Well, my social life is really starting to take off for a variety of reasons (new wardrobe! money!), but to cut the story short I'll need suggestions on various drinks to try, mostly as people tend to treat me as a human encyclopedia.
Firstly, I want to try some type of American cider. Where would I get it, and what brand should I get? Price range?
Secondly, I'd like suggestions on bourbon, whiskey, and beer. I already know something about the last (I love everything except Hoptober by New Belgium, with Mothership Wit being as tasty as anything I've ever had, and also like Dead Guy, Sam Adams and 312). I'm planning a blues-theme party and will need plenty of ur-American drinks, with bourbon and cider in particular being of interest.
The only American brand of cider I've ever had was Woodchuck, and I thought it was pretty good. Actually nearly all of the cider I've ever had I brewed myself. :cool:
The best bourbon is Woodford Reserve but it's not as widely available as Maker's Mark, I don't think (hard for me to tell since in Kentucky all varieties of bourbon are omnipresent)... and MM is nearly as good.
I know I will be chided for this, but I will come out and say that I think there are some great American beers out there, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise (though it's also true many are indeed akin to lovemaking in canoes). Haven't tried the one's you're talking about though, except for Sam Adams, which I like.
Sam Adams Octoberfest was pretty good. Aside from PBR I almost never drink American beer tho. :ph34r:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewsvirtualbrewery.com%2Fimages%2Fsteambeer.jpg&hash=2990cc0c86805388efb5687195d43069190c6fa9)
Good stuff.
Beware when the jack-mormon heads for the liquor.
Woodchuck is good and Hornsby's isn't that bad either for cider drinks.
Just watch out when drinking Woodchuck. It's really smooth and refreshing, so you can end up drinking a ton before you know it and getting really plowed.
If you can't get fresh mint to make juleps, get some vermouth and cherry juice to make manhattans. Gives you a real Prohibition speakeasy feel.
Quote from: Caliga on October 24, 2009, 09:05:46 PM
Sam Adams Octoberfest was pretty good. Aside from PBR I almost never drink American beer tho. :ph34r:
Here in the Pacific Northwest American microbrews is about all I do drink. Just had a Pike Extra Stout. Cal, check this out:
QuotePike's 20th Anniversary marks the official release of the 2009 Pike Entire. Entire is a blend of Pike XXXXX Extra Stout and a Pike imperial stout (high gravity) aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for 7 months.
Last year's release sold out in 4 days-come taste it before it is released to the market.
I had this one last night:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pikestreetbeer.com%2Fimages%2FHales_25.gif&hash=b2d4266cd215a651174a8c739208b36dd07dc8f8)
Both Hale's Ales and Pike Brewing are Seattle breweries.
There's a big jug of apple cider down in my basement. It was here when we moved in 14 years ago. It looked as if it had been there for a while before that. Nobody has ever moved it from it's spot on the shelf down there. I can send you that if you like. I assume it's apple cider. That's what it says. Since I don't know it's origin and never opened it it could have something else in there. Paint thinner or pee or something. It's an adventure in a big glass jug!
You can't get it i don't think, but currently enjoying this
QuoteBerserker Imperial Stout
12.7 % Alcohol By Volume
30 International Bittering Units (IBUs)
Vicious and viscous, this menacing brew pours opaque black with a creamy maduro-colored head. Its aroma offers seductive whiskey, chewy red wine, dark fruit and lavish tobacco. Berserker Imperial Stout invades your taste buds with in-your-face flavor. Weighing in at almost 13% alcohol by volume, Berserker is completely out-of-control. Give it a good fight.
This version of Berserker Imperial Stout was aged in both red wine and whiskey barrels. The entire batch was brought back together before being packaged in kegs and 22-oz bottles.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.midnightsunbrewing.com%2Fimages%2Flabels%2Fberserker.jpg&hash=9ca0ad7db497bd0b008ae7b35c24b51ee457672f)
Oh and this as well
Quote
This masterpiece is a tribute to Black Butte Porter, the revolutionary Deschutes Brewery beer that has excited beer enthusiasts since 1988. This special Reserve Series release is a colossal version of Black Butte Porter. Our brewers enhanced Black Butte XXI by adding some Theo's Chocolate cocoa nibs from Seattle, dry-hopping it with 100 pounds of Bellatazza's locally roasted coffee, and then aging a portion of it in Stranahan's Colorado whiskey barrels. These regional partners provided quality artisan ingredients that give this commemorative beer a truly handcrafted complexity.
