Hamer of beer?

[Montelovesco]

For fun and knowing that I might start a holy war: Now I have the chance to test some US made beers, and I wonder what's the most recommended.

I started with Coors (by accident, and not so bad for someone who is used to bavarian beer) and bought some Miller High Life (in memory of the Miller guitar made by Hamer). Any ideas? Please stick to brands I can easily get in bottles or cans, since I don't have the chance to get out very often.

[FrankieIII]

Bud Light Platinum for bang (6% ABV) for your buck.

[belgian]

Ask locals and buy what they recommend (and don't believe the labels).

Beer is another concept in the States than in Europe, but I had some pretty amazing beers from micro breweries.

[django49]

In this area, I like Hop Czar and Rogue Dead Guy Ale.

Drink enough and you WILL get Hamered.

[kevinbower1959]

OK - I know it's not American, but I had to add this. It's the band's own beer. At our last show, we sold 9 UK kegs at the venue bar (about 630 pints)

We're bottling this from August onwards - so PM me your address and I'll throw some samples in the mail. Same goes for any other HFC member who fancies a super-strong traditional black English ale made with 6 different malts.

Note to belgian - you'd like this. Think of a micro-brewed, slightly sweeter Leffe bruin or one of the darker triple Trappist beers from your great country, and you'll be on the right track.....

http://s433.photobucket.com/user/kevinbower1959/media/6d25c633-b062-47f6-bb66-b51e05d27cb9_zps3082cb9d.jpg.html'>

[belgian]

I'd like to try THAT !

Let's swap for Trappist.

Triples are mostly amber - doubles are dark. Quadruples too.

[polara]

Ask locals and buy what they recommend (and don't believe the labels).Beer is another concept in the States than in Europe, but I had some pretty amazing beers from micro breweries.

Yes. Every city has a small brewery or two making good stuff. The beer from the big guys - Coors, Bud, Miller, etc - is unremarkable. It's like Swedish beer, like Falcon. Hop water.

Great Lakes Brewing Company makes good beer in that part of the country. Here in Atlanta we must have a dozen little breweries, with Sweetwater the most prominent. Rogue is huge in the northwest, and yeah Dead Guy Ale is great.

Try to seek out Highland Brewing Company. Their Gaelic Ale is fantastic, and I designed their logo, packaging, poster, and did their slogan "Just a Wee Bit Different"

[G Man]

I agree with the others, look for the local/regional micro-breweries and you are apt to find some terrific beer. Stay away from the big names, its all crap.

[triodecr]

New Belgium Brewing and Sierra Nevada are two widely distributed 'micro' brews. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a constant presence in my fridge...

[Ting Ho Dung]

Busch Beer in the can! Available at any corner store in any town (except a few dry towns in SC). It makes anyone look better.

[belgian]

Arrogant bastard was one of the Californian beers I really liked

http://www.arrogantbastard.com

[edgar_allan_poe]

If we are talking about the "Hamer" of beers, then we are looking for a beer that delivers very high quality at a moderate price. That leaves out the higher priced Belgians and also the crap beer from the big boys...

A couple of companies come to mind.

1. Rogue - Can't go wrong here, I have never had a bad beer from them.

2. Penn Brewery - Not sure how widely distributed it is but Penn Dark is about as good a dark lager as you will ever find, and that includes the German stuff.

3. Victory - Again...not sure how widely distributed but fantastic stuff.

4. Dogfish Head - never had a bad one from these guys either.

[stratacus]

Here's my list of recommendations, from west to east coast.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada Tumbler

Rogue Dead Guy Ale

New Belgium Fat Tire My all time favorite.

Leinenkugel

Founders Dirty Bastard Great Scotch ale

Sam Adam's Boston Lager

Southern Tier

Dogfish Head

[mathman]

Some great choices in this thread.

[Montelovesco]

Woke up, first thing to do is to look the thread. Guys, you are the best, thanks for all the answers. I will try my very best - last man standing... :-)

And for the Hell beer - Kevin, thats cool, I will be back on this as soon I am back in G. Maybe I can send you some local stuff from my hometown.

