I apparently now have over 100 followers on this blog, and whilst I love that fact, I rarely get any real insight into you lot. So I'd like to ask you a simple question....
What is your favourite beer and why? It could be for any reason, any time, any place, the perfect beer moment, I'd love to hear from you...
Let me get the ball rolling and say probably my perfect beer moment was the first beer after I helped brew the Motley Brew with the Otley guys a couple of years ago. The beer was Otley O1 and it was the biggest thirst quencher I have ever had after a really hard days graft, it was in the great surroundings of the Bunch of Grapes pub in Pontypridd. No better pint have I had, ever.
Looking forward to some good stories folks!
Dunno if what the "crafterati" will make of this, but my all time favourite beer is Hopback Entire Stout.
ReplyDeleteBest bottled beer I've ever had is Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron.
Had a superb pint of Wye Valley HPA in the Anchor in Tintern last week. Sat in the beer garden with the ruins of the Abbey nearby. Excellent beer in fantastic surroundings.
ReplyDeleteFor me it's Bear Republic's Racer 5. Every time I've had it has been a special and memorable moment (and the first taste was in The Rake!). Since the first taste I've been to the brewery and had a few bottles of it and it's always been perfect.
ReplyDeleteNice question. I look forward to seeing some of the other answers!
It varies so much depending on time, date, weather, company, mood, setting, etc but my fondest beer memories seem to congregate near Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze. First time was a birthday present and a shock (was my first geuze too) and each bottle thereafter has a story attatched
ReplyDeleteI think I'm being honest when I say I don't really have A favourite, but one that I wish I could have again, one that made me go Wow!, and I still remember it, was De Dolle's Cosmos Porter. Had it on tap in Delirium Café, Brussels, March 2009 (we weren't expecting to see it) and I was gob-smacked. Admittedly, it was after a bit of a crawl with Joe Stange, one of the authors of Around Brussels in 80 Beers, so maybe it's sublime sourness just shook my taste-buds awake, but man... Seeing Porter, it was a wonderful surprise on the tongue.
ReplyDeleteBristol Beer Factory Milk Stout - dark,creamy and smooth and drinking it just leaves me grinning like a happy chimp Just something about the feeling whilst drinking it hits all the right buttons.
ReplyDeleteStruise Pannepot 2005
ReplyDeleteprolly my favourite beer ever even beating old favourite Rochefort 10
I haven't got a favourite, but my "peak beer experience" (if I can coin such an abominably wanky phrase) was being poured a Brooklyner - Schneider Hopfen Weisse straight from the conditioning tank by Garrett Oliver, at the Brooklyn Brewery in 2007, as described here.
ReplyDeletei may have had better 1 off beers. but if forced to pick a favourite. i want to have tried it a few time.
ReplyDeletefrom there its real easy. every time i have this beer, i slow down and savour it delishisness. and that beer is Old Chimney Good King Henry Reserve
Dark Star APA is the beer I'd go to if it were on regularly in more places, but if I do see it on, that's usually what I'll stay with. Specially at The Harp, where they keep it beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThere've been some memorable one-offs. First time I ever had Russian River Supplication (aroma filled the room and I can still get taste flashbacks); the bottle of Rogue Old Crusty barleywine it took me 90 minutes to drink in 2004. I still have the other one - I'm afraid to open it; 'dreaming' West Coast IPAs for 3 months after my first trip Stateside in 2002.
So much good beer...
Anon - Entire stout is a good beer, this isn't a cock measuring competition, you can choose any beer you want.
ReplyDeleteArfur - Nice!
Dredge - goooood beer, nom nom...
Colin - great beer, there are times that you can have the right beer at the right time and it's just perfection.
Barry - don't know that beer but as I said, any beer at any time, good stuff thanks!
Ian - 'grinning like a happy chimp' love it!
Thomas, not had many Struisse but every one I have had has been amazing.
Zak - thanks, that Hophenweisse is amazing but straight from the tank! You lucky bastard!
cgarvie - cheers, slowing down and savouring is what drinking great beer is all about. Cheers!
Sid - Can't argue with that, The Harp is an excellent pub and the APA is an amazing beer, ta fella.
These are all great answers thanks to everyone who's posted.
Keep them coming people!
Orval, a plate of chips and a tub of mayo. Perfection.
ReplyDeleteAny beer that you buy me, Glyn. Always makes me feel kinda funky.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite beer moment was in New York, Brooklyn EIPA for dutch courage http://real-ale-reviews.com/me-and-brooklyn-beer-the-taste-of-memories/2009/08/
ReplyDeletelike a lot of people have said it's hard to choose one, i find that it fluctuates all the time,
ReplyDeleteLately i've been supping a lot of orval and monsieur rock they seem to be suppable at any time of day and what ever the occasion.
fyne jarl hit the spot the other day too and of course the pint of muker silver outside the farmers arms after a long walk....
Bob - I have to try that beer and food pairing!
ReplyDeleteSimon - thanks mate, don't know whether to be touched or disturbed!
Id say the best beer ive had lately would be Durham brewerys temptation, however this was only a one off and would not buy it again due to the price. Appart from this my favoirate is a local imperial stout by barlow brewery named Anastasia that ive shared with some great mates at festivals and bars.
