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The Jefferson's Reserve was very, very, very good. Where did you pick it up?

I'm a total fanboy for most of your Northwest brews. If you're in a heff mood the Widmer is really, really good for an American heff. I'd say it's the standard by which other American heff should be judged. It's no Paulaner or Erdinger, but it's good. I also really like their Drop Top, it's kinda sweet but with a nice hop flavor so it's really good on a casual afternoon of eating hotdogs. The others in Widmer's line-up are kind of hit and miss, and they discontinued Winternacht a number of years ago, which was probably some sort of crime. The Widberry is really great, if you like berry beers (in this case black raspberry), which I do even though that makes me some kind of hideous traitor.

Full Sail also makes a number of good beers, although they've declined in quality recently. I still favor the Amber and the Rip Curl as well as their winter seasonal.

I have to second AC on Stone brewery, the Arrogant Bastard and Double Bastard are really, really good.

I also very much like all three varieties of Chimay, although it's a little pricey for everyday consumption. Not exorbitant, but higher end of the price range for me anyway.

I've recently discovered that the guys at Dogfish Head do almost no wrong with an IPA (although I think the 60 isn't hoppy enough, the 90 minute is awesome and the 120 was like if God existed and made beer). I also liked the Raison D'etre a lot, although I thought Midas Touch left something to be desired, namely tasting like beer. It was too sweet, the flavor was nice, but there was no bite to it. If that's your bag you'll like it, if not save yourself $3 a bottle.

I also really liked Magic Hat when I was in Delaware a few years back, it had a bit of a soapy aftertaste (in the way that Guinness does) but was pretty good over all. I haven't exactly been able to find it recently. Also, there's a pumpkin ale that comes out every year around Halloween, it tastes like pie. Seriously, you should get it.

Timothy,

Who makes the pumpkin ale?

This local beer called Nosferatu, made by Great Lakes Brewing Company, is decent. Yeah, I am basically judging it by its label. It is a cool label. I am horrible at describing beer...I can tale an ale from a stout, but I can't use flowery language to describe something as basic as alcohol, unless it has a particularly distinctive quality (like a fruit flavoring or something). I either like the taste or I don't...I think I can tell when there's a lot of wheat in a beer, too, because it is cloudy. But that's about it.

Also, since I don't have much else to contribute to the conversation, I will say that probably the best place to drink in Cleveland, as far as beer variety goes, is the 1899 Pub in Willoughby (a suburb of Cleveland). The bar's name is derived thusly: 18 varieties on tap, 99 varieties in bottles. Lots of microbrews, imports, limited editions, etc...a good place to go if you're ever in town.

Randolph,

I found the Jefferson's Reserve at a nondescript little liquor store between my condo and Jennifer's place.

I like most the the Dogfish Head products. My current favorite is their Indian Brown Ale. It's smooth and silky with a malty bouquet, and has subtle hints of coffee, caramel and molasses throughout the brew without being excessively sweet. How's that for flowery?

I also enjoy anything produced by Brewery Ommegang, especially the Three Philospher's Quadrupel. The all come bottled like the Chimay ales, and I think I like the novelty of beer with a cork.

Huh. Do you know where I can get this? I wouldn't mind trying it. I like pumpkin pie.

Obligatory Cartman: Now you get your bitch ass in the kitchen and make me some pie!

I just had the Full Moon Rye the other night. That and Live Oak's Liberation and Big Bark (the Flying Saucer has all Texas pints at $2.50 on Sundays). Tasty stuff. Both are good breweries.

I recently experienced a beer epiphany near Prague. This website pointed me to a place just outside the furthest suburbs. It takes some time and effort to find, but it was so incredibly worth the trip. The beer was incredible, as well as the food (we both had great rabbit dishes, venison and other game available with advanced notice, I wish I'd known!). There was a light, an amber, and a dark, and they were each outstanding. For lack of more sophistimicated terminology, it was like there was a party in my mouth and only the most witty, attractive, and elegant people came and everyone danced wonderfully. Many different subtle sensations in every swallow, and perfectly conditioned. Nothing clubbing you over the head, no insanely high alcohol content so you feel pleasant instead of trashed. They sold 1.5L bottles to take home, and I took back the hotel a ginger beer, which they didn't have on tap that day. It was a very rootsy-earthy tasting experience, and delicious in its own way; I've never had anything like it in my life. I sincerely can't recommend this place enough.

U Fleku was good. I also recommend Bernard.

The 99.99% of the time I am not outside the states, I like Guinness on a cool night, Sierra Nevada on a hot day, and when I'm in Bend, OR each summer I go to the Deschutes Brewery and drink the ESB and whatever they have that's cask conditioned. I'm also an IPA fan, but I can't really name a favorite, perhaps because some of those have such high alcohol that after 2 I can't remember anything, including the name of the beer.

Try something light and citrusy, like Blue moon with a slice of orange. I guess it might also depend on the fish and the preparation, too. I find that fried cod and chips pairs wonderfully with Guinness.

No, I've never been there, but dead elvis apparently does.

Shit, the similar avatars got me confused. Will correct the post!

DOH!

I didn't want to admit this but, I often get guns and animals confused. You should never take me hunting.

I kept wondering why my weapon was trying to run away....