[cynic]

There are great local beers in San Diego. Some of the better ones aren't bottled but there are still plenty that are.

Stone, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Karl Strauss, Manzanita, Alesmith, The Lost Abbey, and Alpine are all fairly easy to find (even in grocery stores) and represent a pretty wide variety of what's available here. Most have excellent IPA's and DIPA's, but there's plenty of other styles mixed in.

As you make your way up the coast, Firestone Walker (also available in the San Diego area) makes some good beer out of the Paso Robles area.

When you get to the San Francisco area, one of my favorite breweries there is Drake's in San Leandro. They have bottles available most anywhere out here, but their limited releases are some of the best beer made.

Of course if you get North of San Francisco and into wine country, there's Lagunitas (I'm personally not a fan), Bear Republic, and Russian River (makers of Pliny the Elder, which should be on everyone's list of beers to try).

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Americans can't make beer! They can make fizzy piss! I'm English, I know about these things...

OK, so that's just a joke to get you choking on your pints!

I know nothing of American beer but in the old days, Brits accepted that the US beers are too weak. We drink Tiger Beer as it's vegan & really tasty. Most beers are cleared (cleaned) using isinglass (fish bladders) so we don't drink 'most beers'...

[cynic]

"However, it’s not all bad news for animal lovers—the fact is, most beer is vegan, say Derek Humbard and Kory Stetina, founders of the San Diego-based, vegan-friendly organization lovelikebeer."

[Victor (Fret Friend)]

Nice that some brewers are taking note of the plight of vegans. A well informed & interesting post cynic

Over here, only your premium beers are vegan (Grolsch, Stella Artois, Tiger, Carlsberg Export, Becks etc)...

[belgian]

Of course if you get North of San Francisco and into wine country, there's Lagunitas (I'm personally not a fan), Bear Republic, and Russian River (makers of Pliny the Elder, which should be on everyone's list of beers to try).

Tried a few times to get "Pliny", but with no success.

I offer a six-pack of Westvleteren 12 for a six-pack of Pliny. To be shipped to TX - I'll get it from there.

[specialk]

Americans can't make beer! They can make fizzy piss! I'm English, I know about these things...

Agreed!

I don't often drink beer, but when I do I look towards Tadcaster, Yorkshire, England. Samuel Smith is, for me, the best of them all

[JGale]

Legend Golden IPA

"In the image of an English IPA, Legend Golden is a big, full-bodied brew with the perfect balance between malty sweetness and hop bitterness. Years ago, as an experimental brew, this underdog of a beer found its way into the hearts of Legend patrons and became a cult classic in Richmond. Legend Golden has been described as a "high class malt liquor" by a notable source. This strong ale sports a rich gold color, an aroma of sweet malt and clean hops, and an earthy, fruity flavor. 7% Alc. By Vol."

[carfish7]

Shiner Bock. That is all.

[cynic]

Tried a few times to get "Pliny", but with no success.

I offer a six-pack of Westvleteren 12 for a six-pack of Pliny. To be shipped to TX - I'll get it from there.

Tried to send you a PM but you're full. Email me at cynic (at) cox.net. We can make this happen.

[edgar_allan_poe]

and Russian River (makers of Pliny the Elder, which should be on everyone's list of beers to try).

Indeed.

I know nothing of American beer but in the old days, Brits accepted that the US beers are too weak. We drink Tiger Beer as it's vegan & really tasty. Most beers are cleared (cleaned) using isinglass (fish bladders) so we don't drink 'most beers'...

Vik...at this point in time the US is second only to the Belgians in variety and quality of beers. Don't get me wrong, the Brits still brew several of my all time favorites..Sam Smith Taddy Porter is my all time fave...but some of the top shelf stuff from the US stacks right up there with anything from any other country and that includes the Belgians.

[ghamerinfrance]

And Daniel, when you come back on german floor, you may find back one of the last Hamer Beer model for sale ...in germany.

At the same time, you may as well reappreciate Heffe Weissen even if I would on this matter trust all Conrad advices...He seems so much more specialist...and Belgian beer is as well a great product.

Have fun...