ReplyDeleteFletch - awesome story, brilliant. "That moment, and during the remaining days in New York (I finished the marathon!)" How long did it take you to finish??? ;-)
ReplyDeleteNot sure I have a favourite but like mark I'm very keen on Bear Republics Racer 5, such an easy drinking full flavoured beer. Got to give an honourable mention to Marble Dobber and Pint too.
ReplyDeleteAndy - top stuff, Orval seems to be a popular choice for many, isn't Monsieur Rock Stuarts version? Fyne Ales Jarl is a great beer too.
ReplyDeleteScott - Good stuff, cheers!
Rich - Top drop that Racer 5.
ReplyDeleteThe best pint I ever had was Ind Coope Burton Ale.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of overall experience, mine would have to be sipping a Rochefort 10 in good company outside A La Mort Subite in Brussels last Summer. Just one of those moments where the beer was absolute perfection.
ReplyDeleteMy 'go-to' favourite beers are the Kernel IPA's (any of them!) as they're always fantastic.
Fuller's ESB, many reasons but it was also the drink I had in my hand for most of my wedding reception. When I'm served a pint in the ESB glass it reminds me of my wedding day.
ReplyDeleteMeer - top stuff, I was mostly drinking wine at mine but if ever there was a moment to enjoy a beer it's your wedding day! Cheers.
ReplyDeleteI always think that a favourite beer is in the moment although I am always willing to keep trying to find the next.
ReplyDeleteFor experience (and this will probably sound a bit cliche) it has to be drinking Westvleteren 12 at St Sixtus only last week. I'd been building up to it and was bubbling with excitement waiting for it to be served, when it came my Mrs caught that 'happy chimp" face moment on camera it's a classic...
The sun was blazing, the beer was awesome and a dream realised.
Another brilliant beer I had several of on Brugge was Viven Imperial IPA.
You know when you get that fantastic smell of lychees, passion fruit, and citrus well before it touches your lips that this is going to be brilliant. I need to buy some more of that.
Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA. First sampled in a craft beer bar in Toronto that converted me from a wine geek to a beer geek.
ReplyDeleteIt is also the first beer I drank at the Euston Tap, with all the myriad of great beers available I could not resist going back to an old fave.
Beersay - cheers for the comment, lets see the happy chimp photo. Viven Imperial IPA is superb beer, I got a bottle from beer merchants once.
ReplyDeleteGreat answer, cheers!
Ed - Keg or Cask? ;-p
ReplyDeleteAndy P - Agreed on the Kernel IPA's!
Gregg - top stuff, can't you be a beer snob AND a wine snob?
So many good beers. But for me, when on form, cask Timothy Taylor Landlord beats them all.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite beer is always the next one.
ReplyDeleteIt could be an old friend or a complete stranger.
It's just been put on the counter-top and is settling nicely.
It's looks fresh with a nice head. It could be dark or it could be golden; it could be stout or it could be lager.
But in a couple of seconds time I'll take the first long pull of it and I'll soon know if it's a good 'un or not.
All I know is it's out there waiting for me and whether I find my favourite beer or not I'll never stop trying to find it.
Pretty much anything that comes out of 98 Druid Street. The Kernal - Probably the best little brewery in the world right now. Try their Imperial Brown Stout if you don't believe me. The black IPA in't bad either ;-)
ReplyDelete@higgsboson1
ChrisM - Not had a TT for ages, I should really try it again.
ReplyDeletePPT - Good answer matey, when's the next one in the rake?
Matt - imperial brown eh? I've been away too long it seems....
Favourite ever? Too hard.
ReplyDeleteFavourite right now? Thornbridge Kipling. I've had a few draft pints and a few bottles recently that have been sensational. Just can't get enough of that Nelson Sauvin ... in about 10 months time I'll probably develop a taste for Citra. :P
Chunk - good beer that kipling, dangerous though, like the Motley, far too drinkable...
ReplyDeleteWho said anything about snob? ;-)
ReplyDeleteTime and money preclude doing either justice when trying both.
There's 2 that I can't choose between. P2 in the Burton Brewing Museum after the tour with Steve, or the first pint of Rambler's Ruin after a full brew-day at Breconshire brewing that very beer.
ReplyDeleteI would include the time I had a bottle of some South African Imperial (strength at least) Stout at the Rake after a guild seminar - I'm fairly sure I saw you smiling which makes me think it may have all just been a dream
Eddie, you cheeky bugger! Nothing like that first pint after a brewday.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention I was with both Mike and Richard whilst drinking Pannepot @ Kulminator.
ReplyDeleteOh btw other honerable mentions are 3 Fonteienen Vintage 2005 and Bells Expedition Stout.
*Fonteinen
ReplyDeleteSoon hopefully Glyn.
ReplyDeleteThe Rake is always my first port of call when I'm back in Blighty.
It takes something to beat a fresh pint of Jaipur sat at a Treadle table in the Coopers Tavern, Burton on Trent.
ReplyDeleteStoph - On-form Jaipur hard to beat anywhere, anytime!
ReplyDelete