At the risk of confusing meinzelf with the saintly Bill G. in Oregon -- he is the retired theologian, not me -- I appreciated your considerable effort in compiling this list, Charlie. While we agree to disagree on the merits of Lone Star as a decent, work-a-day American lager, there are points of concensus on other beers. Rogue Ales were first brewed in a small building on Water Street in Ashland, Oregon. It was a great place on a cold winter afternoon to tuck into for a couple of pounders to go with the cheddar soup and crusty homemade bread they offered. Their Dead Guy is still a very good ale. We also agree on Negra Modelo is being a fine Mexican beer. I rate Guinness Extra Stout pretty highly. Don't drink a lot of it, but feel well-fed when I do. Love Bass Ale. It is made to have a big glass of in one hand while throwing darts with the other. Someone mentioned Singha -- still a fine choice with Thai food. Sam Adams brews some very drinkable ales. Missing here are beers from so many of the great Oregon breweries that can be hard to find in the Southewest, although the Lowe's Signature Market here in Alamogordo carries some of the Deschutes beers from back home in Bend, Oregon. Others to look for include Full Sail, brewed on the Columbia River in the wind-surfing town of Hood River; 10-Barrel, brewed in Bend, but bought out by Anheiser; Ninkasi of Eugene, home of my Oregon Ducks; Caldera in Ashland; and the very promising Pelican line-up, brewed on the Oregon Coast at Cape Kiwanda, home of the last surf-launched fishing dory fleet on the West Coast. http://pelicanbrewing.com/
Something I got tired of when sampling Northwest beers was the obsession with brewing the most bitter IPA possible. I see in some of your comments, Charlie, that you find this stuff somewhat objectionable as well.
Someone also mentioned dark beer. A regional favorite of mine was Henry Weinhard Dark. Wonderful stuff and not too heavy -- and no longer brewed. And if you ever want really, really dark beer, find a bottle of Brazilian Xingu that has been carefully imported and stored. It's like drinking pumpernickel.

I cannot leave this discussion without linking to some beer advertizing that kept us giggling in the Pacific Northwest:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXk1882z5oo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iigxaFBTAZ4

And of course, there were the great Mickey Rooney ads for Rainier, a very unremarkable but drinkable lager from Seattle in the vein of Blitz and Olympia that we loved to abuse in college days when having a crappie fish fry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtbP2hOX9xA

I still say that Lone Star has changed their recipe. I drank it in the 70's + their longnecks could'nt be beat;tried some a couple of years ago + tasted like bitter horse piss.

Funny how tastes change. I used to think Corona tasted like horse piss back in the 60s and 70s. Now I have no problem with the taste. (Doesn't mean I've changed my opinion of what horse piss might taste like.)

Tastes and products can both change. I still can't figure out why Corona even exists. Same can be said for Rolling Rock.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Tastes and products can both change. I still can't figure out why Corona even exists. Same can be said for Rolling Rock.

Ignoring the above inflammatory accounts about our mutual disagreement on Lone Star, I am, for once, in full agreement with your above sentiments. While I haven't tried any since the rating experiment began, I find Rolling Rock to be nearly undrinkable and Corona is simply lightly processed water.

Funny, I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about beer and I've tried pretty much every style a bunch of times. I went from chasing all the hottest IPAs to circling back to common adjunct lagers. Living in the northeast we have some of the best breweries in the country close by in Treehouse, Hill Farmstead, Trillium, and so on. I drink Corona all summer long and find it better than most of the usual suspects. I would offer that you're in the minority if you think it's awful compared strictly to its peers. Rolling Rock is piss water though IMO. Again, ice cold is key for adjuncts.

quote:

I drink Corona all summer long and find it better than most of the usual suspects.

I'm sorry to hear your taste buds have deteriorated.

One of my top 5 beers is delerium tremens.its a Belgian strong pale ale at 8.5%

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:

quote:

Good Lord man! Broken record, dead horse, etc.....spare us!

