Craft Beer

[yellowcanoe]

If you like banana tasting beer you should drink German Hefeweizens - I'm told they taste like banana and clove. I drink them 95% of the time and I don't taste those flavors much at all - some have slight hints of it but mostly it is a yeasty twang followed by sweet breadiness - that is what I crave.

For some reason I am biased to what comes out of Munich. They make really good beer IMO. I find local beers and craft brews I like here and there but nothing can compare to that city - only a German Pils will I pass up.

They do?? I guess my beer palate is somewhat undeveloped. I too like German Hefeweizens.

 

[yellowcanoe]

You know, kayakers really are superior. Yes its on topic maybe.. though few craft beers are canned.

 

[Guest]

They do?? I guess my beer palate is somewhat undeveloped. I too like German Hefeweizens.

It's funny. I find people that don't like Hefes say they taste like fake bananas. I can faintly taste what they are getting at - some are stronger than others. I often suggest a Dunkel Weissen instead. They tend to be smoother and less banana-ish for those who get that taste and don't care for it.

Also I drink enough Hefes to notice that for me, if I eat something tomato based, and then drink one, that they taste very banana-ish. And this being beers I normally drink and don't find the banana or clove taste offensive or even notice. I'm guessing whatever tomato sauces do to my palette is what others have naturally in theirs.

German cuisine doesn't usually accentuate the tomato and maybe this is why they are what they are.

I mainly like them because they are closer to a true ale... almost no hop bitterness (a true ale has no hops). Don't get me wrong I like hops, but unless the beer is malty enough to balance it I don't much care for the bitterness.

 

[Guest]

Yes its on topic maybe.. though few craft beers are canned.

Some are claiming that it preserves the beers flavor better by keeping it from being light-struck.

I don't know. I drink a fair deal of beers in both green and brown glass and I rarely get a skunk. Usually it is just the way the beer is (very hopped and very bitter with low malt content). Drink a good sample of the population and you get a feel for what is supposed to taste skunky and what isn't.

Again, surprisingly enough some beers, even low malt beers, can have a very hoppy taste without being a touch bitter. It all depends on your preference on how bitter you like your beer.

Anyway... I prefer glass and canoes

 

[red langford]

I found a bottle of this in the LCBO this week...it was way better than I expected.

The Banana itself is an imgur thing.

 

[Guest]

Speaking of bananas, I've got some of this left over in my beer fridge. http://www.theflyingmonkeys.ca
I'm not a big fan of IPA, so the first one here to wish me a Merry little Christmas, can have it. You'll have to come and get it of course. I wonder what to pair it with. Grilled fruit and seafood?
At a Christmas party the other night, I was discussing a possible family wine tour of the Niagara wine region (close to home for us here), and laughing over all the crazy labels and names for vineyards and their products. My future DIL's dad admitted he knew little about wine, and chose it on a whim. "I pick a nice looking label." I agreed, "How can you go wrong with Old Cat, or Fat b*st*rd?", and suggested how sad it would be if we became so spoiled with a refined and educated palate, that drinking anything less than expensive and exquisite wine/beer would be a disappointment. Our eyes met, and as my words sunk in, we both realized the silly absurdity of it all; I was drinking his cheap red plonk, and I had just given him a bottle of equally cheap red plonk. We busted our guts laughing. HAAA! "Here's to never being disappointed!"

 

[Guest]

I've got some of this left over in my beer fridge. http://www.theflyingmonkeys.ca
I'm not a big fan of IPA, so the first one here to wish me a Merry little Christmas, can have it. You'll have to come and get it of course.

Still no takers? Dang, if only it wasn’t such a long drive.

I’m a big fan of IPA’s. I haven’t tasted them all, but I’m giving it a go. My favorite IPA so far is Victory Brewing’s Hop Devil.

http://www.victorybeer.com/beers/hopdevil/

Hard to resist an IPA whose motto is “Menacingly Delicious”.

When conditions call for cans I’m a fan of Boulder’s hard to find Hoopla Pale Ale.

http://www.boulderbeer.com/beers/hoopla-pale-ale

I’m very impressed with the craft beer movement, but most are a little steep (in cost and proof) for my everyday wallet, and I make do with Yuengling Chesterfield Ale, Porter or Black & Tan, each available in bottles or cans.

http://www.yuengling.com/our_beer/

I expect those forlorn Flying Monkeys are long gone, but a Merry little Christmas to you anyway.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the belated Christmas wishes Mike, I hope you and yours enjoyed some peace on earth. Nope, the Flying Monkeys are still in the fridge, but there may only be a couple left. I haven't touched them, but when family drop by I point the shy, and not so shy, to the beer fridge. There's no telling what new craft beers have come and gone from that fridge since the holidays. Since the cold snap arrived I've found fortification in teas, of every different blend and weirdo hippy kind. I'm moodily brooding over the loss of a local tea shop. It was owned and run by a quaint old lady, prim and proper and full of spark. I don't know where she went; I hope she's a Canadian Snowbird (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv8JL2dfKTY) headed south to the warmer climes of Florida. I miss her tea shop though. Hmmm, what's a good segue back to craft beer? Oh! I know! Speaking of good brews, I'm enjoying the craft beer movement enormously. I haven't given up on IPAs entirely. There's a great big world of wort out there to try. When the warmer weather returns I'll drift from tea back to beer again. Actually, I must confess to having a weakness for porter and stout in the winter time; in between hot hippy herbal infusions.