The Beer Nerd - what are you drinking / brewing thread

The sheer idiocy of labeling HF as the best brewery in the U.S. Is mind boggling.

 

Clearly you haven't had any Melvin product.

 

I finally had some Luponic 5.
It was clearly better than the 4, very easy drinking but I prefer the hop edge of the 3 more.

Still recovering from Blue Bonnet 31 this weekend in DFW
It's a huge home brew competition.
1312 entries (no wins for me but 3 1st for our club and Pro-Am win).
Brutal Saturday morning after ballroom of free professional product Friday Night. I only managed a Carlsberg at Trinity Hall and a couple samples. Hit Gman lest and had a Victory at Sea and sidecar pale ale. Their sour selection was low and the Wittekirke tasted off, not Wild.

Ok Sunday morning after medal ceremony and ballroom of home brew Saturday night.

 

That not beer, it's water.

 

Not in CA, but recently read about dry hopping at end of primary as krausen starts to fall so no O2 entry.

 

Had some 3 months ago on draft, wasn't overly impressed.

 

Yeah? I kow it is pretty subjective stuff, but they probably base it mainly on the awards given and the such. I am sure there are many breweries out there that are equal of better that do not enter the competitions. I know if I were a brew I probably wouldn't. But I guess it is about how far and wide you want you name out and how much $ you want to make.
I have not had any of HF stuff but have had the Suarez stuff. What I have had was pretty outstanding.

 

How does it stack against Victory at Sea?

 

There are a bunch of nice ones. I would say try the Anderson Valley Blood Orange or Sierra Nevada Otra Vez.

 

Those two are on the list.

 

Agreed. In a world of great micros there is no reason to stick with overpriced mediocrity...

 

And lots of times beer awards don't mean shit. It means the beer fit the style guidelines best and was better than the competition. I've judged enough bad flights of beer (BJCP rank Certified) to know how low that bar is sometimes.

Something like the AHA poll of best beers in America means something. Let me know when a HF beer hits Pliney status in terms of desirability. Going to Russian River is a lot higher on the list of destinations than HF for most people. So when some blowhard labels themselves as the greatest undeservedly they dig themselves holes of expectations unnecessarily and earn negative starting points from me.

 

Polls too can be very subjective, but a great starting place to figure out what you like.

 

Does anyone have any other forum/website that they follow to read beer news/reviews?

 

Also note that what you are getting with Goses is nice light tart mildly salty crisp refreshing beer ideal for summer days. Something more complex than a Berlinner Weiss with a bit more alcohol and usually more rounded, and possibly not as sour but both Goses and Berlinners run the gamut in that respect.

 

Do you have a good Berliner Weiss recommendation?

 

If I am at an away beer store and see something I might buy and want to check I open up Ratebeer on my phone. I consider the numbers pretty accurate. The descriptions usually help too. Then of course, attempt to take dating, storage temp, dust and beer style into account.

 

That is a very loaded question, it depends on your sour tolerance level and what is available. I think you are West coast or close. I would start with a Bruery Hoottenroth and see if you like that. The traditional BWs run from mildly sour, hazy and wheaty to clear and highly tart (Kindl). Then you have various US ones. Just be aware there is a flavor range. Again this is a tart, highly carbonated, low alcohol (~ 3.5%) refreshing beer ideal for pounding after summer yard work. If you like the Hottenroth you will love exploring the options. Bruery also came out with more fruited BWs, I just had an outstanding one with Boysenberries that wakes up the taste buds.

 

Good water at that.

Can be one of about 15 different flavors depending on the day and mood.

Just about any of the Boulevard beers since they are just up the road and lately the KC Bier Co. stuff been good too.

Buddy brews some 9% stuff, damn good but you don't want too much of it.