When ANY of you dick suckers start paying for my beer,your opinion MIGHT matter!!! Until then Eat Shit and Die Cunts!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
I still can't figure out why Corona even exists. Same can be said for Rolling Rock.

For the exact reasons you mentioned above....ice cold adjunct lagers fill the role of light, low abv beer when one wants to drink a dozen and still get up early to hunt/fish. Not sure if you've tried any of the northeast-style IPAs that are thick and creamy like orange juice....they're delicious as hell but how many >7% beers can you drink without getting knackered? Stouts and porters are for cold weather. Try any of the german hefes and they'll become your favorite warm weather beer.

Tell you what....put a schlitz, bud and corona next to one another....all ice cold. Drink each and tell me which is best/worst. Hell, a few years back in ND I drank a pile of a beer that by all accounts near and far is undrinkable at best....Schmidt. Freezing cold straight outta the can it tasted great.

I fully agree that conditions affect beer taste.
That said, I note that the supposedly neutral reviews of beer on beeradvocate rank Schmidt slightly better than Corona, which doesn't surprise me.

Corona, Sol, and Pacifico are all 3 Mexican beers with little to admire, but get hot or thirsty enough and they become quite good.

As far as German wheat beers, I drank quite a few of them in Frankfurt a while back, and found them to be poor at best. The only wheat beer I've ever liked to date is Revolver's Blood and Honey. Hard to believe it's wheat based.

Try the Corona light. I find it to taste crisp & clean unlike Corona.

Picked up a 6 pack of Rebel Rouser Double IPA which, after the fact, I find was made by Samuel Adams. I've kind of outgrown the IPA fad, but still like them, to me less is usually more. This is a classic IPA, which is quite pleasing. If you're an IPA fan, I highly recommend it. The relatively high alcohol content means it's not an all afternoon sipping beer.

Will look for six, Charlie. I kind of got off the IPA carousel as well, but when you find one that is nicely balanced, it's bueno.
Here is a good one if you ever find it:

http://pelicanbrewing.com/beer/umbrella/

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
Try the Corona light. I find it to taste crisp & clean unlike Corona.

Never had it. I see there's a new corona premium? wtf!

No clue. I thought the original was premium. Sure has a premium price. Sounds gitchy.
This Corona light doesn't taste light at all or need any lime to clean it up. Maybe it is really fresh and recently shipped from the brewery. But, I'm hooked, can't let it alone.


To add to the ratings a bit:
Got some Stella Artois at the same time as the C.L. This batch tastes skunky. Maybe it's just old? I used to drink Molson Golden Ale until about half had a skunky taste.

Rolling Rock used to be good when it was still made in Latrobe Pennsylvania. Fresh was the best. Beefsteak Charlies, a place known for tasty all-you-can-eat baby back beef ribs in Harrisburg (long since closed) sold a lot of it in 7 ounce pony bottles. Bucket of "Rocks" (3 per) on ice for 4 bucks sure tasted good.
Then a couple dozen years later, RR got scooped up by Anheuser-Busch and was moved to NJ. Hasn't been the same since. Different PH in the water?

Anyone remember a beer from the 70's called Horlacher? Ah the ol' days. $2.65 a case as I recall. Sure went down easy and money was 'tight' back then.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:



To add to the ratings a bit:
Got some Stella Artois at the same time as the C.L. This batch tastes skunky. Maybe it's just old? I used to drink Molson Golden Ale until about half had a skunky taste.

2 things: stella sucks and molson golden is supposed to taste slightly skunky. I had moosehead on tap in montreal a couple years ago.....floored by how good it was.

quote:

molson golden is supposed to taste slightly skunky

The same must be true for Rolling Rock - I'm not a fan of it when it is fresh, but if slightly skunky, it's not that bad at all. I realize this might ge me labeled as slightly crazy, but it's a pretty strong perception.

