A German IPA is born

[Small Town Boy 6,672]

 

"Despite the majority of reviewers and beers being American, the community is enriched by 90% of RateBeer's top 10 raters being from outside the United States. The depth and breadth of RateBeer's beer database is unsurpassed." (ratebeer.com)

 

The voting system is entirely flawed not only because most users are American but also because the large majority of ratings are based on the bottle versions, since most users have few opportunities to drink these beers from tap. Since beers with a higher alcohol content bottle better than, say, a delicate 3.2% British mild, stronger Belgium and American beers will inevitably dominate. Take a look at the Top 50: they're virtually all imperial stouts, but it's nonsense to say that the world's best beers are mostly imperial stouts. There is not one single beer in the Top 50 that has less than 6.5% alcohol. The list is almost entirely meaningless.

 

And with regards to the Number One beer, Westvleteren 12; this is good beer and by a happy coincidence I will be there on Sunday stocking up[/gloat], but its reputation precedes it, and making it difficult to buy adds to the aura. If the identical beer was available in every last gas station, it would be nowhere to be seen in that list.

[umass319 2]

I think the list is great. It makes the point that beer is best at or above 6.5%. Beer is beer. A 3.5% British mild will probably never make a top 50 best beers (in the world) list. Regarding the bottles: its all relative. Germany has plenty of 6% bottled beers (and the reputation to boot), but they don't make it on the list nearly as much as Belgium.

[Small Town Boy 6,672]

I couldn't disagree more about beer being best above 6.5%. The difference is that it's much easier to brew a stronger beer that tastes OK because the strong alcohol helps disguise all the errors. Brewing a 3.2% mild or 3.8% bitter that is balanced without any off-flavours and without tasting thin is, in contrast, quite a skill.

 

The jury who selects the Champion Beer of Britain each year also don't seem to believe that stronger beers are better. Milds have won twice in the past four years, with bitters and premium bitters forming the majority. They are however judging the beer in cask with secondary fermentation. British beer does not bottle well, which is why it rarely appears in these lists – because, as mentioned above, most the reviewers are Americans who only have the bottled versions to sample.

[CincyInDE 3,311]

This brings up an interesting point. For as crappy as American megabrews are, they do a few things VERY well. They produce a consistent product where any imperfection (aside from the big, obvious one) is completely exposed and unable to hide behind proper beer flavor.

[Small Town Boy 6,672]

Exactly. If it tasted shit, no-one would buy it. Instead, it just doesn't taste of much at all, thus offending no-one.

[bueschen 324]

For all you beer lovers here in Munich, I suggest we have a tasting session! Not sure of the logistics but perhaps picking a few styles and trying to find a few varieties in each and then blind sample them. I fancy myself a connoisseur but, if presented with an anonymous glass I wonder if I can tell a certain beer from another. More importantly, I would be curious which ones just taste better to me without any of my beer prejudice creeping in. I would be glad to play host. Anyone else up for this?

[umass319 2]

You guys know that Budweiser was started by a German guy, and that it's owned by a company in Belgium, right?

 

And if you're going to Westvleteren, you know it's brewed by monks, by hand (takes a lot skill). The flavor is very robust and rich (very sophisticated). Here's a review from ratebeer:

 

"Bottle pours deep brown with a nice khaki head. Where do you even begin to describe a beer like this? Aroma is sweet and full of fruit, malt, and yeasty goodness. Notes of plum, cassis, cherry, caramel, chocolate, oak, vanilla, and the list continues. Flavor shows the same with marvelous integration. Overall body is moderate to full, with moderate to heavy sweetness, and a lightly bitter finish. Even though this is not MY perfect 5, I can definately see why it has gotten such high praise. Rightfully so."

 

If you can find words like that for a light or mild beer then you must be the Stephen Hawking of beer tasters.

[Owain Glyndwr 889]

I like American and Canadian craft brews. I've tried a good number of different styles but one thing bothers me: their insistence to serve the beers chilled to about 2°c in glasses frosted in the freezer. If they served the beers at a proper temperature for the flavour there wouldn't be any need to enter this arms race for over-hopping the beers that seems to be the trend there these days.

[CincyInDE 3,311]

A good brewpub won't serve beer in a frozen or even slightly chilled glass.

 

Bueschen, set a time and a place and I'll be there, provided I'm around. So like next weekend before I go back to the States for a month.

[Owain Glyndwr 889]

Every pint I've had in the US or CA has been served too cold. Many of the places I drank at had frosted glasses but not all.

[CincyInDE 3,311]

I can't deny that Americans like their beverages cold. It's just so damn hot in summer.

[Owain Glyndwr 889]

do they drink red wine out of the fridge too?

[CincyInDE 3,311]

Yes, when in red sangria. Coffee gets iced regularly, too.

[AnthonyDoesEurope 167]

 

Every pint I've had in the US or CA has been served too cold. Many of the places I drank at had frosted glasses but not all.

 

Is it just me or does Kilians here serve Guinness way too cold?

[bueschen 324]

Guess there isn't much interest in Munich for a proper tasting session. Bummer, I think it would be a decent time.

 

@Cincy: Give me a call when you are back from the States and we can crack open a bottle of the Hopfen Fluch!

[Gen 2,454]

http://www.braufactum.de/ now has their own section at Frischeparadies as well as other outlets -- they have three IPAs.

 

Brooklyn Brewery, imported from New York City

 

Progusta

 

Indra (a "Weizen Pale Ale")

 

The latter two are their own, they develop recipes and then have some brewery somewhere brew them. I think these two are brewed in Italy.

 

They're all quite pricey - like 12 Euros for .75 liters. I'm going to try them anyhow.

[Small Town Boy 6,672]

Hang on, are you telling me I can walk into Frische Paradies this afternoon and buy all the products in this list, including Rodenbach and Boon Geuze?

[CincyInDE 3,311]

I was just poring over that website trying to determine if you need to be a restaurateur to buy there or not.

 

EDIT: looks like they do permit private customers to purchase there.

[Small Town Boy 6,672]

No you don't, I've shopped there before. They'll give you a form to fill out for future visits. On Mondays I believe everything is reduced by 10%.

 

Relevant thread.

[Gen 2,454]

Yes, STB, that's what I'm saying. Should probably add this info to another couple beer threads actually... and I confirm, you don't have to be a member to shop there. I about never have my card with me and I just tell them I've left it at home. So you could probably say that even if you don't have a card at all.

 

Of course they might have run out of some things, but we were in last Friday and there was a fella there explaining it all, as it's a new thing.