I'm an Aussie guy going to the US/Canada in about 3 weeks. I would like to sample some of the best American beer. What would anyone recommend taking into account the strength of Australian beer also.
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There has been a minor revolution in the US beer market and
bars. Many areas have small brewpubs with fine local made
beers available and many bars have in stock regional beers,
some even on tap. This is a great leap forward for
beerkind, considering that the market was ruled for many
years by Budweiser, Coors, Miller and all classic American
pisswater still beloved by many without taste. I won't even
get into the thin useless Light Beers that the ladies drink
thinking they can get tipsy and lose weight at the same
time. The British custom can be found in brewpubs whereby
you can ask for a sampler or tasting and be served small
glasses of each of their line of brews then decide which you
fancy and get serious. Of course now I may be putting
Pearls Before Swine here if as a Aussie you think Fosters to
be a world class beer...in which case stay with Miller
Genuine Draft (or is that daft?).
You are in for a treat!!! There are many, many kinds of
beer available here in the US. My friends and I prefer
Belgian wheat beer, which is widely available, but there
are also many US beers. Big trend has been microbrews. I
like Sierra Nevada from Pacific Northwest, Blackened Voodoo
and Abita from New Orleans, any beer from Brooklyn
Brewery...especially Brooklyn Monster (barley wine-
overproof). I am not familiar w/OZ beer...so can't compare.
Hope this helps! Happy trails!!
One bit of information that needs to be pointed out is that
U.S. beer has a higher alcohol content that Aussie beer.
Aussie beer is generally around 5% while U.S. beer (except
in Colorado I believe) is 5.5% to 6% alcohol. Watch out
though for some American microbrews that are in the 7% to
8% range - that stuff will knock you on your ass. If you
wind up drinking twice as much beer under your false
impression, you will wind up twice as loaded and taking a
leak twice as much.
******************
Anyways, the taste of the better U.S. beers (usually
microbrews) to Aussie beer will be somewhat different.
American beer is a little heavier and less bitter (I like
that lighter, bitter Aussie beer taste, especially XXXX and
VB). Beers to give a try are Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Sam
Adams, Catamount, Wild Goose, Pete's Wicked, Adirondack,
Brooklyn Lager, and Harpoon. Cheers and enjoy the suds.
You should definitely make a trip out to the Brooklyn
Brewery in Williamsburg Brooklyn. (One stop from Manhattan
on the L train to Bedford Avenue.) They give tours and have
samplings, and they have a very cool happy hour from 4-7pm
on Fridays - I'm not sure about other days in the week.
They have an alternative circus called the Bindlestiff
Family Circus performing every once in awhile.
You'll also find LOTS of other hip bars, restaurants and
galleries in Williamsburg as it has become the mecca of the
New York arts scene.
It's an oxymoron. As you've stated that you're coming to
both the U.S. and Canada, then let me clear you up on one
thing. As a general rule, the big name breweries in the
States (Miller, Bud, Old Milwaukee, etc) put out beer that
tastes like piss, while Canada's big name breweries
(Molson's, Labbatt's, Carling) produce a palatable variety
of beers. Our Yank beer is only 4% alcohol too, while in
Canada it's either 5% or 6%.
But these days that doesn't mean diddly, as small
breweries, after the European model, started up in Canada
in a big way 20 years ago. In Ontario alone, even in not
so yuppified bars, you've always been able to choose
between the local stuff and what the big breweries put
out. When in Toronto try Sleeman, Rebellion, and basically
whatever else they have that's from a small brewery. Just
ask the barkeep. He'll know.
The American "micro-brewery" scene, as we call it, is less
exciting than Canada's. I'd say that only Adirondack can
hold a stick to the stuff our Canuck cousins make up
there. Luckily for me I make trips to Toronto regularly,
otherwise I'd die of thirst.
The micro breweries are the current wave though some of them
can but out swill. Avoid any fruit flavored beer as a crime
against nature. #2+3 had some good recommendations for brands
sold nationwide. Try Anchor Steam Beer. From San
Francisco..great with seafood. My English friends all seem to
like Samuel Adams.
What are the similarities between making love in a canoe and
American beer? They're both fucking close to water!
The Fosters I had in the U.S. was not nearly as good as the
Foster's I got in Canada. Completely different! Does the
Aussie brewer "dumb it down" for the distribution to
the lousy American beer-illiterate consumer?
Really, the big name American beers are shockingly bad.
Strange, because the Founding Fathers loved the stuff and it
was well-made back then. There wouldn't have been a
Revolution without it.