I really haven't found a style of beer that I DISlike, but my own favourites are either German hefeweizens or Belgian dubbels. I also like American pale ales, as long as they are not hop bombs.

Oh, and Maibock - from Hofbrau...possibly my favourite of all time.

I'm over Stella now (as soon as I drink the last two bottles and got over Molson Golden several years ago. Haven't drank a Moosehead lately. Got to get some bottles of it next time. As I recall it's always been pretty good stuff. Hope it's nice and fresh.

After a long lapse, I ordered a Miller High Life with dinner a couple years ago. I drank the water instead.
Did the same with a Coors light.

quote:

Originally posted by Norton:
2 things: stella sucks and molson golden is supposed to taste slightly skunky. I had moosehead on tap in montreal a couple years ago.....floored by how good it was.

I like Moosehead quite a bit, and will actually be brewing a "clone" of it soon.

Having said that, if you ever get the chance to try Moose Drool, you won't regret it:

From a Canadian
Youngers Tartan ale
Big Rock Traditional Ale
Big Rock Warthog ale
Richards Red
Sleemens Honey Brown
Sleemans White
Yukon Gold
And many local breweries
Avoid anything made in BC all to sweet

Spooksar - I just learned of these folks, but haven't been able to check them out:

http://sixcorners.ca/#home

If you get the chance, let us know how they are - their stuff looks great!

quote:

Having said that, if you ever get the chance to try Moose Drool, you won't regret it:

I second that whole heartedly.

I got to try it along with some of the other varieties offered by that company in 2010 when Lora and I went to Idaho on my bear hunt.

I wish we could get it here in Texas.

Spec's Downtown in Houston, one of my all time favorite wine stores, apparently has it by the 1/4 keg if you seriously want to drink some.

While attending my daughter's UT Graduation, we went to a restaurant which was covered on one of the cooking type TV shows, Moonshine Grill. I had the TV dish of Beeler Pork Chop which is a bone in pork chope, probably about 8 ounces, with a cooked sauce of cherries, peaches, and bourbon. The TV dish was better than the reality, but still not bad. I ordered a can of (no drafts available) Live Oak Big Bark Amber Lager, a Viennese (whatever that is) style beer. Very good, worth drinking.

After returning home, I tried a bottle of Budweiser Freedom Reserve Red Lager, which had been sitting in the fridge for a few days. Supposedly based on a recipe found in George Washington's journals, it is a decently drinkable red lager, but not as good as the Bib Bark above to my tastes. The only noteworthy aside is that a portion of proceeds is donated by Budweiser to Folds of Honor, an organization which gives educational scholarships to veterans and their families. Worth drinking for that alone. Hats off for Bud!

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:


Heineken is one of the top 10 selling beers in the world and tastes like it.

Never had a Heineken that didn't taste or smell like Skunk. I never understood its popularity.

Must be a bunch of folks that are fond of that specific flavor known as POLE CAT!

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:


Heineken is one of the top 10 selling beers in the world and tastes like it.

Never had a Heineken that didn't taste or smell like Skunk. I never understood its popularity.

Must be a bunch of folks that are fond of that specific flavor known as POLE CAT!

I think that comment tells more about your taste buds than Heineken.

I haven't been following closely to this thread, but all of our taste buds are different.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:


Heineken is one of the top 10 selling beers in the world and tastes like it.

Never had a Heineken that didn't taste or smell like Skunk. I never understood its popularity.

Must be a bunch of folks that are fond of that specific flavor known as POLE CAT!

I think that comment tells more about your taste buds than Heineken.

Probably not. It's probably more of an issue with lightstruck beers sold in clear or green bottles in general.

I owned a liquor store years ago. I'm typically adventurous when it comes to trying new beers. It's always a great pleasure to find a new one that really hits the mark. One of the things we tried to do to differentiate ourselves was carry a wide variety of beers. I tried most of what was available on the market at the time. For the record, I closely relate to your ratings posted to date, with the exception of Heineken of course.



