Man - I remember visiting the Carlsberg brewery in Copenhagen during the early '80's and loving their beer. Maybe my tastes have changed, but living in Zurich now, where Carlsberg has bought most of the breweries...the stuff tastes horrible. At the Euro cup, it was Carlsberg everywhere. I would take a Coors or Bud over this stuff any day.

To get back on topic, my favorite is just about any microbrew IPA served on draft or maybe a cold pilsener somewhere in Czech Republic.

fduvall

I don't think Carlsberg is horrible but if I ever have one of those moments when I could have ANY beer I liked I'd never go near a Carlsberg, or any super macrobrew (maybe except Newcastle Brown Ale) for that matter.

There are some knowledgeable and experienced beer-drinkers here, and I'm afraid I'm an amateur ...

... but there is one time I really like a beer over anything else. It invovles a food pairing between spicy (such as an Indian curry dish) and an apricot weizen. I love that combination! There are a couple of breweries whose apricot weizens I have tried and greatly enjoyed - Pyramid's Apricot Weizen (out of Seattle) and St-Ambroise's bière de blé à l'abricot (out of Montréal).

Love that combo!

That sums up the current age of corporate beer in a nutshell: what you were drinking back then was real beer. Today most major beer companies are really selling a a beer-based drink that is laced with additives and chemicals. Let's just say there is a reason that Germany is one of the few places where the beer companies actually list the ingredients in what you are drinking - and that those ingredients are actually mandated by law if they want to call it "beer".

At the moment, James Squire Amber Ale.

But usually, whatever is closest.

When you get to visit Asia (China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Philippines), try San Miguel Pale Pilsen. It tastes great. It's considered Asia's best beer.

As do I. Sunshine Wheat is great too.

Also:

Chimay Bleu
Three Floyds Alpha King
Three Floyds Robert the Bruce
Kona Brewing Co. Longboard Lager
Kona Brewing Co. Fire Rock Pale Ale

So many beers... so little time!!!

For a non-local, run of the mill, store bought brew...it's gotta be BODDINGTONS!

I usually drink Heineken and love it (I know, I know...euro macrolager) but in the past couple of days I've really been craving Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Enuff so I bought a 12-pack of it on my way home tonight.

QFT. If I can't get a cold fresh Asahi, then its usually Tsing Tao.

I love Heneiken, Carlsberg and Tiger. They are easy and refreshing

Even though Spoetzel Brewery's 100th year anniversary doesn't officially begin 8 days from now, they got an early start on the distribution of their 100th anniversary special brew: Shiner 100 Commemorator.

I saw this in the local HEB last night and picked up a six-pack, but have not had a chance to sample it yet. A crime that I hope to solve this evening.

On the little hang tag that comes with the six-pack, its style is being referred to as a "starkbier". I'm not readily familiar with this term, but am told that Shiner 100 Commemorator is a doppelbock. greggwiggins can probably elaborate better on that than me.

Anyway, don't look for any updates at www.shiner.com. Apparently, this is so new that they have not even had time to update their web site and I could find absolutely nothing on Google (soon to be resolved, I'm sure) about it. I hope to have a happy report about this beer when I return next week.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

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I haven't had a chance to try this particular beer yet; it's the latest in their series of anniversary beers.

"Starkbier" is German for "strong beer". Doppelbock is a typical example, but other high-octane beers can be called that as well.

Dogfish Palo Santo Marron
Also their World Wide Stout, 90 & 120 Minute IPAs, and Fort. Some DFH beers are great... some not so much.

Unibroue La Fin du Monde (good value) and 17
Victory Storm King (not the best of its kind, but the best deal)
Lots of Belgian Tripels (and similar) are fantastic. Listing one wouldn't be fair.

Was in Korea last month. If there's anything they can't do right, it's beer. At least lots of places had Duvel on the shelf.

Can one get real Asahi Super Dry in the US? Everything is now Imported from Canada.