I admit, I'm a snob about most American beers. Partially because it seems like most American breweries hear the description "hoppy" and stop there. I'm a strong bitter taster, so it enhances my displeasure. But here is my stable of widely available beers:

Boddington's Pub Ale: this stretches the definition of "widely available" but it's usually available in at least one bar in town most places. So smooth and creamy. Must be enjoyed in an Imperial pint glass with a decent head.
Negra Modelo. Dark, spicy, smooth beer from Mexico. Modelo Especial is a good beer in summer.
Yuengling lager: America's oldest brewery. Smooth but tasty. Only available in the mid-Atlantic, Florida (I think), and some of the Northeast.
Smithwick's: The least objectionable of the Guinness stable. I used to be a fan of their range, but have gone off them.
Newcastle: Spicy brown reliable, if a bit syrupy on occasion. But then, it's British, nominally. Cheap.

Hmmm..."Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout" sounds very enticing. Must look it up.

Everything else I like to drink is harder to come by, but I'll try to post a list at some point. Beer afficionados have heard of most of them, though.

Oh, and I loved U Flecku in Prague. I'm jealous of the other places. Pity Poland has little to speak of as regards beer. Though the Okocim you can get in this country has made a strong comeback after being super-crappy there and here in the late 90s.

Thanks for the beer-with-fish tips; I'll give some of them a try. I love my neighborhood; I can get almost anything here. I mean, you can find Hitachino Nest in many a random bodega, and Geary's, Abita, and Cooper are all fairly common.

I've been home brewing for the past few years. I've had to pitch a few batches. But for the most part, if it's drinkable it's way better than anything Anheuser-Busch puts in a bottle. I've had two or three batches that were outstanding. I don't go for the extra-dark, extra-bitter brews much, but I still have fun. I did a fine pumpkin ale a couple of years ago, and a light beer that was surprisingly awesome.

When my former roomate and homebrew partner went on an Alaska cruise for his honeymoon, he snagged me a brewery glass for Alaska Amber. Nicely painted logo of a fishing boat in a fjord. He reported being very happy with that particular beer. Shall have to try it sometime.

Buffalo Bill stuff is often contracted out. Around ten years ago, it was made in New Ulm, MN, which is where the Schell brewery is.

I didn't know there even was a New Ulm. I've been to the old Ulm... there's an awesomely big cathedral there.

And this sort of thing is pretty much all I can contribute in a beer thread. I don't drink the stuff... it's not for health reasons or moral concerns or anything like that; I've just never liked the taste.

Try BeerAdvocate.com. Was it light or dark?

Thank you for the site tip, anyway, David. It may come in handy in the future.

You'd think Unibroue would be an Italian brewery.

France does actually have some good beers, but only in places where the local population is included Flemish or German ethnics. Fischer comes to mind.

I have yet to find any other Mediterranean country that has a decent beer. Let them stick to wines.

I remember getting Michael Jackson's Beer Companion in 1994, and it really helped me to broaden my understanding of great beers and how to appreciate different beers. I certainly owe much of what I know about beers to having devoured that book as a young beer enthusiast. Probably 90% of what I know about beer (apart from actual experience drinking it, which is the most important way to learn about beer) came from either Michael Jackson and Charles Papazian.

Rest in Peace.

Another bier I like is Éphémère by Unibroue. It's crisp, and it has a pretty label.

The Rio Blanco is good, Timothy, but as I've said before, go out on a limb and try the Full Moon Rye. It's twangy in a way you've never experienced before--in a good way. Also, if you can find it, the Fireman's is good as well.

I like Unibroue products a lot. They make the Trader Joe's belgian-style ale that always seems to sell out before I can get any.

I like that label -- has a Maxfield Parrish look to it.

My latest two tasted are from New Glarus: their Road Slush oatmeal stout, and the Organic Revolution. The stout was great, the organic ale merely good. I'm sad to have apparently missed their Imperial Weizen.

I recently tried Harpoon Brewery's UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen. Not too shabby. Tangy.

I don't know if I mentioned, but I'm growing hops.

I gotta think about that one. The real problem is that hops don't like "arid" too well; you're gonna have to irrigate 'em, a soaker hose being the best vehicle for that sort of thing.

Other than that, I think unless it's hellishly hot there (you're in CO, right?) you shouldn't have too much trouble with most varieties. There are posters in the Northern Brewer forums growing hops in Arizona, of all places, and having good success.

You can look here for hop gardening information, and I'd also check the Northern Brewer forums for threads on hop gardening.

Here are the latest photos of my hops (nearly a month old now.) I'm getting cones from four plants, although only the Cascade and Willamette look to be producing a significant amount.

Usually they're dried, either air-dried or at low heat. I've heard (but don't know myself, this being my first year as a hop rancher) that "wet" hops lend strong grassy notes to beer.

Yeah, there are a lot of folks on the forums who mentioned that. Some folks just spread 'em out on screens, others put 'em in the oven at low heat, and some crazy people build their own oasts.

Well, I hope it is successful as the last batch!

Aborted babies and jooz are hard to find here in Mid Missouri. I figure I'll just double up on the cinnamon and ginger.

The potion is brewed, the incantation spake. All that's left is to wait for the light of the full moon. Then we can drink it and test how potent the magic.

I got called into work right in the middle of brewing. Fortunately my familiar was on hand to watch the cauldron. I doubled the hops on this batch. Going into the fermentor it has a big bitter kick. Hope it doesn't overwhelm the pumpkin.