We sold some Heineken but it was never a popular seller in our market due to the skunk taste / smell. That said, I tried it many times over, and not just when we owned the store but over the years. I always tried to give it the benefit of the doubt that maybe we got a bad batch or that maybe it got spoiled in transit. NOPE. Every single bottle of it smelled and tasted like skunk to me. YMMV and it obviously does as it seems to sell the world over. Just doesn't tickle my fancy.

But the skunky taste of Heineken is obviously not something unique to just my taste buds, as evidenced by the plethora of articles and forum questions about it:


https://munchies.vice.com/en_u...r-beer-tastes-skunky

https://www.beeradvocate.com/c...asnt-skunked.181849/

https://vinepair.com/wine-blog...s-keep-producing-it/

https://www.thrillist.com/drin...gone-bad-skunky-beer

Doing a side-by-side Corona versus Modelo at the moment. Neither is offensive. Modelo is a bit more complex however once you add the lime both are equally delicious as ice cold summer quaffs. Haters gonna hate.

I dunno if my wife is trying to keep me alive or what, but she bought me some Bud Light Platinum which I found to be considerably more drinkable than Bud Light, the considerably higher alcohol content certainly didn't hurt. I liked it, but Samuel Adams has nothing to worry about.

Stella: Go figure......I drank another one the other day and it wasn't skunky at all. Same six pack. All I did was turn the temp on the fridge to the maximum. But, really, it wasn't a huge difference in temperature. Could the extended chill (2 weeks vs a few days) and slightly colder temp get rid of the skunky overtones? I tend to lean more towards the luck of the draw.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
Stella: Go figure......I drank another one the other day and it wasn't skunky at all. Same six pack. All I did was turn the temp on the fridge to the maximum. But, really, it wasn't a huge difference in temperature. Could the extended chill (2 weeks vs a few days) and slightly colder temp get rid of the skunky overtones? I tend to lean more towards the luck of the draw.

Temp shouldn't be an issue in the Skunk taste. It's not caused by the beer getting warm and then being chilled again. It's an issue with exposure to light with beers in clear or green bottles.

As to the different taste in the same six pack, I have a potential answer.

When we owned the liquor store, as with many stores, we sold both singles and packages. We had two cooler doors dedicated to "singles". How those singles got into the "singles" door varied. Often times, customers would just grab a single out of a six pack. We might then place the remaining 5 beers into the "singles" door or we might have grabbed a single out of that door and re-completed the six pack.

It's possible your "same six pack" is not the same six pack at all. There is no guarantee that the 6 bottles in your six pack are the same 6 bottles that left the brewery together in that package. Some of the bottles may have been subjected to light while the others were more protected.

The good news is more research is required on the matter!

I knew it "could" make sense somehow. Both places that the Wife could have purchased the six sell both sixes and singles. No further research is necessary. That about covers the issue. Explanation much appreciated.

TEXAS ALERT. Robber on the loose. See My other posts.

Thanks Todd,
Just had another one. Went well with roasted chicken legs. Not skunky at all.

quote:

When we owned the liquor store, as with many stores, we sold both singles and packages. We had two cooler doors dedicated to "singles". How those singles got into the "singles" door varied. Often times, customers would just grab a single out of a six pack. We might then place the remaining 5 beers into the "singles" door or we might have grabbed a single out of that door and re-completed the six pack.

It's possible your "same six pack" is not the same six pack at all. There is no guarantee that the 6 bottles in your six pack are the same 6 bottles that left the brewery together in that package. Some of the bottles may have been subjected to light while the others were more protected.

The good news is more research is required on the matter!

Moosehead is back. Just tried one, crisp and tingly as I recall, just a slight skunky smell, tastes great.

Ever try Jever or Veltins . I prefer Warsteiner but my buddy likes the other 2 from is days of free rides on Pan-Am to Germany. The local restaurant/pork store has them.

I didn't care for Jever too fizzy/bitter.