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Author Topic: Are some beers better than others?  (Read 10476 times)

Offline bonjour

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #15 on: November 12, 2009, 10:32:31 am »
Interesting observation....about a year ago, AB came out with a bourbon vanilla porter.  They recently announced a rye IPA.   Are they watching me???  ;)
Hmmmm,

Maybe you should issue them a cease and desist letter.  Talk to Matt at Vermont Rock Art Brewery to see how that works.  
I'm sure that you with all your financial might can duke it out with them. ;)

Fred
Fred Bonjour
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Everything under 1.100 is a 'session' beer ;)

Offline brookspn

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #16 on: November 12, 2009, 01:06:38 pm »
[quote author=denny link=topic=237.msg2360#msg2360 date=1258044060

Its funny though, people are willing to try damn near anything put on a plate in front of them but once a beer is anything other than piss yellow they act like you kicked their dog



I've experienced that too.  I think that's what drew me to this question (plus I was a philosophy major).  It just seems that what beer is considered to be has changed a great deal.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not all about the Rienheitsgebot but at the same time, doesn't there come a time when we have to draw a line as to what constitutes beer and what doesn't?  Also as to what constitutes quality and what doesn't.

I understand that Bud Light may be a great example of a light American lager, but the deeper question is this:

Is light American lager a good example of beer?

Offline bonjour

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #17 on: November 12, 2009, 01:14:04 pm »
I understand that Bud Light may be a great example of a light American lager, but the deeper question is this:

Is light American lager a good example of beer?
define Good?

Is this a subjective or an objective measurement?

To properly evaluate anything you need a defined standard.  What are the requirements of a "Good" beer?  Are you asking what kind of beer I prefer?  That I can answer subjectively.

Fred Bonjour
Co-Chair Mashing in Michigan 2014 AHA Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan
AHA Governing Committee; AHA Conference, Club Support & Web Subcommittees



Everything under 1.100 is a 'session' beer ;)

Offline homebrewgamecock

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #18 on: November 12, 2009, 01:44:21 pm »
Very subjective.  Light American lagers = not one of my favorite styles.  I am also not a big fan of sour beers, doppelbocks or wheat beers.  Now, I have had examples of all of these beers that I enjoyed and were good, but I would not seek them out, order them in bar or brew them often.  I have brewed some wheat beers, mostly for other people though.

It's really what tastes good to you.  I will agree that it bums me out to have people refuse to drink anything but fizzy, yellow beer.  I am not trying to change their drinking habits, just trying to get them to sample another type of beer.  I don't pressure anyone into drinking my homebrew, but when we have a party, I don't go out and buy BMC beer for people either.  Thankfully most people I have met in CO enjoy craft beer.

Offline brookspn

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #19 on: November 12, 2009, 02:42:24 pm »


Is this a subjective or an objective measurement?

To properly evaluate anything you need a defined standard.  What are the requirements of a "Good" beer? 



Precisely.  Now we are getting to the heart of the matter.  What makes a beer "good?"  Is it the standard by which is is made?  The care put into crafting it?  The means by which it is crafted?  The quality of the ingredients?  Or some other thing?

On a side note, it amazes me that we can talk this way about wine, but not about beer.

narvin

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #20 on: November 12, 2009, 03:00:28 pm »


Interesting observation....about a year ago, AB came out with a bourbon vanilla porter.  They recently announced a rye IPA.   Are they watching me???  ;)

Was that the "Winter Bourbon Cask Ale"?  Now THAT was bad beer, in the same sense that snackwells are a bad food.  Artificial-tasting flavors, too much sweetness, etc.

Taste is subjective.  But, when judged against the schema that describes the domain of "beer" as a whole, you can say that some beers do a poor job of representing the attributes that a beer, by definition or by historical example, should have.  That doesn't mean someone can't enjoy drinking it.

Offline bonjour

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #21 on: November 12, 2009, 03:09:00 pm »
Defined standards are required here,  you just said a Kolsch sucked because I was looking for a stout

Fred Bonjour
Co-Chair Mashing in Michigan 2014 AHA Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan
AHA Governing Committee; AHA Conference, Club Support & Web Subcommittees



Everything under 1.100 is a 'session' beer ;)

Offline a10t2

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #22 on: November 12, 2009, 04:52:15 pm »
I have attempted to blindfold people who think all dark beers are too heavy etc, etc, etc

That's the entire reason I started brewing a black standard lager.

define Good?

For that matter, define beer. Bud Light Lime? Smirnoff Ice? Braggot?
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Offline niquejim

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Re: Are some beers better than others?
« Reply #23 on: November 12, 2009, 05:46:54 pm »
Interesting observation....about a year ago, AB came out with a bourbon vanilla porter.  They recently announced a rye IPA.   Are they watching me???  ;)
Hmmmm,

Maybe you should issue them a cease and desist letter.  Talk to Matt at Vermont Rock Art Brewery to see how that works.  
I'm sure that you with all your financial might can duke it out with them. ;)

Fred


Actually I had the chance to try AB's RyePA(yeah, that's the name(at least it's not Wry Smile)) and it was actually bitter. Not in a Hop Ottin or Hop Rod Rye way but more than SNPA. This would be a good go to beer if sold separately
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