeptional beer, I'd go for it.

[backwardsk]

I've gotten sick of plopping down and having three or four Miller Lites while I'm home watching the O's games, so I've been trying to branch out a little bit recently. None of the beers I'm trying are new or obscure by any stretch, but they're new to me, so I guess that's all that matters. Here are a few that I've tried in the last month or so:

Newcastle - loved it. Good chance it's made it's way into my regular rotation.
Longboard
Shocktop
Blue Moon
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sam Adams Hefewiezen
Sam Adams Boston Ale
Harp
Magic Hat
Budweiser American Ale
Peroni

What are some of your favorite beers that I have to try out? I'd like to keep a six pack under $10, but if it's a pretty exeptional beer, I'd go for it.

If I'm going to put away a six pack while watching a game at home, my new go-to has been Shiner Bock.

[KansasO'sFan]

I've gotten sick of plopping down and having three or four Miller Lites while I'm home watching the O's games, so I've been trying to branch out a little bit recently. None of the beers I'm trying are new or obscure by any stretch, but they're new to me, so I guess that's all that matters. Here are a few that I've tried in the last month or so:

Newcastle - loved it. Good chance it's made it's way into my regular rotation.
Longboard
Shocktop
Blue Moon
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sam Adams Hefewiezen
Sam Adams Boston Ale
Harp
Magic Hat
Budweiser American Ale
Peroni

What are some of your favorite beers that I have to try out? I'd like to keep a six pack under $10, but if it's a pretty exeptional beer, I'd go for it.

Not sure if it's distributed where you're at, but I'm a pretty big fan of Boulevard Wheat.

If I'm going to put away a six pack while watching a game at home, my new go-to has been Shiner Bock.

Hell yeah! Shiner Bock is where it's at.

[backwardsk]

[QUOTE=KansasO'sFan;1704541]Not sure if it's distributed where you're at, but I'm a pretty big fan of Boulevard Wheat.



Hell yeah! Shiner Bock is where it's at.[/QUOTE]

You can thank the good people at Austin Grill for turning me on to that beer.

[TJ Wrangler]

Get yourself some Czechvar, you won't regret it.

I'd also recommend trying more of the Sierra Nevada products.

[bobmc]

I've gotten sick of plopping down and having three or four Miller Lites while I'm home watching the O's games, so I've been trying to branch out a little bit recently. None of the beers I'm trying are new or obscure by any stretch, but they're new to me, so I guess that's all that matters. Here are a few that I've tried in the last month or so:

Newcastle - loved it. Good chance it's made it's way into my regular rotation.
Longboard
Shocktop
Blue Moon
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sam Adams Hefewiezen
Sam Adams Boston Ale
Harp
Magic Hat
Budweiser American Ale
Peroni

What are some of your favorite beers that I have to try out? I'd like to keep a six pack under $10, but if it's a pretty exeptional beer, I'd go for it.

I prefer draft beer and like both Shock Top and Blue Moon from the tap, but not more than 3 or so at a time . I like Magic Hat and Peroni on tap.

For some odd reason, I like the Foster's oil can - first beer always goes down fast when thirsty, so 22 oz. is just right. Also, oddly, I really like Rolling Rock. I've drunk it for some forty years and always go back to it when searching for an alternative to light beers like Ultra, Lite, Bud Select, etc.

Since blueberryale has her fixation, I asked her about the BB ales (her recs: Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale. The other two good ones that are pretty widely available are Sea Dog Blue Paw (Portland, ME) and Sweetwater Blue (Atlanta) and actually like one of those Maine beers (Bar Harbor) for a change of pace. It's an acquired taste but not bad every once in a while. On tap is best, but it does come bottled.

Some others I like are Presidente from the DR, Jamaican Red Stripe and of course, Stella Artois. It's amazing how my taste changes even from beer to beer. I'll never be simply a Bud, Lite, Corona or one-beer man "connoisseur".

[ledzepp8]

Newcastle - loved it. Good chance it's made it's way into my regular rotation.
Longboard
Shocktop
Blue Moon
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sam Adams Hefewiezen
Sam Adams Boston Ale
Harp
Magic Hat
Budweiser American Ale
Peroni

I just tried Newcastle recently and it's some really good stuff.

Blue Moon is another staple of mine, as is Sierra Nevada. Try the Sierra Nevada Wheat Beer too if you haven't already.

