Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

[Whitekiboko]

Can you get them outside the city?

Hitachino is pretty easy to find.

I'm both personally and professionally biased, but I think Evil Twin's Justin Blabaer is equally great in both the beer and the label. I'd like it a bit more tart, but definitely good.

[Bakemaster]

Anybody familiar with this brewery? My grandmother keeps telling me about how her cousin (so, my something-something cousin something-removed) is this great successful brewer and that's his site.

[Azrael]

I have a nagging suspicion that I've had/seen Ursus & Dystopia on a tap list somewhere, but maybe not? I bet Dystopia is a somewhat common name.

Anyhow, BA seems to have good things to say

[Tomlidich the second]

sadly, in my goals to have a racing career, i have entirely given up drinking beer, though i do like it.

[Whitekiboko]

sadly, in my goals to have a racing career, i have entirely given up drinking beer, though i do like it.

Just observe the FAA rule, 8 hours bottle to throttle.

[Tomlidich the second]

sadly, in my goals to have a racing career, i have entirely given up drinking beer, though i do like it.

Just observe the FAA rule, 8 hours bottle to throttle.

i would, but its more of a dietary problem than one of soberness.

i still do occasionally enjoy my hard liquors and such but beer is, sadly, off menu.

[Whitekiboko]

i still do occasionally enjoy my hard liquors and such but beer is, sadly, off menu.

Oops, you didn't specify and I assumed something motorized.

[Tomlidich the second]

i still do occasionally enjoy my hard liquors and such but beer is, sadly, off menu.

Oops, you didn't specify and I assumed something motorized.

well, technically i AM the motor.

[TheAmazingRando]

Stone's coconut IPA collab with Rip Current (which is also probably my favorite new San Diego brewery) is pretty great if you ignore the fact that it tastes almost nothing like coconut. Apparently it came out a lot more in the trial batch, according to my friends who work there.

[roband]

I went on a brewery tour about 3 weeks ago and it was really cool. The brewery (Nobby's in Guilsborough, Northamptonshire) is now one of my favourites. Their Gold, Guzzler, T'owd Navigation (6% ) and Crystal are all incredibly enjoyable.

[Whitekiboko]

Why does 6% get the 'shocked' ?

[Azrael]

IIRC, he's pretty new to the whole "not pisswater" side of beer. The other two he lists are 3.6 & 4% respectively.

[Heisenberg]

Sometimes the alcohol can overwhelm the flavor, also. I tried Fat Head's Barrel Aged Baltic Porter last night, and it was delicious, with a nice rich flavor and a smoky finish, but the bite of the alcohol was a little too strong. I've enjoyed high alcohol beers and barleywines that have covered up that bite, but some beers just hit me hard enough that it impacts my enjoyment of the beverage.

I'm just trying to say that there's a balance between alcohol content and flavor that must be struck, and if I poured a shot of vodka into a Miller Lite, you'd probably too.

[freakish777]

I'm just trying to say that there's a balance between alcohol content and flavor that must be struck, and if I poured a shot of vodka into a Miller Lite, you'd probably too.

Who would prefer a Miller Lite to a shot of Vodka????

[Tomlidich the second]

I'm just trying to say that there's a balance between alcohol content and flavor that must be struck, and if I poured a shot of vodka into a Miller Lite, you'd probably too.

waste of a good shot of vodka.

[bigglesworth]

Nothing wrong with a pint (or several) of a good mild.

[roband]

IIRC, he's pretty new to the whole "not pisswater" side of beer. The other two he lists are 3.6 & 4% respectively.

By pisswater, do you just mean lagers? Because whilst that's certainly what I used to drink, there's nothing wrong with a lighter, weaker beer (like the others I listed).

The 6% was a shock to me because you can taste the strength. In other 6% beers, perhaps you wouldn't - but this is so far the strongest beer I've ever had (both in taste and alcohol content).

[Telchar]

Speaking of: I had a Trappist a while back. A St Bernardus, don't remember the #. Was visiting relatives in Eugene and they had a good little beer joint pretty close to the college. Definitely way different than anything I've ever had. 12% or close to it. Sweeter. Almost like a weissbeer in it's bitterness and taste but...was not prepared for the alcohol content. Almost like a beer flavored wine.

[Carlington]

I think it's time.

I'd like to formally request a basic crash-course in beer, because I feel like I'm probably missing out on something. I've not ever had a beer that wasn't a big-brand beer, so I don't exactly have a solid point of reference. (Barring the one time I had a...peach? beer in a beer bar where I didn't speak the language.)
Aside from the peach beer (fruit beers are tasty!), the nicest beer I've ever had was a Tooheys Old - according to the reviews linked there, it seems like that probably the best macrobrew I'll find in this country, and I'd call it tolerable but no better. This leads me to believe I prefer darker beers, but that could be a byproduct of the low quality of light beers and lagers I've had here.

[roband]

As someone who has recently found beer, my advice would be just to get out there and drink it.