You should try a big name American beer just to say you did
it, but the micro-brewery info above is the way to go. In
D.C. I'm a big fan of Old Heurich's Foggy Bottom Ale and
also Blue Ridge Ale from Frederick, Maryland.
Try looking for brew pubs in the big cities, like the one
near the train station in Denver or Capitol City Brewing Co.
in D.C. Where are you heading?
Best beer in the US is:
Samuel Adams
There are a lot of other beers here that are good too like:
Pete's Wicked Larger and Ale
Anchorship (or whatever)
Blue Moon
Catamount
etc., you get the point. Good, full body, you know.
Then there are the Brewhouse beers which are very good and
fresh, though many are served immature. Boston Beer Works is
on of the best I've had anywhere.
Then the imports.
Most imports in the US are skunked by the time we get them.
If you drink imported beer, go with ones that we drink a lot
of to get freshness:
Guinness
Bass
Heinekin
There are great Czech and Belgian beers, but most are old by
the time you get them. Stick to the Irish and English
imports. They're very good and what the best American
micro-brews like Sam Adams are modeled after.
The majority of big-name American beers are gross, as I can
safely say are the Canadian and Austailian big-name beers.
Try Sam's you'll dig it.
I have drank a lot of beer in my life and have the dead
brain cells to prove it. Please don't touch the bud,
miller, molson, or any beer that is brewed by those giant
piss factorys. If you are lucky enough to make it out to
the Bay area, San Francisco and surrounds, you are in for a
real treat. Two words, Anchor Steam Beer (I told you about
those dead brain cells) It has a wonderful malty pilsner
taste and I can drink 8 to 12 Anchor steams and get a very
nice buzz but the beauty part is the next morning. I wake
up not only without a hangover, I feel better than normal.
I told a friend this and he though I was full of shit. I
ordered a case from my local beer distributer, it's not
stocked here on the east coast, and last Saturday night we
drank the better part of it. When I saw my friend this week
he told me he couldn't believe it. He woke up that Sunday
feeling as fresh as a spring daisy. Conclusion, This is the
true champion of beers. Enjoy. Did you hear that? It was
the popping of an Anchor Steam cap. Life is good. I think I
should sell this stuff. yummy.
Northern California has a lot of great microbrews. One
of the most populars, as well as one of my favorites, is
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I think it was mentioned a few
times above so give it a try.
I wouldn't pay to much attention to the anti-US beer
crowd. Frankly, I don't care where the beer is from or how
long they've been making it; I just want good beer. Plus if
you look into what breweries are winning international
awards, you'll see plenty of U.S. beer.
Regarding the fruit flavored beers, go ahead & try
them. I don't like most of them but every now & then I find
a gem. If you go to San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate
Bridge to Marin County & go to the Marin Brewing Company in
Larkspur Landing(you can take the Ferry from downtown
S.F.). The Blue Berry Pale Ale is great.
its interesting to see what topics bring the lp'ers out in
numbers...
anyway i just had to add:
1) "light" beer in the u.s. is same alcohol. less calories,
vs. light beer in oz, which is less alcohol, same calories
2) not once in 6 months in australia did i see an australian
drinking a fosters. and they thought it was pretty funny
that we assumed it was their national favorite.
cheers...
Try Oregon Nut Brown Ale if you get a chance-only on west
coast AFAIK.
If you have tried the aussie beers Fosters and XXXX and thought they were shit, that is because they are. We don't drink that crap here, Go the Carlton Cold or Coopers Pale Ale.
While in Canada, (as is good advice anywhere) stay away from the ubiquitous 'big name' breweries (Molson & Labatt) and go for smaller ones. While in Ontario, try Upper Canada, Sleeman's and the wonderful Waterloo Dark made by Brick. In Toronto, many pubs have Amsterdam beers (as in the local micro-brewery, not the city in Europe) which are well worth a taste also.
Thanks to everyone who replied, it sounds great so it will be intresting to see how it turns out. And you are right that Fosters is crap. I'm Crown Lager all the way although the old VB isn't too bad
Good Northern Cal beer brewed in Petaluma.
In canada we are known for two things Beer and weed. oh
yeah the scenery isnt to bad either. just stay away from
the praries. (sask, manatoba, and some of alberta.) have a
good time!
As a Canadian I don't think there is such a thing as "good"
American beer, it's all swill. I am referring to major
labels though, the micro's are anyones guess. Canadian beer
isn't far behind though, unfortuneately. Molson and Labatt's
beers all taste the same. Half-decent beers would be Upper
Canada, Algonquin, Sleemans, and don't forget Moosehead.
Having just finished travelling around Europe, the beer
there is much better than anything in North America. And we
all know Australians don't drink Fosters.
fat tire beer is awesome!