Member Poll

[h4hahn]

I thought it would be fun to sort of take the pulse of the members. I’m also interested in how much diversity we have out there.

Poll #4355 Pick Your Poison

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 14

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Preferred Beer (check all that apply)

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Ale
5 (35.7%)

Brown Ale
7 (50.0%)

Pale Ale
5 (35.7%)

India Brown Ale
4 (28.6%)

Lager
1 (7.1%)

Pislner
1 (7.1%)

Maerzen
0 (0.0%)

Wheat/Hefeweizen
6 (42.9%)

Bock
2 (14.3%)

Dunkel
1 (7.1%)

Porter
7 (50.0%)

Stout
8 (57.1%)

Lambic
4 (28.6%)

Bitter/ESB
5 (35.7%)

Barleywine
3 (21.4%)

Other (comment)
3 (21.4%)

Best Styles (check all that apply)

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American
9 (69.2%)

British/Irish
7 (53.8%)

German
6 (46.2%)

Belgian
6 (46.2%)

Other (comment)
0 (0.0%)

Favorite Brewer

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Comments

[feuervogel]

For "other" in question one: I like a good Schwarzbier, preferably Köstritzer, but New Belgium's 1554 is a reasonably good substitute (and much easier to get hold of in the US). I also like Berliner Weisse (plain as in the NB Lips of Faith, or with peach as in Dogfish Head's Festina Peche).

I can't drink hoppy beers, especially the American brews that seem to be a contest to see who can get the most hops in a beer.

[h4hahn]

Oh yes. I had Köstritzer for the first time last year on a trip to Chicago. I wasn't too impressed when I found it in a bottle back at home. But, on draft it was pretty fabulous.

Americans do seem to love their hops, I was having a discussion recently with someone about how Pale Ales are the best selling craft styles. But, brewers seem to be adding more depth all the time.

[feuervogel]

I had it in Berlin earlier this year, draft no doubt. Delightful. (Then I went to dinner at a restaurant across the street and had a different schwarzbier, which was decidedly inferior.) I love being in Germany. My husband jokes that he's not worried about losing me to another man (or woman), but to Berlin.

But when I was in Budapest shortly thereafter, I tried a French beer, and it was good. I was surprised. It was a Kronenbourg Blanc, very refreshing and citrusy. But I love a good wit or hefeweizen in summer, and it was quite summer that mid-June day.

I don't know what the American fascination with MORE HOPS is about. I was talking with the beer buyer at my co-op, and he said that hardly anyone buys the whites and wheats, but the IPAs and ales and lagers always move. Though since they're a co-op, with a focus on locally produced food/bev, there's a good 20 shelf-feet of beer produced within 2-3 hours of here. I love our local breweries!

[fullygoldy]

Ditto on the good Schwarzbier, but my first love is big, hoppy beers

[feuervogel]

I can't even drink something as ... normal? as Beck's without cringing. Tried a Hennepin Saison from Ommegang; couldn't even finish the glass. It was good if you like that sort of thing (and I gave the rest of the 750-ml bottle to a hops-loving friend, who enjoyed it), but I just don't. Sometimes I wish I did, in the vague way that I wish I liked olives or avocados, because so many people tell me they're delicious and awesome, but all I get out of eating them is "eew, need water to rinse that taste out."

[youngraven]

New Belgium's 1554 is fine indeed.

[highstone]

Being possibly the token Brit on this group, I should say that Harveys is a brewer of Lewes, East Sussex - my preference being driven by their Dark Mild.

[h4hahn]

*waves across the pond* a friend was vising the states recently and brought me several IPAs. They weren't half bad, I just found it odd to read the descriptions and hear a beer described with a biscuit finish.

[damerell]

I'm too lazy to fill out the poll, but my first thought was "what, no mild"? :-)

[sid]

For "other" I like Scotch Ale.

I'm American, but not into hoppy beers at all. Give me malt! I do love the way a glass of hoppy brew smells, though. Just don't ask me to drink it, lol.

I've tried and enjoyed a lot of Belgian beers, many more than British/Irish or German, and a lot of American beers, of course. I'll be sampling hundreds more American beers next weekend! Great Lakes Brewfest

[h4hahn]

Well, I admit to being a sucker the for hops, but you're right. That floral hop aroma is the best part.

I'm pretty jealous of your brewfest coming up. We just recently got Great Lakes Brewery in our area, I'm enjoying their IPA.

[sid]

I'll recommend the Great Lakes Brewery IPA to my brother. A couple of my favorite breweries at the fest last year were Upland and Left Hand, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they bring this year, and I see lots of new names on the list of brewers.

My tastes might be changing a little though, hop-wise, because last weekend my brother shared a few hoppy microbrews with me and they weren't half bad.

[youngraven]

There's an ale served at the Schlafly Brewery in St Louis that I found highly agreeable.

[h4hahn]

...Yes!  I've traveled to St. Louis several times in the past year and have fallen in love with the Schlafly brewery.  I mainly stick with the APA, because it's so floral.  But, last time I was there in August they had this India Brown Ale that was also Hoppy.  Yum...  :D

[ilanarama]

I totally agree that hops smell good, and malt tastes good.

[sid]

I know, right? Moderately hoppy beer is drinkable, if not the most enjoyable for me. The only beer I ever had to spit out was a coffee-flavored beer. I can't stand coffee! One sip and I had to run to the sink to rinse and spit, lol. I tend to avoid stout because the dark roasted quality is a little too coffee-like for my palate at times.

[h4hahn]

I'm really enjoying reading everyone's preferences and reactions to different brews. That's a pretty visceral one you had though with the coffee flavored.

Seems I'm bucking the trend here with everyone. If I get away from the hops it's for a coffee porter or stout. :) Interesting how hops sell so well, but anecdotal here they're pretty undrinkable for the most part.

[youngraven]

Qualifier: 'American' refers to small, usually local breweries. I live in Atlanta at the moment, and I'm keen on Sweetwater's offerings.

[youngraven]

Sure jeez. I meant 'American, to me, means small local breweries'. Bah.

Hallo, monday.

[h4hahn]

Well of course American means local or craft. That other "american" is usually described by me as "mass produced" and a lip snarl. :)