Let's talk good beer

So I've lived in the same apartment in the same city for over 2 years now and somehow I just realized that a liquor store with the best beer selection I have ever seen is only about 5 miles away. It's called The Perfect Pour in Elkridge/Columbia and walking down the beer aisle made me feel like one of those kids in Willy Wonka when they first saw the river of chocolate.

Anyway, last week I picked up two types of Abita (http://www.abita.com/) and I really loved both of them. My cousin went to law school in NO and has told me this beer was pretty good but this was the first time I actually tried it. The first one I had was Restoration Pale Ale, it's very crisp and hoppy but not overboard - I very highly recommend it. The other one I had is called Jackamo IPA and it was also very good. It's a strong IPA but it's not that bitter; I thought it was almost sweet. Both were very good IMO.

Right now I'm drinking Rogue Irish Lager (http://www.rogue.com/beers/rogue-irish-lager.php) and I'm also liking this one a lot. It's not hoppy at all, but kind of light and smooth. Its the type of beer I think I could drink all night.

Seriously, there's a good chance I'm at Perfect Pour every weekend for the foreseeable future!

Stone puts out some quality brews, I really like their Arrogant Bastard Ale

Arrogant Bastard Ale - Stone Brewing Co. - Escondido, CA - BeerAdvocate (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/92)I also got a bottle of this, Double Bastard Ale (http://www.stonebrew.com/doublebastard/), that I'm going to crack open in a little bit after I finish these last few Abitas. Man, I think I'm going to be feeling it tomorrow!!!

I also got a bottle of this, Double Bastard Ale (http://www.stonebrew.com/doublebastard/), that I'm going to crack open in a little bit after I finish these last few Abitas. Man, I think I'm going to be feeling it tomorrow!!!

Double bastard sounds good, never seen it. officially on the list.

Anyway, last week I picked up two types of Abita (http://www.abita.com/) and I really loved both of them. My cousin went to law school in NO and has told me this beer was pretty good but this was the first time I actually tried it. The first one I had was Restoration Pale Ale, it's very crisp and hoppy but not overboard - I very highly recommend it. The other one I had is called Jackamo IPA and it was also very good. It's a strong IPA but it's not that bitter; I thought it was almost sweet. Both were very good IMO.


I love Restoration

I mostly just drink Corona. I need to be taught.

EQ - just head to your local beer store, pick something up and give it a whirl. If you're normally drinking Corona, give Landshark Lager a try. But if you go back over this thread, there are plenty of examples to give a try. At first, stick to the more mainstream beers (Guinness, Bass, Killians' Red, Yuengling, etc.) and then get adventurous. Check out BeerAdvocate - Respect Beer. (http://www.beeradvocate.com) and learn about beer and the different styles and start with ones that sound good to you.

Look at AMD. When I first met him, he was chugging Natty Light through a funnel. And now he's all growns up...

EQ - just head to your local beer store, pick something up and give it a whirl. If you're normally drinking Corona, give Landshark Lager a try. But if you go back over this thread, there are plenty of examples to give a try. At first, stick to the more mainstream beers (Guinness, Bass, Killians' Red, Yuengling, etc.) and then get adventurous. Check out BeerAdvocate - Respect Beer. (http://www.beeradvocate.com) and learn about beer and the different styles and start with ones that sound good to you.

Look at AMD. When I first met him, he was chugging Natty Light through a funnel. And now he's all growns up...It's funny because it's true!

EQ - just head to your local beer store, pick something up and give it a whirl. If you're normally drinking Corona, give Landshark Lager a try. But if you go back over this thread, there are plenty of examples to give a try. At first, stick to the more mainstream beers (Guinness, Bass, Killians' Red, Yuengling, etc.) and then get adventurous. Check out BeerAdvocate - Respect Beer. (http://www.beeradvocate.com) and learn about beer and the different styles and start with ones that sound good to you.

Look at AMD. When I first met him, he was chugging Natty Light through a funnel. And now he's all growns up...

Yuengling is good. I've had that but I am not a fan of Guiness for some reason. I know that will piss Matty off but I dont like Guiness. Then again I am probably the only black guy who hates watermellon.

Yuengling is good. I've had that but I am not a fan of Guiness for some reason. I know that will piss Matty off but I dont like Guiness. Then again I am probably the only black guy who hates watermellon.

BD list some great advice on aquiring a taste for real beer. Yuengling is a great starter beer. Im gonna suggest Blue Moon Belgian White. Along with really the obvious taste, which is more aquired as you drink it, the real difference is the "heaviness" of the beer. Where you drink a 12 pack of Natty and its "heaviness " or consistancy as i describe it is more like water, the style of good beers at first is gonna seem like eating a meal if you drink a sixer of something good. More filling. The taste will adjust naturally, like when everybody started drinking beer in early high school, the taste had to be aquired. Miller light tasted pretty nasty at first (still does) but the more you drink it, easier it became. So in suggesting Blue Moon Belgian White or Yuengling its a lighter tranistion. Drinking Guiness (which is a personal fav) and your not used to it, is like consuming a full course buffet, that sh*t is thick, super heavy. But that is the nature of the stout.

EQ, after you try a couple transitions, quickly move to the Sam Adams line...much better beer with a very wide selection of all styles. Sam Adams was break through in the mid 90s for me along with Seirra's PA.

Guinness is certainly an acquired taste. However, if you try it in a Black and (Tan, Blue, Red, etc., a mixture of half Guinness and half another beer, usually Bass or Smithwick's), it'll cut some of the heaviness of Guinness.

Chico makes mention of Blue Moon. Belgian Whites (for the most part) are quite palatable and are very easy to drink. Shock Top is Budweiser's version of Blue Moon and both are quite similar in taste. From there, check out Hoegaarden.

Beer is an adventure. Don't be afraid to branch out and try something different. Head to a local bar that has either many bottled beers or taps. It's a great cheap way to try different beers without committing to a 6 pack of something you might not like.