Beer Wanted

It's getting to be colder as winter approaches. During the summer, I have no problem finding good summertime beers. However, in the winter, I have a lot of trouble finding a good winter drinking beer, so I'm taking suggestions.

In the summer, I turn the beer fridge's temperature down to get ice cold beer. It's not like I like wimpy beer (I can't stand light beer), I just like lighter type beers in the summer. Corona, Bud Ice, Anheuser World Select, and Guinness are some of my summertime favorites.

Come wintertime, I turn the temperature up a bit on the fridge. I still like the beer cold, but perhaps more just chilled and not ice cold. But finding a good beer for winter drinking is tough.

Yes, Guinness works well. I also like Ruination IPA and Ruddles County, but those are REAL hard to find. I don't really like the chocolate ales all that much and bitter's not my style, but "hoppy" is.

So, does anyone have any suggestions about any good wintertime beers that are best served cool, not ice cold? Heck, if you were near me, I'd offer to buy you one of anything you suggest, but best I can do through here is to offer a virtual beer...

(Linked to Cao's Open Trackbacks.)

Posted by: Ogre at 07:57 PM

Comments

1 I like and recommend the Spatens, Spaten Oktoberfest and Optimator being the two types I'm most partial to during fall/winter. Very straightforward, and full of flavor. If you like Guinness I think you would enjoy trying either of these, particularly the Optimator.

Old Speckled Hen is also nice in the colder months. It's an ale but very, almost creamy in texture; beautiful amber color; a comfort in winter.

Posted by: Laura at November 19, 2005 09:37 PM (cyEPW)

2 p.s., all of those are very good served cool, in fact I find them better cool rather than cold. I like them at normal room temp as well - they've all got enough body to carry it off well.

Posted by: Laura at November 19, 2005 09:40 PM (cyEPW)

3 Wow, those sound like AWESOME beers...now if I can just find them! I know I haven't seen anything like that in the local stores. I'll try World Market, they seem to have the best variety of unusual beers, unless you know of a chain store or something that might have them.

Thanks for the tip on those!

Posted by: Ogre at November 19, 2005 09:43 PM (7PCNv)

4 You're welcome - thanks for your cool site.

Spaten comes in ordinary sixes and shouldn't be hard to find. The bigger liquor stores generally carry it, but it's an unsung gem and can't be found in small stores.

Old Speckled Hen comes in, I guess it's a 20-ounce, beautiful nice heavy glass individual bottles with a nifty little paper tag around the neck tied with red string, very cool. There again, the good shops will have it, or those who specialize in beers/ales.

Enjoy! They're all yummy.

Posted by: Laura at November 19, 2005 09:50 PM (cyEPW)

5 Excellent, I will most certainly check those out if I can find them.

Posted by: Ogre at November 19, 2005 10:11 PM (7PCNv)

6 For winter, I recommend Grolsch. The bottle is attractive, with a ceramic stopper in a bale. And it goes well with a nice winter dinner of sliced roast pork, mashed potatoes with brown gravy, sauerkraut, and applesauce.

Posted by: American Daughter at November 19, 2005 11:24 PM (Xh7cD)

7 Genesis Ale - 'Crisp, smooth and perfectly balanced between a west coast style pale and amber ale, with a supple malt sweetness and a pronounced hop flourish' and Messiah Bold - 'A deep, bold nut brown ale beautifully balanced with rich dark malts and a complex hop character converging to reveal a simply enchanting elixir.' From He'Brew, http://www.shmaltz.com/index1.html. No, really.

Posted by: MarkT at November 20, 2005 06:47 AM (l/pMD)

8 I've heard of Grolsch, but I'm not sure if I've tried that one, thank, American Daughter.

And Genesis and Messiah Ale? I know I've never heard of those, but I'll see if I can find them -- thank you both!

Posted by: Ogre at November 20, 2005 09:02 AM (7PCNv)

9 Wow I haven't had a beer in over ten years...this is making my mouth water...

Posted by: Cao at November 20, 2005 09:40 AM (RyucI)

10 Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stoudt! Expensive but worth it.

Posted by: oddybobo at November 20, 2005 11:19 AM (pSJpd)

11 Oatmeal? In Beer? That just doesn't sound right...

Posted by: Ogre at November 20, 2005 02:20 PM (7PCNv)

12 I must have missed the AA meeting.

Posted by: Arbitratorofall at November 20, 2005 04:34 PM (5+Jvh)

13 Try it, you'll love it!

Posted by: oddybobo at November 21, 2005 09:19 AM (6Gm0j)

14 I'll try anything once...well, almost anything.

Posted by: Ogre at November 21, 2005 10:51 AM (/k+l4)

15 Here are a few I've tried and enjoyed that should be readily available.
Sam Adams Winter Lager
Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic...I know but it's really quite good
Pete's Wicked Winter Ale
Arrogant Bastard Ale

Posted by: Spurs at November 21, 2005 02:19 PM (tdOZ4)

16 I love sipping a nice cool "Moose Drool" from my beloved home state of Montana, or the local brew "Point Classic Amber"

Both are very smooth and have a robust flavor that many of the mainstream brews don't have.

Speaking of which, I got a nice six pack of Drool in my fridge!

Posted by: Silentwarrior at November 21, 2005 03:53 PM (f8kXi)

17 Oh! I second Oddy's recomendation -- if you like Guiness you will like Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout. It's really, really good.

Also you can try:
Black Dog Ale
Moose Drool (out of Montana - don't know how easy it would be to find, but it's yummy)
McEwans Scotch Ale
Newcastle Brown Ale

Happy beer hunting -- hope you bag your limit!

Posted by: Richmond at November 21, 2005 06:00 PM (e8QFP)

18 I think I've had Pete's Wicked Winter and liked it. Arrogant Bastard is also good, but I can't find it here in NC.

Moose Drool? I'd drink that one just for the name...but I'm thinking that's going to be REALLY scarce in NC. Reminds me of Hobgoblin ale -- I bought that just because. Tasted like crap, though.

McEwans Scotch Ale? That sounds good, too. I need a custom order form...

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions!

Posted by: Ogre at November 21, 2005 06:04 PM (uSCkp)

19 I don't drink, but I'm telling you, I'd have a hard time drinking something called 'moose drool'. Just sayin'...

Posted by: Bou at November 21, 2005 08:30 PM (cttIU)

20 That's only because you're a girrrrrl. To us knuckle-draggers, just the name makes us want to drink that one!

Posted by: Ogre at November 22, 2005 05:37 AM (uSCkp)

21 i would also reccomend a beer called Chamay, its a belgan ale made by monks, comes in a large bottle with a cork stopper, ranges from 8-11% alcohol by volume. you might have a hard time finding it, ive only seen it in small, non-chain stores.

Posted by: chris at November 22, 2005 11:22 PM (ZvsM5)

22 Monk beer is good. But I can't buy anything with that alcohol content level in NC. According to some, only homeless people and black kids drink strong beer, so we're not allowed to buy it here.

Posted by: Ogre at November 23, 2005 05:13 AM (uSCkp)

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