Alc. by Vol.
11%
IBUs
55
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deschutesbrewery.com%2FBBXXI_bottle.gif&hash=7892048dd2a87afacaa9fc43bcfb07497e4fcf76)
Quote from: miglia on October 24, 2009, 09:02:56 PM
I know I will be chided for this, but I will come out and say that I think there are some great American beers out there, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise (though it's also true many are indeed akin to lovemaking in canoes). Haven't tried the one's you're talking about though, except for Sam Adams, which I like.
Maybe on EUOT you'd get chided for that
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on October 25, 2009, 12:53:15 AM
Quote from: miglia on October 24, 2009, 09:02:56 PM
I know I will be chided for this, but I will come out and say that I think there are some great American beers out there, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise (though it's also true many are indeed akin to lovemaking in canoes). Haven't tried the one's you're talking about though, except for Sam Adams, which I like.
Maybe on EUOT you'd get chided for that
Actually the US had a good reputation as beer makers until prohibition.
Quote from: miglia on October 24, 2009, 09:12:11 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.andrewsvirtualbrewery.com%2Fimages%2Fsteambeer.jpg&hash=2990cc0c86805388efb5687195d43069190c6fa9)
Good stuff.
Go with their porter and the Liberty Ale, they are far superior IMO.
Quote from: Razgovory on October 25, 2009, 01:09:25 AM
Actually the US had a good reputation as beer makers until prohibition.
And among all my beerloving friends, they've had a great reputation for at least 5 years, since the monopoly started getting the good stuff from over there.
Bourbon and whisky? Wtf. Get some rum, curacao, vodka, creme de menthe, malibu, gin, cointreau, vermuth and tequila, and you will have a much better party.
Bourbon and whisky is what straight men torture themselves into thinking they like because they do not want to drink "girly drinks".
Man, if only we had a bartender on Languish... :(
Oh... wait... So anyway, what specific types of beer do you prefer? Liking them is far from the same as looking forward to trying a specific type. Wheat beers, porters, stouts, lambics, ipa's, pale ales, lager, pilsners, schwartzbiers, red ales, barley wines, malt liquor, etc. You're actually rather fortunate to be in the United States when it comes to a desire to try a diverse range of beers, depending on what state you live in. I do believe we have quite possibly the largest and finest selection of beers in the world, and if we don't make it, odds are you can find someone locally who imports it.
Not a bourbon, but you can hardly ever go wrong with Jack Daniels.
Quote from: Martinus on October 25, 2009, 04:48:04 AM
Bourbon and whisky is what straight men torture themselves into thinking they like because they do not want to drink "girly drinks".
:mad: Bourbon and scotch are delicious (and for the record I also like the other items you listed). The fact that your palate lacks sophistication has nothing to do with anyone's attempts to project masculinity or whatever Oprahesque nonsense you're trying to articulate. :lol:
Whiskey tastes better than beer, has fewer calories per shot and gets you drunk quicker. Win/win/win.
Whiskey is disgusting.
As for beers, I prefer German weißbier and hefeweizen. Unfortunately most beers imported into the states will have preservatives added and thus taste like crap. Widmer is a good American hefeweizen brewer, and is one of my prefered US beers.
The only American cider I see commonly for sale is Woodchuck. It's too sweet to drink a lot of, but I don't know any better domestic ciders.
If you want ur-American, try to find American rye whiskey, which is very different from blended Canadian rye. I believe it was the default whiskey in Pennsylvania and Maryland up until Prohibition, and popular all over the country until bourbon became dominant. I don't know how available it is, but Old Overholt is a brand with a classic looking bottle, and only around $15 for a fifth around here.
If you can find applejack (basically apple brandy), that is another American classic. The official spirit of New Jersey. Laird's makes a cheap blended brand.
If you can't find cider, another apple based alcohol that you and your friends might enjoy is Pruno
Quote from: Caliga on October 25, 2009, 06:14:37 AM
:mad: Bourbon and scotch are delicious (and for the record I also like the other items you listed). The fact that your palate lacks sophistication has nothing to do with anyone's attempts to project masculinity or whatever Oprahesque nonsense you're trying to articulate. :lol:
You like creme de menthe?
My suggestion; more.