Hop Head/Beer Geek Tribe?

[Biscuits & Gravy]

I can't be the only mama here who loves beer. The higher the IBUs, the better if you ask me. I also love sour beers. YUM.

Anyone else?? Tell me about your favorites.

We are a New Belgium family. (Full disclosure, NBB is what pays the bills in our house, but we would drink it all the time even if it didn't.) Right now in our fridge we have Bell's Hop Slam, and Geary's Hampshire Ale. (And one lone Fat Tire that remains from what we stowed away on our trip to NC since NBB won't be available here until 3/2.)

Man. I just made myself want a beer.

[emaye_to_2]

I would definitely consider myself a beer conniseuer (sp?). Sierra Nevada (Chico, CA) pale ale is our stand-by.. but a new beer I've found and enjoy is Ninkasa from Eugene, OR. We usually go for IPAs.

[elliotps932]

bear < ALL OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

[Close2Me]

I love Beer, but I really go for Pale Ale's to Guinness most of all! Now on a hot summer day poolside I might have a Corona & Lime, but mostly stock German beers along with Karl Strauss, Fat Tire, and Red Trolley Ales. [/RIGHT]

[Biscuits & Gravy]

I finally had my first visit to a Flying Saucer today where I tried Sexual Chocolate. It was yummy, but at 10% ABV I was only able to have a few sips. Any more and DS would have been extra sleepy. :

[jamsmama]

Harpoon IPA (Windsor, VT)!!!! It's never NOT in our house.

[Faliciagayle]

What a great idea for a tribe.

I didn't appreciate beer till pretty recently - say the last 4 years or so. My only exposure had been to Bud and Coors, and frankly, that's just not what I want in my mug. Anyhoo, I got my B.S. in Enology (winemaking) and that had the unexpected side effect of opening up the whole, glorious, fragrant and hoppy world of beer. In fact, in the middle of my program, I said "I think I was meant to be a brewer, not a winemaker."

I brew at home, this fall I did a sparkling hard apple cider. Next up is an IPA as soon as I wrangle up a blow-off hose adapter. Does anyone else homebrew? (if any winos are lurking, YES I also do wine at home, it's not like I completely abandoned v. vinifera)

My favorite, immediate go to style of choice is IPA. I love hops. I love bitter. Hop Ottin IPA from Anderson Valley Brewery and IPA from Laguinitas are my favorites. We always have Sierra Nevada on hand. The DH likes Guinness but I haven't yet learned to love stout beers. Or porters. There's still time

[Biscuits & Gravy]

Originally Posted by Faliciagayle

What a great idea for a tribe.

I didn't appreciate beer till pretty recently - say the last 4 years or so. My only exposure had been to Bud and Coors, and frankly, that's just not what I want in my mug. Anyhoo, I got my B.S. in Enology (winemaking) and that had the unexpected side effect of opening up the whole, glorious, fragrant and hoppy world of beer. In fact, in the middle of my program, I said "I think I was meant to be a brewer, not a winemaker."

I brew at home, this fall I did a sparkling hard apple cider. Next up is an IPA as soon as I wrangle up a blow-off hose adapter. Does anyone else homebrew? (if any winos are lurking, YES I also do wine at home, it's not like I completely abandoned v. vinifera)

My favorite, immediate go to style of choice is IPA. I love hops. I love bitter. Hop Ottin IPA from Anderson Valley Brewery and IPA from Laguinitas are my favorites. We always have Sierra Nevada on hand. The DH likes Guinness but I haven't yet learned to love stout beers. Or porters. There's still time

DH started brewing at home, but then he started working for NBB and I got PG with our older DS. We just didn't need that much beer around the house! He has since given his brewing equipment to my little brother who is an engineering major with aspirations of working for a brewery someday. He homebrews as a hobby to get some time away from math homework.

I've had the Hop Ottin IPA, I knew I had the moment I saw the label, and quite a few from Laguinitas. Undercover Shutdown is one I remember well.

[MamaCrunch]

Originally Posted by Biscuits & Gravy

I can't be the only mama here who loves beer. The higher the IBUs, the better if you ask me. I also love sour beers. YUM.