I'm not a big Sam Adams fan. Never had Harp. Pretty much any Magic Hat is good...#9, Circus Boy, Jinx, whatev.

I really basically despise anything from Budweiser...haha. Never heard of Peroni.

Some you should try:

If you're in to IPAs then you could try Dogfish Head. Flying Dog makes a pretty good pale ale.

I don't know if you have Starr Hill where you are, it's brewed in Charlottesville. But it is real good and they have a few varieties: pale ale, IPA, wheat, etc.

I don't know...that's all I can think of at the moment. I love trying new beers though. Oh yeah...Stella Artois is pretty good...kind of expensive though.

[mweb]

As others have said, some of the other Sierra Nevada beers are also good.

Bass is a good choice since you like Newcastle.

I love IPA's, but most don't, try one if you haven't though. Not sure if they're available where you are, but Marin Brewing Company White Knuckle Double IPA, Big Daddy, Stone, and Lagunitas would be my choices, in that order. As LZ mentioned, Dogfish Head is also solid as is the new Sierra Nevada IPA.

Pyramid and Sea Dog's Apricot beers are great imo.

Many of Sam Adams beers are also quite good.

Another one of my favorites is Bohemia.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Summer Ale is back baby!!!

[Moose Milligan]

Resident Beer Snob McNulty will be arriving shortly.

[McNulty]

Anything in the Samuel Smith family is outstanding (a little pricey). The Oatmeal Stout is a favorite of mine.

If you like hoppy stuff, go with Dogfish 90. They make a mean Indian Brown Ale also.

Great Divide makes a money IPA, and Sierra Nevada's Torpedo is vastly superior to the regular IPA.

If you like Reds, try Red Seal Ale. Reds, however, are some of the easiest for a local brewery to make and make well. So feel free to try a local if you find one.

If you want the cadillac of beers, check out St Bernardus ABT 12. 10.5 abv and its soooo good. That one is 16 bucks for a 4 pack, but worth every penny. You are supposed to drink that one at about 50 degrees, but I enjoy it chilled (have a pint glass on stand by if you chill because it will overflow the bottle from time to time).

Stouts - I hear Smuttynose makes a top notch Stout (and Porter), but I have yet to find it down here. Its a VT beer, so it should be available up there. Old Rasputin Imperial Stout is awesome, and usually 7-8 bucks for a 4 pack (if you ever find a beer that's sold in a 4 pack, chances are its outstanding). Sam Smith makes a mean imperial stout as well.

I've tried just about everything (and I truly mean that). If you want to splurge on something but are hesitant, hit me up on a PM and I'll give you my 2 cents.

Also, all of these should be available at your local Total Wine. Do a little research before hand and your beer quality will go way up. You'll laugh at the days when you thought Miller Lite was anything close to "good".

Lastly, a lot of beer snobs actually bag on Newcastle for its inconsistentcy. I enjoy it a ton as well...but Shocktop and Blue Moon are trash beers IMO. If you want a Belgian style, pick up Hennipin from Ommegang outta Cooperstown. The first thing I'd try is that St Bernardus. Enjoy.

[Moose Milligan]

That was the Beer Snob Minute hosted by OriolesHangout.com's very own McNulty.

[sdmarkakis]

My suggestion would be to head over to beeradvocate.com and register today... great site filled with good info and a huge database with every beer in existance and reviews... also forums with lots of useful information.

[Crazysilver03]

I have fallen in love with Dos Equis (XX) Amber. Their ale isn't bad, but I like their amber better.

Also, if you get a chance, try King Fisher and Royal Challenge. I had both when I was in India and they are good. Also, go for some Strong Bow. I had it in London. It is a apple cider beer.

[McNulty]

My suggestion would be to head over to beeradvocate.com and register today... great site filled with good info and a huge database with every beer in existance and reviews... also forums with lots of useful information.

+1. I'm on that site all the time. Do a forum search for "session beers" if you want suggestions.

Also, Sam Smith is completely different than Sam Adams. Adams makes great stuff (with the exception of their flagship beer). I'd list my regular (non-bock and individually bottled stuff) favorites in this order: Summer, Octoberfest, Cream Stout, Boston Ale (red label), Hefe, then whatever.

Adams is easy to fall in love with for a while, but since its easily found, I'd start elsewhere. The first thing you need to do is find what style of beer you like and dislike.