Since it is a porter, I would try it. I can see that combination not tasting like a "flavored" beer. It would just seems it would be different than a raspberry or a pumpkin. It sounds like this would be a natural flavor, too.

Agree that you can tell a quality beer, clean and well made. That does make a huge difference.

IPAs are hoppier than bitter for sure. Re sours, they aren't sweet so no hard lemonadey taste. Sour and kind of carbonated. I liked the Russian River Temptation I tried a few times.

I've never had any Japanese dark beer. I will have to try it. I like bottles too, but cans are much better at preserving the taste of the beer.

Right about cans preserving the taste. I remember back in my Coors Light Days, like all good lesbians around these parts (actually I was a Coors Light drinker pre dating), I always went for the can when it was "cooler" to have the bottle. As I remember it, the bottles of Coors Light tasted more "watery" to me.

I really like 21st Amendment beers and they come in cans. I can't help but think this is part of the reason why the beer has such a quality taste. I've never had any of their beers on draft, but I am quite happy with the taste in a can. I like their Brew free or Die IPA and their Back in Black IPA

http://21st-amendment.com/

Ok, THAT'S IT! I am opening up my growler that has a local black IPA in it. All this talk of beer! Plus, it is National Beer Day!

They are called "bitters" because compared to ales there, they are bitter.

Not compared to IPA. I don't find them anywhere close to as bitter as IPA. They are ales, not pale beers, so it's called so in comparison to that. but a clear tawny brown you can see through, very nutty, malty, warm. The "bitter" in it is a compliment to the ale, not a lead, like an IPA.

They are called "old men's beer" or "traditional ale" they aren't stout-y pitch black which are coffee, chocolate, molasses.

They are more a clear, light-to-dark amber brown beer, and the oness I went for were "dark fruit" (like when you make overly ripe fruit into something else), pepper and caramel. They were more "spice edge bitter" than "hop edge bitter."

That said - I also always chose the *lower* of the bitter end of the traditional ales - the double malts. Ones made with pale malt and crystal malt, for example, if I could. There were further end bitter ones but to me it tasted like someone was trying to leech the moisture out of my pallet. Traditional ale bitters are *DRY* and bitter if you go for that far end.

That said, I can't drink dry wine, or dry vermouth either. Nor can I even eat a brussel sprout because of the type of bitterness.

I can do lemon! but to me that's a different bitter - that's a sweet-sharp-bitter. Not a dry acrid bitter that tastes like something is seriously wrong with what I'm eating.

Apparently this is a genetic thing.

All the more dry wine, dry martinis, and IPA for everyone else. :D

http://deerparkpub.com/wp-content/up...rish-Stout.jpg

I rarely drink beer/ale but I do like a stout on occasion

I live in Bumfuck Nowhere, a census designated place on the Gulf Coast of Florida, yet the last time I got beer at my local chain grocery store, it was Funky Buddha Hop Gun IPA, a beer HB would hate. Still, it's awesome how much decent beer is available now.

What was your last decent grocery store find?

Me personally, zippity, since we don't get beer in grocery stores ;) lol

we gotta go to booze shops.

I gotcha HB, thanks for the information and education!

Martina, my state doesn't sell alcohol in grocery stores either. You have to go to liquor stores.

We don't drink alcohol, but every once in awhile. Do you have any
non-alcoholic beer recommendations other than the standard O'Doules? I am fond of cider with a bite. Suggestions? Thanx in advance.

Shiner Bock strawberry blonde. Its seasonal so i look forward to it each time it is out. Made with Poteet, texas grown strawberries.

I'd like to resurrect this thread.
We have many local breweries in the area. We are a big "craft" brew area as well. I am not big on the IPAs or the hoppier and more bitter beers. I like a nice smooth lager usually.

Also, since I live in a craft brew area, I was wondering if anyone was interested in maybe a craft brew trade. I would be willing to trade beers with people. Anyone???

Bud Light is my goto...but when im feeling FOMO i look for my favorite Pumpkin Ale..my limit is #1:hangloose:

I like Bud Light Lime a lot. But I don't usually go for the light beers. They are smooth just they are a bit watery to me. I have been digging some Sierra Nevada lately. The Pale Ale is quite good. The Oktoberfest is very good. I was on a hard cider kick for a while, too. Woodchuck is my fave. Angry Orchard isn't a bad substitute though. Redd's Apple Ale is just meh to me.

Anybody digging anything good out there?

Bud Light Lime is my go-to beer when we're out at basic restaurants and bars. At home we drink Coors Light bc that is Mr. Jenny's preference.

When we are at craft beer places i like to try the beers with the funniest names.

Beers i have drunk for the name alone include Arrogant Bastard, Old Speckled Hen, and Pussy Wagon.

My tastes are simple: i like all beers! I especially love super-hoppy IPAs. I like porters and stouts and bocks, too. I do not love sours, but i don't leave them unfinished either.

One of my book clubs meets at a draughthouse so i actually try 2-3 new craft beers per month

I should use this thread as a beer journal so i can track those tastings.

The thing is, i have not tried any craft beer that i would go out of my way to have again. When faced with the 63 taps our draughthouse has, i always choose something new. There always IS something new!

Redd's Apple Ale tastes like Boone's Farm

agreed.........

This is sooooo yummy! Summer is coming.....
 

I like the bocks as well. Well Shiner bock anyway. Texas taught me that. I wish we had a place nearby for us. We do have this one little liquor store that likes to carry the local stuff. I wish I could get into the hoppy stuff but nope. I do like the sours. One of my favorites is Landshark. It's Jimmy Buffett's beer from the Margaritaville brewery. It has some citrus notes to it but is oh so smooth and great right off the ice on a hot summer's day.

Please do chronicle your craft beers experience. Some of us are way curious.