I'm fortunate in that lots of pubs around here offer lots of different beers, and I have more than a few friends who enjoy drinking them. But seriously, just get into pubs and try them. It's pretty acceptable to ask for a small amount of a new beer to see if you like it - before ordering a pint. So do that and if you like it, drink it

[Telchar]

Don't start with things like imperial stouts. I'd work your way from dark to light. Try an IPA off the bat to see if you like it. It's definitely a rather unique style.

[Carlington]

I think I'll work my way from dark to light, yeah. A problem I've had with beer (and coffee, but wrong thread for that) is the bitterness. I've been growing accustomed to the flavour, but beer is still not my favourite flavour right off the bat. I'm curious about IPAs - what is characteristic of them, that sets them apart from other beers, or even other pale ales?

[Telchar]

I actually meant light to dark, but I'm a moron and didn't type that. If you don't like bitterness then stay away from IPAs. I mean, still try one but....

[Nath]

Although bitter, hoppy beers are popular in the microbrew crowd, there are lots of not-too-bitter beers out there. IPAs tend to be pretty bitter. Fat Tire Amber Ale is a widely available, inoffensive, not-bitter beer. Black Butte Porter is nice too.

[Telchar]

Ambers and Wheat beers are the easiest to drink for a lot of people. Belgian Whites are also good. Shocktop, Blue Moon, and Fat Tire are good starter examples of different lighter ales. I don't know what you can get (You're in Aus right?) but weissbeer is similar to IPA without the bitterness. IPAs are generally fruity and super hoppy, which makes the beer have a very bitter aftertaste. I mostly drink more local stuff so I'm not great at recommending particular beers you might have.

[Carlington]

Yeah, I'm in Sydney, so I'm not sure what I can actually get in terms of microbrews around here, but there'd have to be something. I'll look into weissbeers if I can find any, I've heard good things about them. I'm making notes of any and all names that are being dropped here, though, because I won't hesitate to try them if I find them. I figure I may as well run the gamut of beer before I discount things based on the macrobrews I've tasted.

[SurgicalSteel]

I think it's time.

I'd like to formally request a basic crash-course in beer, because I feel like I'm probably missing out on something.

These posts might help:
http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=20252&p=3358374&p3358374#p3356200
http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=20252&p=3358374&p3358374#p3358374

[dubsola]

There's loads of microbrewers in Australia, and you will have access to many of them in Sydney.

Bitterness is a key part of many beers, especially IPAs - I would say they're not the best to get started with. I second the recommendation for ambers. Young Henry's is a good brewer in Newtown - maybe try them?

[Роберт]

I tend to think of beer as being probably 5% abv. 6% doesn't seem particularly shocking.

As to introducing yourself to beer, try a lot of different stuff and see if there's anything that strikes your fancy, then ask about what's similar to that. I'd recommend trying porter (like a vanilla porter), stout (a couple different types: oatmeal, chocolate, milk, whatever), a light asian beer like Asahi, a light german bear like Becks, a brown ale, amber bock, etc. Let us know which ones you have that you're like "oooohhhh, this seems promising" and people can give you more advice from there.

[TheGrammarBolshevik]

a light german bear

Apparently, there are none.

[Роберт]

Haha! And I hadn't even drunk any bears recently so I have no excuse for my typo.

[bigglesworth]

I tend to think of beer as being probably 5% abv. 6% doesn't seem particularly shocking.

I was at a beer festival last weekend with around 50 different beers on tap. About half were between 3 and 4 %

[Роберт]

I tend to think of beer as being probably 5% abv. 6% doesn't seem particularly shocking.

I was at a beer festival last weekend with around 50 different beers on tap. About half were between 3 and 4 %

I just Googled(tm) five of my favorite beers and none of them were under 5%.

[Felstaff]

There's only one beer I would ever recommend to anybody, and that beer is Grimbergen blond.

The Belgian pub in Hackney ceased serving it, though, so I had to make do with Brugse Zot, which is quaffable, but hardly transcendent.

[Роберт]

Shiner Black is only 4.9%, and so is Becks, so I'll grant that there are some beers I like that are under 5%.

[Tomlidich the second]

everyones enjoying tasty beer, and im just sitting here riding my bike.....

seriously though, it sucks ass.

[roband]

Shiner Black is only 4.9%, and so is Becks, so I'll grant that there are some beers I like that are under 5%.

Are.. we.. talking about the same Becks?

[bigglesworth]

It's not a particularly bad lager. I usually either buy cheaper lager (for drinking something really cold on a hot day e.g. supermarket own-brand Flanders 2.6%) or Budweiser Budvar.

[roband]

I just can't stand normal Becks. Personal taste, I guess.

Becks Vier on the other hand, is great. edit: well, it's good lager

[Роберт]

Hey, Becks is for those (very) rare times when I'm in the mood for something less flavorful. It's not what I normally buy by any stretch. I'll either go for Becks or an asian beer in those rare times.

Speaking of rare times, I had a Trappistes Rochefort 10 last night because of this thread. After talking about ABV of beers, when I saw this one in the store I bought it on impulse. (over 11% abv) It was fantastic. Would DEFINITELY drink again if I found it at a party. A bit pricey, though.