Anyone else?? Tell me about your favorites.

We are a New Belgium family. (Full disclosure, NBB is what pays the bills in our house, but we would drink it all the time even if it didn't.) Right now in our fridge we have Bell's Hop Slam, and Geary's Hampshire Ale. (And one lone Fat Tire that remains from what we stowed away on our trip to NC since NBB won't be available here until 3/2.)

Man. I just made myself want a beer.

Lucky you with the Hopslam! Can't get it here but it's at the top of my fav's these days...

I'm a bit of a self professed beer geek myself. The state I live in had an ABV cap law forever and we just changed that last July so we're finally getting some of the better higher ABV beers here (it's not the abv I'm looking for but so many craft beers or breweries were ruled out by the old law) Double IPA's are my favorite style closely followed by Imperial Stouts...Of course my days are currently spent collecting beer instead of drinking it but I'm gonna be soooo set when this pregnancy is over

It's nice to see other women beer geeks--the beer geek arenas are typically such boys clubs (not that I have anything against men--I just like the company of women TOO! )

[Lysa]

I'm joinin' in! Give me a full bodied beer over that watered-down stuff anyday!!!
Right now we're enjoying Yuengling Lager - America's Oldest Brewery. Their Black and Tan is very dark, and slightly bitter - and very good!!!

[Faliciagayle]

B & G: What do you mean by "sour" beers?

[Biscuits & Gravy]

Originally Posted by Faliciagayle

B & G: What do you mean by "sour" beers?

Here is an interesting article about sour beers. http://www.portfolio.com/views/colum...our-Beer-Trend

It is a Belgian style of beer that is gaining popularity.

[Lysa]

Guinness Cake

I got this from a friend, and thought I would share with you - she made it this past weekend, and said it was delicious! :

Guinness Cake
•2 cups Guinness
•2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
•1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
•4 cups all purpose flour
•4 cups sugar
•1 tablespoon baking soda
•1 1/2 teaspoons salt
•4 large eggs
•1 1/3 cups sour cream

Icing
•2 cups whipping cream
•1 pound bittersweet chopped

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.
For icing:
Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours. If you whip it during cooling, it make a lighter icing.

Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake.

[Faliciagayle]

Originally Posted by Biscuits & Gravy

Here is an interesting article about sour beers. http://www.portfolio.com/views/colum...our-Beer-Trend

It is a Belgian style of beer that is gaining popularity.

Interesting. On a related note, I've been wanting to brew a lambic style beer but I'm just not sure I'm interested in working with Brettanomyces in the home.

I'll have to see if I can find a sour beer locally.

Wisconsin Public Radio did a show today on grilling with craft (micro-brew) beers. Here's a link to the website. http://grillingwithbeer.com/

The author of the cookbook had some incredible recipes, and she was
C L E A R L Y a beer geek. It made my proud

[PGTlatte]

I recently tried Bell's Hopslam and loved it !

I really like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and Sam Adams Black Lager.

Another favorite but that I haven't had in years, and haven't tried since it comes from a totally different brewery now, is/was Celis Pale Bock.

[ikesmom]

I usually prefer darker brew porter and some times stout. I drank 2 itty bitty glasses of some barley wine on New Year's and was on a tummy coaster ride. So I have been drinking red lately. We have white chocolate on tap, but I can only sip it occasionally ..doesn't accompany to many dishes well. My dh is a hefe drinker. As far as domestic we like Dos Equis . I like the Shiner Bock too .

I don't know Sam Adams too well , but the commercials always make me want a beer.

[Biscuits & Gravy]

I'm having Le Freak from Green Flash tonight. It's a trippel with lots of hops. I like it.

[love2all]

The darker the better- I am lucky I haven't got a porter belly!!!

Give me a Highlands Oatmeal Porter or Black Mocha Stout anytim or always loving the Sierra Nevada Porter with the pretty blue label.........

[mrsshunk]

When we can't have our own home brew, we like anything from NBB. One of our very favorites is Descheutes Brewery's Black Butte Porter. Yum! Sadly, we live in Utah and have to drive to Wyoming to get the good stuff. That's why we make our own most of the time.

[almadianna]

yum.... do we have a beer smiley?